AHS PTSA-Sponsored AP Classes Information Night
When: Tuesday 3/12 7-9p.
Location: AHS (TBD)
Albany High School offers Advanced Placement (AP) classes in many subjects, and AP classes are popular with AHS students. But some AHS students make themselves miserable by trying to take as many AP classes as they can—often in subjects that don't interest them—in the mistaken belief that this is the only way that they will be admitted to a "good" university. Other AHS students assume that AP classes aren't for them or for "students like them," and either don't sign up for AP classes or don't do the things they need to do early on to prepare for AP classes in their final years of high school. In this information session, AHS Principal Alexia Ritchie, AHS Coordinator of Alternative Education Darren McNally and AHS Teacher Kevin James will discuss how to help your student decide whether to take AP classes (and how many), and the things your student should do to prepare for AP coursework.
pFAB Chipotle Fundraiser This Saturday
Albany Performing and Fine Arts Boosters (pFAB) is holding a fundraiser on Sat., 3/9 from 4-8pm at Chipotle in El Cerrito. If you bring in the flyer or show it on your phone, 33% of your purchase will go toward funds for theater at Albany High School.
Come eat with us before or after you attend the Theatre Ensemble’s performance of “Little Shop of Horrors.” Don’t forget to show them the flyer!
PTSA March Fundraisers
The First Annual AHS PTSA Mattress Fundraiser
Need a mattress? Look no further, AHS PTSA for the rescue! We are partnering with CFS (Custom Fundraising Solutions) to bring the best deals to your doorstep (AHS GYM)!!! This is an AHS PTSA fundraiser, all the funds raised go towards supporting students education and overall experience at AHS! Have a question? Ask your friendly AHS PTSA board at ahs-ptsa@ausdk12.org .
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.
Performing and Fine Arts Boosters
Theatre Ensemble presents “Little Shop of Horrors” 3/7 – 3/9 at the Albany High School Little Theater. Don’t miss out on this amazing show. Buy your tickets now before the sell out at Brown Paper Tickets.
At the performances, we will be auctioning off tickets to shows at Berkeley Repertory Theatre and Shotgun Players as well as some smaller items.
Please also sign up to help feed the cast and crew during their late night rehearsals 2/25-3/4
We look forward to seeing you at a show!
Albany Athletic Boosters
Join the Athletic Boosters upstairs at Club Mallard on Thursday, March 7th from 4-7p. Come mingle and have drinks and snacks with community and friends. 50% of proceeds will go to supporting our athletic programs and student-athletes.
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:
SchoolCARE needs your help!
Spring into Action - Volunteers needed to distribute SchoolCARE brochures
Help SchoolCARE kick-off our district-wide spring fundraising campaign! We need your help to raise much-needed funds for Albany schools for the coming school year.
Our district is facing budget cuts that threaten Albany’s schools and staff. With your help we can meet our ambitious goal of raising $325,000. Together we can educate the community by leaving a SchoolCARE brochure at every Albany home.
This is a perfect active volunteer opportunity for families, community members and high school students!
The SchoolCARE brochures will be ready for pick up in Albany on Friday, March 22 after 3:00 pm. We need 35 volunteers who will be able to leave brochures at Albany homes on either Saturday March 23 or Sunday March 24. Maps and routes will be provided upon pick-up.
If you are interested, please email AlesiaAlonso@yahoo.com with your name and contact information.
THANK YOU!!
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.
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.