The Albany Academies coordinate single-sex and coeducational learning environments to develop diligent students of high character who become curious, critical thinkers. |
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The Skim
- Regional COVID Rates Increasing
- November 12 CDC Risk Assessment for Schools in Albany County
- COVID Screening Testing Schedule
- Attendance
- Winter Sports Interim Form
- Winter Performances
- A Glimpse Into Our Classrooms
- Athletic Awards
- Week at a Glance
- Looking Ahead
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Dear Friends,
I hope you are enjoying the long Veterans Day weekend. Many of our alumni and alumnae are currently active service members or veterans, and I hope you will join me in thanking them for their service.
Today, faculty and staff engaged in a professional learning day focused on our community’s mindsets and well-being. We also began work on our decennial self-study for renewing our accreditation with the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS).
This report, written by members of our professional community and trustees, prompts us to review every aspect of our operations against criteria guided by established principles of best practices. It will be submitted to NYSAIS at the beginning of the 2022-2023 Academic Year, followed by a multi-day visit from an accreditation team in the fall. This visiting team of peer educators will use our self-study as a guide to evaluating the school, culminating in commendations for areas of excellence and recommendations for continuous improvement.
Accreditation is an essential process as it helps validate the outstanding work that we already do and focuses attention on our growth opportunities. It is also the legal mechanism for renewing our charter with New York State and assuring our continued independence. Families will learn more about the accreditation process during the year as we solicit feedback through various surveys. Please invest some time in completing them when asked, which will help move this critical work forward.
Best wishes for a refreshing weekend!
Sincerely,
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Regional COVID Rates Increasing
Earlier in the week, I sent out a notification regarding multiple positive COVID cases among students. This week we also saw a notable increase in the positivity rate in the county and the region. This data recommends additional vigilance to personal mitigation habits over the next few weeks, especially for unvaccinated individuals.
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November 12 CDC Risk Assessment for Schools in Albany County |
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The Centers for Disease Control uses several indicators and thresholds for the risk of introduction and transmission of COVID-19 in schools. We assess this risk weekly using county data and adjust our mitigation strategies accordingly.
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COVID Screening Testing Schedule
Weekly Covid screening testing will be available next week for students that have opted into the weekly screening by signing up through the surveys. Testing will be held in the AA & AAG Health Offices between 8:00am and 2:30pm.
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Lower School students will be tested on Tuesday, November 16.
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Upper and Middle School students will be tested on Thursday, November 18.
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Professional Community members may test either Tuesday or Thursday.
If you wish to opt-in or opt-out of testing, please send an email with your request to Shelly Reid at reidm@albanyacademies.org, who is the “keeper of the list.”
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Attendance
A reminder to all parents of protocol for reporting absences, notifying the school of students arriving late, or requesting for students to leave school early. Please email attendance@albanyacademies.org. We ask that you don’t email Mrs. Motley, Ms. Conroy or advisors directly regarding absences or appointments. Thank you for your cooperation.
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Winter Sports Interim Form
Before Winter sports begin on November 15, student-athletes must complete and submit their interim health forms, which can be downloaded here.
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Fall Play "Comedy of Errors"
Congratulations to the cast and crew of this year's Fall Play "Comedy of Errors," the performance was spectacular! The play will have a virtual premiere on Friday, November 12 at 7pm on YouTube at https://youtu.be/5jnbtJjVLAQ
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Winter Performances
Below are the upcoming performances for our performing arts groups. Because of logistics some groups are able to be live while a few will need to stay virtual at this time. All performances will be accessible virtually by December 17. We are hopeful that we will be able to do all live performances this spring.
Every child is able to have two people in attendance for this winter's live performances.
Masks are required for all attendees.
