SPRING 2013
Top seniors bound for Harvard
Student achievement
“I definitely feel well prepared for Harvard because of the strong academic foundation I received at Albany High, and
going to school here has made me wellrounded and more accepting,” Adler said.
If the six students pictured are any indication of what their classmates will be
pursuing, 2013 graduates are leaning toward studies in science and math.
Both Pollydore and Bryana Greer
(Syracuse University) plan to major in
psychology.
Once again, come September, Albany
High School seniors will head off to some
of the top colleges and universities in the
United States.
The two highest-ranked students in the
Class of 2013 – June Criscione and Hillel
Adler – are both bound for Harvard University. A third senior also is heading for
the Ivy League – Asha Pollydore will enroll at Dartmouth College (see page 3 for
a complete listing of institutions of higher
learning that accepted Albany High seniors this year).
(continued on page 3)
Onward and upward: Albany High School seniors sport shirts from the respective schools they’ll
attend this fall. From left, they are Malcolm Porterfield (Hudson Valley Community College),
Bryana Greer (Syracuse University), Hillel Adler (Harvard University), Alexandria Muhammad
(State University of New York at Binghamton), June Criscione (Harvard University) and Asha Pollydore (Dartmouth College).
Hall of Fame to grow by six in October
A six-time All-American hurdler, a
beloved principal and the namesake of
Abrookin Career and Technical Center are
among the six people selected to the City
School District of Albany Hall of Fame
Class of 2013.
The Hall of Fame was established in
2009 to recognize accomplished graduates,
exceptional district staff people and community people whose efforts support Albany public schools. Each year, new Hall of
Famers are inducted after being nominated
by the public and selected by a committee
of district staff and community members.
The members of the Class of 2013 are:
The late Emanuel “Manny” Abrookin,
Philip Schuyler High School Class of 1940 –
Longtime school board member for whom
Abrookin Career and Technical Center is
named; driving force behind career and technical education in Albany public schools.
Judith A. Greenwood, Albany High
School Class of 1958 – Returned to her
alma mater to teach Latin for many years;
built and sustained the high school’s Latin
program and Latin Club.
The late Joseph Robelotto, Albany High
School Class of 1931 – Former physical education teacher at the then-Hackett Junior
High School, Albany High School football
coach, principal at Public School 1, Public
School 15 and Giffen Memorial Elementary
School.
Rudy Vido, Albany High School Class
of 1970 – Football, wrestling, and track and
field standout at Albany High School; went
on to sign with the NFL’s New England Patriots and the Canadian Football League’s
Toronto Argonauts.
The late Brookert T. “June” Willingham
Jr., Albany High School Class of 1957 – Led
Albany High’s varsity basketball team to
states in 1957; helped found the former St.
Joseph’s Recreation Program in Arbor Hill
and volunteered as a coach there.
Ellakisha Williamson, Albany High
School Class of 1993 – Six-time all-American hurdler while at the University of South
Carolina; set the Section II record in 100meter hurdles while at Albany High and
still holds the school record in the 400 intermediate hurdles.
Members of the 2013 Hall of Fame will
be honored at an induction ceremony in October. For more information about this
year’s class and other Hall of Fame members, visit www.albanyschools.org.
www.albanyschools.org
Tech-savvy junior means business
Bill Gates, step aside.
Or at least make room for
Rayvon Morris: entrepreneur, web
designer, gadgeteer – and Albany
High School junior.
Need graphic design for your
website or a new business card?
Morris is your man. Want your
iPhone customized? Ditto. Vexed
by a thorny technology issue?
Drop
him
a
note
at
[email protected].
Albany High junior and entrepreneur Rayvon Morris
You also can follow him on Twit- works in his home office.
ter, friend him on Facebook or check
with myself and the class,” Simmons said.
out his how-to YouTube videos.
“He’s an exceptional young man who is alLike Gates, Morris got exposed to a litready making a difference in the business
tle technology in school and ran with it. For
world and his local community.
Morris, it was a one-year class in website
“The sky is the limit for him.”
design he took as a sophomore.
Morris taught himself the intricacies of
“This is just something that I found incoding, the language used to design comteresting and that I taught myself,” Morris
puter graphics, by studying existing websaid.
sites and reading anything he could on the
He got his first client before the end of
subject.
sophomore year. A year later he has 14
“For some reason I don’t like reading
website and graphic-design clients, in adclassical literature,” he said. “But I’m aldition to being a full-time student and
ways reading articles online about technolworking 20 hours a week at Best Buy.
ogy, any new discoveries, and trying to
His skills and savvy came to the attenkeep up with the latest coding language.”
tion of The Business Review, which named
Besides providing web and graphic deMorris a future business leader in its annual
sign, on July 1 he’ll be launching a new
“40 Under Forty” issue. He was one of
service: iPhone customization and repair
seven Capital Region high school students
through a business called GadgetHouse.
to get the recognition, and also the youngest.
Although he enjoys what he’s doing,
Albany High teacher Lindsay Simmons,
Morris isn’t sure he wants to make a career
who has Morris in her business law class,
out of it.
recommended Morris for the recognition.
“It’s lucrative, but I want to go into real“Every day Rayvon brings cutting-edge
estate development. I think the market is
insight from the technology world to share
(continued on page 3)
District and community partner
to envision a new high school
Some 70 people gathered at a June 10
town hall meeting with a singular goal: to
ask questions and share their vision about
the future of high school education in our
city.
The meeting was the latest in a series
of efforts by the City School District of
Albany to get community input on the
type of high school that would meet the
needs of Albany students today and
through the 21st century. It followed
months of separate forums with students,
staff, parents, volunteers and community
members – groups that will continue to
weigh in as the process unfolds.
Fielding questions from the town hall
meeting audience was a panel featuring
Board of Education President Alexandra
Streznewski, Superintendent Marguerite
Vanden Wyngaard, Ph.D., Assistant SuS PR IN G 2013
perintendent for Business Affairs Bill
Hogan, Albany High School Interim Principal Cecily Wilson, and architects Shawn
Hamlin and Richard Peckham.
