Familias Latinas New Year Breakfast This Saturday
Our district's latino family engagement group is hosting a new year breakfast this Saturday at Cornell. Please see the attached flyer for information.
Fundraiser for the Albany Black Parent Engagement Committee
Join us for friends, family and a worthy cause as we raise funds for the Black Parent Engagement student scholarship fund. Bring your family and friends to Farm Burger 1313 9th street this Thursday, January 4, 2018 from 5-9pm. For more information, please check our Facebook page www.facebook.com/AABPEG.
Former AHS Principal Harry Price
HARRY JOHN PRICE 1924 - 2017 Obituary Condolences
Harry John Price
January 11, 1924-December 17, 2017
Born in Petaluma CA, Harry was a lifelong resident of California until recent years when he moved to Seattle WA to be closer to his family. After serving in the Coast Guard during WWII, he obtained his masters degree from Stanford University in education. He was principal of Greenville, Albany, Fairbanks, and Alameda high schools during his career.
Harry is survived by his four children Stephen Price, James Price, Jennifer Reed and Laura Vytlacil as well as six grandchildren and three great grandchildren. "I've lived a long and good life for which I am grateful."
A funeral mass will be held at Assumption Catholic Church n Seattle on January 4, 2018,
at 10:00am.
Memorial donations can be made to Hospice Foundation of America.
Published in The Seattle Times from Dec. 21 to Dec. 22, 2017
Parents: Help Albany Come Together; Take This Survey About Racism and Bullying in Albany Schools
Dear Albany Parent,
As you probably heard, last spring, Albany High School students were discovered to have been involved in sharing racist Instagram posts depicting students of color and an African American staff member in an extremely offensive manner. The incident led to an expulsion as well as several ongoing lawsuits filed by several other students who were threatened with expulsion. This incident led to much soul searching in the community and the formation of a community group facilitated by district staff, named Albany Coming Together (ACT), which consists of parents, students, staff and community members interested in taking action on multiple levels to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. The group has formed subcommittees covering many topics, ranging from staff diversity to curriculum.
On behalf of the ACT Parent-Engagement Committee, we are reaching out through the school PTA e-trees and school newsletters to survey parents about your experience and your interest in participating in certain activities this year. Please help us out by answering this brief survey. We'd appreciate your response ASAP and no later than December 22. A different survey by the Albany Coming Together Steering Committee is expected around the new year. Please complete both!
Thank you!
Rebecca Long, Marin/AMS Parent
Kate Mehler, AHS Parent
Direct link to survey: http://bit.ly/2jUYgJ7
Shop at Barnes & Noble on Saturday 12/2 and Benefit Our Library!
The Albany Education Foundation ( AEF) holds an annual bookfair at the El Cerrito Plaza Barnes & Noble store to benefit our school library. While you complete your own shopping, you may wish to consider purchasing a gift for our library as well. Friendly AEF volunteers will be in the store from 9 AM to 6 PM providing free gift wrapping of your purchases, and help in finding requested items . Shoppers MUST tell the cashier that they want their purchase to benefit AEF. If you can't make it to the store, you may shop on-line at BN.com/bookfairs, and provide the code # 12171393 at time of purchase.
Frequently asked questions:
- People can shop in the El Cerrito Store or on line at BN.com/bookfairs, however we get a higher % of in-store sales.
- Almost everything counts: Cafe purchases of coffee, books, magazines, LEGOS, etc etc all count AS LONG AS THE SHOPPER PROVIDES OUR NAME OR OUR CODE #. Shoppers do NOT have to have a paper slip, but must tell the cashier that their purchase is to benefit AEF. Purchases of gift cards are excluded.
- The online code # stays valid for a few days after Dec 2nd, but again, we get a better % for in-store purchases on Dec 2
Don't Forget: Use Amazon Smile and Support Your PTSA
Shopping online? Please use Amazon Smile for your online shopping this season and designate Albany High School as the charity.
Come join us for a presentation by the Anti-Defamation League
AUSD has been working with the Anti-Defamation League to bring anti-bias, diversity, and equity education to our entire community- staff, students, and families.Albany High School Parents/Guardians are invited to the Albany Middle School Library on Thursday, 11/30, at 7:30 pm in the AMS library for a facilitated discussion about bullying, bullying prevention, cyberbullying and the parent role with Jacqueline Regev, Education Director with the Anti-Defamation League.
