Climate Action & Adaptation Community Workshop
Help Envision a Sustainable Albany: Climate Action & Adaptation Community Workshop
Join us for the City of Albany Climate Action and Adaptation Community Workshop on Wednesday, January 16th from 7pm-9pm at Albany City Hall to help brainstorm innovative mitigation and adaptation strategies for the City’s new Climate Action & Adaptation Plan and provide input on proposed strategies to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Learn more here.
Fall Finals Schedule (New, later start time)
Monday, January 21
No school MLK Jr. Holiday
Tuesday, January 22
8:45 - 10:43 1° Final
10:43 - 10:58 Break
11:03 - 1:01 3° Final
Wednesday, January 23
8:45 - 10:43 2° Final
10:43 - 10:58 Break
11:03 - 1:01 4° Final
Thursday, January 24
8:45 - 10:43 5° Final
10:43 - 10:58 Break
11:03 - 1:01 7° Final
Friday, January 25
8:45 - 10:43 6° Final
10:43 - 10:58 Break
11:03 - 1:01 Advisory/Make-up Finals
PTSA January Fundraisers
We are inviting AHS community to support our AHS students through following fundraisers this January:
Sports Basement
You can support Albany High School by becoming a Basementeer! Sports Basement is spinning the traditional “loyalty” program into a win-win for their loyal customers and our community. Basementeer’s receive 10% and give 10%: 10% off every item every day, 10% of profits back to local schools & charities, including Albany High School. Please watch this one minute video to get the idea. On your next visit to Sports Basement, register as a Basementeer and select Albany High School as your beneficiary!
The Original Mattress
Fundraiser Information Night on January 8th at 7pm
CFS (Custom Fundraising Solutions) representative will walk us through the details of the mattress fundraiser.
He will also be available to answer questions. More information is available at customfundraisingsolutions.com. This event takes place at AHS library (first floor, to the left from the main entrance)
AmazonSmile
is a way for customers to support their favorite charitable organization every time they shop with Amazon. Shoppers who start at smile.amazon.com will find the same Amazon they know and love, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the price of eligible purchases to the charity of your choice. Visit smile.amazon.com, sign in with your Amazon.com credentials, choose Albany High School PTSA charitable organization to receive donations, start shopping!
Note: Please consider supporting Albany businesses and shop locally whenever possible!
AHS PTSA Giving Fund
AHS PTSA supports AHS clubs, AHS theater program, AHS Senior Grad Night, teachers (via mini grants),and many other initiatives. Our sole purpose is to help create and maintain the support and safety net our AHS students need. Please consider donating here: https://www.paypal.com/us/fundraiser/110230052184687338/charity/2216072
Chocolate and Champagne Gala
Please save the date – March 16, 2019
The Albany Education Foundation (AEF) and the Albany Community Foundation (ACF) are once again joining forces to host the Chocolate and Champagne Gala on Saturday, March 16, 2019 from 7:00-10:00 p.m. at Northbrae Community Church, 941 the Alameda in Berkeley. This special evening will include champagne, wine and beer, chocolate and non-chocolate desserts and savory treats. Albany High School musicians who delighted attendees last year, will once again perform. Many delightful offerings will be available at the silent auction.
Tickets are $30, which includes a complimentary glass of champagne and desserts. Beer and wine will be available for purchase. Tickets, which make delightful gifts, will be available soon and I am happy to deliver them to you or they are available at the door. Serving champagne and delectable chocolates, cheese, and fruit, this event is the perfect ending to an evening out.
This is the main fundraiser for these two wonderful organizations who do so much for the Albany community. Please see our website, www.albanyeducation.org for more information about AEF and www.albanycommunityfoundation.org to learn about the Albany Community Foundation.
SoulCARE
Live Music to Benefit SchoolCARE. Saturday, January 12th
Your local bands "Controlled Burn" and “The Serotonins” will perform, to benefit SchoolCARE.
Tickets are sure to sell fast (many of the band members are fellow Albany parents and friends of ours!)
