March 20, 2026
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Delightful district musicians
This week, our community enjoyed the talents of our student-musicians in a variety of ways! The Albany Marching Falcons Albany Marching Falcons warmed hearts with fantastic music at the annual city parade held on Saturday in celebration of St. Patrick's Day.
On Wednesday, our All-City Concert series kicked off with incredible vocal performances featuring elementary, middle and high school students from throughout the district at the All-City Chorus concert!
Be sure to mark your calendars for the next two concerts in the series:
- All-City Strings Concert is March 25
- All-City Band Concert is March 31
Please note the printed wall calendar that was mailed in late August 2025 lists the date for the All-City Band concert as April 1. This was later updated, and the correct date is March 31.
Bravo, Albany Theater Ensemble!
Congratulations to our Albany High Theater Ensemble for an incredible run of “Mean Girls: High School Version.” We are so proud of each student who made this production a huge success, including those in our pit orchestra, stage crew and understudy cast featured in these photos. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to director Brian Avery and the incredible team of faculty advisers who supported our students every step of the way.
And to each person who came to see the show, thank you for being a wonderful audience and for supporting our theater program here at Albany High!
Senior shoutout: Kha'Davier Farmer & Karma Jernigan
This week, we celebrated two amazing Albany High seniors, Kha'Davier Farmer and Karma Jernigan!
- Kha'Davier Farmer was honored by the Capital District Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame for his excellence as a scholar-athlete during a special ceremony on March 8. Read about his excellence in academics, football and wrestling in this news story.
- Karma Jernigan has a blossoming interest in journalism and had an incredible experience as an intern with New York Public Radio WNYC through the Career Exploration Internship Program (CEIP) at Albany High. Check out this news story to learn more about her internship and the CEIP program available to seniors at Albany High.
Senior-junior prom: Masquarade Ball
Our senior-junior prom Masquarade Ball will take place on Saturday, June 6, from 6-10 p.m. at the Albany Capital Center, located at 55 Eagle St. in Albany. Tickets are $80 for each attendee, and tickets will be on sale at the Albany High Box Office periods 4-7 from March 23-May 15. Cash, check and money orders are accepted, and there will not be any refunds. The ticket price includes dinner.
Students are reminded that they need to bring their student ID to the event for entry. Students who would like to bring a guest from another school must fill out a form, which is available in their academy office.
We look forward to celebrating this special evening with you!
Bring Falcon Pride with the Albany Booster Club
Sports, clubs and extracurricular activities enrich our students' lives here at Albany High, creating thrilling moments and special memories that they carry for years to come.
Our Albany Booster Club plays an important role in making these experiences possible — and they urgently need our help! Two key opportunities are volunteering at the concession stand at home games and becoming an active Booster Club member.
Check out this news story to learn more about even a small commitment makes a meaningful difference.
Spring sports have sprung!
Winter sports have finally come to a close, and spring sports are up and running!
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Congratulations to five fantastic Falcons—Javanni Garland-Santana, Jasiah Anderson, Noah Bizer, Nasief Smith and Nyloni Smith—for putting forth strong performances at the national level for indoor track and field.
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Spring sports are in full swing—be sure to check out the practice schedule and competition schedule on the Athletics page of our website.
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Be sure to show off your Falcon Pride by purchasing items from the Albany Booster Club and/or the Falcon Gear Shop!
Be sure to follow our Albany Athletics Facebook and Instagram pages to see our sports highlights!
Falcon photographers team up with ASH artists
Who doesn't love a creative collab? In theater class with Johnna Maiorella, Albany School of Humanities fourth graders have been using their bodies to create abstract art inspired by the artists in the Empire State Plaza (ESP) art collection. David Easton’s photography class met their elementary subjects in front of the Voltri-Bolton Landing Series, by David Smith, in the Corning Tower at the ESP where they captured the adorable poses with a skilled eye and shared artistic vision.
