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Thursday, April 01, 2010
The Albany Academies e-newsletter
Week of March 29
Academy student receives top science honor
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Congratulations to Alydaar Rangwala (Form V, pictured at left) for placing first in the Greater Capital Region Science & Engineering Fair on March 27 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
His project titled "UVA1 Skin Irradiation Modulates the Migration of Dendritic Cells: A Novel Mechanism for the Potential Beneficial Effects of Phototherapy on Systemic Disease" began after working on an independent research project about Langerhans Cell Histocytosis, a disease that is rare but can have a high mortality rate when it occurs in very young children. |
Alydaar received a number of prizes for winning the local competition, including a $40,000 scholarship to RPI and a $500 cash prize. He will continue on to compete in the prestigious and highly competitive Intel International Science & Engineering Fair from May 9-14 in San Jose, CA. Alydaar will be joined by more than 1,500 high school students from around the globe at the world's largest international pre-college science competition.
We wish the best of luck to Alydaar as he represents the Academies next month!
International Festival celebrates our school community!
More than 500 families from throughout the Capital Region had the opportunity to experience the rich diversity that exists at the Academies during the Second Annual International Taste of the World Festival on March 27 in the Silipigno Athletic Facility.
The community festival featured cuisine, dance demonstrations and cultural displays from 30 families representing more than 20 countries and cultures.
The event received excellent coverage in the March 28 edition of the Times Union with two photos of Academies students Celine Zhao '11, Ansley Teal '22 & Kaili Ebert '19. Thank you to World Languages Department Chair Donna Keegan and all of the parent, faculty & student volunteers for their work in planning the festival and helping to make this experience so enriching for our community. We are already beginning to plan for next year's event!
Academy students give back during service trip
Three Academy students -- Hannah O'Connor '12, Dana Gough '11 & Elizabeth Robinson '11 -- spent their Spring Break on an 11-day service/learning trip to Nicaragua.
Joined by faculty members Chris Conway & Kristen Burns, the students had the chance to work in the San Juan de las Canoas community to assist with a community wash station project for the El Porvenir organization -- which assists people living in rural Nicaraguan communities to better their lives through sustainable development in clean water, sanitation, reforestation and health education.
The Academy contingent painted the wash station and carried rocks to build a dry well for the runoff water. They also had a chance to visit with families living in the impoverished community.
In addition, the trip involved an eco-tourism aspect as they took in many of the breathtaking sights of Nicaragua, including spending a night on top of the Mombacho volcano; hiking to a beautiful waterfall on the Maderas volcano of Ometepe Island; and taking a boat ride through Juan Venado Island where they saw a variety of wildlife. The students had an amazing time on the trip and were able to visit a part of the world that few Americans ever see.
Proudly representing their cultures
Academy students David Benocs (Form V), Marko Meretei (Form V), Roma Luthra '10, Avneet Gujral '10, Kristina Militar '10 & Alex Militar (Form IV) gave excellent presentations on their cultural backgrounds at an International Student Assembly on March 26 in Caird Chapel on the AA campus.
The event was the third installment in a series of assemblies to promote the rich diversity that exists at our school. Special thanks to World Languages Department Chair Donna Keegan for organizing the event.
Mock Trial team competes in Albany County finals
The Mock Trial team fought through a number of obstacles, including a postponement due to inclement weather and a schedule of trials that ran through spring break, and ultimately participated in the Albany County finals.
This was the first time in a number of years that the team made it past the County semifinals. Along the way, the team defeated Guilderland High School twice and CBA before finally losing by a point to Academy of the Holy Names.
The team was led by Jane Ramage '10, Darcy Benson '10, Adah Keegan '10, Jin Yeon Kim '10, Hollis Puig '10 and Sydney MacAliser '10 (and honorary member Melanie Argoff '10, who stepped in as a last-minute replacement for a trial over Spring Break), and included Rachel Ruller '11, Dana Gough '11 and Nick Rotundo (Form V), and Hannah O'Connor '12, Emily Downie '12 and Peter Schmitz-Morfe (Form IV). The team was coached by attorneys Erin Reese and Kenneth Weafer, and its faculty-coach was Dr. Stephen Brown.
Well-known author inspires Academy students
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Author Liz Welch (pictured at left) visited the Academies today to discuss the memoir that she and her siblings wrote titled The Kids Are All Right -- named one of the American Library Association's Best Books of the Year.
Ms. Welch discussed with students in faculty member Liz Koonz's & David Pascone's English classes how she and her siblings coped with the tragic deaths of their father and mother when all of them were teenagers and young children. It's a remarkable story!
Ms. Welch will be at The Book House in Stuyvesant Plaza tonight beginning at 7 p.m. |
A taste of the city
Our 8th grade girls and boys had the opportunity to experience the sights and sounds of New York City and Boston, respectively, on March 25 & 26.
