March 6, 2026
Mean Girls opens March 12
Albany High Theater Ensemble's production of "Mean Girls: High School Version" will run March 12–15 at 6:30 p.m. (Sunday show at 2 p.m.)! Don't miss this great opportunity to see our incredibly talented student performers, crew and musicians in action! Tickets are $5 for district students and seniors, $15 general admission. Please note, the show contains a parental advisory for mild language and adult themes. We hope to see you there!
Black History Celebration "Afrofuturism"
On Thursday evening, students, faculty, relatives and community members gathered at Albany High for this year's Black History Celebration, "Afrofuturism." Through song, dance, art, poetry, storytelling and speeches, Albany High students, along with our administrators, teachers and community leaders, led attendees to reflect on the Black experience of the past and re-imagine the Black experience of the future.
Check out this news story to learn more about this incredible event!
High school spring sports begin Monday, March 9
- Spring sports registration closes today, Friday, March 6. Sign up via Final Forms.
- Tryout/practice schedules for the spring sports season are live on the Athletics page of our website. Please note there is a tab for practice schedules when there is inclement weather. Coaches will keep student-athletes and families appraised of adjustments to the practice schedule that will happen as the season proceeds.
Graduation 2026
Our graduation ceremony for the Class of 2026 will take place on Sunday, June 28, at noon at the MVP Arena!
Seniors, please be sure to complete these two important steps in preparation for your special day:
- Place the order for your cap and gown via this Google Form by April 2.
- The MVP Arena will require tickets for all guests at this year's graduation celebration. Each graduate may reserve up to 15 tickets. Tickets are free and can be secured via this Google Form.
Parents and loved ones, we have an option to pre-order flowers that will be available for pick-up right at the venue the day of the event.
Be sure to check out our Class of 2026 Graduation page for more details as you and your loved ones plan for this wonderful milestone!
Paid summer internship opportunity with New York State Senate
New York State Senate is offering an exciting summer internship program, and we wanted to help spread the word to Albany High students and families! The internship is a six‑week, on‑site program in which high school students get hands-on experience in creating PDFs, learning each stage of the printing process and designing pamphlets and brochures, along with many other valuable professional development skills.
The internship runs 20 hours per week from July 6 through Aug. 14 and is paid—an excellent chance for students to earn while they learn. This year’s application deadline is March 31.
Visit the New York State Senate website for additional details about the program and how to apply.
As a reminder, information about college summer programs and internships is posted in SchooLinks. Once logging in, select "Engage" from the menu on the left-hand side and select "Opportunity Board" to view lots of great information! Students are also welcome to stop by our College and Career Center in room 1230 to see Jen Quinn if they need assistance or printed copies of applications.
All-City Concert series kicks off March 18
Students from across the district have been working hard to prepare beautiful vocal and instrumental pieces for our All-City Concert series. Details about the upcoming performances are listed below:
- All-City Chorus Concert is March 18
- All-City Strings Concert is March 25
- All-City Band Concert is March 31
Please note the printed wall calendar that was mailed in late August 2025 lists the date for the All-City Band concert as April 1. This was later updated, and the correct date is March 31.
Memorable moments in winter sports
As the winter sports season nears an end, we have many memorable moments to celebrate!
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Albany High senior Noah Bizer has qualified for the state indoor track and field championships in both the 600 meters and the 1,000 meters. He won the 1,000 at the Section 2 state qualifiers Feb. 14 with a time of 2 minutes, 34.40 seconds, and placed second in a photo finish in the 600 with a time of 1:25.95. He will compete in the state meet in Staten Island on March 7.
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Basketball season came to an end this week for the Albany High School boys’ and girls’ teams. The boys’ battled Shenendehowa down to the wire in Sunday’s Section 2 Class AAA quarterfinals at Hudson Valley Community College, dropping a 65-62 outcome. The girls’ team ran into one of the top Class AAA teams in the state in Tuesday’s semifinal matchup with Shaker at Hudson Valley. The Falcons played hard throughout the game but fell 67-40. Congratulations to all of our student-athletes on successful seasons!
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Ahniysha “Baby” Jackson has returned to The Nest as the assistant girls' basketball coach the year following a record-setting career at Siena. Check out this news story about Jackson's journey and her role in mentoring the next generation of girls' basketball players at Albany High.
