Good afternoon!
I hope everyone had a good weekend and stayed warm. It is hard to believe that we are in the last full week of school before break and only three weeks away from a new year!
If you are struggling to keep up with all the planning and preparation that comes with Christmas and the holiday season, you are not alone. As we navigate through this time, let's help boost our well-being by shifting from stress to joy, practicing thankfulness, and being present!
To our friends and families beginning their Hanukkah celebration, may your holiday be filled with light, love and happiness. To all preparing for Kwanzaa, may the light of the seven candles guide you to unity, purpose and faith.
I want to wish everyone a safe, warm and memorable holiday season. Whether you end up traveling or staying here for the holidays, I hope all of you can enjoy some time together with family and friends. I am so grateful and honored to serve as your principal. Happy holidays!
As a reminder, school will be closed for the holiday recess from Wednesday, Dec. 24-Friday, Jan. 2, with classes resuming on Monday, Jan. 5.
This Friday, Dec. 19, the theme for Friday Fun Day will be “Flashback to the ‘90s.” Let's show our school spirit by wearing some fly fashion from the 1990s! We will continue to celebrate each Friday Fun Day in a different way to boost school pride and add a little fun to our week. This is a great way to build healthy relationships and look forward to the weekend!
If you joined us to celebrate the sounds of the season at our annual Winter Concert and PTA Dessert Auction last week, I am sure you will agree we have some very talented young adults among us! We are very proud of our musical artists and thank them and their teachers for a beautiful evening of holiday music and entertainment. Also, many thanks to our bakers and those who donated items to make our dessert auction a success!
Stay connected!
Check out our website and Facebook page in addition to my weekly emails. You also can reach out to us at (518) 475-6475.
Now for our 'Don't Snooze and Lose News'
Besides the items listed above, please make a note of the following information:
- Our next PTA meeting will be held in 2026! Please join us on Wednesday, Jan. 7 at 6:30 p.m. in room 112. Can't make the meeting in-person? You can attend virtually via this Google meet link.
- There will be no school on Monday, Jan. 19 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
- Second-quarter grades close on Friday, Jan. 23.
Important reminders
Attention student skiers, snowboarders and those who want to learn either or both! Ski Club is preparing for the upcoming season. Interested students can pick up the paperwork in room 112. Year after year, our students benefit from building confidence and new skills, enhancing social skills and improving their overall physical fitness. Ski Club also offers a more affordable way to enjoy skiing and snowboarding through our group discounts.
Our Extended Day Program is underway! This after-school program takes place Monday-Thursday from 3-5:30 p.m. and includes a free snack and free door-to-door bus transportation home. Programs include swimming, cooking, judo, cosmetology, dance, arts and crafts, yearbook and more! Applications are available at the Attendance Desk in the main foyer. Completed forms should be returned to the Main Office, and any specific questions should be directed to Ms. Lewis at dlewis2@albany.k12.ny.us. The program runs through June.
Our school district recently joined with Mayor Sheehan and transportation partners to announce stop-arm cameras on all First Student (yellow) buses, an important new initiative to improve traffic safety for our students and our community. BusPatrol will issue citations for violations captured on the bus cameras, with fines as much as $300 being paid to the city.
We have new rules in place about student cell phone use in school. You can get more information about the rules here.
As a reminder, speed cameras are operational and intended to help enforce the city's 20 mph speed limit in school zones. Fines are $50 per offense. Please help keep our school communities, students and staff safe and adhere to these speed zones on your daily commute.
We will hold emergency response drills throughout the school year. The safety of everyone in our school community is extremely important. Holding these practice drills, including lockdown drills, is crucial to our overall emergency planning. Before we practice a drill, we teach students, faculty and staff about the procedures to follow in an emergency.
Hackett Corner Quotes
"When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed." – Maya Angelou