The Albany Academies coordinate single-sex and coeducational learning environments to develop diligent students of high character who become curious, critical thinkers.
June 4, 2021
The Skim

  • CDC Risk Assessment for Schools in Albany County
  • Athletes Signing Day Errata
  • Reception to Honor Faculty Member, Coach, and Alumnus
  • UPDATED Textbook Return Information
  • Masks at School
  • Student Account Reminder
  • A Glimpse Into Our Classrooms
  • Senior Athletes Recognized
  • Host Families Needed
  • Learn More About Our Unique LEAP Camp for Grades 3 - 8
  • Still Time to Make a Gift to the Annual Fund
Dear Friends,

This week, I am asking for your help. 

I am renewing my annual appeal for your assistance in spreading the word about The Albany Academies to prospective students and their families. Word of mouth is by far the most effective way to authentically promote the school’s excellent work and ensure a robust enrollment. 

If you have found value in the School this year, this is a great way to “pay it forward.” We are grateful for the many families who share their Academies experiences with others. 

As you speak with interested friends and neighbors, I imagine they may have some questions unique to this year and next. With this in mind, here are some of the answers we have been providing to families inquiring about enrollment:

  • Yes, we will continue to offer a safe, high-quality, in-person learning experience next year, regardless of any public health challenges we may face.
  • Yes, we will be able to catch students up who may have a COVID-related learning gap. This is an area where we are advantaged by our small size, individual attention, and expert educators.
  • Yes, new students will quickly make friends here. Some of the keys to this are our advisory system, student clubs, and sports requirements that have students joining athletic teams.
  • Yes, we will be reintroducing a preschool class next year for three and four-year-olds, housed in a soon-to-be-renovated Early Childhood Center on the AAG campus.

If you know a student or family who should be saying “yes” to the lifelong opportunities that an Albany Academies education offers, I encourage you to refer them to our Director of Admissions, Nicholas Forcier, at forciern@albanyacademies.org. 

Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

Sincerely,
Athletes Signing Day Errata

Last week we reported on the NCAA signing day for some of our student athletes that was held in the James E. Poole Athletic Facility. We erroneously missed listing two of our student athletes and listed the wrong information for three students. Apologies to the students and families for this oversight. Please find the corrected information below. Congratulations and best wishes to our scholar-athletes as they continue to pursue their athletic passion at the collegiate level in the fall!

  • Ivan Y., St. Norbert College, DIII Swimming
  • Jackson F., Occidental College, DIII Soccer
  • William C., St. Lawrence University, DIII, Track & Field
  • Chris H., Bentley, DII, Golf
  • Esteban R., St. Lawrence University, DIII, Track and Field
Reception to Honor Faculty Member, Coach, and Alumnus

We hope you will join us on June 17 from 6-7:30 p.m. for a reception in the Michael B. Picotte Field House to honor longtime coach and faculty member Dave Rider '73, P'04. Mr. Rider began teaching and coaching at The Albany Academy in the fall of 1977. Since that time, he has coached all levels of football, hockey, and baseball in addition to his physical education duties.

We will miss Dave and wish him the best in his future retirement! If you are interested in attending the farewell event, please RSVP to ostranderd@albanyacademies.org.
UPDATED Textbook Return Information

BOCES

BOCES staff will be on campus Wednesday, June 9 from 9am until 1pm in the AA Pool Lobby and the AAG Library for textbook returns. If you live in a BOCES serviced school district your child will return loaned textbooks directly to the BOCES staff. Classroom teachers in Lower School, and advisors for Middle and Upper School will be advised by the Division Directors regarding drop off times. Remote students should plan on returning textbooks during this time. Any books not returned on June 9 between 9am and 1pm will need to be returned directly to BOCES Office at 6 British American Blvd, Suite 102, Latham.
BOCES services the following school districts:

  • Amsterdam
  • Ballston Spa
  • Berne-Knox-Westerlo
  • Bethlehem
  • Bolton
  • Broadalbin-Perth
  • Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake
  • Cobleskill Richmondville
  • Cohoes
  • Corinth
  • Duanesburg
  • Galway
  • Glens Falls
  • Greenwich
  • Guilderland
  • Hadley-Luzerne
  • Hudson Falls
  • Lake George
  • Mechanicville
  • Menands
  • Mohonasen
  • Niskayuna
  • North Colonie
  • Queensbury
  • Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk
  • Salem
  • Schalmont
  • Schenectady
  • Schoharie
  • Schuylerville
  • Scotia-Glenville
  • Shenendehowa
  • South Glens Falls
  • Stillwater
  • Voorheesville
  • Warrensburg
  • Waterford-Halfmoon
  • Watervliet

