Little Theater Airplane
February 15, 2019
Dear Albany High School Community,
Background: The WWI Red Baron airplane that hangs in the Little Theater lobby, was designed and built by Tyler Hoare, local artist who also created the water sculptures at the Berkeley Marina. Around 1979, he offered the sculpture to the cities of Berkeley and Albany who both said that they were not in a position to accept it due to space and community concerns. The principal of Albany High School at that time, offered to display it where it hangs today. Over the years, and in particular during the Instagram incident in 2017, multiple district, community and media outlets connected the sculpture to a Nazi war plane (there is an iron cross, not a swastika but the color themes are similar to WWI and WWII German aircraft) There is also a noticeable machine gun at the top of the sculpture, which was concerning, especially during the aftermath of the Florida school shootings. As principal, I made the decision to explore the possibility of donating the plane and replacing it with contemporary AHS student art that reflects a truer image, mission and legacy of our school.
Process: The following is a list of those that were consulted. The question was, do we keep the plane or donate it and why.
Tyler Hoare, artist. I was able to speak to Mr. Hoare on two occasions, January and February 2019. He provided the history of the sculpture, confirmed that it was the property of Albany High School and said that it was our decision to replace the plane
Student letter sent to me in 2017 included a well researched summary of the historical context of the plane and why some students and community members might be offended by it being so prominently displayed at our front entrance. Being a combat plane and having a gun at the top were among their concerns.
AHS Department Chairs and staff. We came to the consensus that it was time to remove and replace the plane with contemporary art.
Albany High School PTSA. They were in agreement that it was a good idea to remove and replace the plane with student art.
City of Albany. Vice-Mayor McQuaid supported our intent and provided insight into public art considerations.
Current and former Board of Education members. Provided insights and supported the project of removing and replacing the plane.
AUSD Jewish Parent Advisory Group and Black Parent Advisory Group. Both were in support of the project.
District leadership and maintenance staff. Both supported the project and the logistics needed to lower the plane.
Albany Public Library. Provided background information.
Next steps: The plane is scheduled to be carefully lowered over the mid-winter break by our maintenance department. I have arranged to donate the plane to the Livermore co-ed Scout Troop Post997.org who are affiliated with RobotGarden.org and TriValleySTEM.org. It will be displayed along with other WWI aviation projects they are currently working on.
Respectfully,
Alexia Ritchie, Principal
Order AHS Clothing and Accessories by March 15th!
Thanks in large part to Albany parents Tim Ferdun and Renu DeSilva, we now have a bunch of AHS clothing and accessory items available for sale. Visit the online store by March 15th to place your orders!
Tim generously donated his time and expertise to develop a potential new visual identity for us. You can check out more of his work here.
Chocolate & Champagne Gala 2019—Help Support Your Albany Community!
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. Many delightful offerings will be available at the silent auction. A list of our wonderful silent auction donors is listed on both of our web sites along with our fabulous sponsors. Musicians from Albany High School will perform again this year.
Babysitting will be provided by a local Girl Scout troop. Please contact Dianne McNenny, (510) 527 – 8476, to make reservations. You will need your ticket stub number to reserve a spot. Children must be toilet trained. There is a suggested $5.00 fee.
Tickets are $30, which includes a complimentary glass of champagne and desserts. Beer and wine will be available for purchase. Tickets are now available and I am happy to deliver them to you. You have been a supporter of this event in the past and I hope you will be able to do so again this year. Tickets may also be purchased online here.
This is the main fundraiser for these two wonderful organizations who do so much for the Albany community. AEF provides grants for AUSD new teachers to assist them in setting up their classrooms, field trip grants, and mini grants as well as the Sally Outis block grants for larger projects. Please see our web site, www.albanyeducation.org for more information about AEF.
ACF actively supports a number of programs including the Mercy Brown Bag lunch program at the Senior Center, the Albany Film Festival, Dinner with Albany, the Albany Y’s Youth and Government Program, AHS grad night and the Albany Triathlon. We have provided food at all of the City park clean up days and joined with the Friends of 5 Creeks to replace the signage at the Albany Waterfront. ACF collaborates with the Diverse Housing Working group and AUSD providing funding for the shower program at the Albany Aquatic Center for those experiencing homelessness or other housing challenges. ACF partnered with the City of Albany, University Village and the Albany Unified School District to present Near Normal Man as part of United Against Hate week. ACF was a major funder of the Albany Parklet. Please see our web site for more information about ACF, www.albanycommunityfoundation.org
If you would like to make a donation to the silent auction or money tree or to become a sponsor, please contact us at acf@albanycommunityfoundation.org
All those who attended in past years had a wonderful time and I hope you will be able to join us this year at what has become a much anticipated Albany event, the 10th Chocolate and Champagne Gala on March 16.