Teen Night is March 27
All Falcons in grades 9-12 are invited to our next Teen Night, which will take place on Friday, March 27. Check out this graphic to learn more!
Fantastic fundraisers
- Mark your calendars for the Class of 2027 fundraiser on Thursday, March 26, at Blaze Pizza at 1475 Western Ave.! Purchase some delicious food and help support a variety of senior-year activities such as prom, senior t-shirts and senior sunrise. Check out this flyer for additional details—we hope to see you there! If you'd like to support the Class of 2027, but are not able to participate in the fundraiser, check out the Class of 2027 Club on our Clubs & Enrichment page to see details on how you can provide a financial donation to the cause!
- The Medical Science Club is holding a bake sale after school on Monday, March 23 in the Main Lobby. The funds will help make their end-of-year trip to Boston possible!
"Fill a Plate with Hope" for the Falcon Market
The Falcon Market at Albany High has been chosen as a beneficiary for Market 32 and Price Chopper’s “Fill a Plate with Hope” campaign, an initiative to help support local food pantries and families in need through a convenient, in-store food drive! Through Saturday, April 4, when you shop at the Market 32 on Madison Avenue, you can help fill the shelves of our Albany High Falcon Market by purchasing a $10 “Fill a Plate with Hope” bag packed with food essentials. Check out this news story to learn more.
Parent Teacher Student Association Meeting
Our next Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) meeting is Tuesday, March 24. The PTSA will soon vote for new officers for the upcoming school year.
Come partner with our school leaders to help make our school an environment where all students can grow and thrive. Reach out to our PTSA President Jenny O'Neil via email at ptsaalbanyhigh@gmail.com to learn more.
Graduation 2026
Our graduation ceremony for the Class of 2026 will take place on Sunday, June 28, at noon at the MVP Arena!
Seniors, please be sure to complete these two important steps in preparation for your special day:
- Place the order for your cap and gown via this Google Form by April 2.
- The MVP Arena will require tickets for all guests at this year's graduation celebration. Each graduate may reserve up to 15 tickets. Tickets are free and can be secured via this Google Form.
Parents and loved ones, we have an option to pre-order flowers that will be available for pick-up right at the venue the day of the event.
Be sure to check out our Class of 2026 Graduation page for more details as you and your loved ones plan for this wonderful milestone!
Paid summer internship opportunity with New York State Senate
New York State Senate is offering an exciting summer internship program, and we wanted to help spread the word to Albany High students and families! The internship is a six‑week, on‑site program in which high school students get hands-on experience in creating PDFs, learning each stage of the printing process and designing pamphlets and brochures, along with many other valuable professional development skills.
The internship runs 20 hours per week from July 6 through Aug. 14 and is paid—an excellent chance for students to earn while they learn. This year’s application deadline is March 31.
Visit the New York State Senate website for additional details about the program and how to apply.
As a reminder, information about college summer programs and internships is posted in SchooLinks. Once logging in, select "Engage" from the menu on the left-hand side and select "Opportunity Board" to view lots of great information! Students are also welcome to stop by our College and Career Center in room 1230 to see Jen Quinn if they need assistance or printed copies of applications.
Culture Fest 2026
Falcons and families, mark your calendars for Albany High's Culture Fest 2026, which will take place on Tuesday, April 21, from 5-7 p.m. We look forward to celebrating the many cultures that make our school a vibrant and beautiful place to learn. Our event will feature art, music, dance, activity booths, presentations and more.
Albany High students are encouraged to check their student email for important details about how they can sign up to participate.
All City School District of Albany students and families are welcome at this gathering and admission is free. Crafts, snacks and drinks will be available for purchase to support a variety of Albany High clubs.
We hope to see you there!
Summer Youth Employment Program
The City of Albany is accepting registration through March 31 for the 2026 LIGHT Summer Youth Employment Program. The LIGHT Program – Learning, Initiative and Gaining Headway Together – will run from July 6–August 7. The program is open to youth aged 14-18 who live in Albany. Youth employees will work up to 20 hours per week, earn $16.00 per hour and must meet all eligibility and orientation requirements to participate. Check out this news story to learn more!