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Our Falcons (4-2) on the Unified Bowling team are on a roll! They will compete in their final game of the season on Monday, March 9, at King Pin Lanes against Saratoga, Mayfield and Scotia-Glenville. Let's go!
Be sure to follow our Albany Athletics Facebook and Instagram pages to see our sports highlights!
Lisa Valentine named 2026 Top Teacher
Congratulations to Albany High culinary teacher Lisa Valentine for being honored by WNYT/Ch. 13 as a Top Teacher of 2026! Be sure to check out her interview, which aired on March 4.
Falcons, it's time to vote for "Senior Superlatives"
All students in grades 9-12 are encouraged to vote for our Senior Superlatives by submitting responses via a Google Form by Wednesday, March 11, at 3 p.m. The form has been distributed to students via their school email. They will need to log in with their district credentials to share their responses.
Research Foundation for SUNY stocks clothing at Falcon Market
This week, we added warm winter clothing and lots of socks to the shelves at our Falcon Market thanks to the generosity of employees from the Research Foundation for SUNY! Visit the Falcon Market page of our Albany High website to learn more about this wonderful, free resource for our Albany High students and their families.
Vote for John Halvorsen for the Manilow Music Teacher Award!
Help band teacher John Halvorsen win the Manilow Music Teacher Award by casting your vote! You can vote once per day between now and Thursday, March 19.
With 20 years in our schools, including over 15 at Albany High, Halvorsen's unwavering dedication has been a cornerstone of our incredible music education program. He is now one of 10 local finalists for the prestigious Manilow Music Teacher Award.
The award winner, chosen through public voting, will be honored onstage at Manilow's April 2 performance and will receive a $5,000 cash prize along with a $5,000 grant for purchasing classroom instruments.
Mock Trial wins over Albany Academy
The Albany High School Mock Trial Team kicked off this year's tournament with a resounding win over Albany Academy on Wednesday evening. Check out this news story to learn more!
Kailas Bouget named finalist in National Merit Scholarship Program
Congratulations to Albany High senior Kailas Bouget for being named a finalist in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Competition! Read more about this prestigious accomplishment in our news story.
Grab-and-go meals during Ramadan
To support our students who are observing Ramadan, Albany High is offering "grab-and-go" meals that students can pick up at the end of the school day in the cafeteria to bring home. Grab-and-go meals will be available for pickup on school days through Thursday, March 19.
Summer Youth Employment Program
The City of Albany is accepting registration through March 31 for the 2026 LIGHT Summer Youth Employment Program. The LIGHT Program – Learning, Initiative and Gaining Headway Together – will run from July 6–August 7. The program is open to youth aged 14-18 who live in Albany. Youth employees will work up to 20 hours per week, earn $16.00 per hour and must meet all eligibility and orientation requirements to participate. Check out this news story to learn more!
If students need assistance with printing out the paperwork or have questions, they are welcome to visit the College and Career Center (Room 1230) after school on Mondays and Wednesdays between 3:30-4:30 p.m. College and Career Counselor Jen Quinn is happy to provide assistance.
Parent Teacher Student Association to vote for new officers
Our Albany High Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) will soon vote for new officers for the upcoming school year. Come partner with our school leaders to help make our school an environment where all students can grow and thrive. Reach out to our PTSA President Jenny O'Neil via email at ptsaalbanyhigh@gmail.com to learn more.
Autism Spectrum Fair
Montessori Magnet School invites all district families to the district's 2026 Autism Spectrum Fair. The annual and free event is scheduled from 5—7 p.m. on March 31 at MMS (45 Tremont St.). We hope to see you there!
Online Success Program
Our Online Success Center Program allows students to raise their grade for previous quarters. This is a fantastic opportunity for our Falcons to earn back credit and enhance their academic achievement! View this digital flyer to learn more!
After-school tutoring at Albany High
Falcons, do you need extra help with your coursework? Join us at our after-school tutoring program, which runs Monday through Thursday from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. in room 2235. If you need extra help with your classes, come join us and get some support from Albany High teachers. Hope to see you there!
Albany High communications
We hope you enjoyed this Albany High weekly update! As a reminder, to avoid overwhelming your inbox with lots of messages throughout the week, we curate this weekly communication on Fridays at this web page with important updates and exciting news to keep our Falcon families "in-the-know." Feel free to bookmark this page so you always have the important details you need at hand.