Jewish Literature at the AHS Library
Albany High was honored to have George Elbaum share with our students about his personal experience surviving the Holocaust. Explore more perspectives on Jewish culture at Albany High Library. Here are some of our favorite books by and about Jewish people. Some of them are true, and others are fiction. They range from prose to comics to poetry. All of them are here for you to share in Jewish culture, so grab a book, find a seat and enjoy!
Amazing Fantastic Incredible, by Stan Lee
Beyond Courage, by Doreen Rappaport
The Golem and the Jinni, by Helene Wecker
Kissing in America, by Margo Rabb
Little & Lion, by Brandy Colbert
My Own Words, by Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Neither Yesterdays Nor Tomorrows, by George J. Elbaum
Yiddishkeit, by Harvey Pekar
PTSA February Fundraisers
We are inviting AHS community to support our AHS students through following fundraisers:
The 1st Annual AHS Mattress Fundraiser
Every purchase benefits AHS PTSA and AHS clubs
When: April 20th 10am-5pm
Where: AHS GYM
More information is available at customfundraisingsolutions.com
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!
AmazonSmile
Support your 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.
Albany Athletics Boosters Fundraiser
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.
With Love,
AHS PTSA board
Challenge Day Parent/Guardian Information Form
AHS Parents and Guardians,
All 10th grade students are scheduled to participate in Albany High School’s Challenge Day over a three day period - Monday, February 4, Tuesday, February 5th and Wednesday, February 6th at the Veterans’ Memorial Building on Portland Avenue. Many teachers will be participating in the activities as well and all teachers are aware that ⅓ of their 10th grade students will not be attending their regular classes on those days. 10th graders will be attending only one of those days and will be randomly assigned a day to participate.
For more information about the event, or to have your child opt-out, please click here.
Principal's Message to the Community—Spring 2019
January 28, 2019
Dear Albany High School community,
As we begin our spring semester, please take a few minutes to read through some important updates below.
Our WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) accreditation visit is this year. We will be hosting a committee of school educators March 17th-March 20th and will be inviting students and family representatives to a brief reception on Sunday March 17th from 3:30-5:00 in our library. Please rsvp to aritchie@ausdk12.org if you would like to attend.
Challenge Days are back and all 10th grade students are invited to participate in this collaborative and community building workshop. Students will be assigned a day to participate the week of February 4th, 2019. Please see their website for additional information https://www.challengeday.org/
Come have coffee with your principal and PTSA president Natali Gayinsky on Friday, February 8th from 9:00-10:00 am in our front lobby atrium. Bring questions, concerns and ideas to strengthen the school-home partnership.
AUSD has developed Social Emotional/Social Justice competency standards for all students TK-12th grade. Many of these standards are evident in our curriculum, in our Behavior Matrix and in the community expectations for all staff and students. We are fortunate to be working with our Safe and Inclusive School Coordinator Ms. Mariflo Hudson and Assistant Principal Liz Reimuller on the roll out for Albany High. For more information and a complete list of competencies, please see the link AUSD Social Emotional/Social Justice competencies
One of the indicators that impacts student achievement is good attendance. Last year, Albany High School saw an increase of .72% in positive attendance! Not only does this coincide with a .2% increase in our overall graduation rate, but it also translates to over $20,000 in additional revenue per ADA (Average Daily Attendance). Please allow me to take this opportunity to thank our students and families for making school attendance a meaningful priority.
Have a wonderful semester and please join me in our countdown to the ℅ 2019 graduation date on June 14th!
Best regards,
Alexia Ritchie, Principal
Tamales y Juegos: 🎮 Dia de Candelabria Game Party, Feb 2 🎉
Vamos a jugar!
Hola amigos! Familias Latinas de Albany is celebrating el Dia de Candelaria with tradiitonal tamales, and not-so-traditional games! We're going to play Nintendo Switch games, mobile games, and even some classics on PC.
Bring a friend, an appetite, and your A-game to Cornell Elementary's multi-purpose room at 920 Talbot Avenue, on February 2nd, from 3pm to 6pm!
Challenge Day Parent/Guardian Information Form
AHS Parents and Guardians,
All 10th grade students are scheduled to participate in Albany High School’s Challenge Day over a three day period - Monday, February 4, Tuesday, February 5th and Wednesday, February 6th at the Veterans’ Memorial Building on Portland Avenue. Many teachers will be participating in the activities as well and all teachers are aware that ⅓ of their 10th grade students will not be attending their regular classes on those days. 10th graders will be attending only one of those days and will be randomly assigned a day to participate.
For more information about the event, or to have your child opt-out, please click here.