The girls, led by AAG Preschool through Grade 8 Director Susan Rimkunas and faculty members Jessica Lawton, Kate Bernardi & Jane Conway, visited a variety of educational spots in New York City, including the home of Franklin D. Roosevelt for a library tour and trivia scavenger hunt! The girls also had the chance to visit the popular "Bodies: The Exhibition" where they saw human specimens, usually only allowed to be viewed by medical professionals!
The boys, led by AA Pre-K through Grade 8 Director Jeffrey Brown and faculty members Vince Zabinski, Christina Sullivan & Patty Pulver, visited a variety of Boston's finest historical sites such as the Boston Museum of Science, Freedom Trail and Fenway Park!
Cadet Corps performs at Chamber Annual Dinner
The Albany Academy Cadet Corps led nearly 1,000 business and community leaders into the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce's Annual Dinner at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center on March 10. The event honored Dr. Alain Kaloyeros, Senior Vice President & CEO of the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering at the University at Albany, and Nehme Frangie, Vice President of Partnerships & Operations at Vicarious Visions, Inc.
Getting this number of attendees from the reception to dinner is always a challenge, but our students did it in style and with such professionalism. "The boys were great -- what nice young men and very personable! We really appreciated them taking the time to come and participate in the event," said Carissa Rosato, Events & Program Manager at the Chamber.
A musical delight for Academy families
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Academy families received a great treat on Wednesday as local a capella group Revamped performed a number of hit songs in the AAG Music Room.
Revamped, which includes faculty member Matthew Streifert, is a group of 10 singers who perform popular music a capella.
Our own Upper School Chorus also joined in on the fun for a few songs! |
Transportation deadline is today!
An email reminder went out this past Monday about the deadline for transportation to the Academies for the 2010-2011 school year.
Transportation to private schools within 15 miles of a student’s home is provided by his/her home district. Parents must submit for transportation each year that their child(ren) is/are enrolled at a private school.
If you are requesting transportation for the 2010-11 school year, please complete your school district's form and submit the paperwork by today, April 1.
ACCESS THE TRANSPORTATION FORMS.
ACCOLADES
The highest rank in Boy Scouts
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Sasmith Menakuru (Form IV, pictured at left) has completed all of his required merit badges and is currently working on his final project to receive the rank of Eagle Scout -- the highest honor in Boy Scouts (just one in 50 Boy Scouts achieve the rank of Eagle Scout). He will be hosting a free Health Fair on Saturday, April 17 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Bethlehem YMCA located at 900 Delaware Avenue in Delmar.
For the project, Sasmith has requested that doctors, nurses and volunteers from the American Red Cross, American Cancer Society and YMCA provide health information to anyone who would like to attend. More than 15 doctors and nurses have agreed to attend the Health Fair to provide information on topics such as Diabetes; cancer; smoking & alcohol; Alzheimer's; and testing your CPR skills. |
Sasmith has been involved with the Boy Scouts organization for the past six years and currently serves as a Senior Patrol Leader; he is entering his second year as a teacher at the annual National Youth Leadership Training Camp held in Averill Park, NY each summer (he was elected to the position at a previous camp). He and 15 other Boy Scouts teach leadership and communication seminars to both Boy Scouts and adults on an ongoing basis. Best of luck to Sasmith as he reaches this tremendous honor.
Hope to see you at the Health Fair on April 17!
Academy coach inducted into NYS Hall of Fame
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Longtime Academy coach Dave Rider '73 (pictured at left) was inducted into the New York State High School Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame on March 13 in Utica, NY.
Coach Rider began working at The Albany Academy in the fall of 1977 and began coaching two years later in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association. During the next 18 years, his teams went 335-113-14 -- including eight league championships and eight Section II championships.
He stepped down from his coaching position in 2009 having coached in more than 700 games for the Cadets and guiding them to 427 victories. A permanent plaque will be placed in his honor in the Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid, NY. |
AA Varsity Baseball Team to host youth clinic
The AA Varsity Baseball Team will put on a skills clinic for the American Little League on Saturday, April 17 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the American Little League field in Krank Park in Albany.
The clinic is an opportunity for the players to act as coaches to young people and give them a different perspective of the game. The goal of the clinic is to remind the baseball players of how fortunate they are to be pursuing their dreams of playing high school baseball and remember what it was like to be a Little League player.
Special thanks to Marc Freed P'11, '13 and coaches Dave Rider & Jack Brock for coordinating the event.
IMPORTANT UPCOMING EVENTS
Upcoming Admissions events
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Our Admissions Office will be holding a number of upcoming events for prospective parents to learn about the many benefits of an Academies education. Please encourage your friends and colleagues to attend these events to find out about the long tradition of academic excellence that exists at our school.
