The Albany Academies coordinate single-sex and coeducational learning environments to develop diligent students of high character who become curious, critical thinkers.
February 5, 2021
The Skim

  • Celebrating Black History Month
  • AIM Survey
  • Shop Academies
  • Shakespeare Competition
  • AAPA Meeting
  • Lower School Arrival Reminder
  • Shakespeare Competition
  • College Counseling Hosting Virtual Sophomore Night
  • Faculty Spotlight
  • 2021 NYSSMA Solo Music Festival
  • ARTrageous
  • A Glimpse Into Our Classrooms
  • AA Varsity Swimming & Diving Meet Livestream
  • Summer Camp Registration
  • Blogging with the Academies
  • Meet our new Director of Admissions & Enrollment
Dear Friends,

February in the Northeast can be a challenging month under the best of circumstances. It’s not lost on me that it begins with Groundhog Day, which has taken on additional cultural significance since Bill Murray memorialized the holiday on film as an endless, banal loop. 

This was on my mind this week, as I sense heightened ennui among students and adults alike. We are all living through the daily sameness of the pandemic AND coping with the usual February blahs. A few words from me won’t change this, but I want to at least acknowledge it. 

Noticing a change in thoughts, feelings, and behaviors is the first step towards managing them productively. Beyond simply noticing, we have published a few resources to help families cope with the extra stresses of COVID and regularly explore personal well-being in our community meetings. In fact, this will be an important topic of Monday’s professional development day.

And, as always, it will get better. Whether it arrives early or in six weeks, spring will be here soon. We also see genuine progress in vaccinations and other mitigation measures and are currently planning our return to less COVID-heavy operations for the 2021-2022 Academic Year. 

We’ll all get there together, as we have done throughout the last year, as one school, one family.

Until then, enjoy the long weekend!

Warmly,
Celebrating Black History Month

Students in the Upper School started sharing daily fun facts during morning meeting in celebration of Black History month. The group then sent an email each day with more information about the fact and the person to Upper School students and members of the professional community. Here are the two people highlighted this week:
Dr. Charles R. Drew

Did you know Dr. Charles R. Drew, the inventor of Blood Banks, died because a white hospital refused to give him a blood transfusion?

Charles R. Drew was born on June 3, 1904, in Washington D.C. Dr. Drew first attended Amherst College in Massachusetts where he was known for his athletics in track and football, earning him the Mossman trophy. He received his MD degree in 1933 and first served as a faculty instructor in pathology at Howard University and then became an instructor in surgery and assistant surgeon at Freedman’s Hospital. But it was during his research at Columbia’s Presbyterian Hospital when he identified significant information and procedures on how to preserve blood. With Drew’s groundbreaking invention of the Blood Bank, he was selected as the medical director for the Blood for Britain Project and supervised the collection of 14,500 pints of vital plasma for the British. In 1941 Dr. Drew was appointed director of the first American Red Cross Blood Bank in charge of the use of blood for the U.S. Army and Navy. However, later on he resigned from this position because African Americans’ blood could only be stored and used separately from the white blood's supply. Despite this Dr. Drew was highly honored for his invention in 1944 when he was awarded the NAACP Spingarn Medal and numerous other awards after his tragic death in 1950. Dr. Drew will always be remembered as the doctor that saved countless lives in World War 2.

Cite: “Charles R. Drew, MD | Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science.” 2021. Cdrewu.edu. 2021. https://www.cdrewu.edu/about-cdu/about-dr-charles-r-drew
Shirley Chisholm

Shirley Chisholm was the first African American woman elected to the US Congress as well as the first African American to seek a nomination from one of the two major political parties for President of the United States.

Shirley Chisholm was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1924 to immigrant parents from Guyana and Barbados. She started out as a nursery school teacher, but later went on to earn a Master's Degree from Columbia University. Ms. Chisholm joined groups advocating for the rights of women and blacks, such as the NAACP, the League of Women Voters, and the Urban League. In 1964, she ran to become a New York State congresswoman and won, becoming the first black woman and black person to hold the position. Ms. Chisholm introduced more than 50 pieces of legislation and championed racial and gender equality, the plight of the poor, and ending the Vietnam War. She was a co-founder of the National Women's Political Caucus in 1971. Later, she attempted to run for president but was blocked from participating in the televised debates. After running an underfunded campaign that many did not expect to succeed, Ms. Chisholm managed to win 152 delegate votes from 12 primaries. In 1983, she retired from politics and became a professor at Mount Holyoke College before her death in 2005. Of her legacy, Chisholm said, “I want to be remembered as a woman…who dared to be a catalyst of change.” ​

Cite: “Shirley Chisholm.” 2015. National Women’s History Museum. 2015. https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/shirley-chisholm
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the AIM Survey

Our vision for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work at The Albany Academies is to build a community in which all accepted students are authentically included in the full life of the school and feel like they fully belong.