Tix on sale NOW on the Ivy Room Website: https://www.ticketfly.com/event/1775878-controlled-burn-serotonins-albany/
Doors open at 7pm. Music starts at 8pm. Let's enjoy some live music and good company, while helping our Albany Schools!
Please contact us at ahs-ptsa@ausdk12.org if you have any questions.
With Love,
Your PTSA Board.
College Access & Success Symposium
The Association of Black Admissions and Financial Aid Officers of the Ivy League and Sister Schools (ABAFAOILSS) invites you to attend our College Access & Success Symposium. College representatives from some of America's top institutions will provide valuable insight and advice during workshops on the college admission and financial aid application processes. The program will include workshops for high school students and parents simultaneously.
To attend, please click here to complete the registration form.
Workshops for students and parents will include:
Financial Aid Plenary
Building a Thoughtful & Comprehensive College List
Women's College Panel
College Fair
About ABAFAOILSS
Recognizing the unique challenges facing African American, Native American, Latino, and Hispanic students during the college admissions process, the Association of Black Admissions and Financial Aid Officers of the Ivy League and Sister Schools (ABAFAOILSS) was founded in 1970 to provide vital assistance for these students as they make the transition from high school to college. Visit our website at www.abaschools.org
Message Regarding Recent Snapchat Incident
Dear Albany High School Community,
Thursday afternoon administrators were given a photo captured from Snapchat showing two AHS students with their arms raised in what some interpreted to be a Nazi salute. Staff looked into the incident and followed up with the students and families involved. AHS administrators determined there was no intent to convey an inappropriate message through the image, which was a reference to popular social media content entirely unrelated to Nazi imagery or sentiments.
We continue to encourage students to reach out to administrators, teachers or staff if they feel uncomfortable or unsafe at school for any reason. We will continue to work together to ensure AHS is a safe, inclusive community for all its members.
Alexia Ritchie,
Albany High School Principal
Message to the community
December 14, 2018
Dear AHS Community,
Thursday afternoon administrators were given a photo captured from Snapchat showing two AHS students with their arms raised in what some interpreted to be a Nazi salute. Staff looked into the incident and followed up with the students and families involved. AHS administrators determined there was no intent to convey an inappropriate message through the image, which was a reference to popular social media content entirely unrelated to Nazi imagery or sentiments.
We continue to encourage students to reach out to administrators, teachers or staff if they feel uncomfortable or unsafe at school for any reason. We will continue to work together to ensure AHS is a safe, inclusive community for all its members.
Alexia Ritchie, Principal
How Will You Help Address Our Vaping Problems?
Dear Albany High School students,
I’m extending an invitation to everyone who knows that our country, city and school has a vaping problem and wants to be part of the solution. Please consider the follow information and decide how your role in our community can help reduce this dangerous trend.
Administrators and campus security will increase the number of unannounced restroom inspections in all buildings and on all floors. The possession and use of all smoking/vaping products is a violation of Education Codes and consequences are outlined in our Behavior Matrix (the current AHS Behavior Matrix can be viewed here.) Thank you for respecting this rule within our community and on school grounds.
The Albany City Council will be hosting a study session on the effects of flavored tobacco products and the possibility of a city wide ban. You are welcome to attend that open session at City Hall this Monday, December 3 @ 6:00pm. The location is 1000 Jackson Street and the meeting is open to everyone.
Our very own Albany High school peer Tobacco Use and Prevention Education team sponsored the “Great American Smoke/Vape Out” today,. Many of you came by and caught up on how students in our area are finding ways to avoid this destructive addiction. Talk to Ms. Josette, program coordinator, on how you can join the efforts.
Once again, I need your help and commitment to address this growing problem in our community. Please feel free to email me with any comments, questions or suggestions as we work towards a common goal, dedicated to the welfare of all Albany High School students.