If students need assistance with printing out the paperwork or have questions, they are welcome to visit the College and Career Center (Room 1230) after school on Mondays and Wednesdays between 3:30-4:30 p.m. College and Career Counselor Jen Quinn is happy to provide assistance.
Autism Spectrum Fair
Montessori Magnet School invites all district families to the district's 2026 Autism Spectrum Fair. The annual and free event is scheduled from 5—7 p.m. on March 31 at MMS (45 Tremont St.). We hope to see you there!
Online Success Program
Our Online Success Center Program allows students to raise their grade for previous quarters. This is a fantastic opportunity for our Falcons to earn back credit and enhance their academic achievement! View this digital flyer to learn more!
After-school tutoring at Albany High
Falcons, do you need extra help with your coursework? Join us at our after-school tutoring program, which runs Monday through Thursday from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. in room 2235. If you need extra help with your classes, come join us and get some support from Albany High teachers. Hope to see you there!
Albany High communications
We hope you enjoyed this Albany High weekly update! As a reminder, to avoid overwhelming your inbox with lots of messages throughout the week, we curate this weekly communication on Fridays at this web page with important updates and exciting news to keep our Falcon families "in-the-know." Feel free to bookmark this page so you always have the important details you need at hand.
We also have dedicated Albany High social media pages on Facebook and Instagram. Follow us to see lots of great photos and reels!
Exciting events coming up soon
This is a list of events coming up that we want to draw particular attention to for students and families! These are just some of the great things happening here at Albany High, and remember you can view our full calendar to see them all!
Follow Albany High!
Looking for last week's update?
Join us for Mean Girls: High School Version
Albany High Theater Ensemble's production of Mean Girls: High School Version kicked off on March 12, and the show is incredible! Be sure to join us this weekend, March 13–15, to see our Falcons light up the stage with thrilling music and top-notch acting. Friday and Saturday shows start at 6:30 p.m., and the Sunday show starts at 2 p.m.
Don't miss this great opportunity to see our incredibly talented student performers, crew and musicians in action! Tickets are $5 for district students and seniors, $15 general admission.
Please note, the show contains a parental advisory for mild language and adult themes. We hope to see you there!
Falcon artists selected for 2026 High School Regional
Congratulations to five Albany High students—Michael Awili, Michaela Kaitleen Awili, Naomi Calvin, Alex Steuer and Kazi Suprova—whose artwork will be showcased in the 27th Annual High School Regional Juried Art Exhibition! The exhibition will be on view at Albany Center Gallery, located at 48 North Pearl St. from March 21 to April 24. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. Check out this news story to learn more!
Magnificent musicians
Our Falcon musicians continually impress us with their talent, dedication and enthusiasm for their craft, and we congratulate our Falcons for the following accomplishments:
- Albany High sophomore Nevaeh Harvey was selected to participate in the Classics Through the Ages program, which aims to promote arts education among African-American youth, fostering their interest and knowledge in classical arts. This program is made possible by The Albany District Chapter of the Links, Inc.
- Six Albany High students are preparing to take the stage at the 2026 Suburban Council Music Festival, which takes place on April 18 at Ballston Spa High School! Jasmine Suarez, Nevaeh Harvey, Vanshika Zaveri and Tayla Robinson will perform in the high school orchestra and Charlotte Baldes and Cameron Volk will play in the high school band, along with fellow talented musicians from across the Capital District.
Be sure to mark your calendars for our upcoming All-City concerts, to see our talented Falcon musicians, along with students from across the district, on the Albany High stage.
- All-City Chorus Concert is March 18
- All-City Strings Concert is March 25
- All-City Band Concert is March 31
Please note the printed wall calendar that was mailed in late August 2025 lists the date for the All-City Band concert as April 1. This was later updated, and the correct date is March 31.
