Fall 2021

School-based centers good for kids’ health

When Dawn Whitman didn’t have a car, she didn’t have to worry about getting her children to the doctor if they were sick or needed a check-up.

They were able to get primary and preventive health care at school, thanks to four school-based health centers that Whitney Young Health operates in the City School District of Albany.

Whitman’s children are among nearly 900 in the district who are patients at school-based health centers, which are located at Giffen Memorial Elementary School, Philip J. Schuyler Achievement Academy, Sheridan Preparatory Academy and – new this year – Albany High School.

At the health centers, students can get physicals, strep and glucose testing, vision and hearing screening, diabetes and asthma screening, preventive care like immunizations, acute care (including prescriptions) and referrals to specialists.

All the care is free. 

In addition to regular patients like Whitman’s family (her son Jaeden is pictured above), school-based health centers provide care to any student who lives in the district, said Amanda Duff, Whitney Young’s director of community-based initiatives and program support. 

For example, any student who had a sore throat could visit a school-based health center, where they would be examined by one of Whitney Young’s health providers. They might get a strep test, and if it was positive, Whitney Young could write a prescription and send it to the family’s pharmacy. 

Whitney Young would then circle back with the student’s regular health provider. Each school-based health center has its own schedule, and eventually all will provide services Monday-Friday. 

Services are provided under the direction of a doctor, family nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Whitney Young will make referrals for additional health and mental health services that cannot be provided at the school, Duff said. 

The school-based health centers help kids do well in school, too.

“Giving children and teens access to health care at school puts them in a better position to learn,” said Lori McKenna, the district’s assistant superintendent for secondary instruction. 

“They spend more time in class because they tend to be sick less often and don’t have to take as much time off school to get to appointments. 

“We’re incredibly grateful to our community partners at Whitney Young for providing this important service to our families.”

School nurses work closely with Whitney Young staff to get students enrolled and make the process convenient for families. Families can find enrollment forms at each school and online at wmyhealth.org.

Parents and guardians are welcome to be there for their children’s appointments, but their attendance is optional, Duff said. This makes it easier for families with transportation challenges.

For Whitman and her family, school-based health centers have been a lifesaver.

“It’s been so easy to have someone at school to look at my children,” Whitman said. “I’m sure (the centers) have made a big difference for a lot of parents.”

Working together for our students

The City School District of Albany is here to provide students and families with the academic, social and emotional support needed to be successful. We also continue to encourage and reinforce the importance of being safe, responsible and respectful. 

However, we recognize that we cannot do this work alone. We need all of us working together on behalf of each of us so that everyone of us may be successful. 

We ask parents, guardians and caregivers to support our efforts by having ongoing conversations at home about appropriate behavior, in school, on buses and in the community. 

The pandemic has taken a toll on all of us. Our lives have been changed as we progress through the various stages of dealing with COVID-19. In addition, school districts across the state and nation are experiencing challenges as we adjust to the transition back to full in-person learning. 

This adjustment takes time and consistency. 

We are reviewing and practicing routines and procedures with our students. We are resetting norms and expectations at each building. We also are focusing on the social-emotional needs of our students.

Early in the school year, teachers and support staff focused on delivering quality instruction and beginning to address numerous social-emotional learning concerns. Through our classroom observation process and support of our instructional supervisors, technology coaches and instructional coaches, we have analyzed our assessment data to determine academic gaps.  

We now are at a point where we are able to strengthen our ability to reinforce higher-level thinking strategies and accelerated learning strategies, which foster higher levels of engagement. 

We also continue to address the social-emotional learning component by providing services to students and families who are experiencing difficulties with the stressors of COVID-19. 

Parents and guardians are encouraged to speak with school counselors and building administrators regarding challenges their children may be experiencing. Our schools have behavior specialists, school psychologists, social workers and community partners who can assist.

While prevention and proactive measures will always be our preferred strategy, we will continue to hold students accountable for inappropriate behaviors in alignment with our Student Code of Conduct. We also are working with our community partners to provide wraparound supports. 

On behalf of our schools and our community, thank you for your continued support. Thank you for talking with your children regarding appropriate behaviors, and thank you for encouraging them to speak to a trusted adult about topics that may make them feel uncomfortable. 

We are continuing to brave the unknown. We know that we can get through this. We know that together we are better and stronger, and we know that we will continue to be here for our students and families.

Yours in education,

Kaweeda G. Adams
Superintendent

Q: What does success in school mean to you?

Update on snow days

When bad weather hits, New York school districts once again have the option to hold a distance learning day or a traditional snow day this school year.

The City School District of Albany will evaluate these decisions on a case-by-case basis, including whether a two-hour delay may be an option depending on the circumstances.