Any new or renovated high school will
be located on the Washington Avenue
property where Albany High sits today.
Discussions will continue about rebuilding versus renovating, building design
and student programs and services.
Learn more about the process by visiting www.albanyschools.org and clicking
on the “Re-imagining Albany High
School” icon on the right. You also can
share your thoughts in an online survey
on the website, and you will have the opportunity to provide other input at a series
of forums that will take place in the summer and throughout the 2013-14 school
year.
1
From the superintendent
Changing the system
to change the results
Systemic change.
These are new buzz
words in an organization
that sometimes seems
awash in them. And while
they might fall into the category of educational jargon, they stand for perhaps
the most important work
the City School District of
Albany ever has undertaken.
Or ever will.
Marguerite Vanden Wyngaard, Ph.D.
Superintendent
So I want to take some
time here – and will continue to take time in the months and
years ahead – to let you know what our district is thinking
and doing when we talk about systemic change.
In the simplest terms, it means changing the structure of
the organization to change the educational outcomes for all
of our students. For the past six months, we have been engaged in the first steps of a multi-year process that will dramatically shift the design, delivery, performance and
partnership in the district and community.
That means refocusing and aligning all of our resources
– staff, financial and community – to support teaching and
learning.
All district-level administrators focused on supporting
principals, including a restructuring of administrative positions to allow us to provide that support.
Every principal empowered to be a strong educational
leader. Every teacher provided with the training and educational resources to excel. Every partner engaged in programs
and services aligned to specific academic pathways.
And every student prepared with the skills, experiences
and attitudes to succeed.
Our school district has worked hard to change through
the years. Our staff members earnestly have sought out solutions for our stubbornly persistent shortfalls in student
achievement – especially for our African-American and Hispanic students, our students with disabilities, our Englishlanguage learners and our poor students.
Yet the misalignment, fragmentation and disconnected
approaches currently in place are not providing the measurable improvements we need.
This has resulted in pockets of high performance and excellence across the school district, and we have many reasons to be proud of our outcomes in those areas. You read
about numerous examples in the pages of this quarterly
newsletter.
However, in order to reach our goal for every student, it
will take heroic leadership from every staff member, student, community member and strategic partner. It will take
a singular belief that we can meet and exceed expectations.
It will take a commitment to a common vision, common
language and common support to do the uncommon thing
and ensure that all of our students have a multitude of postsecondary opportunities.
It will take systemic change.
You’ll hear plenty more about that as we head into the
2013-14 school year, including the unveiling of our Strategic Roadmap 2020.
We – our school district and our children – need your
help and your support. So when you see me, please ask. I’m
glad to talk with you about any of it.
Have a safe and enjoyable summer. I look forward to continuing this work together when we return in September.
Capital Education is published by the
City School District of Albany.
Please direct comments about the newsletter,
story ideas and questions to
Ron Lesko at (518) 475-6065
or [email protected], or
Lisa Angerame at (518) 475-6066
or [email protected].
City School District of Albany
1 Academy Park
Albany, New York 12207
2
www.albanyschools.org
Voices
Q: What motivates you to succeed?
Throughout my life, I have set goals for
myself, ranging from riding a bike without
training wheels to getting the best test scores
possible. My goals, along with the “mini”
accomplishments that bring me closer to
goals, are the sources of motivation in my
life. My strong desire to achieve the impossible has helped me move along a path of
success. A sense of creativity has guided me in the right direction, encouraging me to take inspired actions. When I face challenges, I build
on past accomplishments. I also make sure to have a positive outlook on all situations. The combination of all these factors has kept
me motivated in the past, present and future.
The people that motivate me to succeed are
my parents, my teacher and myself. Every
morning I look in the mirror and say, “I am
smart. I feel it in my heart. I know it in my
head, and this is what I’ve said.” I make
sure that I am ready for the day. Before and
after school, my mom and dad help me,
too. When I need help with my reading, my
mom sounds out the words for me. When I struggle with my math,
my dad does the problems with me. My teacher Mrs. Chalmers
loves to help me also. In September, I didn’t know much about
multiplication but now I am doing division like a pro!
– Sylvia Nicholas-Patterson, fourth grade
Sheridan Preparatory Academy
–Jacob Citone, eighth grade
Stephen and Harriet Myers Middle School
What motivates me are my family and
friends, the people I feel most comfortable
with. They encourage me to do better and
succeed in anything I do. Another thing
that motivates me is failure, and although
that may not be inspiring it is very useful.
Failure is my highest form of motivation. If
you don’t do as well as you had previously
hoped it will encourage you to try harder when you attempt it
again because if you have a great supporting cast behind you can
only achieve more.
What motivates me is love – the love
that I get from my family and closest
friends and the love that I'm so driven to
give back to them. We have to take care of
each other because love is all we really
have. It’s the only way we can get by and
the only way to change our world.
– Deanisha Rowlett, senior
Albany High School
What motivates me to succeed is writing
stories to express my feelings of life. It motivates me because I love to write and it
makes me want to succeed in school. It also
motivates me to wake up in the morning so I
can be successful in school. What also motivates me is seeing my friends every day so I
have some happiness. Another thing that motivates me is orchestra because it helps me succeed in music.
What makes me want to succeed is my
friends because they say, “Come on, Naz!
You can do it, finish it!” I have good
friends. They help me and we just help
each other with stuff we need help with.
One time I needed help and I started crying and this girl named Lenasia came and
helped me with math. I have the best
friends. Another time a boy named Marcellus helped me with reading. My friends help me with a lot of stuff like math, reading,
spelling and writing. Another thing that makes me want to succeed is making my mom happy. I make my mom happy by passing tests, learning how to ride my bike, learning how to read and
learning how to play basketball.
