Albany Academy

The Albany Academies e-newsletter
Week of March 1

US students produce 'memorable' performance!

Students acted scenes based on archival research and the written memories of alumni/ae, while other students sang songs from Broadway shows that the alumni/ae remembered. Following the first act, student musicians then presented a big band approach to some of the pop hits of that time period, and other students and faculty (along with the audience!) danced in the AAG Lower School Gym to the tunes!

It was a very special event for our parents, students, faculty and alumni/ae. Special thanks to Mr. Cummings along with faculty members Matt Streifert, Joe Jacobs and Cathy Teitelbaum '65 as well as so many of our devoted alumni/ae.

4th grade girls put on impressive show!

Pictured (left to right) at the annual AAG 4th grade play are Mark Eisenhardt & Erik Kulleseid with their daughter, Cecelia Eisenhardt ; Millinia Seward & her mother, Keisha Wright; and Kevin O'Connor & Sari O'Connor with their daughter, Elizabeth Kalin.

Pictured (left to right) are Catherine Brown & her daughter, Gwen Brown; Dr. Padmapriya Menakuru & Venkat Menakuru with their daughter, Nivya Menakuru; and Carla Henderson & David Henderson with their daughter, Julia Henderson .

Congratulations to the 4th grade girls and faculty members Sandra Miorin & Ann Morris for their hard work in preparing for the annual AAG 4th grade play on Wednesday in the AAG Auditorium. Hats off to the girls for their captivating performance in front of excited Lower School students and families.

This year's play was set up as a mock talk show featuring classic fairy tale characters such as Cinderella, Jiminy Crickett and Snow White.

The girls developed their own characters, memorized their lines, created the set and scenery and put together the costumes, props and program.

Academy student selected for national science contest

Steven Barra '16 (pictured at left) has been selected to represent The Albany Academy at the National Invent America! Contest for his innovation on a clean cover for drinking soda cans. Our school has had six previous national winners in the past, with the most recent being Jordan Newton for his 5th grade invention.

In addition to the contest, Steven and 18 other 6th grade boys and one 6th grade girl turned in applications for the New York State Invention Convention.

Models for the contest are chosen during the month of May to be displayed at the Schenectady Museum & Suits-Bueche Planetarium.

Academy student places in Shakespeare Competition

Victoria Waldron '11 placed third in the 26th Annual Shakespeare Competition at the William K. Sanford Town Library on February 28.

The Annual Shakespeare Competition is presented by the Albany chapter of the English-Speaking Union. Sixty other branches throughout the country held similar competitions with the winner of each being sent to Lincoln Center in New York City in April.

Victoria was selected to represent the Academies after taking first place at the school competition on February 25 in the AAG Auditorium. Victoria, Lucy Abrams '13, Anthony Rossi (Form IV) and Jennifer Wicks '10 each performed a Shakespearean monologue that was judged by AAG & AA Middle & Upper School Librarian Audrey Koester, faculty member David Pascone and Adam Collett.

Pictured (left to right) are Lucy Abrams, Anthony Rossi, Victoria Waldron & Jennifer Wicks at the school competition in the AAG Auditorium.

Academy students become teachers...

Our 2nd & 3rd grade boys have been learning about Native Americans recently. The 2nd graders were responsible for researching animals that were important to the Iroquis; meanwhile, the 3rd graders expanded their knowledge by researching a different Native American tribe.

After completing the research, the boys brought home their note cards and created a project that represented what they had learned. They also wrote a research paper. The students presented the projects on February 26 to all of the Lower School classes, their parents, AA Pre-K through Grade 8 Director Jeffrey Brown & Head of School Dr. Douglas North.

The boys were excellent teachers and all of the visitors learned about different Native American tribes and animals.

All about animals

The 2nd grade girls are putting the finishing touches on their first interdisciplinary research reports. Working with AAG Lower School Librarian Stephanie Donnaruma and faculty members Bridget McGivern and Elizabeth Masterson, each student selected an animal that she wanted to learn more about.