Abbott Qualifies for CIF State Cross Country Championship Meet
Congrats to Calder Abbott who just qualified for next week’s state meet. Calder is only the third male runner ever to qualify for State from Albany High!
His time of 15:49.8 at the NCS Championships on Saturday, Nov. 18th puts him third on the all-time list for that course and 2nd overall on NCS race day.
Riley Harmon finished sixth overall, but unfortunately she was just edged out for the final individual qualifying spot at State (by nine seconds). We still look forward to seeing Riley during the track season…and, no doubt, running for a college team!
GO COUGARS!
City of Albany looking for community advisors
The City of Albany is seeking people to apply for advisory bodies. This is a wonderful opportunity to have your voice heard on a variety of issues, serve your community and learn about local government. There are currently seats available on the Community Media Access Committee (CMAC) and the Social and Economic Justice Commission (SEJC) as well as the Alameda County Transportation Commission Paratransit Advisory and Planning Committee (PAPCO).
CMAC is undergoing review of their purpose at this time; however one of their main tasks in the organization and running of the Albany Film Fest. They also provide recommendations regarding the allocation of funds from the franchise 1% Public Educational and Governmental Access Channel (PEG) support fee and are considering the development of a program for adult community media volunteers to create and edit video content to be utilized via City media.
The charge of SEJC is to research, analyze, discuss and evaluate a broad range of data and opinions on social and environmental issues affecting the welfare of the residents of Albany. Recently they have made recommendations to the City Council for the implementation of the Sugar Sweetened Beverage Tax, the Community Resource Center, and a Rent Review program.
The mission of the Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC) is to plan, fund and deliver transportation programs and projects that expand access and improve mobility to foster a vibrant and livable Alameda County. Community advisory committees make recommendations to Alameda CTC, keep a close eye on transportation improvements and engage project sponsors and community members.
I am happy to discuss any of these opportunities with you at your convenience, pmcquaid@albanyca.org. For more information on all City advisory bodies and the application process please see http://www.albanyca.org/government/boards-commissions-committees
Thank you for considering joining one of our advisory bodies; I am sure you will find participating in local government very worthwhile. Your personal commitment to our City is a wonderful example for your children of the value you place on community service.
Peggy McQuaid
Albany Mayor
Principal's message to our community
November 14, 2017
Dear Albany HIgh School families and friends,
As we complete and reflect upon the end of our first quarter, I would like to take this time to share with everyone my gratitude and pride for our school. Being the principal of this incredibly resilient and thoughtful learning community reminds me that our purpose of preparing students for college and career readiness is complemented by supporting the whole child with social emotional competencies and tools to be productive digital citizens. Please allow me to share a few highlights from the opening of the 2017-18 school year:
First quarter grades are now available to view on Aeries. You can also monitor attendance on the parent/student portal. Ongoing grade updates can be viewed using your PowerSchool (Haiku) portal where you can also access class activities, assignments and contact information for all teachers. Please visit the website below for more information on your student’s Aeries and PowerSchool accounts. http://ahs.ausdk12.org/#qg-powerschool-aeries
The high school staff participated in very meaningful and sustainable professional development this summer and fall with a focus on equity, unconscious bias and culturally responsive teaching practices. We are also beginning to develop an awareness of social emotional and social justice competencies that we expect all students and staff to demonstrate in partnership with academic rigor in all courses.
Our updated Freshman orientation and homecoming activities included a greater emphasis on community building and inclusion while maintaining tradition and school spirit.
Student and community led advocacy groups which include STAND, SPEAK, SEAC (Students for Equitable Access Committee) and ACT (Albany Coming Together), have fortified our commitment to create a legacy of service through shared governance and by strengthening student agency as a force for positive change in our District.
Academic supports including lunch-time drop in tutoring is available for all students, for all subjects Monday-Thursday. We are fortunate to have so many students helping others with academic encouragement and skill building and are always looking for more help. Please contact our Coordinator of Alternative Education Darren McNally at dmcnally@ausdk12.org for more information.
Digital citizenship is always an important competency to teach and build into the structure of our school courses. Families play a pivotal role in supporting these expectations. Please click here to review our AUSD Internet Acceptable Use policy for all students and staff.
On behalf of my staff, we wish you and your family a peaceful and restorative holiday season. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or to partner with our school community this year.
Alexia Ritchie, Principal