– Eve Holt, fourth grade
Delaware Community School
– Nazaruz Thompson, third grade
Arbor Hill Elementary School
There are a few things that motivate me
to succeed. One is that I know succeeding
in school and college gives me a better
chance of getting a job. Also, succeeding
feels good. You have a good feeling after
you do something you thought you could
never do. Another thing that motivates me
to succeed is my parents. Without them
helping me along the way, I would not be where I am now.
I am motivated to succeed. My older
brother inspires me to work hard. He goes
to college so he can follow his dream and
I want to do that, too. If I can succeed now
in school then I will get to be what I want
to be when I get older. My oldest brother is
always teaching me. He makes me want to
learn and be smart. Every time he teaches
me something it is really interesting. I hope that if I succeed now
I can be just as smart as him.
– Qumon Foulks, senior
Albany High School
– Matt Milligan, seventh grade
William S. Hackett Middle School
– Israel Washington, fifth grade
Pine Hills Elementary School
At a glance: Sheridan Preparatory Academy
Principal: Zuleika Sanchez-Gayle | Grades served: Prekindergarten-5 | Address: 400 Sheridan Avenue |
Phone: 475-6850
Sheridan Preparatory Academy opened its doors Sept. 8, 2004. The school contains 21 classrooms, a computer lab,
music and art rooms, a library and media center, a cafeteria, a gym and a parent room. Every classroom has its own
computers and wireless Internet access. The building is fully wheelchair accessible and features energy-efficient heating and lighting systems.
Students: 423 | Teachers: 30 | Total employees: 57
Points of distinction:
• School-based health clinic
• Counseling services and community resources provided
• Optional school-uniform policy
• YMCA after-school program
Programs and partners:
• Believers and Achievers
• Boys and Girls Club After-School Program
• Charles L. Touhey Foundation, Inc.
• Dental Care through the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile
• Donors Choose
• Everybody Wins Power Lunch
• First Unitarian Church volunteers
• Full-day prekindergarten and kindergarten
• Explorers Club
• Legal Lives
• Mentoring
• Oasis Tutors
• Orchestra Club
• Parsons Child and Family Center
• Police Athletic League (PAL) basketball
• ProjectSMART
• PTA
• Scholars’ Institute
• State University of New York College at Oswego
• St. Peter’s Hospital
• SUNY Volunteers
• Tail Waggin’ Tutors
• Whitney M. Young Jr., Health Services
• YMCA After-School Program and Summer Program
What makes our school special?
Besides meeting the educational, social and health needs
of our students, we provide a safe and nurturing environment that promotes high expectations for all students. We
also encourage our students to do their best in everything
and reward effort, conduct, attendance and grades.
Did you know?
Sheridan Preparatory Academy is named for Civil War
General Philip Sheridan, who is believed to have been
born in Albany.
S PR IN G 2013
Top seniors bound for Harvard
(continued from page 1)
Alexandria Muhammad, who will attend
the highly regarded State University of New
York at Binghamton, wants to major in anthropology and minor in biology. She has
her sights set on medical school.
So does Criscione, who will begin a
regimen of science classes at Harvard to
prepare her for pre-med studies.
Malcolm Porterfield will enter the
Hudson Valley Community College Honors Program this fall to study engineering.
He plans to finish his studies at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Adler’s major at Harvard is undeclared,
although he’s leaning toward math.
All six students are eager to move onward and upward, but they agreed that there
are things they will miss at Albany High.
The community of friends they have
made. Teachers who have influenced them
and become mentors. Opportunities to be
part of programs that other schools don’t
offer like Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate classes.
Outstanding music and arts programs.
“It’s bittersweet,” Greer said. “But I’m
ready to move on.”
Student achievement
(continued from page 1)
going to blossom in Albany because of
nanotechnology. High-income people
will be looking to buy houses here because of their jobs,” he said.
Whatever business he ultimately
builds, perhaps Morris will bring to Albany what Bill Gates brought to the Pa-
cific Northwest with Microsoft: jobs and
a certain cachet.
“Albany’s a great place,” Morris said.
“It just needs a little confidence. If we
make it look better here, provide modern
condos or capitalize on the historic housing, I think it will take off.”
Summer-school programs
Elementary school
Dates: July 8-Aug. 2
Days: Monday-Friday
Time: 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Location: At elementary schools; due to construction, the Giffen Memorial
Elementary School summer school program will be held at Thomas O’Brien
Academy of Science and Technology (TOAST), and the Montessori Magnet
School program will be held at Eagle Point Elementary School.
Contact: Shelette Pleat, 475-6825, or Jefferson Weidman, 475-6625
Middle school
Dates: July 1-Aug. 2
Days: Monday-Friday
Time: 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Location: For current sixth- and seventh-graders – Stephen and Harriet Myers
Middle School; for current eighth-graders – Albany High School
Registration: District students only – June 26, 9 a.m.-noon; district and nondistrict students – June 27, 9 a.m.-noon
Contact: Kandie Antonetti, 475-6247
High school
Dates: July 1-Aug. 12
Days: Monday-Thursday
Times: 8 a.m.-noon
Location: Albany High School
Registration: Albany High students only, June 26, 8 a.m.-noon; Albany High
and non-district students, June 27, 8 a.m.-noon
Contact: Janet Escoto-La Voie or Malik Jones, 475-6308
Quick ways to stay informed
Want to keep up with what’s going on in
the City School District of Albany? We can
help you stay in the loop in a variety of ways.
Facebook
The school district has a Facebook page
featuring information about and photos of
events that take place throughout the district. You can follow us on Facebook at “Albany city schools.” You also can become a
fan by clicking the icon on the district website at www.albanyschools.org.
Find us on
Facebook
School News Notifier (SNN)
SNN is an e-mail alert system that also
includes a text-messaging option for
emergency news such as weather-related
closings. The system allows you to sign up
for information in up to 24 categories, in-
cluding news
and events
from indiv i d u a l
schools. You
also can receive
district-wide
information about transportation, athletics
and the Board of Education.