Using background knowledge developed through their language arts and science classes, the students practiced gathering information, taking notes, and analyzing and synthesizing facts into a cohesive report written in their own words. The girls also completed a diorama that shows their animal in its natural habitat.

The dioramas will be on display when the students return from Spring Break; please stop by and take a look at the girls' work!

NAACP local head stresses importance of education

Anne Pope, Northeast Regional Director of the NAACP, visited the Academies on March 1 to discuss the NAACP and her background to Middle School students in Caird Chapel.

Ms. Pope has been working with the organization to combat issues such as police brutality and discrimination for more than 30 years. During her presentation, she spoke to our students about her childhood and described what it was like to grow up in a segregated town long before the Civil Rights movement.

She said that she was always taught the importance of receiving an education, and told the students that she has always lived by the phrase "education is the key to freedom."

Many thanks to Ms. Pope for taking the time to visit our school and to faculty member Beverly Carter for helping to arrange the presentation.

Pictured (left to right) are Ms. Pope & Ms. Carter after the presentation in Caird Chapel.

An Alaskan adventure

The 1st grade boys have been learning all about Alaska this week. Faculty member Karin Epstein organized a number of activities for the students, including visits from the Scotia-Glenville Traveling Museum & Head of School Dr. Douglas North.

On Tuesday, Mrs. Sawyer from the Traveling Museum gave a wonderful presentation about Alaska with props such as a miniature totem pole and a dog sled to help teach the boys all about Alaskans, the land, animals and the Iditarod. The boys even created their very own Aleut Brentwood Hats similar to those that the Aleuts wear while hunting.

On Wednesday, Dr. North visited the classroom to discuss his experience living in Alaska. Spending lots of time by the water living in Anchorage, AK, Dr. North was able to provide the students with an array of firsthand knowledge about different animals such as the beluga wale, killer whale and sea lions that they were asked to research as part of the unit.

This morning, the boys presented their research to the Lower School classes.

Arts Camp begins next week!

This is the last chance to enroll your child in the upcoming arts camps being coordinated by The Arts Center of the Capital Region during our March break. Details and registration are being coordinated directly through The Arts Center.

There will be two sessions: March 8-12 -- Imagine That! Characters, Cartoons, Comics + More; and March 15-19 -- Art from Around the World.

For more information, please contact the center at (518) 273-0552 Ext. 231. If you have any questions, please contact Director of External Affairs Ann Wendth at (518) 429-2385 or wendtha@albanyacademies.org.

FLYER ABOUT THE CAMPS

Volunteers needed for International Taste of the World Festival

Would you like to bring in a dish representing your cultural background to share with Academy families? We currently have 23 families representing more than 20 countries committed to preparing food and sharing their culture at the International Taste of the World Festival on Saturday, March 27 from 3-6 p.m. in the Silipigno Athletic Facility on the AAG campus.

The festival will feature delicious food tasting, international dancing, crafts and performances. There is no charge for admission.

If you are interested in sharing your culture and/or a recipe for our International Cookbook being assembled, please complete the registration form and return it to World Languages Chair Donna Keegan. If you are interested in volunteering for the event, please contact Madame Keegan at keegand@albanyacademies.org.

INTERNATIONAL TASTE OF THE WORLD FESTIVAL REGISTRATION FORM

This special event is open to the public. We hope that you will join us!

Summer Camp registration now available!

We have put together an outstanding selection of camp offerings for Summer Camp 2010 at the Academies to provide children and young adults with an exciting summer experience.

Swimming, tennis, science, yoga, dancing and cooking are just some of the options available through the LEAP program. SAT Prep and Drivers Education courses are also being offered this summer and will fill up fast!

Brochures have been mailed and are available on both the AAG & AA campuses. Many of the camps begin on June 14!

