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Wednesday, January 28, 2009
The Albany Academies e-newsletter
Week of January 26
Veteran journalist addresses Academies students
Pictured (left to right) are Christopher Lockwood (Form VI) with his parents, Andrew and Karen, AA Alumni Association President Mike Criscione '80 and Ryan Deitz (Form IV) with his parents, Jeffrey '81 and Karen, at the AA Alumni Association's Mid-Winter Dinner; Head of School Richard F. Barter & Thomas Flynn '65 in the West Campus Lobby during the Alumni/ae Speaker Series; and Flynn with Faculty members Cathy Teitelbaum '65 & Christina Sullivan at a book signing following the Alumni/ae Speaker Series.
Thomas Flynn '65 shared with Upper School students the influence that the Academy had on his life as part of the Alumni/ae Speaker Series on January 22 in Caird Chapel on the West Campus.
Flynn highlighted how the Academy produces so many talented writers such as Herman Melville, Andy Rooney and many others. He also read passages from his new book, Bikeman, answered questions from the students and signed books to round out the day.
In addition, Flynn served as the guest speaker for The Albany Academy Alumni Association's Mid-Winter Dinner held on January 21 at Jack's Oyster House in Albany.
Academies presents State of the School
Pictured at the State of the School meeting are West Campus Student Council President Jake Gao (Form VI); Academic Dean Stacey Giordano & Board of Trustees member George McNamee '64; and East Campus Dean of Students Wendy Muhlfelder '67.
The State of the School meeting held on January 22 brought out 75 parents to hear from the President of the Parents Association, Head of School, Student Council Presidents, Division Directors, Academic Dean, East Campus Dean of Students, Board of Trustees members and the Director of Institutional Advancement.
Updates in each division as well as the recently approved strategic plan were among the presentations made at the meeting.
Minutes will be available shortly; please contact Director of External Affairs Ann Wendth at wendtha@albanyacademies.org if you would like a copy.
Thank you to the families that attended the meeting. We appreciate everyone's support and look forward to your involvement in the future.
Upcoming parent presentations
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We will be hosting a Healthy Habits for Children presentation featuring Dr. Frank Doberman -- Clinical Director of Karner Psychological Associates -- this Friday, January 30 at 8:15 a.m. in the Trustees Room on the West Campus.
All parents are welcome at this presentation, which will feature information about sleep, nutrition and improved decision making in regards to children.
Click here for more information. |
In addition, we will be hosting a Cyber Safety Parent Presentation on Tuesday, February 3 at 7 p.m. in Caird Chapel on the West Campus.
Dr. David Adkins, Director of Information Technology for New York State United Teachers, will discuss threats to cyber safety and how to better protect your children from online hazards.
Click here for more information.
Don't miss our Survival Spanish Course
Are you looking to travel to a Spanish-speaking country this summer?
The Spanish Honor Society will be hosting a "Spanish Survival Course" designed to provide the basics in grammar and vocabulary as well as focus on travel so that you can communicate on your journeys. The course will be offered on February 26, March 5 and March 12 from 4 to 4:40 p.m. in Room 8 on the East Campus.
For more information or to register, please contact Ms. Windle at windlev@albanyacademies.org.
A day of basketball for a great cause
Pictured at the 2009 Coaches vs. Cancer High School Challenge are the Girls Varsity Basketball Team; Faculty member Alisa Scapatici & Parents Association President Deb Nelson; and the Boys Varsity Basketball Team.
The 2009 Coaches vs. Cancer High School Challenge brought nearly 2,000 people for a great day of basketball to benefit a great cause at the Times Union Center in Albany this past Sunday.
More than $20,000 was raised to benefit the American Cancer Society. Our Girls Varsity Basketball Team defeated Schalmont 43-40 at the event and our Boys Varsity Basketball Team won a nailbiter 66-62 over Newburgh Free Academy.
Special recognition to Jill Verde '10 for being named female MVP of the tournament; Amanda Cioffi '10 for being named All-Academic and All-Tournament; Chris Pelcher (Form VI) for being named All-Tournament; Chris Maggiore (Form V) for being named All-Academic; and Jamel Fields (Form V) for being selected male MVP of the tournament.