We also have dedicated Albany High social media pages on Facebook and Instagram. Follow us to see lots of great photos and reels!
Exciting events coming up soon
This is a list of events coming up that we want to draw particular attention to for students and families! These are just some of the great things happening here at Albany High, and remember you can view our full calendar to see them all!
Follow Albany High!
Looking for last week's update?
Teen Night is Feb. 27
Falcons in grades 9-12 are invited to join us for Albany High Teen Night on Friday, Feb. 27! This free and fun event takes place from 5-7 p.m. Spend time with friends and enjoy music, games, snacks and more.
Join us for our Black History Celebration "Afrofuturism"
Albany High staff, students and families are invited to join us for our Black History Celebration on Thursday, March 5, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
This year's event - Afrofuturism - will be an evening full of incredible moments as we gather as a school community to experience a beautifully curated program featuring a guest speaker, delicious food, performances and more! We are proud of our student leaders in My Brother's Keeper and My Sister's Keeper for planning and facilitating this event.
Hope to see you there!
Mean Girls opens March 12!
Albany High Theater Ensemble's production of "Mean Girls: High School Version" will run March 12–15 at 6:30 p.m. (Sunday show at 2 p.m.)! Don't miss this great opportunity to see our incredibly talented student performers, crew and musicians in action! Tickets are $5 for district students and seniors, $15 general admission. Please note, the show contains a parental advisory for mild language and adult themes. We hope to see you there!
Graduation 2026
Our graduation ceremony for the Class of 2026 will take place on Sunday, June 28, at noon at the MVP Arena! The time has come for our seniors to complete some important steps by April 2 to prepare for this special day:
- Please place the order for your cap and gown via this Google Form.
- The MVP Arena will require tickets for all guests at this year's graduation celebration. Each graduate may reserve up to 15 tickets. Tickets are free and can be secured via this Google Form.
Be sure to check out our Class of 2026 Graduation page for more details as you and your loved ones plan for this wonderful milestone!
Snow Ball Dance is canceled
Please be advised that the Snow Ball Dance scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 28, is canceled. Students who purchased tickets can stop by their academy office to pick up their refund. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.
Falcons fly high in winter sports
We've had lots of thrilling moments as our Falcons have wrapped up the regular season and have entered postseason competition!
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Albany High senior Noah Bizer has qualified for the state indoor track and field championships in both the 600 meters and the 1,000 meters. He won the 1,000 at the Section 2 state qualifiers Feb. 14 with a time of 2 minutes, 34.40 seconds, and placed second in a photo finish in the 600 with a time of 1:25.95. He will compete in the state meet in Staten Island on March 7.
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Our girls' basketball team celebrated a 71-48 victory over Saratoga Springs in the Section 2 Class AAA quarterfinals at The Nest on Wednesday evening. Akarri Gaddy scored 28 points to power the team forward, with Janae Byrams contributing 10 points to the win. They will play Shaker in the semifinals on Monday, March 2, at 7:30 p.m. at Hudson Valley Community College. Tickets must be purchased on the GoFan website.
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Our boys' basketball team is headed to the playoffs and will play Shenendehowa in the Section 2 Class AAA quarterfinals on Sunday, March 1, at Hudson Valley Community College. Tickets must be purchased on the GoFan website.
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Congratulations to Albany High School girls’ basketball coach Decky Lawson for setting a new program record for coaching wins! Lawson earned his school-record 215th career victory with the Falcons’ win at Schenectady on Jan. 27. He has led the Falcons to three Section 2 titles, and to the championship game five times overall. Read more about Lawson's accomplishments in this news story.
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Our seniors on the indoor track and field teams were honored at a special ceremony on Wednesday. We are so proud of each senior's commitment, enthusiasm and leadership, and we commend these student-athletes for their hard work during training and competitions throughout their high school athletic careers!
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The New York State Public High School Athletic Association has announced its winter 2026 scholar-athlete individuals and teams. Check out this news story celebrating our 41 Albany High School student-athletes who received an individual award, as well as our two team award winners.
Be sure to follow our Albany Athletics Facebook and Instagram pages to see our sports highlights!