Falcons embrace civic action
This week, Albany High students in Advanced Placement (AP) US Government and Politics took civic action in some exciting ways!
- A group of students took a field trip to the state capitol to meet with several legislators and policymakers to share their stories of why AP courses are important to them. The opportunity to dialogue with leaders was an eye-opening experience!
- On Thursday, students had the opportunity to participate in a thought-provoking conversation with Congressman Paul Tonko, giving them insights into his role in government and how he is approaching issues that are impacting our city, state, country and world.
Spotlight on sports
Winter sports are winding down, but we still have lots to celebrate!
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Congratulations to Albany High senior Noah Bizer for a stellar performance at the New York State Indoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday! He soared to a personal record in the 1,000 meter run, placing thirteenth overall with a time of 2:31.87—a tremendous feat!
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Five fantastic Falcons—Javanni Garland-Santana, Jasiah Anderson, Noah Bizer, Nasief Smith and Nyloni Smith—are competing at the national level for indoor track and field! Check out this news story to learn more.
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Congratulations to our Unified bowling team for a thrilling victory over Saratoga, Scotia and Mayfield at the division championship on Monday!
Spring sports are under way—stay tuned for lots of exciting updates and stories in the weeks to come.
Be sure to follow our Albany Athletics Facebook and Instagram pages to see our sports highlights!
Get involved in the Albany Booster Club!
The Albany Booster Club supports students across all clubs and sports at Albany High School and their mission is to help make student experiences possible when school funding can’t cover everything. Over the years, they've helped provide funding for lots of activities, such as club field trips, junior and senior proms, end-of-season team celebrations, theater production support, marching band trips, indoor percussion events, robotics competitions and more!
Here are two great ways to take a next step to get involved:
- Sign up to volunteer at the concession stand at one of our upcoming home games here at Albany High. This is a great way for students to earn volunteer hours!
- Come to the next Booster Club meeting on Monday, March 16, to learn more about roles available and additional opportunities to support this wonderful organization.
Vote for John Halvorsen for the Manilow Music Teacher Award!
Help band teacher John Halvorsen win the Manilow Music Teacher Award by casting your vote! You can vote once per day between now and Thursday, March 19.
With 20 years in our schools, including over 15 at Albany High, Halvorsen's unwavering dedication has been a cornerstone of our incredible music education program. He is now one of 10 local finalists for the prestigious Manilow Music Teacher Award.
The award winner, chosen through public voting, will be honored onstage at Manilow's April 2 performance and will receive a $5,000 cash prize along with a $5,000 grant for purchasing classroom instruments.
Eat pizza, support the Class of 2027
Mark your calendars for the Class of 2027 fundraiser on Thursday, March 26, at Blaze Pizza at 1475 Western Ave.! Purchase some delicious food and help support a variety of senior-year activities such as prom, senior t-shirts and senior sunrise. Check out this flyer for additional details—we hope to see you there!
If you'd like to support the Class of 2027, but are not able to participate in the fundraiser, check out the Class of 2027 Club on our Clubs & Enrichment page to see details on how you can provide a financial donation to the cause!
Graduation 2026
Our graduation ceremony for the Class of 2026 will take place on Sunday, June 28, at noon at the MVP Arena!
Seniors, please be sure to complete these two important steps in preparation for your special day:
- Place the order for your cap and gown via this Google Form by April 2.
- The MVP Arena will require tickets for all guests at this year's graduation celebration. Each graduate may reserve up to 15 tickets. Tickets are free and can be secured via this Google Form.
Parents and loved ones, we have an option to pre-order flowers that will be available for pick-up right at the venue the day of the event.
Be sure to check out our Class of 2026 Graduation page for more details as you and your loved ones plan for this wonderful milestone!
"Anything But Hair"
Cosmetology II students at Albany High had the opportunity to show off their technical skills and creativity by transforming a bald mannequin head into a piece of art using "anything but hair"! Congratulations to our Falcons on a job well-done and kudos to cosmetology teacher Cory Nardin for facilitating a learning experience that was both whimsical and effective! Check out this news story to learn more about this awesome class project.
