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Wednesday, January 06, 2010
The Albany Academies e-newsletter
Week of January 4
Academies students accepted at top colleges
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Congratulations to so many of our seniors at the Academies who have already been accepted to a variety of outstanding colleges and universities throughout the country.
As of today, students have been accepted to Bates College, Canisius College, Drexel University, Fairfield University, Fordham University, Georgetown University, Manhattan College, New York University, Northeastern University, Northwestern University, St. Lawrence University, Tufts University, Tulane University, Union College, University of Kentucky, University of Notre Dame, University of Rochester, University of South Carolina, University of Vermont, Wake Forest University and many others. |
We applaud our boys and girls -- as well as Directors of College Counseling Jak Bestle & Lauren Carter (pictured above) -- for the hard work and effort that they have put in. We will have a complete listing of all colleges and universities that students have been accepted to in the next few months.
Join us for an AAG tradition
Pictured (left to right) are play director Marisa Bellingrath working with the 8th grade girls in rehearsal; costumes that the students created; and a lighter moment for some of the girls.
Each January, 8th grade girls take part in a special tradition as they spend two full weeks completely immersed in a performing arts experience where they take complete control of a play and perform their own take on it for Academies families and Lower School students.
During these two weeks, the girls have the opportunity to bond with each other and experience the thrill of theater all while enhancing essential life skills such as teamwork, responsibility and ingenuity. The students are completely responsible for the production of the play, designing their own sets, props and costumes; writing their own scripts; assigning and learning their roles; and presenting the play at the end of the two week period.
This year, the girls are conducting a performance of “The Tale of Snow White” (a take-off on Snow White) by Barbara Lennon. The play will take place on Thursday, January 14 at 5:30 p.m. in the AAG Auditorium for all families and on Friday, January 15 at 1:45 p.m. in the AAG Auditorium for Lower School students.
There are 31 students in total that are participating in this unique experience. Please plan to join us!
Academies to offer Drivers Ed
We are delighted to announce that the Academies will be offering a Drivers Education program beginning this spring through Bell's Auto Driving School.
This non-credit course will include 24 hours of classroom instruction and 24 hours of road instruction. Students must have a valid New York State Learner's Permit or license prior to taking the program and must be 16 years old by February 1. Upon successful completion of the program, the student will be issued an MV-285 Student Certificate of Completion.
The program will begin with an orientation on February 4 and the course (both classroom work and driving) will run from February 6 through approximately June 12. The cost will be $425 for Academies students and $450 for non-Academies students; a minimum of 16 students is required to conduct the program.
If you or someone you know is interested, please contact Director of Operations Pam MacAffer at (518) 429-2439 or macafferp@albanyacademies.org. We will be offering the Drivers Ed course as part of Summer Camp 2010 as well.
Deadline to purchase Spirit Wear approaching
There are a number of Spirit Wear items available for purchase, including blankets, rugby shirts, sweatshirts and more! Please note that the deadline to purchase items is this Friday, January 8.
CLICK HERE FOR THE AAG SPIRIT WEAR ORDER FORM.
CLICK HERE FOR THE AA SPIRIT WEAR ORDER FORM.
Place your yearbook ads now!
The 2009-2010 yearbooks are available for purchase at $55 each until January 10. Each yearbook can be personalized with up to four icons and two lines of text.
In addition, parents have a variety of options to place ads in the yearbooks, including full page ($400), half page ($250), quarter page ($150) and eighth page ($90). Order forms were placed in all folders at the Upper School Parent Night. For more information, please contact faculty member Jeanette Langan at (518) 429-2300 or langanj@albanyacademies.org.
To order a yearbook, contact Ms. Langan at langanj@albanyacademies.org, Michaila Stevens at stevensm@albanyacademies.org, Chloe Mahoney at mahoneyc@albanyacademies.org or Samantha Miorin at miorinsa@albanyacademies.org, or visit www.jostenyearbooks.com.
Peru exchange update
As we mentioned in the fall, our school has an exchange with Aldea Yanapay school in Cusco, Peru this school year.
Thanks in large part to faculty member Martha Houghton, a second package is being sent to Aldea Yanapay this week. Our 5th grade boys and girls have taken on the task of writing to specific students in Peru. Our sister students in Peru write in English quite well so Academies students have been writing in English and translating into Spanish as well.
There are also displays up on the bulletin boards near the AAG Cafeteria and in the AA Lower School Hallway featuring posters that the students in Peru created for us. Please check them out when you get a moment!