AA Lower School (Grades 1-4) Performance
- In Person - two attendees per child
- Friday December 3, 2021
- 2:20 pm - Caird Chapel
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(SNOW DATE Monday, December 6, 2021)
ECA (PS, AA/AAG PK & K) Performance
- In Person - two attendees per child
- Friday, December 10, 2021
- 2:20 pm - Auditorium
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(SNOW DATE Monday, December 13, 2021)
Middle & Upper School Music Webinar
- Wednesday, December 8, 2021 7:00pm
- To include: 5/6 Concert Band; 5/6 Boys Chorus; 5/6 Girls Chorus; 7/8 Symphonic Band; 7/8 Boys Chorus; 7/8 Girls Chorus; Upper School Instrumental Music
AAG Lower School (Grades 1-4) Performance
- In Person - two attendees per child
- Wednesday, December 15, 2021
- 2:20 pm - Auditorium
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(SNOW DATE Thursday, December 16, 2021)
AAG Dance Grades 5 & 6, Dance as a Sport, & US Dance Performance
- In Person - two attendees per child
- Wednesday, December 15, 2021
- 5:30pm- Auditorium
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(SNOW DATE Thursday, December 16, 2021)
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A Glimpse Into Our Classrooms |
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AP Physics 1 students Aoifé C. '23 and Austin B. '23 determine the force needed to keep a cart in equilibrium on a ramp when the ramp is tilted to different angles. |
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Faculty engaged sharing their classroom activities during a presentation on WASH in the classroom. |
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It’s apple season in First Grade! The girls completed their unit study about nature’s tastiest treats! After all of their learning about this fall fruit, they enjoyed eating and writing about making applesauce at school. |
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Mr. Essery's AA biology students have been studying diffusion and cellular transport by making "synthetic cells" out of dialysis tubing and using chemical indicators to detect the presence of monosaccharides and proteins in different solutions. SPOILER: monosaccharides can move through the membrane, but larger molecules like proteins cannot. |
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Students in Mrs. Taylor's chemistry classes investigated the relationships between the conductivity and concentration of various solutions. They used their data sets to plot linear regression lines. |
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AAG 6th grade Latin classes read the story of the Trojan War and created collaborative movies. Their animations included captions, dialogue, and selfies. |
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AAG Key Club News
Hunger Games
We are collecting nonperishable food items until Friday, November 19. Collection bins are in each lower school classroom as well as the classrooms of middle and upper school deans. Each pair of sister classes will work together towards collecting the most combined donations (measured in pounds). While keeping the focus on helping others who are less fortunate, winning Lower School, Middle School and Upper School sister combinations will be awarded a dress down day (date TBD). Suggested items: canned goods: tuna, salmon, chicken, beans, vegetables, fruit, sauce, soup, spaghettios, ravioli, and chili. Dry goods include: rice, pasta, cereals (whole grain), oatmeal, pancake mix, and baking mixes. NO LIQUIDS or GLASS, please! This is a FOOD drive. Cases of water will not count toward the competition.
Thanks in advance for your support.
VA Pen Pal Program
The Key Club girls have a very special relationship with the VA. Before COVID, the students visited the CLC (Community Living Center) ward each month and did craft projects or played Bingo with the residents. Since the hospital restricts visitors, the girls continue to maintain the connection by sending cards and letters to their VA "pen pal" every two weeks. The photo shows some of the girls with their cards. There are over 40 residents who are in the program. We have been told by the staff at the VA that the residents look forward to hearing from their 'adopted" granddaughters!
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The HELENE M. DISTEFANO MEMORIAL GOLF AWARD, given in memory of Helene M. DiStefano, Board Member and President of the Mothers’ Association 1973-74, shall be awarded annually to that Form IV, V, or VI varsity golfer, who, in the opinion of the Director of Athletics and the Varsity Golf Coach, most exemplifies team spirit, dedication, and skill in golf.
Awarded to: BEN H. '22
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The CATLETT CROSS-COUNTRY AWARD, is given to a runner who demonstrates himself as a runner and a student of integrity and achievement.
Awarded to: JOSEPH S. '22
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The MAUREEN R. MEALEY MEMORIAL SOCCER AWARD, given by the Mealey family in memory of Maureen, mother of John C. Mealey, Class of 1980, and Michael J. Mealey, Class of 1984, shall be awarded annually to that Form IV or V varsity soccer player, who, in the opinion of the Director of Athletics, the varsity soccer coach, and the captain of the team, most exemplified team spirit, dedication, and skill in soccer.
Awarded to: WILLIAM F. '24
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Monday, November 15
Day 3
Winter Sports Begin
Tuesday, November 16
Day 4
7:25am AA Middle School Faculty Meeting (AA 3-26)
8:45am - 9:45am AAG Grade 4 Skate
3:10pm Upper School Faculty Meeting (Zoom)
Wednesday, November 17
Day 5
3:00pm Admissions Asked & Answered Event (Trustees Room)
Thursday, November 18
Day 6
Friday, November 19
Day 1
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November 23 Thanksgiving Feast
November 24 - 26 Fall Break (School Closed)
December 3 AA Lower School Winter Performance
December 8 Middle & Upper School Music Webinar
December 8 Admissions Asked and Answered Information Session
December 10 ECA Winter Performance
December 15 AAG Lower School Winter Performance
December 15 AAG Dance (5&6), Dance as a Sport, & US Dance Performance
December 20 - 31 Winter Break (School Closed)
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