Join the more than 2,240 people already signed up for this service by clicking the Albany SNN logo on the district
home page.
Albany public schools in the news
It can be a challenge to find time to
keep up with the news. That’s why the district website now maintains links to media
coverage involving our schools and our
students. Visit www.albanyschools.org
and click on “In the News” under Quick
Links in the right-hand column.
S PR IN G 2013
Grads accepted to impressive institutions
Harvard. Brown. Cornell. Dartmouth.
Georgetown. Binghamton. Geneseo. NYU.
Just to name a few.
Members of Albany High School’s Class
Adirondack Community
College
Alfred University
Amarillo College
Amherst College
Arizona State University
Bard College
Bentley University
Bloomsburg University
Boston University
Brown University
Bryant University
Canisius College
Catholic University of
America
Cazenovia College
Central Piedmont
Community College
City College of New York
The City University of New
York/Brooklyn College
The City University of New
York/Hunter College
Clarion University
Clark Atlanta University
Clark University
Clarkson University
Clemson University
Coastal Carolina University
Colgate University
The College of Saint Rose
College of Staten Island
College of the Holy Cross
College of the Redwoods
Connecticut College
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Daytona Beach Community
College
Dean College
Delaware State University
DePaul University
Drexel University
D'Youville College
Eastern Nazarene College
Edinboro University
Emmanuel College
Eugene Lang College
Fairfield University
Fisher College
Florida Atlantic University
Florida Gulf Coast
University
Florida State University
Fordham College at Rose
Hill
Fordham University
Fulton-Montgomery
Community College
George Mason University
Georgetown University
Georgia State University
Green Mountain College
Hartwick College
Harvard University
Herkimer County
Community College
Hobart and William Smith
Colleges
Hofstra University
Howard University
of 2013 have been accepted at more than
170 colleges and universities. Check out the
list of impressive institutions below – and
congratulations to this year’s graduates!
Hudson Valley Community
College
Indiana University
Bloomington
Indiana University
Bloomington's Jacobs
School of Music
Iona College
Iowa State University
Ithaca College
Jacksonville University
James Madison University
Johnson & Wales University
Lewis University
LIM College
Long Island University,
Brooklyn Campus
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Maryland
Loyola University New
Orleans
Lyndon State College
Manhattan College
Marist College
Marymount Manhattan
College
Massachusetts College of
Art and Design
Mercyhurst University
Middlebury College
Mohawk Valley Community
College
Monroe College
Morgan State University
Mount Saint Mary College
New York Institute of
Technology-Old Westbury
New York University
North Carolina State
University
Northeastern University
Norwich University
Oklahoma State University
Onondaga Community
College
Pace University
Post University
PrattMWP
Providence College
Quinnipiac University
Randolph College
Rochester Institute of
Technology
Roger Williams University
Russell Sage College
Sage College of Albany
Salve Regina University
San Diego State University
San Francisco State
University
Santa Monica College
Savannah College of Art
and Design
Schenectady County
Community College
Seton Hall University
Shaw University
Siena College
Smith College
Southern Polytechnic State
University
Southern Vermont College
Spelman College
Springfield College
St John Fisher College
St. John's University,
Manhattan Campus
St. John's University, Queens
Campus
SUNY Albany
SUNY Binghamton
SUNY Binghamton's Harpur
College of Arts and
Sciences
SUNY Buffalo
SUNY Stony Brook
SUNY College at Alfred
SUNY College at Buffalo
SUNY College at Canton
SUNY College at Cobleskill
SUNY College at Cortland
SUNY College at Delhi
SUNY College of
Environment Science
and Forestry
SUNY College at Fredonia
SUNY College at Geneseo
SUNY College at Morrisville
SUNY College at New Paltz
SUNY College at Oneonta
SUNY College at Oswego
SUNY College Plattsburgh
SUNY College at Potsdam
SUNY Collage at Purchase
Syracuse University
Tompkins Cortland
Community College
Trine University
University of Hartford
University of Massachusetts
Boston
University of Massachusetts
Lowell
University of Maine at
Farmington
University of New
Hampshire
University of New Haven
University of North Carolina
at Wilmington
University of Oregon
University of Pittsburgh
University of Rhode Island
University of Richmond
University of Rochester
University of Scranton
University of South Carolina
University of Vermont
Universidad Iberoamericana
Utica College
Virginia Polytechnic Institute
and State University
Wake Forest University
Wells College
Wentworth Institute of
Technology
Wesley College
Western New England
University
Wheaton College
Wheelock College
Williams College
www.albanyschools.org
3
WE CHOOSE
Albany High School Interim Principal Cecily Wilson
poses with senior Tianna Smith, right, and her mom,
Yvonne Johnson, at the annual Abrookin Awards Ceremony and Dinner on May 22. Smith received a senior
recognition award that night.
From left, New Scotland Elementary School prekindergarteners Alexander Tucker, Janaya Burgos-Campbell and Jaden Eugene
get a soccer workout during the school’s May 17 “Day of Health.” The event kicked off with a community walk through the
neighborhood, and throughout the day students took part in yoga, Zumba, soccer, baseball, softball, tennis, karate, basketball
and football activities.
Eagle Point Elementary School sixth-grader Natassia
Kennerly shares a piece of writing with author Coleen
Paratore, who visited the school on May 22. Paratore,
who wrote “The Wedding Planner’s Daughter” and 16
other books, talked about her craft with students
throughout the grades.
Students and staff at Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science
and Technology (TOAST) celebrated their new outdoor learning pavilion on June 5 in a school-wide ceremony. Helping Interim Principal Gerard Gretzinger promote the festivities are,
from left to right, Maxim Gottlieb, Preeskee Lah, Zequai
Lue, Birtu Diefenderfer, Caleb Westin, Cole Allen and Kevaia
Dozier.
On May 8, students at Albany School of Humanities (ASH) joined more than 1,000 schools
across the country in cycling to school on “Bike to School Day,” an initiative to promote bike
safety. Here, Evelyn Thomas, left, greets pal Grace Neville. Both girls are in kindergarten.