Paid summer internship opportunity with New York State Senate
New York State Senate is offering an exciting summer internship program, and we wanted to help spread the word to Albany High students and families! The internship is a six‑week, on‑site program in which high school students get hands-on experience in creating PDFs, learning each stage of the printing process and designing pamphlets and brochures, along with many other valuable professional development skills.
The internship runs 20 hours per week from July 6 through Aug. 14 and is paid—an excellent chance for students to earn while they learn. This year’s application deadline is March 31.
Visit the New York State Senate website for additional details about the program and how to apply.
As a reminder, information about college summer programs and internships is posted in SchooLinks. Once logging in, select "Engage" from the menu on the left-hand side and select "Opportunity Board" to view lots of great information! Students are also welcome to stop by our College and Career Center in room 1230 to see Jen Quinn if they need assistance or printed copies of applications.
Save the date: Culture Fest 2026
Falcons and families, mark your calendars for Albany High's Culture Fest 2026, which will take place on Tuesday, April 21, from 5-7 p.m. We look forward to celebrating the many cultures that make our school a vibrant and beautiful place to learn. Our event will feature art, music, dance, activity booths, presentations and more.
All City School District of Albany students and families are welcome at this gathering and admission is free. Crafts, snacks and drinks will be available for purchase to support a variety of Albany High clubs.
We hope to see you there!
Grab-and-go meals during Ramadan
To support our students who are observing Ramadan, Albany High is offering "grab-and-go" meals that students can pick up at the end of the school day in the cafeteria to bring home. Grab-and-go meals will be available for pickup on school days through Thursday, March 19.
Summer Youth Employment Program
The City of Albany is accepting registration through March 31 for the 2026 LIGHT Summer Youth Employment Program. The LIGHT Program – Learning, Initiative and Gaining Headway Together – will run from July 6–August 7. The program is open to youth aged 14-18 who live in Albany. Youth employees will work up to 20 hours per week, earn $16.00 per hour and must meet all eligibility and orientation requirements to participate. Check out this news story to learn more!
If students need assistance with printing out the paperwork or have questions, they are welcome to visit the College and Career Center (Room 1230) after school on Mondays and Wednesdays between 3:30-4:30 p.m. College and Career Counselor Jen Quinn is happy to provide assistance.
Parent Teacher Student Association to vote for new officers
Our Albany High Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) will soon vote for new officers for the upcoming school year. Come partner with our school leaders to help make our school an environment where all students can grow and thrive. Reach out to our PTSA President Jenny O'Neil via email at ptsaalbanyhigh@gmail.com to learn more.
Autism Spectrum Fair
Montessori Magnet School invites all district families to the district's 2026 Autism Spectrum Fair. The annual and free event is scheduled from 5—7 p.m. on March 31 at MMS (45 Tremont St.). We hope to see you there!
Online Success Program
Our Online Success Center Program allows students to raise their grade for previous quarters. This is a fantastic opportunity for our Falcons to earn back credit and enhance their academic achievement! View this digital flyer to learn more!
After-school tutoring at Albany High
Falcons, do you need extra help with your coursework? Join us at our after-school tutoring program, which runs Monday through Thursday from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. in room 2235. If you need extra help with your classes, come join us and get some support from Albany High teachers. Hope to see you there!
Albany High communications
We hope you enjoyed this Albany High weekly update! As a reminder, to avoid overwhelming your inbox with lots of messages throughout the week, we curate this weekly communication on Fridays at this web page with important updates and exciting news to keep our Falcon families "in-the-know." Feel free to bookmark this page so you always have the important details you need at hand.
We also have dedicated Albany High social media pages on Facebook and Instagram. Follow us to see lots of great photos and reels!
Exciting events coming up soon
This is a list of events coming up that we want to draw particular attention to for students and families! These are just some of the great things happening here at Albany High, and remember you can view our full calendar to see them all!
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