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The Path November 2022

An Albuquerque Academy Community Newsletter

Contents

Student-Run Non-Profit Serves Up Science Fun | Campus Spotlight: Theatre | National Hispanic Heritage Month Celebrated in October | Campus Comes Alive on Día de los Muertos | GrandDays Return March 30 & 31 | Hundreds Attend Admission Open House | Free Workshop Series for High School Musicians | Congratulations to Fall Sports Teams | 2021-22 Impact Report | Academy Fund Events Kick Off Annual Giving | Giving Tuesday is November 29 | DOT Garden is Campus-wide Inspiration | Join Us for Academy Alight & Coats for Cocoa December 3 | Teacher Casey Citrin Presents at Conference | Community Events Highlight Experts and Alumni | Academy Visits Santa Fe | Committed Student-Athletes | Save the Date for Topgolf 2023 | Student Art Gallery Opens | Photo Gallery

Student-Run Non-Profit Serves Up Science Fun

What started out as one Academy student wanting to bring hands-on science to an APS elementary school has grown into EFFECTS, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that aims to bring inquiry-based science education to underserved elementary school students in Albuquerque. It currently serves more than 500 students at eight schools with 20+ staff members.

Based on a need recognized by Co-Founder Quinn Ennis '22, EFFECTS has been turned over to Director and Co-Founder Neil Mahto ’23 to continue the mission of bringing science, technology, engineering, art, and math to elementary students in Title I schools. Its legacy will be continued in the hands of Sydney Marks '24, a current vice-president and web editor, in the 2023-24 school year.

Learning how blood moves through the heart at Hawthorne Elementary School

Supported by a team of dedicated volunteers, mostly Academy juniors and seniors, they bring science experiments into the classroom at schools that do not have the resources to provide the teaching or materials. In fact, at one school they work with, science is optional. “It’s heartbreaking,” says Neil, “that they are not getting an opportunity to have fun doing science.”

A handful of Academy students are assigned to each school to accommodate everybody's schedules. The student volunteers develop the experiment, buy or borrow the necessary materials, travel to and from the school, and guide their elementary school students through the activity. Each staff member dedicates about three hours per week to EFFECTS, with the more-senior members with administrative responsibilities spending closer to five hours per week.

Breadboarding at Valle Vista Elementary School

“The teachers we work with love us,” says Vice President Henry Wesevich ’23. “It’s really nice for them to have teaching assistance and a chance to do experiments.”

With a budget of $20 per experiment per school, the students tap the modest funds EFFECTS has raised so far. With a succession plan in place, five schools wanting to join the program, and ambitious goals, the future will depend on student volunteers and funding. They project growing to 50 staff members serving 15 elementary schools, over three years, requiring a minimum budget of $27,500.

Click here to learn more and follow their work on Instagram.

Campus Spotlight

This Campus Spotlight focuses on the fall play Ghostlight, written by alumni playwright Stephen Gregg '81.

National Hispanic Heritage Month Celebrated Many Ways

To celebrate National Hispanic Heritage month in October, the Hispanic Parent Council arranged a colorful display in Simms Library to showcase their diverse culture, while SAGE Dining prepared an eclectic meal in both dining halls with tamales, Peruvian chicken with aji verde, New Mexico posole, Cuban black beans, and more.

As part of the Hispanic celebration and in recognition of his vast influence, Ms. Puente’s grandfather, Tito Puente, was honored with a Google doodle on October 11. Perhaps even more interesting than the doodle is the Behind the Doodle clip that showcases her uncle along with the New York-based Puerto Rican artist Carlos Aponte, who illustrated the doodle.

Celebrating Tito Puente, Behind the Doodle (At minute 1:25 on Behind the Doodle, you can see Ms. Puente's grandfather playing the very timbales her family gifted the Academy!)

Ms. Puente said that she has been fortunate to have her grandfather recognized in different ways over the years but found this honor particularly interesting. “Even though he passed away 22 years ago, I remain struck by his legacy, reach, and influence. I do know if he were alive today, he would have loved my living in New Mexico, and he would have most certainly performed with his big band on Harper Field, to both the dismay and delight of our neighbors.”

Con amor y alegria, disfruten la musica de Tito Puente! (With love and joy, enjoy the music of Tito Puente!)

Campus Comes Alive on Día de los Muertos

In recognition of Día de los Muertos, our campus came alive on November 1 with a colorful parade, dancing, special live performances from our mariachi band and an international music collaboration from OneBeat X, brought to campus by Christopher Marianetti ’99.

GrandDays Return March 30 & 31, 2023

After a long hiatus, GrandDays return to the Academy in Spring 2023. GrandDays are one of the highlights of the year at Albuquerque Academy. We enjoy hosting grandparents and grand friends during the school day, providing an opening program, coming together for class visits and lunch, and sharing stories about the Academy experience.

This year, GrandDays is scheduled on:

  • Thursday, March 30 for grades 6-8
  • Friday, March 31 for grades 9-12

Please check the GrandDays page on our website to learn more. We hope to see you in the spring!