4
www.albanyschools.org
Arbor Hill Elementary School third-graders Nevaeh McCall,
Tameera Shannon and Lenasia Campbell and music teacher
Josephine Amore do a Zumba workout during the school’s
“Health and Wellness Day” on May 23. That day, trainers from
Best Fitness were on hand to give lessons in boot camp, P90X,
yoga and Zumba, and ShopRite of Albany provided healthy
snacks and nutrition seminars.
Albany High School seniors on May 10 helped usher in Albany’s annual Tulip Festival with
the ceremonial washing of State Street. Dressed in authentic Dutch attire that is stored and
maintained by the City Club of Albany, the students mug for the camera on the steps of City
Hall. They are, front row from left, Molly Burke, Carmen Hubert and Alyssa Smith, and
back row from left, Julie Czerwinski, Ashley Turner, Chloe Ader and Tierney Hornbeck.
S PR IN G 2013
Players on the modified baseball team get a look at the competition on the field before their game
against LaSalle on May 7. From left, they are Joe Karandy, Mathew Pickett, Jaan Choudhri, Matt
Milligan, Noah John, Devin Hunt, Jack Delong, Joe Peltier and Ryan O'Keefe. The team finished
the season with a respectable 5-7 record.
This group of Delaware Community School second-graders cheers on their classmates during a
JustRun! track meet on June 4 (see page 6 for related story). From left, the students are Sophia
Anderson, Hannah Lamont, Carson Engstrom, Sofia O'Connor and Roland Riggins.
Ted Hearne, composer-educator in residence for the Albany Symphony Orchestra,
works with, from left, William S. Hackett Middle School sixth-graders Zionna
Fitzgerald, Shanya Weaver and Nyah Peterson on a songwriting and recording collaboration between Hackett and the symphony. A dozen students participated in the
project, which tied together music and literacy. Their work culminated in a schoolwide performance on May 31.
Since starting last fall, the Albany Book Project, a program of Grassroots Givers, has
donated thousands of quality books to Albany public schools. On May 7, the project
dropped by Stephen and Harriet Myers Middle School with two dozen baskets of
books for students. Perusing the titles, from left, are eighth-graders T.J. Robertson,
Daniella Bertrand, Isabella Higgins and Laura Bulmer.
ALBANY SCHOOLS
Sixth-graders at Pine Hills Elementary School held a May 14 car wash to raise funds for
their end-of-year field trip. Pitching in to wipe down a vehicle are, from left, Katonah Lawson, Avanyana Mills, Sumar Sefadine-Ismail, Diamond Tibbs and Neveah Burton.
City School District of Albany Superintendent Marguerite Vanden Wyngaard, Ph.D., poses
with students from Giffen Memorial Elementary School at the May groundbreaking ceremony marking the long-awaited start of construction for the Capital South Campus Center.
From left, the students are fourth-graders Loraine Salcedo and Neveah Coffin, first-grader
Labree Smith and third-grader Ny'Leeah Grady.
Montessori Magnet School celebrated Earth Day on May 31, and the whole school took part
in environmentally friendly activities ranging from cooking s’mores in pizza-box grills to
planting seeds to getting up close and personal with Hudson River life. Here, prekindergarteners prepare seed balls to plant. The students are, from left, Maya Lang, Grace
Manuyag, Osbert Boakye and Gavin Cramer.
Smarts run in this North Albany Academy family, where siblings Albeliz Rabelo Sanchez, left,
Yariel Rabelo and Yabdiel Sanchez all made honor roll, much to the delight of their proud
grandmother, Ana Sanchez, with whom they are pictured. They and other high achievers at
their school were recognized at an April 30 Honor Roll Pasta Dinner.
S PR IN G 2013
www.albanyschools.org
5
S CH OOL NEW S
High school blood drives exceed goal
Scholars’ Institute celebrates joy of learning
Albany High School surpassed its blood donation
goal for the year and the student organizer of the blood
drives will receive a scholarship as a result.
Students and staff rolled
up their sleeves to donate a
total of 245 pints in blood
donation drives in October,
January and May. Those
pints could save as many as
735 lives, according to the
American Red Cross Northeastern New York Region.
Albany High School junior Mamadou Diagne gives blood May
Consequently, senior
9 at the school’s third and final blood drive of the year. For the
and student blood drive orsecond year in a row, Albany High students and staff exceeded
their goal and earned scholarship money from the American
ganizer Elide Pichardo will
Red Cross Northeastern New York Region.
receive a $350 scholarship
from the Red Cross for her
goal was to collect more than 230 pints.
efforts to encourage her peers and others to
This is the second year Albany High’s
donate.
blood drives have resulted in a student
Organizers Alicia Abdul, a library media scholarship. Last year, the school was
specialist, and Stacey Saracene, a social named “High School of the Year” for the
studies teacher, said the school’s 2012-13 number of pints of blood donated.
Top students from six City
School District of Albany elementary schools dazzled
their audience with smarts
and humor at the Scholars’
Institute 2013 Culmination
Celebration on April 25.
Scholars’ Institute is an
after-school enrichment program for motivated students
from Arbor Hill Elementary
School, Giffen Memorial Elementary School, Eagle
Point Elementary School,
Philip Schuyler AchieveSheridan Preparatory Academy fifth-graders and scholars
ment Academy, Pine Hills
Dreme Baker, left, and Neah Pryor share a smile with Scholars’
Elementary School and
Institute teacher Shelette Pleat (who also teaches at Eagle Point
Sheridan
Preparatory
Elementary School).
Academy.
The Scholars’ Institute began five years
Three days a week after school, for six
months, students went to the Sage College of ago as a partnership between the district
Albany campus. There, they read about, and the Albany Family Education Alliance.
wrote about and researched a variety of sub- The program is modeled after a Harlem
jects ranging from bullying to bad weather. Children’s Zone course to prepare students
And they had a chance to show off their for the academic demands of middle
knowledge in skits, PowerPoint presenta- school.