Register for spring sports by Friday, March 6!
As we look forward to the spring athletic season, here are some important details:
- Spring sports registration closes on Friday, March 6! Sign up via Final Forms. Families are encouraged to schedule a visit with their child's provider to secure a completed physical form. If this is not possible, the district physician will offer sports physicals at Albany High School on March 4 and 5. Check out this news story for additional information.
- Students interested in playing boy's tennis are invited to a pre-season informational meeting on Monday, March, 2. This year we will be adding a JV team, an exciting expansion to our program!
- Students are encouraged to participate in open workout sessions in our fitness room/weight room to prepare for the spring season.
Vote for John Halvorsen for the Manilow Music Teacher Award!
Help band teacher John Halvorsen win the Manilow Music Teacher Award by casting your vote! You can vote once per day between now and Thursday, March 19.
With 20 years in our schools, including over 15 at Albany High, Halvorsen's unwavering dedication has been a cornerstone of our incredible music education program. He is now one of 10 local finalists for the prestigious Manilow Music Teacher Award.
The award winner, chosen through public voting, will be honored onstage at Manilow's April 2 performance and will receive a $5,000 cash prize along with a $5,000 grant for purchasing classroom instruments.
Grab-and-go meals during Ramadan
To support our students who are observing Ramadan, Albany High is offering "grab-and-go" meals that students can pick up at the end of the school day in the cafeteria to bring home. Grab-and-go meals will be available for pickup on school days through Thursday, March 19.
Summer Youth Employment Program
The City of Albany is accepting registration through March 31 for the 2026 LIGHT Summer Youth Employment Program. The LIGHT Program – Learning, Initiative and Gaining Headway Together – will run from July 6–Aug. 7. The program is open to youth aged 14-18 who live in Albany. Youth employees will work up to 20 hours per week, earn $16.00 per hour and must meet all eligibility and orientation requirements to participate. Check out this news story to learn more!
Exploring a literary classic
Students in Amy Hayes and Erin Gannon’s English 11 classes are taking a deep dive into "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston, exploring themes of love, identity and fulfillment through an analysis of the symbolism and imagery woven throughout this literary classic. By completing a two-part assignment focused on a pivotal scene in the book, students utilized written word and visual analysis to study different elements of the passage. Read our news story to see their learning in action!
Parent Teacher Student Association to vote for new officers
Our Albany High Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) will soon vote for new officers for the upcoming school year. Come partner with our school leaders to help make our school an environment where all students can grow and thrive. Reach out to our PTSA President Jenny O'Neil via email at ptsaalbanyhigh@gmail.com to learn more.
Autism Spectrum Fair
Montessori Magnet School invites all district families to the district's 2026 Autism Spectrum Fair. The annual and free event is scheduled from 5—7 p.m. on March 31 at MMS (45 Tremont St.). We hope to see you there!
2026-27 calendar
Our one-page 2026-27 calendar for families is now available! This family calendar shows days off at a glance, and can be downloaded at any time by visiting the Communications page of our website.
The 2026-27 school year for students will officially begin Friday, Sept. 4. Please watch for additional information regarding student schedules for the first days of school.
Online Success Program
Our Online Success Center Program allows students to raise their grade for previous quarters. This is a fantastic opportunity for our Falcons to earn back credit and enhance their academic achievement! View this digital flyer to learn more!
After-school tutoring at Albany High
Falcons, do you need extra help with your coursework? Join us at our after-school tutoring program, which runs Monday through Thursday from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. in room 2235. If you need extra help with your classes, come join us and get some support from Albany High teachers. Hope to see you there!
Albany High communications
We hope you enjoyed this Albany High weekly update! As a reminder, to avoid overwhelming your inbox with lots of messages throughout the week, we curate this weekly communication on Fridays at this web page with important updates and exciting news to keep our Falcon families "in-the-know." Feel free to bookmark this page so you always have the important details you need at hand.
We also have dedicated Albany High social media pages on Facebook and Instagram. Follow us to see lots of great photos and reels!
Exciting events coming up soon
This is a list of events coming up that we want to draw particular attention to for students and families! These are just some of the great things happening here at Albany High, and remember you can view our full calendar to see them all!
This site provides information using PDF, visit this link to download the Adobe Acrobat Reader DC software.