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Tuesday, November 24, 2009
The Albany Academies e-newsletter
Week of November 23
Thanksgiving is just two days away, and in the spirit of thanks, we want to express our appreciation to parents, faculty and students at The Albany Academies for your generosity of time, talents and treasures.
This includes serving as volunteers at school functions and events, supporting charitable and community causes and contributing to the financial well-being of the Academies. In today's e-newsletter, we take the opportunity to thank you for the many ways that our community comes together in support of others.
The importance of giving thanks
Pictured (left to right) are Board of Trustees member James Sidford P'17, '19 & his daughter, Grace Sidford '19; Upper School boys at the Thanksgiving Lunch; and Hannah McNamee '12 & her father, Board of Trustees member George McNamee '64 P'12, '13, '16.
As we enter the holiday season, we have the opportunity to express our appreciation and thanks to all faculty and students at the Academies.
This was evident today when a delicious Thanksgiving feast was served by our administration and staff to faculty and students in the Lower, Middle & Upper Schools before they left for the holiday break. We were also joined by members of the Board of Trustees on both campuses.
Pictured (left to right) are a Lower School student with "Tom Turkey"; Board of Trustees member Bruce DiStefano '70 P'06, '08, '10 & his son, Tim DiStefano (Form VI); and Lower School girls at the Thanksgiving Assembly.
After the lunches, our annual AAG & AA Thanksgiving assemblies were held in the AAG Auditorium and Caird Chapel, respectively. The renowned "Tom Turkey" made a special appearance at the AAG Assembly to the delight of all in attendance.
Creating a stronger Academies community
The volunteer support at the Academies since the start of the school year has been incredible. Thank you to the hundreds of parents who have volunteered nearly 2,000 hours!
Efforts began over the summer when several members of the Albany Academies Parents Association came together to outline their goals for the year and determine the many ways that parents could get involved.
From helping with the Senior Parent receptions, Uniform Exchange and Homecoming activities -- to volunteering for the November Open House, Fashion Show or "The Tempest" -- to the upcoming Spring Gathering, Barnes and Noble Book Fair, Faculty and Staff Appreciation Luncheon and Children's Book Festival, your work helps build a strong community for our students and families. It also creates opportunities for parents to make lifelong friendships.
If you're not already involved, please consider volunteering in some way. Whether it's 1 hour or 100 hours, your contribution is appreciated.
Academies community comes together
Pictured (left to right) are Upper School students performing at the Fifth Annual "Concert for a Cure"; Upper School Director Scott Milliken with Mr. & Mrs. Kahn (parents of Sol Kahn '06); and a special performance of "YMCA" by the Village People.
Hundreds of members of the Academies community joined together on November 20 for the Fifth Annual "Concert for a Cure" in Caird Chapel to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
More than $4,000 was raised in honor of Sol Kahn '06-- who passed away from leukemia in September 2006 -- and will be donated to the LLS. This year's benefit featured numerous talented student acts along with a faculty band and a special surprise performance of the Village People classic "YMCA."
Special thanks to all students, faculty, parents and other members of the school community who helped to organize this event.
Service abounds on both campuses
Students at the Academies have organized a variety of community fundraisers recently, including a Coats for Kids Drive, Shoe Drive to benefit the people of Appalachia and Food Drive.
Already, their efforts have produced the following results:
- 249 coats were collected to supply underprivileged children with gently used winter outerwear.
- 590 items worth $866 were collected for the Food Drive for the Albany Food Pantries.
- 233 pairs of shoes were collected for the poor of Appalachia
In addition, the following initiatives are set to kick off:
1. The Pennies for Patients Coin Drive to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society will begin this Monday, November 30.
2. Members of SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving) are conducting a drive for The Make-A-Wish Foundation that involves the Lower & Middle Schools in a letter writing campaign.
3. The 8th grade girls are also working with The Make-A-Wish Foundation as part of the organization's Adopt An Angel campaign -- which will run until just before Winter Break. All funds raised will go towards granting the wish of a local child.
4. The 11th grade girls are collecting wish lists for Northeast Parent & Child Society to provide unwrapped toys and basic all-year necessities to needy families throughout the region.
Cadet Corps to the rescue
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Five members of the Cadet Corps -- Christopher Fron (Form VI), Shane Hutchins (Form V), Safouane Lachgar (Form V), Bradan Liberty (Form VI) and Taylor Mextorf (Form VI) -- presented the American flag at a professional arenacross event held at the Times Union Center on November 21.
The call came in late Friday with the need for a color guard and within two hours Ron Hutchins had five Cadet Corps volunteers secured for the event. Thank you to all the students for proudly representing the Academies.
The Cadet Corps will next be marching in the Bethlehem Christmas Parade beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, December 4 and First Night in Saratoga beginning at 5:45 p.m. on Thursday, December 31. |
The gift of literacy
The Schools for Schools Club -- a school club created out of the Invisible Children organization -- announced it will be holding a book drive for the children of northern Uganda from November 30 to December 11. This was mentioned in last week's e-newsletter and already several hundred books have been collected.
Please consider donating any unneeded college textbooks and adult fiction & nonfiction books -- no children's books or romance novels. All books must be of good quality and have covers. The books will be donated to Atanga Secondary School, our sister school in northern Uganda.
The books can be dropped off in Ms. Scapatici & Ms. Koonz's rooms.
Spreading hope throughout the world
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Beth Hardle Facteau, the Director of the Nacre modern dance company, worked with the members of Dance Workshop this past week.
Ms. Facteau spent time restaging and teaching Charles Weidman's "Christmas Oratorio" -- a piece first performed by his company in 1961 that spreads the message of joy, compassion and hope --to our dance students.
Thank you to Ms. Facteau for taking the time to visit the Academies and work with our students. |
Special appreciation to our parents
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The generosity of so many of our parents at the Academies is remarkable. Annual Fund contributions are ahead of last year at this time and we thank you for making a difference in the lives of our students.
Your support directly benefits all of our talented young men and women, enriching their experience and helping to attract and retain outstanding faculty members.
We would love to see 100% participation so please consider supporting the Annual Fund. Your contribution could change the life of a student. |
Thanksgiving greetings from the Academies
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From all of us at the Academies, we wish you a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!
Please enjoy our turkey artwork illustrated by Sadie Rinehimer '21 with the guidance of faculty member Martha Houghton. |
The Albany Academies is committed to developing the potential of the whole individual by building a community that fosters scholarship, leadership, character, service, and creativity. Our Compass of Core Values includes responsibility, self-discipline, compassion, ingenuity, respect, service, integrity and perseverance.
If you have any questions or comments about this electronic newsletter, please contact Ann Wendth, Director of External Affairs, at (518) 429-2385 or wendtha@albanyacademies.org, or Adam Doling, Communications Associate, at (518) 429-2344 or dolinga@albanyacademies.org.
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2010-2011 ACADEMIC CALENDAR
SPRING/SUMMER 2010 ISSUE OF A2 ACADEMIES MAGAZINE
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