Barnes and Noble Book Fair contest results
As part of the festivities for the Barnes and Noble Book Fair hosted by the Albany Academies Parents Association in December, a school-wide contest was held to encourage students to attend the event.
The class in each division on both campuses that had the most students attend would receive a special incentive. We are pleased to recognize the following classes: AAG Lower School --Grade 3; AA Lower School -- Kindergarten; AAG Middle School -- Grade 7; AA Middle School -- Grade 7; AAG Upper School -- Grade 11; AA Upper School -- Grade 11.
Pizza parties and dress down days are being planned so make sure to check with your child about the dates. Thank you again to the parents, students and faculty for your support of the event.
Partnership with The Children's Guide underway
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We are pleased to partner with The Children's Guide -- an online resource for parents looking for local information about activities for children and families, pediatricians, music lessons, birthday parties and many other resources -- during this school year.
As part of this partnership, you will be seeing our school name in ads in Parent Pages and on PBS, on the homepage of The Children's Guide website, and our display at various events organized by The Children's Guide around the Capital Region. |
Please plan to join us at The Children's Guide Winter Carnival on Sunday, January 24 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Woodland Hill Montessori School in North Greenbush. There will be games, magicians, clowns, music classes, karate demonstrations and a scavenger hunt for children. We will have a booth at the event so make sure to stop by and say hello!
Open House -- January 26 & 27
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Please help spread the word to family, friends and colleagues about our upcoming Open Houses set for Tuesday, January 26 from 9:30-11 a.m. for Preschool, Pre-K and Kindergarten students and Wednesday, January 27 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. for all students.
This will be an excellent opportunity for families to learn more about the Academies by speaking with our dedicated faculty, touring our beautiful academic and athletic facilities, and discovering firsthand how the Academies can benefit their child. |
For more information, contact Director of Admissions Bramble Buran or Associate Director of Admissions Drew Lentz at (518) 429-2300 or buranb@albanyacademies.org or lentza@albanyacademies.org, respectively.
Coaches vs. Cancer High School Challenge -- January 31
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Please join us for the 2010 Coaches vs. Cancer High School Challenge -- hosted by The Albany Academies -- on Sunday, January 31 at Siena College.
Be a part of a great day of hoops for a great cause! All proceeds from this event benefit the American Cancer Society. Last year's event raised more than $15,000 for the organization.
The schedule of games is as follows:
Noon -- TBA
1:45 p.m. -- Guilderland vs. Mohonasen
3:30 p.m. -- Newburgh vs. Bishop Maginn
5:15 p.m. -- The Albany Academy vs. Nicols |
The gates for the event open at 11:30 a.m.
For more information, contact AA Dean of Students & AA Head Varsity Basketball Coach Brian Fruscio at (518) 429-2300 or frusciob@albanyacademies.org.
Potential arts camp to be offered in March
We are exploring the opportunity of partnering with The Arts Center of the Capital Region to offer a special camp for Academies students during March break.
Before we commit to doing this, we'd like to gauge the interest of our parents. The camps would be geared towards children ages 6-11 and held at The Arts Center, 265 River Street in Troy. We would like to offer a camp each week -- focus and theme not yet determined -- that would run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (early drop-off and late pick-up would be available) and would need a minimum of six students to participate.
The cost would be approximately $225 per week. If you are interested, please contact Director of External Affairs Ann Wendth at (518) 429-2385 or wendtha@albanyacademies.org. Please watch for more information.
A memorable First Night
Members of the Cadet Corps had an active role in the First Night celebration on New Year's Eve in Saratoga. The Cadet Corps took part in the opening ceremonies of the event with the Color Guard marching and Drill Team & Drum Line performing special presentations for those in attendance.
Special thanks to all of the students for proudly representing the Academies.
Update on holiday campaigns
The 8th grade girls sold angels as part of the Adopt an Angel campaign for The Make-A-Wish Foundation during the holiday season, while our 7th grade boys contributed holiday candy and containers to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House during the holidays.
The girls collected $250 for Make-A-Wish and the boys collected more than $670 for Ronald McDonald House.
Meanwhile, the Schools for Schools Club received 414 usable books to be donated to Atanga Secondary School, our sister school in northern Uganda.
ATHLETICS
Highlights of the week in athletics
Pictured (left to right) are the AA Varsity Wrestling Team; AAG Varsity Basketball Team; and AA Varsity Basketball Team.
CLICK HERE FOR AAG RESULTS.
CLICK HERE FOR AA RESULTS.
All athletic schedules -- Varsity, Junior Varsity, Freshman and Modified -- for the winter season are available in the Athletics section of our Academies website.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.
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
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Stay up to date with our Online Calendar
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