Hundreds of Guests Learn About the Academy at Admission Open House

A gusty day did not deter about 565 happy visitors (roughly 200 families) from attending our annual admission open house!

We are thankful for a school with a mission that calls for outreach to the entire Albuquerque community. Our open house allows us to welcome families from every neighborhood of our city in a way that no other event permits.

Our students, family volunteers, faculty, and staff outdid themselves in creating a memorable and impressive set of experiences for guests. Student groups welcomed visitors with performances ranging from band, chorus, dance, guitar, and orchestra, while student clubs offered interesting demonstrations and discussions. Administration, faculty, and parent groups greeted families and answered questions.

We are all ambassadors of the school and we hope you will continue to serve as enthusiastic examples and refer students you think could benefit from, and be a benefit to, Albuquerque Academy! The deadline for Grade 6 Early Decision Admission and Tuition Assistance is December 8.

Apply now for Fall 2023.

Free Workshops for High School Musicians

On Saturday, December 10, the Levanta Institute for Music & Creativity presents the first in a series of free workshops for musicians in grades 9-12. Through a series of fun, hands-on workshops, students will explore techniques for improving their concentration, creativity, performance outcomes, and technique. If you want to make your practice time super fun and impress people when you perform, don't miss this workshop!

Hear more in this KHFM interview with Mickey Jones, director, Levanta Institute for Music & Creativity.

Congratulations to Our Fall Sports Teams

Boys Cross Country: Finished 1st at districts and finished 2nd at state

Girls Cross Country: Finished 1st at districts and finished 2nd at state, just six points out of first

Football: Advanced to the state quarter-finals

Boys Soccer: Finished 1st place in districts and advanced to the state quarter-finals

Girls Soccer: Placed 2nd in districts, shut out their opponent in the state quarter-finals, and advanced to the semi-finals

Volleyball: Took 2nd at districts and won two games in the state tournament

Thankful for Your Contributions

Charger parents, students, alumni, faculty, staff, grandparents, and friends contribute in a host of meaningful ways to our independent school. As a non-profit organization deeply rooted in philanthropy, we are honored to present the impact of charitable giving at Albuquerque Academy in the previous school year.

Every effort has been made to recognize each and every contributor and to ensure the accuracy of this report. If you spot a need to edit or include additional information, please reach out and let us know.

Academy Fund Events Kick Off Annual Giving

Members of the Academy Fund Ambassador Program launched 2022-23 annual giving by coming together for a few special events. Made up of parent, faculty, and staff volunteers, the intent of the ambassador program is to collaborate with “spirited champions” of Albuquerque Academy in fulfilling the school’s fundraising and philanthropic efforts.

Students from the Academy's Latin American Guitar Ensemble performed in the home of Carol and Mark Aubin, who hosted the Academy fund kick-off event.

Ambassadors gathered to write personal messages on Giving Tuesday postcards encouraging fellow parents to participate in the Academy Fund. Student members of the community service clubs also wrote thank-you cards to Academy donors, expressing their gratitude for the many gifts that have impacted their experience at Albuquerque Academy. Be on the lookout for your postcard in the mail and, remember, your gift of any amount will have an impact on the path of Academy students.

If you are interested in serving as an Academy Fund Ambassador, contact Cristina Archibeque, annual giving program manager, at archibeque@aa.edu.

Giving Tuesday is November 29

Giving Tuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea – a day that encourages people to do good. Since then, it has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.

Albuquerque Academy is proud to celebrate, once again, Giving TuesdAAy on November 29. All Chargers are asked to support our independent school to provide the philanthropic support that is essential to delivering the Academy mission each school year. Gifts of all sizes matter and count toward our goal of 100% participation from all community members and further the Academy’s long-standing culture of philanthropy.

Learn more about Giving TuesdAAy, track our progress on November 29, and watch all the videos from our Academy Fund series at aa.edu/giving-tuesdaay.

DOT Garden is Inspiration for Many Subjects

The Desert Oasis Teaching Garden stewards two acres of land on Albuquerque Academy’s campus. It is an example of a regenerative agriculture ecosystem including a regionally adapted pollinator and wildlife habitat. Students across many disciplines take advantage of this unique outdoor classroom.

Join Us for Academy Alight & Coats for Cocoa – December 3, 2022

Help us kick off the winter season by enjoying thousands of luminarias on the Academy campus on Saturday, December 3 from 6 to 8 p.m. Academy Alight was established in 2020 as a way to bring the community together. Once again, this is a drive-thru event. Please enter at Academy and Moon and proceed one way through campus, exiting at the Harper Gate; the main entrance on Wyoming will be closed. And remember, for best viewing, turn off your headlights and use only your parking lights as you drive through campus.

Lighting our campus with thousands of luminarias is a great undertaking. Students will be making luminarias during advisory meetings, but we need your help, too. Click here to help set out, light, or collect luminarias.

