From the superintendent
Planning the future
of Albany High School
Schools are not defined by
bricks and mortar alone.
However, there’s no question
that structurally sound, technologically updated, environmentally friendly school
buildings enhance the learning experience for students.
Albany High School was a
shining example of a modern
school when it was built in
the early 1970s. Time has not
Raymond Colucciello, Ed.D.
Superintendent
been kind to the building,
however. The district made some upgrades over the years,
but the time has come to either completely renovate or rebuild the Albany High building.
A new committee made up of district employees and
community members is studying the pros and cons of
both options.
Called the High School Facilities Advisory Committee, its charge is to evaluate both options and recommend
action to the Board of Education. The 34-member committee is made up of Albany taxpayers, parents, school
board members, district employees and community
agency representatives – and an architect. It is an impressive group of volunteers and the task is a tough one.
Our committee will work alongside a community
group led by University at Albany President George Philip
and The College of Saint Rose President Mark Sullivan.
Mayor Gerald D. Jennings announced that initiative – a
tremendous opportunity for the district – in his state of
the City address on Jan. 19.
I am grateful to Mayor Jennings for his continued partnership with our school district, and I am excited by the
vision that he and presidents Philip and Sullivan have described.
Here are just a few things the district’s committee will
need to consider:
• Current use and capacity of the existing building
• Facilities and equipment needed for Albany High’s
education programs
• Enrollment predictions
• Cost of renovating versus rebuilding
• Available sites for the building, including federal land
next to the current Albany High
• Energy and transportation costs
• Impact on taxpayers
The district committee has been meeting since early
January and will continue to meet through the end of
April. All meetings are open to the public, with opportunities for questions, comments and feedback. Visit
www.albanyschools.org for dates and times.
Ultimately our entire community will have to decide
on a high school plan that it believes will best achieve our
district’s mission to educate and nurture all students.
While we work together as a community toward that day,
we very much look forward to the opportunity to partner
with the city, UAlbany, Saint Rose and all others who wish
to create an innovative vision for the next generation.
Voices
Q: What do you do to conserve energy and create a
healthier planet?
I do many things to conserve energy. I
help by turning off lights when not using
them, unplugging my DSi when it finishes charging and turning off heaters
when they aren’t needed. I help to create
a healthier planet by helping to conserve
water, by putting cans, plastic bottles and
paper in the recycling box, and by picking
up some of the trash that I see on the ground and throwing it away.
– Ginelis Andrades, sixth grade
Arbor Hill Elementary School
I try to recycle as much as I can. I also
walk instead of drive places in order to
save gas and keep harmful toxins out of
the air. I turn off lights when I leave rooms
in order to save energy. Saving water is
another way I try to create a healthier
planet.
– Ravi Brenner, freshman
Albany High School
What I do to conserve energy and create
a healthier planet starts at home! Instead of
watching TV at home, I will read a
book. This saves energy and makes me
smarter. I also turn off lights and the TV
when no one is in the room. At school we
turn off lights when we leave the room to
conserve energy. We also keep the temperature on the cool side to conserve energy and save money.
– Anthony Ignacio, fifth grade
Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science and Technology (TOAST)
To conserve energy I try to bicycle or
take public transportation to my destinations rather than use a car. Not only is riding my bike friendly to the environment, it
also helps keep me in shape. At home, I
make sure that all lights and devices not
being used are turned off. To avoid turning
up the heater in the winter, I wear multiple
layers of clothing and snuggle up in blankets to keep warm. I
also dispose of biodegradable materials by putting them in the
compost heap in my backyard.
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
– Carlos Morocho, fifth grade
Albany School of Humanities (ASH)
I enjoy conserving energy and creating a healthier planet. I like to do things
like turning off lights and electronics
when not in use. Every Wednesday, my
fifth-period Family and Consumer Sciences class goes to every classroom to
collect recyclables. I think it’s a great
way to get schools involved in helping
the planet. Little things like turning off lights and tossing paper
in the recycling bin are so easy and help a lot.
– Abigail Perrin, seventh grade
Stephen and Harriet Myers Middle School
In today's world it is easier than ever
to conserve energy and do my part in
creating a healthier planet. Personally,
recycling is first and foremost. Everything is broken down and provided into
the appropriate recycling categories, but
at school this can be difficult at times.
As the science teacher, I am fortunate
that we can reuse many items for various projects and labs for my
students. Students are always the best source of inspiration when
it comes to how to reuse various items for class.
– Shelette Pleat, fifth-grade teacher
Eagle Point Elementary School
The Earth is all we have and we need
to preserve it. Being “green” is very important to my family. My family takes
large steps to conserve energy by using
recycled products and using a geothermal energy source under the house instead of using gas. Steps should be taken
in every home in America to better the
– Kaitlin Huemer, senior
Albany High School
life of the Earth.
– Sergio Rodriguez, eighth grade
William S. Hackett Middle School
At a glance: Albany High School
The City School District of Albany’s comprehensive high school, located at 700 Washington Ave., is divided into four
themed academies and includes its own career and technical education center.
Students: 2,372
Teachers: 168
Total employees: 416
Clubs: 40
Athletic teams: 17 in 11 sports for girls; 17 in 11 sports
for boys
Online newspaper: The Nest (www.ahsthenest.com)
Student government: Falcon Council
Website: www.ahs.albany.k12.ny.us
Capital Education is published by the
One way that I conserve energy is by
walking to school in the fall and winter. I
am planning to walk to school in the
spring and summer because I do not want
to pollute the air. Another way is recycling. I use old soda bottles as flower pots.
I also recycle paper. When I am finished
with one side of the paper, I use the other
side. I also use the recycle bin at school and home. I think I am
really saving energy.
Four new academies. One great education.
Albany High’s new academies offer the same core classes
in English, math, science and social studies. What makes
each academy unique is its theme and the elective classes
it offers. Each student is assigned to one academy but can
take courses in any.
• Citizenship – Critical thinking and preparation for the
global economy
• Discovery – Communication and performing arts
• Innovation – Science, technology, engineering and
math
• Leadership – Civic and social responsibility
Points of distinction:
• Top national ranking – For the past three years, the
Washington Post has ranked Albany High among the
top American high schools for students taking advanced
coursework.
• International Baccalaureate (IB) program – Albany
High is one of only two high schools in the Capital Region providing the prestigious and academically challenging IB program.
• NanoHigh – This one-of-a-kind collaboration with the
University at Albany’s College of Nanoscale Science
and Engineering provides introductory and advanced
nano courses in the classroom and at CNSE’s Albany
NanoTech Complex.
• Regional leader in Advanced Placement – Albany
High offers 18 AP classes – college-level courses that
may result in college credit.
• Abrookin Vocational-Technical Center – Albany
High’s career and technical education center educates
accomplished chefs, carpenters, cosmetologists and
more.
• College prep options – Saturday academies help students catch up and get ahead on school work using a
web-based program called APEX Learning. Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) courses
help bolster academic skills.
• Encore! – The award-winning Theatre Ensemble puts
on two productions annually: a fall play and a spring
musical.
Did you know?
The Albanettes, a select choir of advanced voice students,
performed at Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s swearing-in ceremony in January 2011.
W INT ER 2011-12