If you know someone who would like a brochure, please contact Director of External Affairs Ann Wendth at (518) 429-2385 or wendtha@albanyacademies.org.

We will have a booth at the 2010 Kidz Expo this Saturday, March 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany. Stop by and visit if you are in the area!

SUMMER CAMP 2010 BROCHURE

SUMMER CAMP 2010 REGISTRATION FORM

SUMMER CAMP 2010 HEALTH HISTORY AND IMMUNIZATION FORM

REGISTER ONLINE FOR SUMMER CAMP 2010.

Unique Wyoming trip set for June!

There are a limited number of spots remaining for the custom-planned trip to Jackson, WY being offered to Upper School students at the Academies from June 21-29.

Students will have the chance to take part in a variety of unique activities, including horseback riding into the Washakie Wilderness of the Shoshone National Forest in the Wind River Range, guided hikes, fishing, and a visit to Yellowstone National Park.

This experience is sure to leave a lasting impact on your child!

Former Arts Chair Dana DeYoung and AAG Assistant Varsity Basketball Coach Michael Zabinski '03 are coordinating the trip through Condor Adventures, a travel agency owned by Ms. DeYoung. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Mr. Zabinski at zabinskim@albanyacademies.org.

WYOMING TRIP FLYER

WYOMING TRIP ITINERARY

WYOMING TRIP ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RISK AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY FORM

WYOMING TRIP PASSENGER INFORMATION FORM

2010-2011 Academic Calendar now available

The 2010-2011 Academic Calendar has been added to the Academies website. Please note that the calendar does not yet include Community Service Days, Professional Development Days or Parent-Teacher Conferences.

2010-2011 ACADEMIC CALENDAR

ATHLETICS

All recent athletic results -- including Sectional highlights -- can be found in the Athletics section of our website.

ALBANY ACADEMY FOR GIRLS RESULTS

THE ALBANY ACADEMY RESULTS

Spring sports have begun at the Academies!

All athletic schedules -- Varsity, JV, Freshman and Modified -- for the spring season are available in the Athletics section of our Academies website.

ATHLETIC SCHEDULES

Academy moms to receive special discount

The Children's Guide -- an online resource of activities for children and families-- is offering all Academy mothers a special discount on its upcoming Mom Retreat set for Sunday, March 14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Century House in Latham. This event is a great opportunity to pamper yourself with spa treatments, seminars, gift bags, raffle prizes, shopping and meeting with vendors!

All Academy moms will receive a $10 discount on the event. Register online at www.thechildrensguide.com and note that you heard about the event through The Albany Academies. Our school has partnered with The Children's Guide this year as part of an effort to reach out to families that may not be familiar with the Academies.

T.G.I. Friday's to support Haiti relief efforts

T.G.I. Friday's is helping our school give back with the help of some of their delicious items. The Stuyvesant Plaza Friday's has graciously offered to work with the Academies in an effort to assist those affected by the recent devastation in Haiti.

Visit Friday's Restaurant on Tuesday, March 23 any time between 11:30 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. and Friday's will donate $5 to the Academies Haiti Relief Fund for every $20 spent.

Make sure to print out the flyer below and bring it with you to redeem the offer. This initiative is also open to the general community.

T.G.I. FRIDAY'S FLYER

Local band to play at Northern Lights

Do you enjoy live music? Are you looking for something to do on a Saturday night? Come out to support The Museum Guards, a local student rock band comprised of our own Academy students John Cattini (Form III) and Anthony Parente (Form III) along with Joe Crodelle from Shaker High School.

The group will be playing on Saturday, March 27 at 7:30 p.m. at Northern Lights in Clifton Park along with two other local bands in support of national band Pop Evil.

Tickets are $10 in advance. Students age 16 or older should be prepared to show ID; students under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Please see John Cattini, Katherine Cattini or Anthony Parente to purchase tickets in advance.

Have a restful and enjoyable Spring Break!

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.