Teachers recommended students for the
tions, songs and more during the April 25
participation in the program.
celebration.
Albany High runners amass awards
Philo Germano and Blessing Uzoeshi are
nothing short of amazing on and off the
track. The two Albany High School seniors
regularly competed with the best throughout
the state during their outstanding careers.
“I love the fact I’m always competing
with others and with the clock to get faster
and faster times,” Germano said.
Uzoeshi doesn’t see herself as a fierce
competitor, but her ambition to succeed
shines through.
“You have to push yourself because
you’ll never know where you’ll get if you
don’t,” she said.
Uzoeshi first competed for Albany High
in outdoor track during the spring of 2011.
She advanced to the state meet and was
hooked on running.
At January’s Big 10 indoor championships, she won the 55-meter dash in 7.49
seconds and the 300 in 42.89 seconds, and
placed second in the triple jump at 31 feet,
11.5 inches.
Those performances earned her the Big
10 MVP award.
At the state indoor meet in February, her
40.80 time in the 300 placed her fourth in
the New York State Public High School
Athletic Association and seventh in the
state overall. She also earned Times Union
all-star recognition.
The highlight of her outdoor season this
spring came at the Section II champi-
onships. She was a double winner, crossing
the line first in the 100 (12.75 seconds) and
400 (58.35 seconds).
She was eligible to go to the state meet
June 7-8, but opted to attend her senior
prom, scheduled the same weekend.
All in all, she has a pretty nice collection
of medals and trophies. In June, the Times
Union once again recognized her as an allarea selection (senior Devin Grant also received all-area recognition from the Times
Union in boys’ track).
Germano has been similarly decorated.
After winning the Section II cross country championship last fall and being named
the Times Union athlete of the year in that
sport, Germano advanced to the Nike Cross
Nationals in Oregon last December.
He continued to excel during the spring
outdoor track season, breaking the school
record in the 1,500 at Niskayuna’s Track
and Field Classic on April 20 with a time
of 4:07.89 – the second-fastest time in the
state this year and the fastest in Section II.
While Uzoeshi isn’t sure she’ll run track
in college, Germano plans to keep at it and
has his eye on the Olympics.
“It’s my dream,” Germano affirmed.
(By Albany High School senior Emory
Robertson-Gray, who participated in a
spring internship in the City School District
of Albany Communications Office.)
Albany elementary students JustRun!
Some 250 students from
five City School District of
Albany elementary schools –
perhaps a future Carl Lewis or
Florence Joyner among them
– recently competed in two
days of track meets at Union
College, part of a nationwide
effort to help promote exercise, healthy eating and smart
choices.
JustRun! Albany, a satellite
of the national JustRun Fitness, sponsored the events for
students in grades 2-6. The
Andre Cambers, a fifth-grader at New Scotland Elementary
meets drew more than 800
School, was one of more than 250 district students competing
kids from area schools, inin the JustRun! Albany spring track meets on June 4 and 5.
cluding Arbor Hill Elementary School, Delaware Community School, Meanwhile, New Scotland has participated
Eagle Point Elementary School, Montessori for several years and started a school-wide
Magnet School and New Scotland Elemen- program that encouraged kids to keep weekly
running logs.
tary School.
“The JustRun! program encouraged chilFor the second year in a row, Eagle Point’s
JustRun! team was the top team in New York dren to stay active, keep fit and have fun,”
state based on the number of miles its run- said Wanda Carter, a New Scotland kinderners have logged since September – roughly garten teacher who coordinated the event for
3,000. The stats also put the team among the her school. “It inspired kids to run more at
home, and parents raved over how it inspired
top 20 in the nation.
This was the first year Delaware and their children to be more active and healthMontessori took part in JustRun! activities. conscious when choosing snacks.”
Albany High inducts 54 into National Honor Society
Fifty-four high-achieving juniors were inducted into Albany High School's Arista
Chapter of the National Honor Society on
April 30.
To be eligible for induction, students
must maintain an overall academic average
of 89.5 or higher.
The National Honor Society was founded
in 1921 to help create a better-rounded student who would be willing to put his or her
talents to work serving others in society.
Albany High’s Arista Chapter was
formed in 1957 and admitted 15 students
in its first group of inductees.
The Class of 2014 inductees, listed in alphabetical order, are:
6
www.albanyschools.org
• Celina Ackerman
• Yousif Ali
• Angela Avalos
• Brendan Bequette
• Ryan Berman
• Freddie Boehrer
• Sophie Boldiston
• Lawan Cancer Jr.
• Oscar Cedeno
• Jacques Chaumont
• Elana Cohen
• Kennedy Coyne
• Mamadou Diagne
• Pierce Dias Carlson
• Devan Finkell
• Harlan Ginsburg
• Jeffrey Gritsavage
• Brian Ha
• Jason Jadan
• Thomas Jaquinto
• Musa Kanneh
• Jenny Kovach
• Kezia Kuriakose
• Asif Mahamud
• Alona Masih
• Abigail McCormick-Foley
• Wylia McLeod
• Stelios Moisidis
• Athena Muhammad
• Darlene Nayra
• Brigid Neumann
• Thanh Nguyen
• Odella Nurse
• Johanna Marie Oasan
• Zilpa Oduor
• Richard Opoku
S PR IN G 2013
• Erind Pengu
• Michaela Pickett
• Elena Pollack
• Sean Rafferty
• Jeanne Ringwald
• Augustus Rivera
• Timothy Rooney
• Julia Salinero
• George Shi-li
• Erica Sicat
• Molly Stenard
• Anna Stoneman
• Andrew Mamhoud Tawerdi
• Aidyanne Torres
• Micah Valentine
• MahammedHumam Vohra
• Cara Waterson
• Bess Zafran
S CH OOL NEW S
AWAR DS & ACH IEV EM ENT S
Albany High senior recognized
among top American scholars
Senior pens top ‘American Dream’ essay
Albany High School senior June
Criscione has been recognized as one of
141 U.S. Presidential Scholars nationally
and just five in New York state.
