Welcome to a new school year! - 8/25/21

  • Posted August 25, 2021
Albany High Falcon mascot

The following letter is from Principal Jodi Commerford and is being mailed to families. You also can download the letter here.

Dear Falcon Families,

Hello, and welcome to the start of a new school year!  Our plans for the 2021-22 school year are continuing to develop toward our goal of in-person instruction for all students, and I wanted to take this opportunity to update you on the status of that planning. At this time, we are looking forward to having all of our students back in school five days a week.

COVID-19 SAFETY

We also are mindful of the health and safety protocols that remain critically important for all of our students, faculty and staff. As we closely monitor the impact of COVID-19, we continue to align all of our efforts with the guidance of federal, state and local health officials, as well as the New York State Education Department and Capital Region BOCES.

For the start of the 2021-22 school year, the following health and safety protocols will be in place:

  • Masks will be mandatory in school for everyone, regardless of vaccination status. Masks will be optional outside on school grounds.
  • We will follow three feet of social distancing in our buildings wherever possible.
  • In cases where we cannot maintain three feet while also achieving our goal of daily in-person instruction for all students, we will use polycarbonate dividers as an extra safety measure.
  • We will conduct daily temperature screenings for all individuals upon arrival to school.
  • We will continue to follow the same hand hygiene, and daily cleaning and disinfecting protocols that we have since the start of the pandemic.
  • Masks also will be required for all students on buses and we will return to regular capacity guidelines on all buses.

MATERIALS PICKUP

Albany High School will be open Tuesday, Aug. 31 from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. for all students to pick materials including IDs, Chromebooks, schedules, etc. All students and staff should plan to bring a mask with them to wear when inside any school building. Students will enter the building through the courtyard. Please see the specific times below for each academy.  

  • Citizenship: 8:30-10 a.m.
  • Discovery: 10-11:30 a.m.
  • Innovation: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
  • Leadership: 1-2:30 p.m.
  • Make-ups: 2:30-3:30 p.m. Students also can pick up their materials the first day of school.

STUDENT SCHEDULES

Student schedules will be available in schooltool, our student information system, starting Wednesday, Sept. 1.

You can log in to your schooltool Parent Portal account at albanyschools.org/schooltool. If you do not have an account, you can sign up for one there. Your student can access their schedule in schooltool using their student ID number.

ORIENTATION

We will hold orientation for students to ensure they have an opportunity to learn routines, tour the building, and meet staff. Students will enter the building through the courtyard.

Grade 9 -- Thursday, Sept. 2 (no school for grades 10-12)

  • Last names A-L – 8:30-11:30 a.m.
  • Last names M-Z – 12:30-3:30 p.m.

Grades 10-12 – Friday, Sept. 3 (no school for grade 9)

  • Last names A-L – 8:30-11:30 a.m.
  • Last names M-Z –12:30-3:30 p.m.

FIRST DAY OF CLASSES

Wednesday, Sept. 8 is the first day of classes for all students. Once classes begin, students must have their IDs with them at all times. IDs must be visible to enter their cafeteria or the library during designated lunch times. Free lunch is served daily to all students.

ENTRY PROCEDURES

  • 8:15 a.m. – Doors open.
  • 8:15-8:30 a.m. – Students enter through the courtyard with their IDs and proceed through routine security. Each student will have their temperature taken. Students with a temperature below 100 degrees will be allowed to enter the building. Students with a temperature above 100 degrees will be sent to the nurse’s office to await a parent or guardian to pick them up at school.
  • Free breakfast is served daily until 8:30 a.m. Students who arrive late will receive a grab and go breakfast. Free lunch is also provided daily.
  • 8:30 a.m. – Classes start.

TRANSPORTATION

Students continue to be eligible for transportation to and from school based on the district’s standard criteria: all students living 1.5 miles or more from school, and all students whose Individualized Education Plan (IEP) requires specialized transportation. Students receiving specialized transportation will ride yellow buses operated by First Student. All other eligible middle and high school students in the district ride CDTA.