The simplest way for families to find out about weather-related decisions is to sign up to receive a text message through our SchoolMessenger communication system. Just text “Y” or “yes” to 67587 from a number we have on file in our SchoolTool student database.

Families also will receive a SchoolMessenger email and robocall to the contact info on file if the district closes or switches to distance learning due to the weather or other emergency circumstances.

The district also shares information about weather-related changes at albanyschools.org, and on Facebook and Twitter (@albanyschools).
You also can find information on the Times Union website and the following radio and TV stations: CBS6 Albany (Ch. 6), Spectrum (Ch. 9), WTEN (Ch. 10), WNYT (Ch. 13), WROW-AM 590, WGY-AM 810, WFLY-FM 92.3, WYJB-FM 95.5, WTRY-FM 98.3, WRVE-FM 99.5, WPYX-FM 106.5 and WGNA-FM 107.7

Providing high school equivalency test prep

The City School District of Albany is offering a free program to help adults who didn’t finish high school prepare for the state’s high school equivalency exam.

The exam, called the Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC), replaced the GED in 2014 as the only free exam leading to a high school equivalency diploma from the state.

Test prep classes are held in-person from 4:30-6:30 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday at Tony Clement Center for Education, 395 Elk St. You must take the test-prep class in order to take the TASC.

Each student in the district’s test-prep program will receive personalized instruction tailored to meet their needs. A certified teacher works with students to overcome their challenges so they can successfully pass the exam and earn a diploma. A student’s level of preparedness will determine when they can take the test.

Class size is limited to 15. Students must be over 21 and residents of the City of Albany to enroll in the district’s program. 

For more information or to sign up, contact Jenny Evans at jevans1@albany.k12.ny.us or (518) 475-6071.

Spooky science with community partners

Regeneron scientists paid virtual visits to every City School District of Albany third grade on Oct. 24 and guided students in hands-on STEM experiments with a Halloween twist.

STEM is short for science, technology, engineering and math. The student scientists learned about density and buoyancy by testing whether Halloween candy favorites Laffy Taffy, Skittles, Smarties and Gobstobbers float when placed in water (spoiler alert: they all sink).

They also created their own “blood” using red licorice pieces to represent red blood cells, marshmallows as white blood cells and sprinkles as platelets, all in a corn syrup solution. As they created their mixture, they learned about the important role each part of blood plays in keeping us healthy.

Every school’s third grade had its own Regeneron scientist that interacted with students and their teachers as the experiments were underway. Students also made windsocks and observed a homemade volcano eruption.

Students were able to take home their creations at the end of the school day.

A huge thank you to our amazing community partners at Regeneron, who provided the scientists and all the materials for the experiments.

Falcon diver keeps crown

A year’s interruption due to COVID-19 did not diminish Anna Flanders’ dominance in Section 2 diving.

Flanders won the Division 1 championship as a William S. Hackett Middle School eighth-grader in 2019. The pandemic scratched sectionals in 2020, but Flanders, now a sophomore at Albany High School, picked up where she left off, comfortably outdistancing the field for the repeat at the Nov. 4 sectional meet at Shenendehowa High School. 

Flanders totaled 516.8 points to win the title. Her closest competitor was 31.6 points behind.

“Anna is a phenomenal athlete – she’s graceful, fierce and incredibly talented,” said Ashley Chapple, the City School District of Albany’s director of health, physical education and athletics.

“We are here to cheer her on all the way to states, and beyond. And we look forward to following her continued success as a Falcon during the next two years.”

The 2021 New York State Public High School Athletic Association will hold the girls’ swimming and diving championships Nov. 19-20 at Ithaca College. Flanders finished eighth in the state as an eighth-grader in 2019; she heads to this year’s championships ranked fourth.

Congratulations on this exceptional achievement and good luck at states!

Seniors participating in prestigious fellowship 

Two Albany High School students are participating this school year in a prestigious fellowship program started by former President Barack Obama.

The New York State Education Department chose seniors Gideon Goldmann and Marcus Treece to participate in the My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Fellowship program for 2021. The class of 73 fellows from across the state represents 25 school districts.

This is the fourth year that Albany High students have participated in the state’s MBK program. Albany High also offers its own MBK Club, providing similar leadership-development opportunities for a broader group of students.

The state’s MBK fellows have the opportunity to develop and execute a service project. Goldmann and Treece are working this fall to build an educational and mentorship program in which members of Albany High’s MBK Club will work directly with elementary students. 

The high school teacher-mentors will deliver a curriculum developed by KneoWorld that will include monthly themes such as conflict resolution. The lessons will use the monthly themes to examine African-American history and leadership in STEAM-related fields. Goldmann and Treece plan to document the process and the experience through a video for their MBK capstone project in the spring. 