To help with this, The Albany Academies will soon be conducting the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Assessment of Inclusivity and Multiculturalism (AIM). This survey will provide us with a statistical understanding of our current climate of inclusion and clarify our next steps towards realizing our DEI vision.

All stakeholder groups will be asked to participate in this survey. Questions will be tailored to faculty, staff, administration, Board of Trustees, students in Grades 7 - 12, alumni/ae, and parents. As NAIS will not share individual responses with the school, your confidentiality is assured.

Please look for an email on Tuesday with the link for the survey. We hope you will complete the survey when you receive it.
Shop Academies

The Albany Academies Parents Association (AAPA) is pleased to offer an online store for the purchase of spirit wear. This will be the final one for this school year. In partnership with Clearly Yours of Latham, the store will be open for spring season shopping starting Friday, February 5th through Friday, February 19th. Many families would like to show their pride and support for the Academies by wearing Academy gear and this is a wonderful way to shop! 

Items will be completed for shipment or pick-up the week of March 15th.  There is a fee of $15.00 for home delivery or you may choose to pick your order up at Clearly Yours, 588 New Loudon Road, Latham.
  
When you buy an item with a sport designation, 10% of your purchase will support the Legacy of Dreams general fund that supports ALL athletic programs offered by the Academies. When you buy an item with an arts designation, 10% of your purchase will support ARTrageous. If an item is purchased without any designation, 10% of your purchase will support the AAPA. The Parents Association supports our students, faculty, and staff with grants, programs, and other needs as they arise.  
Lower School Arrival Reminder

If you arrive after 8am please sign your child in with Ms. Katie Conroy (AAG) or Mrs. Dodie Motley (AA). Parents of students in PreK and Kindergarten may sign in, have their temperature taken, and walk their child to the classroom. After checking in, students in Grades 1 - 4 proceed to the classroom without their parents.
Shakespeare Competition

Join us tonight!

Please join us tonight for "Shakespeare at 7" for a viewing of Upper School Shakespeare Competition monologues. One of the eight finalists will be announced as the winner on Tuesday and will move on to the regional competition. 
The zoom webinar ID is: 861 6324 6630 
AAPA Meeting

The Albany Academies Parents Association will be holding its next meeting on Wednesday, February 10, from 8:30 am - 9:30 a.m. (Webinar) - Zoom ID: 864 0930 9919 

Meeting Agenda
  • Welcome -- Gail Rawson P‘24, ‘27, President, AAPA
  • Introduction of Guest Speakers -- Jenny Levy ‘93, P’25, Vice President, AAPA
  • Positive Education -- Powell Cucchiella & McKenzie Fruehwirth ‘00, P’29, ‘33, Counselors, Center for Teaching and Learning
  • Parents of Students of Color Affinity Group -- Michael Hornsby P’23 & George Timmons P’23
  • Update from Head of School -- Chris Lauricella P’20, P’22 
  • ARTrageous -- Mike Camoin P’22, ‘23
  • Spring Gathering -- Kaari Stannard P’20, ‘23
  • AAPA Update - Gail Rawson/Jennifer Levy
  • Spirit wear store
  • Teacher Appreciation Luncheon
  • Flower Sale
  • AAPA meeting dates/times -- 4/7, 5/12 (8:30am)
  • Donation opportunities
  • Volunteer Opportunities
  • Arts Council -- Robert Lupone P’24 
  • Athletics Council -- Jennifer Levy/Andy Safranko ‘91, P’23, ‘26
  • Spring Gathering Committee - Jennifer Levy, Stephanie McCauley, Kaari Stannard
College Counseling Hosting Virtual Sophomore Night

On Thursday, February 11, the College Counseling Department will be hosting a virtual Sophomore Night for the Class of 2023! Brendan Corsones, Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Notre Dame University will be the featured guest presenter.  This important event is specifically tailored to sophomores and their parents. Please check your email for details!
Faculty Spotlight

Congratulations to Dr. Elissa Dragoni, who recently earned her PhD in History from Syracuse University. Her dissertation focused on protective legislation for women workers in the industrial workplace from 1850-1923. Dr. Dragoni is a member of our History Department who currently teaches History II and United States History.
2021 NYSSMA Solo Music Festival

We are excited to offer students the opportunity to participate in the NYSSMA Solo Music Festival from April 30th-May 7th.  This is only for the instrumental non-piano) or vocal student that has already been working with a teacher (Academy or private) on a solo to prepare for this festival.  

Students who are planning on participating in the NYSSMA Solo Music Festival should contact Ms. Kouloriotis with the following information before Friday, March 12th: Student Name and Grade, Instrument, NYSSMA Level, Composition Title, Required Movements, Composer, Arranger, and Manual Page Number.

Please also either send in a check to "The Albany Academies" or fill out a NYSSMA Solo Festival student account charge form for the following dues: Levels 1-4 $16; Levels 5-6 $24; All-State $30

If you have any questions, need a charge form, or help finding information, please email Ms. Kouloriotis.  