QUESTAR III

If you live in a QUESTAR III serviced school district, you will be contacted by QUESTAR III with instructions on when and where to return loaned books. If you have any questions please contact Linda Phillips. QUESTAR III services the following school districts:

  • Averill Park
  • Berlin
  • Brittonkill & Brunswick
  • Cairo-Durham
  • Catskill
  • Chatham
  • Coxsackie-Athens
  • East Greenbush
  • Germantown
  • Greenville
  • Hoosic Valley
  • Hudson
  • Ichabod Crane
  • North Greenbush
  • Rensselaer
  • Schodack
  • Taconic Hills
  • Wynantskill

Albany, Lansingburgh, South Colonie, and Troy

Please return your child's loaned book directly to the your school district textbook loan office.
Masks at School

School policies regarding COVID mitigations follow New York State Department of Health’s reopening guidelines. NYDOH and the Albany County Department of Health continue to be the guiding authorities for our COVID mitigations. While the CDC recently announced a new stance on masks for fully vaccinated individuals, we have NOT received corollary guidance from NYDOH or ACDOH. 

Until we do, the School’s current mask policy remains in place regardless of vaccination status.
Student Account Reminder

Please check your student account, located under the Billing tab on Blackbaud/myAcademies, to be sure your account is settled by the end of the school year. Several “incidental” charges have been added to student accounts throughout the year such as Exam fees, Extended Day care, COVID tests, etc. Please direct any questions to Kim Russ in the Business Office. 
A Glimpse Into Our Classrooms
Middle School girls have been busy planting (6th-graders pictured) the raised beds in the Bilinski Courtyard in the Borisenok Family Science Center. The Upper School Ecology Club set up these beds on Community Service Day, and now the Middle Schoolers are planting a variety of pollinator flowers, sunflowers, and herbs. We will continue to study and tend to these beds in the '21-'22 school year.
Mr. Essery's Grade 9 Biology classes raise and release trout each year in association with Trout Unlimited. This year, due to Covid restrictions, Mr. Essery filmed his solo release of the trout in lieu of a class field trip. Please click here to view.
Spanish III students have been working on a portfolio about Immigration in the USA and laws. Students learned about the challenges that new immigrants might experience, requirements for United States residency, green cards and citizenship. They created a video in Spanish as part of the project.
On Thursday, the featured morning music was from the Frozen soundtrack. AAG PreK and Kindergarten classes joined Dr. Milliken in singing and dancing to "Let It Go".
Grace G. '21 built a baking business for her May Project and donated $3,147 to the Shenendahowa Backpack Program. Congratulations to Grace on a successful May Project focused on giving back to the community!
Mr. Johnson's AA Grade 5 Theatre class had fun producing a film "Shenanigans". Please click here to view.
Second grades celebrated a year of reading and writing with an awards show. The students wrote nominations for their favorite book characters and shared them.
This week, Pre-K learned about each other’s families. The students worked on a drawing of their family using Cray-Pas.
Congratulations to AA Varsity Track & Field team for winning the Colonial Council Invitational Championship on Wednesday! The team scored 137 points!
Senior Athletes Recognized
On Tuesday, June 1, the following Seniors on the AAG Varsity Lacrosse team were celebrated: Caroline B., Sadie R., and Marlee O. Congratulations!
On Tuesday, June 1, the following Seniors on the AA Varsity Baseball team were celebrated: Roberto B., Matthew M. and Oliver N. Congratulations!
Host Families Needed for 2021-22 School Year

Host families are needed for athletes who are transferring to The Albany Academies from outside the Capital Region next year. A host family provides safe, caring, and friendly accommodations for these students. A “home away from home,” host-parents serve as authority figures, role models, and extended families to the players. Click here to learn more.
Learn More About Our Unique LEAP Camp for Grades 3 - 8

Are you looking for something safe, unique and fun for your student entering grade 3-8? Our LEAP camp has it all! LEAP runs by the week June 28- August 6. Students choose a block schedule and participate in six classes a day for the week. Block schedules include a variety of science, math, world language, art, games and sports just to name a few!

All programs are co-ed and open to the public, so please share with friends and neighbors. You will receive a $25 credit toward your registration when you refer a family! Program dates and rates, LEAP class charts and more information on all our programs is available on The Albany Academies website at albanyacademies.org.

Please contact Karin Epstein at epsteink@albanyacademies.org or 518-429-2332 with any questions.
Still Time to Make a Gift to the Annual Fund

Thank you to our many parents who have made a gift to this year's Annual Fund. If you have not yet made a gift, please help The Albany Academies finish the school year strong and consider a gift by the end of our fiscal year on June 30, 2021. Despite the challenges we have faced, we certainly have a lot to be thankful for, including our outstanding teachers. They have inspired and guided our students all year and showed us the true meaning of dedication and kindness. Thank you for your consideration! Click here to donate.