Students eligible to ride CDTA buses will have their student ID activated to use as their bus pass. CDTA also allows a two-week grace period at the start of each school year (through Friday, Sept. 17 this year) when all students are allowed to ride. CDTA will continue to provide tripper buses for our students in the morning and afternoon; eligible students also can ride any regular CDTA bus using their activated student IDs.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS

  • Please let us know if your address has changed so you are able receive important information from school. You can officially change your address online, by mail or in person at our Central Registration office. To change it online, visit albanyschools.org/registration/address.
  • Bus transportation depends on correct addresses being on file at Central Registration!

IMPORTANT FORMS

Please return your completed Emergency Contact Form and Media Release Form included in this packet.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES

There are no specific supplies required for social studies, special education or physical education classes. Supply lists for English, fine arts, music and performing arts classes are on our website at albanyschools.org/albanyhigh. Supply lists for math and science classes will be provided by teachers at the start of the school year.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Encouraging regular school attendance is one of the most powerful ways you can prepare your child for success – both in school and in life. Attendance is important because students are more likely to succeed academically when they attend consistently. Please strive for fewer than five absences a year – excused or unexcused! 

Excused absences are:

  • Illness
  • Illness or death in the family
  • Unsafe travel conditions
  • Religious observance
  • Medical appointments
  • Participation in a school sponsored activity
  • Approved college visits
  • Approved cooperative work programs
  • Academic enrichment
  • Quarantine
  • Required court appearances

All other student absences, tardiness reports or early dismissals will be considered unexcused.

Parents may send a note in with students or email the office to provide an excuse. It is the responsibility of a parent or guardian to provide a written excuse within five school days containing the date of the absence, tardiness or dismissal, along with the reason for such. Each note must contain a working phone number to be able to reach the parent/guardian for verification.

Lengthy or frequent absences may be investigated. A doctor’s note verifying an absence is requested after the fifth consecutive day. Without a doctor’s note, the absence will be marked unexcused. Secretaries will update our student information system as soon as possible after the note is received.

CODE OF CONDUCT and DIGNITY FOR ALL STUDENTS ACT

During the first week of school, we will provide students with an overview of the expectations and opportunities at Albany High through our annual Falcon 101 Assembly. Our administrative team will talk with students about expectations at Albany High and other important information. Please make sure your child understands the expectations as outlined in the Code of Conduct, which will be mailed home in late August and is available at albanyschools.org/conduct.

Please pay careful attention to the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) information, which can be found in the Dignity for All Students Act section at albanyschools.org/dasa. DASA is a federal law that impacts how schools identify and address bullying, intimidation and harassment in schools. We will make sure that students have a clear understanding of what constitutes a DASA issue, how they can prevent bullying, intimidation and harassment, and the consequences for students who engage in behavior that violates DASA. It is important that you and your child clearly understand how DASA applies to Albany High to ensure that all students have a safe and orderly learning environment.

IMPORTANT CALENDAR DATES AT A GLANCE

  • Tuesday, Aug. 31: Student materials pickup (see page 1)
  • Thursday, Sept. 2: Freshman Orientation (see page 2)
  • Friday, Sept. 3: Sophomore, Junior, Senior Orientation (see page 2)
  • Monday, Sept. 6: Labor Day, no school
  • Tuesday, Sept. 7:  Professional Development Day, no school
  • Wednesday, Sept. 8: First day of classes for all students
  • Thursday, Sept. 16: Yom Kippur, no school
  • Tuesday, Sept. 21: PTSA meeting, 5:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Sept. 22: Open House, 6 p.m.

PARENT APPOINTMENTS

Outside visitors will be limited at school to ensure the safety and well-being of students, faculty and staff. If you need to meet with a principal, guidance counselor or teacher, please contact your student’s academy office. The phone numbers are below. Parents and guardians will need to wear masks or face covering at all times when inside school.

  • Citizenship Academy – (518) 475-6220
  • Discovery Academy – (518) 475-6230
  • Innovation Academy – (518) 475-6240
  • Leadership Academy – (518) 475-6250

Thank you for your time and attention in allowing us to share this important information. We look forward to a successful and productive 2021-22 school year!