We will be holding a Visiting Week from this Monday, April 5 through Friday, April 9. Prospective families must register for a tour during Visiting Week, and should contact Admissions Associate Shellie Carr at (518) 429-2348 or carrs@albanyacademies.org. |
A Lower School Admissions Information Session is set for this Wednesday, April 7 from 8-10:30 a.m. on both the AAG & AA campuses. Prospective families will meet on the AAG & AA campuses, respectively. The schedule is as follows:
8:15-9 a.m. -- Lower School Assembly
9-9:30 a.m. -- Lower School presentation with AAG Preschool through Grade 8 Director Susan Rimkunas & AA Pre-K through Grade 8 Director Jeffrey Brown
9:30-10:30 a.m. -- Tours of the AAG & AA campuses
In addition, we will be holding a Middle School Admissions Information Session on Thursday, May 20 beginning at 8 a.m. on both campuses.
For more information about either Information Session, please contact Ms. Carr.
Scholastic Book Fair -- April 5-9
The Scholastic Book Fair is set for this Monday, April 5 through Friday, April 9 from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day in the AAG Activities Room.
Encouraging young people to develop a love of reading is crucial to longterm success in school and life; we hope that you will take the time to browse the book fair selection with your child. Please note that the books will be predominantly geared towards elementary and middle school students.
Volunteers are still being accepted for the event; please contact Janet Harris at harrisj@albanyacademies.org and type "Scholastic Book Fair" in the subject line along with the dates and times that you are available in the email.
AAPA meeting -- April 6
Join us for the next Albany Academies Parents Association meeting on Tuesday, April 6 at 8 a.m. in The Buttery on the AA campus; please note that this is a change in location.
Independent Science Research presentations -- April 7
Please make plans to join us for the Independent Science Research presentations on Wednesday, April 7 at 2:55 p.m. in Caird Chapel on the AA campus.
The event will feature presentations from Academy students Roma Luthra '10, Katherine Cattini '10, Ankur Patel (Form VI) & Alydaar Rangwala (Form V).
The ISR program at the Academies provides motivated students with the opportunity to learn about and engage in original science research and expose them to both on and off-campus mentoring and facilities. All research is experimental in nature, and students may choose to do their own project or work with a research scientist in the local community.
All parents are welcome to attend.
WY trip information session -- April 19
The Jackson, WY trip set for June 21-29 is just around the corner, and there are a limited number of spots available for this unique opportunity for Upper School students. We will be hosting an informational session on Monday, April 19 from 3:30 to 6 p.m. in Caird Chapel for all interested parents and students.
The session will be hosted by former Arts Chair Dana DeYoung & AAG Assistant Varsity Basketball Coach Michael Zabinski '03, who will act as chaperones on the trip. During the trip, students will be able 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.
For more information about the information session, contact Mr. Zabinski at zabinskim@albanyacademies.org.
AA & AAG Art Shows -- April 28 & 30
Mark your calendars for the AA & AAG Art Shows set for Wednesday, April 28 and Friday, April 30, respectively.
Both events will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will feature individual and group performances. Following the AA Art Show will be an Upper School Band & Chorus performance; following the AAG Art Show will be a Middle & Upper School Dance performance. More information will be available in the coming weeks!
Albany Children's Book Festival -- May 15
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Don't forget that we are hosting a Picture Book Writing Contest as part of the Albany Children's Book Festival set for May 15 on the AAG campus.
Students will be judged in one of two categories: Tweens (Grades 4-8) and Teens (Grades 9-12). There is no fee for participation, but there are some rules and guidelines. One grand prize winner will receive a notebook computer, and two additional prizes of $100 and $50 will be awarded in each group.
PICTURE BOOK WRITING CONTEST GUIDELINES |
We are also profiling various authors and illustrators scheduled for the festival with spotlight pieces on our Academies website.
VIEW THE SPOTLIGHTS.
BECOME A FACEBOOK FAN OF THE FESTIVAL!
A special website for the book festival has been created at www.albanychildrensbookfestival.com.
Legacy of Dreams -- June 19
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We encourage you to save the date for the 2010 Legacy of Dreams set for Saturday, June 19 at the Fort Orange Club.
All proceeds from this event benefit the athletic programs at Albany Academy for Girls & The Albany Academy.
Stay tuned for more information in the upcoming weeks! |
Opera tickets available
Our school has been offered 24 complimentary tickets to the dress rehearsal of Wagner's "The Flying Dutchman" on Tuesday, April 20 at the Metropolitan Opera in Lincoln Center in New York City. The show will run from 11 a.m. to 1:25 p.m. with no intermission (students can eat either before or afterwards).
Although transportation will not be provided by the Academies, we do encourage parents to arrange for car pooling or coordinate travel to New York City by train. The invitation is open to all Academy families; please note that AAG Upper School students will not be available that day due to the AAG Cum Laude Induction Ceremony.
Please respond to Shelly Reid at reidm@albanyacademies.org by Friday, April 9 if you would like tickets.
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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