Class of 2026 Graduation
Sunday, June 28 @ noon | MVP Arena 

Reserving graduation tickets:

• MVP Arena will require tickets for all guests to enter the arena on the day of our ceremony this year. Each graduate may reserve up to 15 tickets (please note that this is an update from our original Feb. 17 communication regarding tickets). 

• Tickets are free and must be reserved via this Google Form. They will be available for pickup with the caps and gowns June 9-10. Please reserve your tickets as soon as possible - thank you!

Senior Meeting: Monday, June 8, period 8 (2:02 p.m.)

• All seniors will report to the auditorium during period 8 on June 8 for a meeting with Principal Commerford in preparation for graduation day.
• We will review in detail the requirements for graduation, upcoming dates and deadlines and the expectations and procedures for the ceremony.
• We will also rehearse the procession.

Returning School Property:

• Chromebooks and hotspots will be collected on Tuesday, June 9, and Wednesday, June 10, during the distribution of caps and gowns. There will be a station to check in your Chromebook (and hotspot if you have one) prior to picking up your cap and gown. 
• If you need your Chromebook to complete assignments past June 10, a staff member will be available to assist you with requesting an extension prior to picking up your cap and gown.  
• Please also bring any other school property that needs to be returned, such as library books, textbooks and athletic equipment and uniforms.

Caps, gowns and graduation ticket distribution: Tuesday, June 9 and Wednesday, June 10

• Pick up for caps, gowns and graduation tickets will be from noon-4 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9 and Wednesday, June 10 in the Annex Gym. 
• Students were instructed to order their cap and gown via this Google Form by April 12. We cannot guarantee the exact sizes for submissions placed after April 12.
• Honor cords and Class of 2026 lawn signs will also be available for pick up.
• Each set includes a cap, gown, sash and 2026 tassel for $35.
• Payments can be made through the last day of class, Monday, June 16.
• Visit the main office to pay in cash or with a check during your lunch period. You can also pay online using MySchoolBucks. 
• Please be sure to store your graduation tickets in a safe and secure place. Tickets cannot be reprinted or replaced. Guests must present the physical ticket for admission into MVP Arena the day of graduation!

Senior Field Day: Tuesday, June 16 

• Graduates are invited to decorate their caps during Senior Field Day on Tuesday, June 16 at 1:30 p.m. Bring your cap, we will provide the supplies! 
• Seniors will be called out to the stadium starting at 1:30 p.m. for their field day. In addition to cap decorating, there will be music, games, snacks and other fun activities.

Pre-ordering flowers:

• Families and loved ones can pre-order flowers online for their graduate via a co-sponsored Albany High School fundraiser. The pre-orders will close at noon on Saturday, June 27.
• Please pick up your order at the entrance of the MVP arena upon arrival at the graduation ceremony.

Yearbook information:

• Yearbooks will be arriving at Albany High at the beginning of June.
• Our yearbook club advisor has ordered 300 copies that are available on a first-come, first-served basis for students who did not choose to pre-order a copy earlier in the school year.
• Due to the limited quantity of yearbooks, students are encouraged to pre-pay to reserve a copy by placing an order via the 2026 Albany High Yearbook web page. Once the purchase is made, the information is shared with our Yearbook Club advisor and a copy will be reserved on the student's behalf.
• Students also can purchase a yearbook with cash, check or money order once the yearbooks arrive at Albany High. If a student would like to pay digitally, they can do so via the 2026 Albany High Yearbook web page at the sales table.
• Dates and times of yearbook distribution and sales will be publicized once the shipment of yearbooks has arrived at Albany High—stay tuned for details.

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To ensure that our graduation celebration can proceed in a smooth and timely fashion, we ask that graduates and loved ones maintain a posture of respect and decorum prior to, during and after the ceremony. The following details pertain to the day of graduation:

Student arrival:

• Graduates should arrive at the Beaver Street entrance promptly at 11 a.m. so they can pass through routine security checks and line up for the procession. 
• Students are encouraged to bring water and wear comfortable shoes.
• They will then be directed to “check-in” tables (look for signs for your academy/program, e.g. ‘CIT’ or ‘NGT’) and receive a procession card with instructions on how to line up.

Guest arrival:

• The arena will open its doors for guests at the main entrance on Pearl Street and the entrance on Market Street at 11 a.m., and the ceremony will begin at noon sharp.
• Guests will pass through routine security to enter into the seating area in the arena prior to presenting their ticket.
• Tickets will be scanned by an attendant to allow entry directly after the security check. (As a reminder, tickets are free and each graduate may reserve up to 15 tickets. Tickets can be reserved via this Google Form and will be distributed at cap and gown pick up on June 9-10.)
• The MVP Arena is wheelchair-accessible and escorts will be available to the ADA-accessible sections.
• Balloons are not permitted inside the venue.

The ceremony:

• The venue doors will close and the ceremony will begin promptly at noon.
• After filing in, graduates will remain standing until invited to have a seat by Principal Commerford. When the time comes, graduates will be ushered by row to line up to cross the stage.
• Before crossing the stage, graduates will hand their procession cards to the announcers and clarify how to pronounce their names.
• Graduates MUST remain seated for the entire ceremony and exit with the recessional as a class.

After the ceremony:

• The Class of 2026 will exit the arena in a recessional, just like how they enter. They will be directed to the same backstage area where they lined up so they can pick up their diplomas before exiting. Students who are unable to get their diploma the day of graduation can pick it up during the summer at the Albany High main office. Summer office hours are Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
• To keep everyone safe and avoid overcrowding, graduates must exit the venue via Beaver Street and guests are asked to exit the building immediately via the Pearl Street and Market Street exits.
• The ceremony is expected to conclude around 2:30 p.m.

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Graduation requirements: school property and payments

• In order to receive a diploma, graduates must return all school property and pay any outstanding balances prior to graduation, including exam fees, library books, textbooks and athletic equipment and uniforms.  
• Seniors must return their Chromebooks on June 9-10 at cap and gown pick up and should report any damages at that time.

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Graduation requirements: grades and exams

All seniors must meet all gradation requirements in order to attend graduation, including:

• Final/Regents examinations and class attendance are critically important for graduation.
• Seniors must report to exams on time, pass all courses and meet all requirements to graduate.

If you have any questions or concerns about this, contact your student’s school counselor or academy principal: 

• Citizenship Academy Principal Emma Steckman – (518) 475-6220
• Discovery Academy Principal Jordan Goldman – (518) 475-6230
• Innovation Academy Principal Richard Shea – (518) 475-6240
• Leadership Academy Principal Michaela Miranda – (518) 475-6250 
• Night School Coordinators Greg Baker & Peter Justice – (518) 475-6416
• Tony Clement Education Center Principal Chris Martel – (518) 475-6525