News and events - 5/17/24

Greetings, Falcon families!

 News of the week

• Front page front-runners – The Times Union featured our 10-1 and first seeded flag football team in Friday's newspaper. The Falcons' playoff game begins at 5 p.m. Friday on Albany High's turf field - bring The Nest!
• No school for students Tuesday – The City School District of Albany will hold its annual budget vote Tuesday, and you can go to the polls from 7 a.m.- 9 p.m. There will be no school for students that day.
• Artists' showcase Wednesday – On May 22 from 3:30-6:30 p.m., our creative and talented art students will host Create Fest 2024. It will be held in Fine Arts Building 4 and included will be the Art Honors Society Induction ceremony at 5 p.m.
• College aid drop-in session Wednesday – Counselors will be available to help  seniors connect to the Higher Education Services Corporation for college financial aid assistance on Wednesday in the library computer lab from 2-5 p.m.
• Job fair Thursday for students, community – Attention job seekers: Albany High School will hold a career fair on Thursday featuring some 60 businesses seeking employees. The event will be open to Albany High students from 1-3:30 p.m. and family and community members from 3:30-5 p.m. 
• In the food pantry next week – The school food pantry behind the Citizenship Office will not be open Tuesday, but is open Wednesday and Thursday from 3:45-5:30 p.m. or by appointment. Specials next week include cinnamon bread, sugar, condiments, coconut water, salmon, frozen sweet sausage, southwest chicken patties, eggs, and fruit punch, juice boxes, and unsweetened tea.
• Memorial Day break – School will be closed from Friday, May 24-Wednesday, May 29 through a combination of Memorial Day Recess and our three unused snow/emergency days. Classes will resume on Thursday, May 30.
• Congratulations, James Chaney – Accompany James Chaney through the hallways of our school, and you’ll see him greet every person who crosses his path with a smile, high-five or hug. So it’s no surprise that New York State United Teachers  (NYSUT) recently named him the statewide 2024 School Related Professional Member of the Year.
• That's a wrap – The Athletic Department finished up Senior Nights this week with baseball and boys' lacrosse.

Upcoming events

• Saturday, May 18 – Junior Prom, Hilton Albany, 6-10 p.m.
• Monday, May 20
  • World Language Honor Society inductions, 5:30 p.m.
  • Booster Club meeting, library, 6 p.m.
• Tuesday, May 21
  • No school for students, school budget vote and board elections
  • PTSA meeting, library or attend remotely, 5:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, May 22
  • College aid drop-in session, library computer lab, 2-5 p.m.
  • CREATE Fest 2024, 3:30 p.m., art wing (see above)
  • Art Honor Society inductions, 5 p.m., art wing
• Thursday, May 23 – Job Fair, gym
  • Students – 1-3:30 p.m. 
  • Parents, guardians and family members – 3:30-5 p.m.
• Friday, May 24-Wednesday, May 29 – No school, Memorial Day Recess (includes three snow days we did not use)
• Thursday, May 30 – New Families Orientation, auditorium, 5:30 p.m.
• Friday, May 31 – Falcon Jazz at Spinners, 7-10 p.m.
• Saturday, June 1 – SAT exam, 7:45 a.m.
• Monday, June 3 – Junior-Senior Awards Night, auditorium, 5:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, June 4
  • Algebra Regents; only students taking the test need to come to school that day
  • Community forum with updates by National Coalition Building Institute, library, 6 p.m., 
• Wednesday, June 5
  • National Decision Day: Seniors wear your college shirts and accessories
  • Blood Drive, library, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Friday, June 7 – JROTC Awards Night Night, 5:30 p.m.
• Monday, June 10-Friday, June 14 – Senior portrait sittings
• Wednesday, June 12 – Athletics Awards Night, 6 p.m. (new date)

Important reminders

• Attention parents of seniors:
  • Please make sure your senior checks their Google classroom for information about available scholarships.
  • Please make sure your senior places their online order for their graduating cap and gown if they haven't already done so.
• Reminder to juniors: time to schedule your senior portrait – Attention Class of 2025! It's time schedule your senior portrait. Upstate Images will be at Albany High School June 10-14. You can either sign up for a yearbook portrait, which is free and consists of either a tux or drape against a blue background, or choose a package with different options for dress, background and cost.
• Limited student parking available – Due to ongoing construction, we've faced challenges in offering student parking. However, we're thrilled to share that we will soon open up 20 student parking spaces exclusively to juniors and seniors
• Regents review calendar – We've added chemistry to the list of Regents review classes offered to students through June. Get an updated schedule of review classes.
• Senior prom is June 15 – The Senior Class presents "Masquerade" on Saturday, June 15 from 6:30-11 p.m. at the Empire State Convention Center. Cost is $75, and payment must be either cash or a check made out to Class of 2024. Tickets will go on sale in mid-May and can be purchased during all lunch shifts outside the main office.  
• 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.
• Student ID reminder – Please see this important information about student ID cards.
• Free salon services for 55+ – Attention Albany residents age 55 and up: Get free beauty services from aspiring beauticians every Thursday at Albany High!
• 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.