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced the members of the 49th
class of U.S. Presidential Scholars on May
6.
Criscione was the top-ranked student in
the Albany High Class of 2013. Both she
and Albany High’s second-ranked student,
Hillel Adler, will attend Harvard University
Harvard-bound Albany High School senior
(see page 1 for related story).
June
Criscione is a U.S. Presidential Scholar.
One of just two Upstate New York students recognized as Presidential Scholars,
Criscione and the other 2013 award recipients were honored in the nation’s capital June 16.
Times Union notes outstanding seniors
Albany High School seniors June Criscione, Kayli McTague and Malcolm
Porterfield were honored in the Times Union’s 2013 Scholars’ Recognition Program.
Nominated by their teachers, the scholars are recognized for their academics, leadership and service to their schools and communities.
The students were acknowledged along with their peers from an 11-county region in
a special section published May 7. The students also were honored at the program’s annual dinner.
Leadership Academy freshman
leads courtyard beautification project
Albany High School Leadership Academy freshman Elizabeth Hall has displayed
both initiative and leadership in her efforts to beautify the high school courtyard.
Hall rallied volunteers to assist with both the weeding of the flower beds and the
planting of new plants May 11, after seeking and receiving plant donations from Olsen’s
Ace Hardware and Garden and Price-Greenleaf, Inc.
Looking to the future, Hall is talking to Cornell Cooperative Extension of Albany
County about starting a gardening club at Albany High next year. She’s also planning
a larger planting event for spring 2014.
Albany students create winning posters, essays
City School District of Albany students fared well in poster and essay contests to
raise awareness about issues of hunger and poverty.
Winning essays were penned by Indian McCain, Morgan Johnson and Sophia
Goldsmith, all sixth-graders at William S. Hackett Middle School.
Winning posters were designed by Neo Gumabay, a sixth-grader at Giffen Memorial Elementary School, Santos Otero, an eighth-grader at Hackett, and Damir Oliver,
an eighth-grader at North Albany Academy.
The contests were sponsored by the Capital Area Council of Churches, organizers of
the 2013 Albany CROP Hunger Walk, which was held May 5.
Albany High Select Choir gets gold with distinction
They sang three pieces of extraordinarily challenging music at the most difficult
level and the judges gave their performance the highest possible rating.
Led by Director Brendan Hoffman, Albany High School's Select Choir earned a
“gold with distinction” rating – the highest given to any performing group – at the New
York State School Music Association’s Choral Festival May 2 at Bethlehem High
School.
This is the second year the Select Choir has performed competition Level VI – the
highest degree of complexity. They sang “Rest” by Vaughan Williams, “The Battle of
Jericho” by Moses Hogan and “Sanctus” from Gabriel Faure’s “Requiem.”
Performances are graded as “bronze,” “silver” and “gold,” with a gold rating going
to performers who demonstrate outstanding technical and artistic skill. A “gold with distinction” award is a rare designation meaning the performance of all three songs was exceptional.
Albany High School
senior Shaquilla Scott on
May 20 read her awardwinning essay on “My
Quest to Achieve the American Dream” to a roomful
of area business and civic
leaders.
Her essay was the top
pick by Junior Achievement of Northeastern New
York, which sponsored the
contest and community
breakfast.
Scott will be the first
member of her family to reAlbany High School senior Shaquilla Scott , center, penned the
ceive a high school
top essay in a Junior Achievement contest.
diploma and the first one
to go to college, heading
to Buffalo State this fall to major in economics and communications.
In her essay, she credits her parents with instilling in her the value of education. Seeing her parents’ day-to-day struggles, she knew she wanted more. The essay also expresses gratitude for the financial and career guidance she got from Junior Achievement.
New Scotland second-grader
makes strides for cystic fibrosis
When eight-year old Vicente Del Puerto learned of a friend’s struggle with the lifethreatening lung disease cystic fibrosis, he wanted to help.
So the New Scotland Elementary School second-grader took it upon himself to learn
more about the disease. Then he organized a team of classmates, teachers, family members and friends – the Bluejays – to participate in the local May 18 “Great Strides”
fundraiser to benefit cystic fibrosis research.
He wasn’t shy about asking for support, personally reaching out to his Cub Scout
troop, neighbors and even Mayor Gerald D. Jennings. Through his tenacity, he raised
more than $2,000.
He’s still at it, holding bake sales, craft sales, garage sales and other money-makers
all in the name of helping out a friend.
Albany High video talent selected for Proctors festival
Works by 12 Albany High School students in Mark Sickler’s video-production
class made it to the big screen May 21 at the Media Arts Festival at Proctors Theatre in
Schenectady.
The annual festival showcases the skills of young local artists working in the media
arts: animation, digital illustration, filmmaking, interactive journalism and experimental media. Artists in middle school, high school and college are invited to submit their
media for exhibition.
The talented 12 and their projects are:
• Junior Ali Alalkawi, made “Fantasy – Like a Boss!!” – a video animation;
• Junior Muneib Chater, senior Siobhan Granich, junior Jabari Walker and junior
Naaman Azad made a music video to the trending “Gangnam Style;”
• Junior Eli Kligerman made a video-stop motion film called “iphoned;”
• Dennis Dominguez and Jose Vega, both juniors, created a video narrative called “MinDum Drøm” (this also won “best screenplay” in last December’s 50-Hour Film Contest);
• Micko Newell, a sophomore, made a video called “Snow Day;”
• William Dayer, a junior, created a video animation named “WD Animation;”
• Sophomore Olivia Parker and junior Naaman Azad made a video called “You’re It;”
and
• Aden Suchak, a freshman, created a video narrative called “Aden’s Puerto Rico Trip.”