The Albany Academies was proud to serve as the host for this event for the second consecutive year.
Open House draws prospective parents
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An Open House for our ECA, Pre-K and Kindergarten programs was held this past Tuesday and brought in several parents and youngsters looking to learn more about the Academies.
Pictured at left (left to right) are Lower School Director Susan Rimkunas & Lower School Associate Director Jennifer Casey speaking to the prospective parents about our Lower School program.
Please note that the Open House scheduled for Wednesday, January 28 has been rescheduled for Wednesday, February 4 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
We will also be holding a Visiting Week from February 18-20. |
Experience a taste of the world...
The deadline to register for this event is Friday, February 6; all parents are welcome.
For more information, contact Madame Keegan at keegand@albanyacademies.org.
LOWER SCHOOL STUDENTS EXPLORE THE UNIVERSE
A journey through space
Kindergarten students on the West Campus took a trip to the stars on January 15 during a special presentation from the Scotia-Glenville Museum in the McNamee Library.
The boys learned all about objects within the solar system, key space vocabulary and a history of space exploration. It was truly a "far out" experience!
4th grade girls create piñatas
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4th grade girls in Mrs. Martinez's Spanish class have spent the past six weeks during their recesses working on piñatas.
Students learned that piñatas -- a Mexican Christmas tradition at holiday parties -- are very popular with Mexican children and are not a birthday tradition as commonly believed.
Each girl selected a design and worked diligently to make her own piñata.
Please take a moment to check them out in the East Campus Lobby. |
Giving back to the community
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West Campus Lower School students in the 1st, 2nd & 4th grades organized the Adopt-a-Family project during the holidays.
The students were able to assist a local family through La Salle Family Preservation.
The entire Lower School selected gifts from the family's wish list and were able to grant many of their needs and wishes. |
LOWER SCHOOL LOOK AHEAD CALENDAR
MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS ENGAGE IN CREATIVE EXPRESSION
8th grade girls take part in 50-year tradition
Congratulations to the 8th grade girls for their outstanding presentation of the play "Adrift in New York" in the East Campus Auditorium on January 15 & 16.
The play is based on a Horatio Alger story that follows the Linden family through tough times and intrigue. From the missing son, to a banished young girl and the spirited characters of the Bowery and Geary Street, this classic melodrama has it all.
The 8th grade play has been an East Campus tradition for more than 50 years!
A letter to the president...
6th grade students on the West Campus took part in kidthing's "Dear Mr. President Project" to share their hopes, dreams and ideas with President Barack Obama.
The students sent their packages this past Tuesday; the top submissions will be featured in kidthing's "Dear Mr. President" digital book that will be unveiled on President's Day on February 16.
Click here for more information.
MIDDLE SCHOOL LOOK AHEAD CALENDAR
UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS TAKE PART IN HISTORY
Academies students attend historic inauguration
Four students at the Academies had the opportunity to be a part of history as they attended the inauguration of President Barack Obama on January 20 in Washington, D.C.
Conor Sullivan (Form IV), John Delarge (Form VI), Taylor Esper (Form VI) and Ankur Patel (Form V) took part in a moment that they will never forget.
"My experience at the Inauguration of the 44th president of the United States, Barack Obama, was inspiring," said John Delarge. "Standing in a crowd of 2 million people, I could see the strength of the United States of America and our belief in our newly elected president. People were crying all around me and I could see that the dream of Martin Luther King, Jr. was happening in front of me."
The art of combat...
Tim O'Leary (pictured in above photos in black), a graduate of University at Albany and New York-based actor/director/playwright who specializes in stage combat, visited the Academies this past week as part of the Kermani Visiting Artist series.
He worked with both 8th grade and Upper School students on basic stage combat elements such as punching, kicking, sequence fighting with a partner, and basic falls. O'Leary had the students doing flips and incorporating everything into a fight sequence.
He will be back in April to work further with students at our school.
UPPER SCHOOL LOOK AHEAD CALENDAR
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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