Holiday Spa Day TOMORROW – Get glammed up for the holidays by our student cosmetologists on Saturday, tomorrow, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.! Two salon services are $25 or get a VIP package for $45. Learn more.
Help our food pantry Tuesday – We are in desperate need of the following new hygiene items for students and families who visit our food pantry: deodorant, body wash, toothbrushes, toothpaste, sanitary napkins, shampoo and lip balm. Drop off Tuesday at the pantry from 4-6:30 p.m. You also can bring an item to the boys' home basketball games that night and get a free water or bag of chips from the concession stand! Freshman game is 4:15 p.m., JV game is 5:30 p.m., varsity game is 7 p.m.
In the food pantry – The school food pantry behind the Citizenship Office is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 3:45-5:30 p.m. or by appointment. Specials next week: Gatorade flavored water, apples, macaroni and cheese, cornflakes, crunchy granola bars, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, green beans and a variety of Tazo teas.
Spirit week is next week – Get into the holiday spirit and show your Falcon spirit! Each day is a different theme. Learn more.
Online Success Center open during break – Improve first quarter grades over the holiday break. The Online Success Center will be open Dec 26-29 in the library. from 9 a.m. to noon. Learn more.
Attention seniors and their families – The Guidance Department will host two working sessions for families needing assistance completing applications for the Free Application for Student Aid, or FAFSA, and the Tuition Assistance Program, or TAP – both of which help determine whether a student is eligible for college financial aid. Sessions are Jan. 18 and Feb. 15; registration required. Learn more.
Attention sophomores and juniors and their families – On Jan. 24, the Guidance Department will host a College Information Night for 10th and 11th-grade families in the auditorium at 6 p.m. The event will include an overview of the college search and application process. Anyone who is considering post-high school education, whether it is at a four-year or two-year college, a business college, or technical school should attend. Learn more.
Musicians in demand – Falcons are getting gigs all over the place! On Friday, hundreds of guests attending an annual technology conference at the Albany Capital Center were treated to the sweet sounds of a Falcon string quartet as they registered and a smoking onstage performance by the Jazzmanian Devils that opened the show. Learn more.
Elvis plays Academy Park – Visit our Facebook page to see junior Jonathon Booth channeling his inner King of Rock and Roll for a special performance at the Academy Park holiday luncheon! Crooning out two of Elvis’ hits, Booth was the highlight of the annual lunch for district office staff. Accompanying him were Superintendent Joseph Hochreiter on drums, Discovery Academy Principal Jordan Goldman on guitar, and his son Garrison Goldman on bass.
Falcons provide holiday cheer – The select choir and jazz ensembles helped the State Education Department get into the holiday spirt Monday afternoon with performances during the Board of Regents Chancellor’s Holiday Gathering in the building’s magnificent second-floor rotunda. See a Facebook photo album from the party.
Soccer All-Stars – Four varsity soccer players recently were named to Suburban Council All Star teams. Congratulations toChristian Bermejo, Farrell Leon, Meshaki Lubila and Thierry Nkurunziza. More infomration can be found here.
Falcons battle cancer on the court - Congratulations to the varsity boys' basketball team on their 93-90 win over Schalmont in last Sunday's Coaches vs. Cancer tournament. More details can be found here.
Jazz at Spinners – Our outstanding jazz ensembles – the B Flats and Jazzmanian Devils – had a special guest during their performances at Spinner’s on Dec. 8 – Superintendent Joseph Hochreiter sitting in on drums for a few songs. Check out Facebook photos from the gig.
Monday, Dec. 18-Friday Dec. 22 – Spirit Week. Learn more.
Tuesday, Dec. 19 – Help our food pantry (see above)
Friday, Dec. 22 – Pep rally, 2 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 25-Monday, Jan. 1 – No school, holiday recess
Tuesday, Dec. 26-Friday, Dec. 29 – Online Success Center open, library, 9 a.m.-noon. Learn more.
Tuesday, Jan. 2 – Back to school
Monday, Jan. 15 – No school, Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Thursday, Jan. 18 – College financial aid form assistance help session, appointment required. Learn more.
Tuesday, Jan. 23-Friday, Jan. 26 – Regents exams; only students taking exams need to report to school
Tuesday, Jan. 23 – Music teacher concert, auditorium, 6:30 p.m. Stay tuned for details.
Wednesday, Jan. 24 – College Information Night, auditorium, 6 p.m. Learn more.
Important reminders
Take our Family Engagement Survey – The City School District of Albany would like your input in our annual family engagement survey. Each school has a customized survey, which you can access from our website. The survey only takes a few minutes to complete, and the feedback you provide will play a vital role in our school improvement efforts. The survey will be open through Jan. 5.
Bring up grades online – Albany High students can now bring up their first-quarter grades at the Online Success Center. All students with at least 85% attendance are welcome to sign up. Please note that as of this year, 65% is the highest new grade possible. See Mr. Vacanti in room 1311 or email tvacanti@albany.k12.ny.us for more information.
Next Gen Barbers is open for business – Students, staff and community members can get haircuts Thursday and Friday afternoons from from 1:15-2:45 p.m. at Abrookin. Cost is free for students, $5 for staff and $10 for community members, and an appointment is required. Learn more.
Free salon services for 55+ – Attention Albany residents age 55 and up: Get free beauty services from aspiring beauticians every Thursday at Albany High! Learn more.
Leaving school – Albany High School is a closed campus. Students are not allowed to leave campus for any reason without parent permission. This includes during lunch and study hall. If a student has an appointment, i.e. doctor, medical, family matter, etc., they must have a note or phone call from a parent giving permission to leave. All students also must be signed out by a parent in order to leave school grounds. Students who leave campus without a valid reason will not be allowed to re-enter without parent contact.
Traveling to and from Abrookin – All students must take the bus to and from Abrookin Career and Technical Center and the main campus for any classes. This will prevent students from being late and having to go back through security, and ensure student safety. Students who do not take the bus will not be allowed to re-enter without parent contact. The bus is available at Building 2, Stair 2-2 and at the Abrookin entrance.
