The following is a message from North Albany Middle School Principal Andrea Piper:
I am humbled and enthusiastic to continue to serve as the principal of North Albany Middle School. I am happy to share this enthusiasm with Assistant Principal Emma Steckman. As we embark on this new Junior Falcon journey, I am excited to continue to build a culture and climate at North Albany that will help our scholars be prepared academically and social-emotionally to meet their goals and explore all possibilities. The standard is excellence!
We know for most of our students and families that this last year and a half has been a challenging and confusing time due to COVID-19. This year will hopefully bring a sense of normalcy as we welcome our scholars back into the building for daily in-person instruction. As we continue to transition as a school, we will be adding an eighth-grade cohort and welcoming scholars from the former Edmond J. O'Neal Middle School of Excellence. North Albany will be a full 6-8 middle school with 400+ students this school year. In addition, we will become a Community School, which will provide us with additional resources to wrap our arms around our families and the community.
As you know, North Albany is in the midst of a building reconstruction that will run until 2023. On the other side of it, there will be a beautiful building transformation. While we are in the process of this reconstruction, our space will be limited. However, we will be able to accommodate our students, faculty and staff. It will be essential that we work together as partners and as a community to ensure this transition is smooth and the culture and climate of the building positively thrives.
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, these 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 3 feet of social distancing in our buildings wherever possible.
- In cases where we cannot maintain 3 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.
Student Orientation Days Sept. 2-3
In an effort to ensure a smooth transition back to school for all students, the district has dedicated Sept. 2-3 as Student Orientation Days. The goal of these two days is to welcome students back to school in smaller groups in order to provide ample time for them to get comfortable with their schedules, health and safety protocols and their school lockers.
We will provide schedules and locker assignments during these Student Orientation Days; students will receive their schedule from their first-period (homeroom) teacher. These orientation days also will provide our students with the opportunity to participate in small sessions to better familiarize themselves with school protocols related to PBIS, hallway transitions, lunch/study hall routines, and arrival and dismissal procedures.
- Thursday, Sept. 2 – Orientation for students whose last name starts with the letters A-L (only students whose last names start with the letters A-L are required to attend on this day)
- Friday, Sept. 3 – Orientation for students whose last name starts with M-Z (only students whose last names start with the letters M-Z are required to attend on this day)
School administrators, guidance counselors and teachers will be present outside of school on these two days to assist students in identifying their first-period class. To ensure a smooth start to the school day, students will enter/exit the building through one of these two designated locations:
- Main Entrance – Grades 6-8 only
- North Albany Gym Facility Entrance (North 3rd Street) – Yellow bus transportation and parent dropoffs
Student Attendance and Schedules
Wednesday, Sept. 8 will be the first full day of school for all students. Breakfast will begin at 7:30 a.m. and the school day will begin at 8:03 a.m. For students not eating breakfast at school, entrance into school will begin at 7:45 a.m. The school day will conclude at 3:00 p.m.
Upon entering school each day, students will have their temperature taken and all materials checked by security. Those students with a temperature below 100.0 degrees will be allowed to enter the building. Students with a temperature above 100.0 degrees will be sent to the nurse’s office to await a parent or guardian to pick them up at school.
Upon entering the building, we will provide students with a “grab-and-go” breakfast prior to heading to the cafeteria. At the present moment, the goal is for all students to eat lunch in the café. Students will have the choice of bringing their own lunch to school, or selecting from one of the hot items provided each day. Should steps need to be taken to address challenges presented by the pandemic, we may need to decide later for students to eat lunch in an alternative setting.
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.
Student Supply Lists
Available on our school’s page on the district website:
Summer Transition Camp
The Summer Transition Camp is a three-day program open to all students entering grades 6-7 at North Albany Middle School. The camp is designed to help these students get off to a smooth start to the school year. The Summer Transition Camp will be Aug. 24-26 from 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. each day
Students will have opportunities to learn strategies to enhance study skills and note-taking abilities as well as engage in various team-building activities designed to promote a safe and secure learning environment. We hope that all incoming students take advantage of this fun opportunity.
Important Dates and Events
I would like to share the following dates for important school events. Please be sure to mark these dates on your calendars:
- Monday, Sept. 6 – Labor Day (no school)
- Tuesday, Sept. 7 – Superintendent’s Conference Day (no school for students)
- Wednesday, Sept. 15 – First PTO meeting, 7:00 p.m.
- Thursday, Sept. 16 – Yom Kippur (no school)
- Tuesday, Sept. 28 – Community BBQ/Open House, 4:00-8:00 p.m.
- Monday, Oct. 11 – Columbus Day (no school)
Parent Survey
Your input is critical. Please take a moment to complete this survey. It will allow us to identify the needs and services needed for our students and families as we transition into a Community School.
Remember, one of the keys to a successful school year is parental involvement! Thank you for your collaboration as we work as partners to ensure everyone adheres to the guidelines and procedures explained above. Please review this information with your scholars, especially the health and safety protocols.
Again, I am honored to serve as your principal for the upcoming school year. Your partnership is critical as we strive to positively transition lives. I welcome any questions you may have regarding the new school year. You may contact me at apiper@albany.k12.ny.us or (518) 475-6800 and don't forget to follow us on Facebook. We are “All in for Albany!"