ARTrageous Right Around the Corner

Save the date! Our annual fine arts fundraiser will be held virtually on Thursday, February 18 at 7:00 p.m. Previously known as Splash, ARTrageous supports all fine arts programs at The Albany Academies.

Visit ARTrageous21.givesmart.com to buy your ticket or join the Honorary Committee today!
A Glimpse Into Our Classrooms
AAG 5th Grader students learned about African American Folk Artist Nellie Mae Rowe, and applied the elements found in her iconic work to their own unique "folk art" design. 
As part of our Positive Education work this year, Lower School students from AA & AAG learned about Character Strengths with Mrs. Fruehwirth. Students did some self-reflection and identified which character strengths they thought were their "top strengths"; meaning that they use them the most often, they like using them, and that those strengths come very naturally and easy to them. Students created flowers and suns with their "top strengths" to form a Lower School Garden of Strengths.
After listening to Whoever You Are - Diversity Book, the AA 4th Graders created booklets that include and emphasize some of our character strengths.- Embrace Diversity, Compassion, Empathy, Respect, Cooperation
Grade 10 students Dylan B., Mackenzie P., Safa A., Brooke B., Ekkie W., and Brianna O. made Julius Caesar more dynamic as they started Act III in English class.
AA Grade 2 students are learning about famous African Americans who fought for change. They began their unit with Sojourner Truth who walked all over the United States telling the truth about the evils of slavery.
On Friday, February 5, the Pre-K class kicked off the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women Movement, by trying their “heartest” to shoot hoops for hearts.
The Kindergarten class began Black History Month studying paintings by Sam Gilliam. Sam Gilliam, b. 1937, is a pioneering artist in abstract expressionism and lyrical expressionism. Gilliam moved to Washington, D.C. in the early 1960’s and began paintings that drew inspiration the African American experience at the height of the Civil Rights Movement. In 1972, Gilliam was the first Black Artist to represent the USA at the Venice Biennale and he remains active to this day, next slated for a major retrospective in 2022 at the Hirschhorn Museum in Washington, D.C. His work throughout the decades largely displays a celebration of colors and texture and the Kindgarteners had a great time emulating his bold paintings. The students used bright swaths of tempera paint and carved lines into the surface with a popsicle stick.
Introduction to Engineering Design students are designing a puzzle cube brainteaser. They are following a design process to design, prototype and test a 3D puzzle made of 3/4 inch wooden cubes. They developed their designs using Computer Aided Design (CAD) and are currently painting their prototypes. Their final project portfolio will include hand sketches, CAD multi-view drawings, mathematical models and statistics.
The AA Varsity Swimming & Diving virtual meet will be livestreamed today at 4:30 p.m. on The Albany Academies Facebook page.
Summer Camp Registration

It's never to early to start thinking about summer! Online registration for summer camp opens Tuesday, February 16 at 9:00 a.m. We have a variety of camps for students entering Pre-K through tenth grade! 

  • New this summer-Science Academy Mr. Essery and the students will be exploring chemistry, biology, physics, ecology and physiology. Each day will be a different type of science, problem to solve and adventure! 
  • Little Leap and Jr. Leap camps reinforce skills while having fun with weekly themed activities.
  • Rocketry Camp will study the history of rocketry and design and build rockets with Mr. Neudel.
  • The Leading Edge program will be focusing on team building, problem-solving, college preparation and service projects with Mr. Essery. 
  • Theater Camp will be performing fully staged short plays with Mr. Streifert.

We have a new LEAP structure and class offerings! Your child will choose a block schedule and participate in six classes a day for the week. Block schedules include a variety of academics, world language, visual arts and sports just to name a few!

Join us for a week, a two week session or the whole summer! Program dates and rates, LEAP class charts and more information on all our camps is available on The Albany Academies website at albanyacademies.org. Look for the 2021 brochure soon! Please contact Karin Epstein at epsteink@albanyacademies.org or 518-429-2332 with any questions.
Blogging with the Academies
 
Be sure to check out our new "Blogging with the Academies" - https://www.albanyacademies.org/admissions/blogging-with-the-academies. Director of Admissions and Enrollment Nicholas Forcier and the Admissions team launched the blog recently to help prospective parents learn more about The Albany Academies. We'll add fresh content each week related to our school and education in general!
Meet our new Director of Admissions & Enrollment and Share Your Experience

With re-enrollment season right around the corner, our new Director of Admissions & Enrollment, Nicholas Forcier, would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to gather your feedback on your experience over the first half of the school year. Our Admissions team will be reaching out to schedule a 15-minute Zoom meeting, but you can also click the following link to select a convenient day and time: https://calendly.com/shellieinadmissions/zoom-meetings-with-mr-forcier-and-academy-families.