Online School Spirit Store Closes in Two Weeks
The Albany school spirit store is only open for 2 more weeks. Please visit the link below to place your orders:
Black History Month at the AHS Library
We apologize for the late nature of this post, but it doesn’t have to be February to enjoy African American authors and stories. Albany High Library is celebrating Black History Month with a dynamic display of fiction and nonfiction. Explore many perspectives on Black History at Albany High Library.
Here are some of our favorite books, that range from inspiring memoirs to powerful history. Learn about local history with The Port Chicago 50, which tells the story of 50 black sailors who refused to work in unsafe and unfair conditions after an explosion in Port Chicago (near the Richmond docks) killed 320 servicemen in WWII. Or try one of our newest books, Inventing Victoria, a historical fiction set in 1880s Savannah and D.C. as a young teen navigating life in the emerging African-American elite. Come by the library and grab a book as we celebrate and honor Black History.
And Still I Rise, by Maya Angelou
Becoming, by Michelle Obama
Double Victory, by Cheryl Mullenbach
Huey: Spirit of the Panther, by David Hilliard
Inventing Victoria, by Tonya Bolden
On Her Own Ground: the Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker, by A’Lelia Perry
The Port Chicago 50, by Steve Sheinkin
Roots, by Alex Haley
The Tuskegee Airmen, by Joseph Caver
The Underground Railroad, by Colson Whitehead
AHS Students Receive Scholastic Art Awards
This year Scholastic Art Awards were given to 19 AHS students!
Congratulations to each of them on their impressive art achievements:
Julie Knou, Jorgie Kiriuangchai, Gahee Kwon, Vida Lopez-St. John, Sequoia Boubion McKay, Mimi Yu-Ching, Tienna Chen, Elizabeth Ding, Alice Fu, Angela Hung, Shavase Shine, and Olaf Kamperman
Many of their works will be displayed at the Pacific Grove Art Center in a gallery exhibit honoring these young artists. Three pieces are going on to the national level in New York.
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
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!