YMCA honors school psychologist
The Capital District YMCA on May 3 recognized Albany High School psychologist
Liz Gialanella, Ph.D., as an outstanding educator.
Dr. Gialanella, an Albany resident and district parent, wears many hats at Albany
High. Besides being the school psychologist, she is the faculty advisor to the school’s
Gay-Straight Alliance and the Chess Club. She also is a member of the committee that
evaluates and advises on improving the climate at Albany High.
She was recognized by the Albany Human Rights Commission in January 2012.
Check us out online!
We have created an Online News Center to provide you as much news as possible about the great people and programs of the City School District of Albany. Visit www.albanyschools.org
and click the Online News Center link in the right-hand column to read more about any of these stories and additional articles, including:
• Class of 2013 graduation: a photo essay
• The school year in photos
• TOAST unveils new outdoor learning pavilion
• District partners with CDPHP, AFE on ‘No Texting While Driving’ campaign
• Willingham-Hurst choose Siena College
• Superintendent lauds mayor’s partnership leadership
You also can check out our District News section!
S PR IN G 2013
www.albanyschools.org
7
Board of Education
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 149
Albany, NY
Alexandra Streznewski
President
Ginnie Farrell
Vice President
City School District of Albany
1 Academy Park
Albany, New York 12207
Rose Brandon, Th.D.
Secretary
Sue Adler
Dan Egan
Felicia Green
Edith Leet
Marguerite Vanden Wyngaard, Ph.D.
Superintendent
You can access all the
information in this newsletter
online at www.albanyschools.org
Communications Office, 1 Academy Park, Albany, N.Y. 12207 | (518) 475-6065 | Fax: 475-6069 | www.albanyschools.org
Leading the way
Lisa Finkenbinder
Q&A
Alumni achievement
Temeko Richardson ’89
School food service director
Lisa Finkenbinder began career as a registered dietitian in hospitals and nursing homes. There, she saw firsthand the effects of bad eating habits. She decided she wanted to be on the prevention side of nutrition, teaching people about healthy eating before they get sick or grow old. She became the City School District of
Albany’s school lunch director in fall 2011.
Q: What does your job entail?
A: I see my job as feeding our future. I oversee the operation and
production of breakfast and lunch service in each district school
– about 3,000 breakfasts and 5,500 lunches every day. I don’t
create the menu, but I help decide what’s on it. I also supervise
79 people in our school kitchens.
Another part of my job is making sure we comply with different state and federal laws governing school breakfast
and lunch programs. There are very specific types of
food we have to provide in very specific amounts,
and they vary depending on the grade a child is in.
Q: How is school food different than it was a
decade ago?
A: There is a much greater awareness of and
focus on childhood obesity, which has driven
a lot of the changes that have taken place in
the last 10 or 15 years. Federal regulations
are very specific about the number of calories in each meal, fat and sodium content
and even the kind and color of food groups
that need to be represented in each meal. Ten
years ago you could walk into a school cafeteria and get chips and a soda from a vending machine. Not today.
Q: Do you think there are too many regulations in
some cases?
A: Fighting obesity is understandable. But in a district that
struggles with hunger, sometimes the restrictions can be
challenging. We overcome some of the difficulties by offering
other initiatives that help with food security: the after-school
snack program and the summer meals program are a couple of
examples of that.
Q: Do you have any advice to offer parents about healthy eating habits for kids?
A: Look at your child’s likes and dislikes and work from there. Serve
something they like when you serve a new food. Also, make healthy
foods easier to eat. For example, take the grapes you buy at the store
out of the plastic bag, wash them and put them in a colander in the
fridge so they’re ready to eat and right there when your child
opens the refrigerator looking for something to eat.
Definitely never give up when it comes to trying new things. If you
lead by example and teach along the way, hopefully they’ll pick up
some good habits.
Q: You have two children. Is there anything you don’t allow your two
children to eat?
A: Nope. Everything has to be in moderation.
8
www.albanyschools.org
Temeko Richardson has a
thing about motivation.
The 1989 Albany High
School graduate is CEO of two
businesses with offices on both
coasts. She’s also a marathon
runner, competing in some two
dozen races a year. She recently
finished her second book and
writes on various blogs and
websites.
And she is a mentor to
prospective college students.
“I’m a pretty ambitious person,” Richardson said.
Temeko Richardson ’89
As a teen in Albany, she saw
peers making bad choices that
limited their options. She knew she wanted more. The fact that
her mother taught English at Albany High helped her focus, too.
“I could never get in trouble, that’s for sure. I was forced to
have good grades because everyone would know about it,” she
said with a laugh.
It was her inner drive that pushed her to graduate from Albany High at age 16 after acing the most challenging courses
there. She went on to Temple University, where she majored in
math and computer science.
After that, she earned a master’s degree in systems engineering from the Ivy League’s University of Pennsylvania.
Today, Richardson runs TSG One LLC, a firm that designs
software systems that help finance, health and other industry
leaders with customer relations management. Her other firm,
RLC Group, focuses on “business intelligence” – advising
CEOs, entrepreneurs and athletes on how to improve their endeavors by helping them understand the external factors that affect them.
She’s also the brains (and feet) behind Run Life’s Course, her
roadmap for success that uses her marathon runs as a template
for success in in all walks of life.
Her most recent book, “Get a Clue, 10 Steps to an Executive
IQ,” is a guide to help readers tap into inner CEO. It’s available
on Amazon.com and at Barnes & Noble (www.bn.com).
Whether helping corporate executives improve their bottom
line, running a marathon or mentoring a young person, Richardson has a positive, pay-it-forward attitude.
But what motivates the motivator?
“One, the ability to set a goal, achieve it and keep moving
forward. Two, the ability to be as successful as possible so you
can always give back. And three, mentoring young people in the
right direction. It’s always important to give back to people less
fortunate,” she said.
Words of wisdom:
Never get complacent with mediocrity because you will lose
your drive for excellence. And set your next goal before you
reach your current goal.
S PR IN G 2013