October public meetings
focus
on final middle-school
proposals
The City School District of Albany Board of Education has narrowed the
list of potential new middle-school options to two and scheduled public
meetings for October to allow families and community members to learn
more and offer feedback.
The first meeting was held Oct. 3 at
North Albany Academy.
Each of the following
meetings will be held from 6:30-8 p.m.
--Tuesday, Oct. 16
-- William S. Hackett Middle School
--Monday, Oct. 22
-- Arbor Hill Elementary School
--Wednesday, Oct. 24
-- Pine Hills Elementary School
The board will review
feedback from these meetings before making a decision on a final
proposal at its Nov. 1 meeting. The proposal then would need voter
approval in 2019.
Please visit our District News section to read more.
Albany High musicians
chosen for local, state
festivals
Bravo! Eight Albany High School virtuosos will represent their school on
Nov. 17 at the Area All-State Music Festival of the New York State
School Music Association (NYSSMA).
And one was selected from among thousands across New York to participate
in a statewide ensemble in December. (MORE)
Cosmetology students help
fight cancer
Throughout
October, the senior students of the Abrookin Career and Technical Center
Cosmetology Program will be making wigs for Breast Cancer Awareness
Month.
These
wigs will be made in class and
donated to women experiencing hair
loss due to cancer treatments.
Please note that in-person
consultations are required before
any services can be provided. For an
appointment with one of our
students, or to learn how you can
help donate, call (518) 475-6412.
Event's focus is safety
Sheridan Preparatory Academy hosted the City of Albany’s 2018 Walk to
School day Oct. 10. More than 5,000 schools across the country participate in
the annual fall event intended to encourage families and community
leaders to ditch the car and walk or bike to school.
(MORE)
Albany High 2019-20 academy
lottery applications
available now
Applications
are available for the lottery to determine placement in Albany High
School’s four academies for the 2019-20 school year.
Click here to download an information booklet and application.
Each of Albany High's
four unique academies has its own theme. Each offers electives specific
to that theme, and the themes also are woven into the core curriculum.
However, students also can take electives in different academies and the
electives are equally available to all. (MORE)
Albany High's life-saving
donations
The
stage was set for a series of life-saving performances in the auditorium
as Albany High School held the first of its three annual blood drives in
partnership with the American Red Cross on Oct. 4.
The
Albany High community pitched in
throughout the day to donate 64
much-needed pints of blood – each of
which can save as many as three
lives. This year’s drive was
organized by senior Chyann Johnson
along with librarian and faculty
adviser Alicia Abdul. (MORE)
Cash for Coats kicks off
For
the 11th year, The City School District of Albany is partnering with
the City of Albany to raise Cash for Coats funds.
Superintendent Kaweeda G. Adams
joined Mayor Kathy Sheehan and the
campaign’s additional sponsors, The
Palace Theatre and Lodge’s
Department Store, at The Palace
Theatre on Oct. 3 to kick off the
appeal.
“The correlation between attendance
and the ability of children to get
to school safely and warmly is
clear. It’s important for our
students to be in school and they
can’t get there during the difficult
winter months without appropriate
outerwear,” said Adams. (MORE)
Upcoming literacy tutor
training
The
City School District of Albany will
offer free training for the Oasis
Tutoring Program on Saturday, Oct.
27 from 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at the
Harriet Gibbons Student Services
Center located at 75 Watervliet Ave.
This
program pairs adult tutors with
students in kindergarten through
fourth grade. Volunteer tutors help
students once a week in
individualized, one-on-one sessions
and are provided with free training,
materials and in-school support. (MORE)
District playgroup targets
tiny learners
The
youngest future Falcons in the City School District of Albany enrolled
in their first-ever class Tuesday. It’s called “Play, Learn, Soar,” and
it’s a brand new early education program offered to infants and children
up to age 3 at Arbor Hill Elementary School.
“I want them to make friends
and be comfortable with other
people,” said Elaine Evans, who
attended with her 8- and
19-month-olds. “Then they won’t be
nervous when they start school.” (MORE)
FirstView bus-tracking app
available
First Student Inc., the City School District of Albany’s transportation
partner, has launched its bus-tracking communications app, FirstView,
for the 2018-19 school year.
FirstView
allows you use your smartphone or
desktop to track the location and
direction of your student’s bus,
your student's stop schedule for the
current day, and times for school
arrivals and departures. You’ll know
when the bus gets to school in the
morning and leaves in the afternoon.
Please visit our District News
section to read more.
To
help highlight some of the primary
areas of focus in our district
priorities for this school year and
beyond, we have produced a series of
videos to start the school year. In
addition to Superintendent Kaweeda
G. Adams, these videos also feature
the voices of individuals –
students, staff and community
partners – speaking on the topics of
school and community safety, student
attendance, positive student
engagement and the importance of
community partnerships. (
As we
start the 2018-19 school year, check
out the City School District of
Albany’s new middle-school
curriculum guide. It’s a
comprehensive overview of what
students and families can expect at
each of the district's three middle
schools. 
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