Goldman also recently completed the 2021 Academic Challenge sponsored by The Gravenburg Group and Albany High’s MBK Club, in partnership with Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.

That program allows students to explore African-American history and the contributions that African-American leaders have made worldwide. The Gravenburg Group, a leadership development and executive coaching firm, presented Goldmann with a Galaxy Book Go Laptop to recognize his achievement. 

’84 grad earns football Hall of Fame induction

Congratulations to 1984 Albany High School graduate John Chaney on his induction into the Capital Region Football Hall of Fame. 
Chaney was one of the top players in the Capital Region during his time at Albany High. He went on to Wagner College in New York City, playing an important role as the Division III Seahawks won the first NCAA championship in school history during Chaney’s senior season. 

A multi-purpose player, Chaney played receiver and defensive back, and also returned kicks and punts. His memorable one-handed touchdown catch helped Wagner to victory in the 1987 national semifinals.

He also caught a TD pass in the national championship game. Wagner was 22-3 over Chaney’s final two seasons. A 2011 inductee into the Wagner Hall of Fame, Chaney also competed on the Seahawks’ basketball and track and field teams.

Albany High inducts 101 into honor society 

Congratulations to the 101 academic superstars inducted Nov. 9 into Albany High School’s Arista Chapter of National Honor Society.

The students, all seniors, were eligible for National Honor Society because each has maintained 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 their 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.

Visit albanyschools.org to see the list of the newest National Honor Society members.

Blood drive helps ease shortage

Albany High School students, faculty and staff did their part to help alleviate critical local and national blood supply shortages at an Oct. 7 blood drive.

The community responded to the call for donations, filling all spots that were reserved. Some potential donors had to be turned away due to COVID-19 social distancing limitations, and the school exceeded its donation goal.

Albany High holds three drives each school year, and this was its first for 2021-22. A partnership with the American Red Cross, the drive was conducted with strict social distancing and sanitizing protocols in place. Donors required an appointment in advance.

The donation of one pint of blood can save up to three lives.

Besides saving lives, Albany High’s drives will raise Red Cross scholarship money for two student blood-drive coordinators, seniors Alison and Elizabeth Powell.

Save the date – the next drive is Jan. 27!

Senior heading to Maccabiah Games

Albany High School lacrosse midfielder Liv Nevo has been selected for the USA U18 Women’s Lacrosse Team for the 21st Maccabiah Games, which will be played in Israel next summer. 

Nevo, an Albany High co-captain, led the team in scoring as a junior last spring.

The Maccabiah Games are the world’s largest Jewish athletic competition, bringing together 1,000 athletes from more than 80 countries. The event is held every four years. 

Following her senior season in the spring, graduation in June and the Maccabiah Games in July, Nevo plans to attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology or the University of Rochester. 

Alumni achievement: Jasmine Higgins ’15

The most important thing Jasmine Higgins learned during her time in the City School District of Albany cannot be taught in a textbook.

In the classrooms, hallways and athletic fields throughout the district, Higgins was surrounded by people who looked like her. That wasn’t the case when she moved on to college, and, even now in her professional life, she finds she is often one of the few African-American people in a room.

That’s not to say the current policy analyst and mayoral advisor for the City of Albany doesn’t credit her academic foundation at New Scotland Elementary, Albany School of Humanities, Stephen and Harriet Myers Middle School, and Albany High School for her collegiate and career success. 

It just means that the experience she had in the district hasn’t been replicated elsewhere since graduating from Albany High in 2015.

“It helped me to realize the importance of diversity and inclusion and how to advocate for myself and others who have been historically underrepresented,” Higgins said. 

Higgins found support at Albany High in the form of hall monitors who would cheer her on at soccer and rugby games, and in English teacher Megan Donohue, who provided the guidance Higgins needed to apply to, and get accepted at, Siena College.

“Little gestures make all the difference,” Higgins said. “It’s always nice to have folks in your corner.”

Advocacy and fighting for equity, social justice and the city she loves isn’t just a job for Higgins. It’s in her blood. 

She’s a descendant of Ida Yarbrough, a local African-American community leader and civil rights activist for whom an apartment complex in Arbor Hill is named.

While some may scoff at attending college and returning to work in the community where she was born and raised, Higgins can’t imagine it any other way. She is constantly reminded of her great-great grandmother’s quote:

“You don’t leave a community if it doesn’t have exactly what you want. You want to build it yourself.”

Or, at least, be a part of its evolution.

“I love Albany,” Higgins said. “I am committed to being part of the solution.”