Best regards,
Alexia Ritchie
Principal
PTSA December Fundraisers
We are inviting AHS community to support our AHS students through following fundraisers this December:
AmazonSmile is a way for customers to support their favorite charitable organization every time they shop with Amazon. Shoppers who start at smile.amazon.com will find the same Amazon they know and love, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the price of eligible purchases to the charity of your choice. Visit smile.amazon.com, sign in with your Amazon.com credentials, choose Albany High School PTSA charitable organization to receive donations, start shopping!
Sports Basement You can support Albany High School by becoming a Basementeer! Sports Basement is spinning the traditional “loyalty” program into a win-win for their loyal customers and our community. Basementeer’s receive 10% and give 10%: 10% off every item every day, 10% of profits back to local schools & charities, including Albany High School. Please watch this one minute video to get the idea. On your next visit to Sports Basement, register as a Basementeer and select Albany High School as your beneficiary!
Albany High's 1st Annual Dessert Theater An Evening Of Musical Adventure And Pastry Perfection
Saturday December 1, 2:00pm and 7:30pm at Albany Veterans Memorial Hall
Our newly-designed fundraiser of the season features music across all styles, genres, and time periods (including Disney, Renaissance, and classic decade hits). Throughout the event, be ready to be entertained musically and filled to your heart's content with all-you-can-eat desserts! We'll have plenty of cookies, cupcakes, brownies, pies, and other assorted faire (with a good helping of fresh fruit, gluten-free, and vegan-friendly options).
Tickets are $15 at albanyvocalmusic.com/dessert or via any AHS choir student.
We hope you'll be part of a new annual tradition and help put this new fundraiser on the Albany map!
Join us at Little Star for First Monday on December 3rd, and Albany schools will be the winner! The generous owner of Little Star continues his offer to donate 10% of what YOU spend on the first Monday of every month to the Albany Education Foundation. Lunch, happy hour, dinner, and take-out orders count ! Join us at 1181 Solano Avenue on Monday, or call 526-7827 for take out.
For many years, the Albany Education Foundation has held a shopping day at the El Cerrito Plaza Barnes & Noble.
Last year, the one day event raised over $3,000 for Albany school libraries. Friends and relatives who go to another Barnes & Noble store may also provide this number to the cashier. The number will be valid in stores and on-line Sunday and Monday following the event. Your member discount, educator discount, or any coupons you may have are still valid! On Saturday from 9 AM to 6 PM, friendly AEF volunteers will be at the store, and can help you if you would like to purchase a book requested by the Albany High Library. We're set for Saturday, December 8th this year, and there are several ways you can participate:
If you come to El Cerrito Plaza to shop, you must tell the cashier that you want your purchase to benefit AEF. That day, the cashiers should have our number at each register. Purchases of books, LEGO sets, even a coffee in their cafe all count toward our total IF you remind the cashier.
If you shop on-line, go to bn.com/bookfairs and make your selection. At time of purchase, you must enter our number 1234571
Join AHS PTSA Silent Auction team - we are busy planning AHS PTSA silent auction happening in February 2019, contact us at ahs-ptsa@ausdk12.org if you can help!
With love,
Your AHS PTSA board.
Exchange Student in Need of Host Family for Spring Semester
AFS, the international student exchange program, is currently hosting a 17-year-old student from Jordan, the recipient of a prestigious full scholarship under the Kennedy Lugar Youth Exchange & Study (YES) program. We are in need of a permanent host family for Ali, for the Spring Semester. Ali attends Albany High.
Respectful, active and warm are just a few of the words to describe Ali. In the future, he plans to study medicine and become a doctor. His favorite hobby is playing soccer for the school's club. He likes soccer because it keeps him active and healthy. At home, Ali enjoys helping his mother prepare dinner and clean the house. He also participates in community service across his city. Hoping to discover a new world and become more independent in the process, he has been looking forward to participating in this exchange program. Ali is an amazing and highly accomplished individual.
The YES program provides scholarships for students from countries with a significant Muslim population. For more information about YES, visit http://www.yesprograms.org/.
If you or someone you know is interested in opening their Berkeley or Albany home to a new culture and provide a nurturing environment for this young man for the remainder of the school year, please contact our staff person, below. For more information about AFS, please visit afsusa.org.