Help Albuquerque families stay warm this winter through Coats for Cocoa! Please bring new and gently used coats, hats, gloves, and scarves in kids’ through adult sizes to donate at Academy Alight. When you drive by the donation stop along the route, drop off your items with the student volunteers and receive a cup of hot cocoa in return. Donations will support Locker #505, a clothing bank for kids, and Heading Home programs helping individuals and families facing homelessness.

Teacher Casey Citrin Presents Work at Conference

This fall, Dr. Casey Citrin presented her essay, “Querencia in the High School Classroom: Grounding Students in Place-Based Knowledge,” at the Rocky Mountain Modern Language Association conference with a panel of other presenters. She described the advanced, year-long English IV course she taught related to this topic and the many ways her students explored a sense of place (or querencia) and the influence it has on shaping who they are. Over the duration of her course, students consider how their environment shapes their character, how living in exile or emigrating impacts one’s identity, how the natural world inspires creativity and personal growth, and so much more.

Dr. Citrin shared examples of her students’ work over the years, some of which led to recognition beyond the classroom. One student’s work was a creative response to studying Coyote America, an environmental history by Dan Flores. Given the choice to complete a creative piece in response to the text, the student’s artwork won the Student Congressional Medal of Art Award and was exhibited in the Capitol Rotunda in 2021.

Community Events Highlight Experts and Alumni

Ian McKinnon '85 Headlines Albuquerque Community Foundation’s Notable New Mexicans in Philanthropy Event

Ian McKinnon '85 was the keynote speaker at the event designed to highlight community members who are making an impact in New Mexico.

Born and raised in Albuquerque, Ian spoke about his family's philanthropic work and offered perspective on what makes charitable giving in New Mexico special. The event was moderated by former Trustee and Board Chair Walter E. Stern P’05, P’07, P’08.

School Psychologist Michael Thompson Addresses Several Audiences

The Academy was pleased to welcome Michael Thompson, Ph.D., an expert in child and family psychology with two decades of experience working with independent schools, for a series of presentations to students, faculty and staff, parents, alumni, and friends of the school.

Dr. Thompson has authored and co-authored several books focusing on the many facets of child development and the unique pressures of students in independent schools. He offered two workshops to parents – "How to Raise Responsible Children" and “The Pressured Child” – and spent the better part of an in-service day hosting workshops for faculty and staff.

2022 Ramo Lecture on the U.S. Constitution and the Responsibilities of American Citizenship Hosts Justice Goodwin H. Liu

The community had the opportunity to put their questions about the constitution to California Supreme Court Associate Justice Goodwin H. Liu, when he spoke about the U.S. Constitution and the obligations of being an American citizen.

In addition to speaking to large groups of community members, he visited with students taking journalism and working on the Advocate, where he noted that having basic civil literacy is extremely useful because so many news stories are related to law.

The lecture series, established by Albuquerque lawyer Roberta Cooper Ramo, first female president of the American Bar Association and the American Law Institute, is funded by a gift in honor of Cooper Ramo from the ECMC Group, a family of companies that provide financial tools and services, nonprofit career education, and job placement services to help students succeed and achieve their academic and professional goals.

Albuquerque Academy Visits Santa Fe

Alumni and friends of Albuquerque Academy reunited in Santa Fe in mid-November. They were joined by Head of School Julianne Puente and Associate Head Stephanie Lipkowitz, current and former faculty, and members of the advancement team. Many thanks to gallery owner Michael Galya ’98 who hosted the event at his gallery Luca Decor.

Upcoming Alumni Events

  • Young Alumni Gathering - Friday, December 16
  • Alumni Association Annual Meeting & Reception – Friday, December 16
  • Annual Alumni Cross-Country Run – Tuesday, December 27
  • Annual Alumni Swim – Saturday, December 31

Congratulations to Students Committed to College Athletics

Iona Nelson – Dickinson College Volleyball
Sarah Post – St. John's University Softball
Hattie Villegas – University of Puget Sound Volleyball

Save the Date

Come Take a Swing FORE a Great Night of Fundraising!

Please join us on February 25, 2023 from 6 to 10 p.m. for a night of friendship, fun, and philanthropy! Help us fill every bay at Topgolf Albuquerque and be a part of putting the FUN in FUNdraising. This community-wide, all ages, event includes:

  • Event food and beverages
  • VIP lounge and alumni loft areas
  • Live musical performances
  • Patio lawn games and lobby entertainment
  • Tournament and raffle prizes
  • Auction and “Pay to Play” games
  • Three hours of golf play and, of course, a night full of Charger challenges

Full event information and bay sales are coming soon! For information about sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, contact Kayci Trevino in the advancement office at trevino@aa.edu or (505) 828-3329.

Student Art Gallery Opens in Simms Library

A new student art gallery located in the east wing of the library will host an ongoing series of exhibitions. The opening show highlights work by students in grades 6-12 from many of the visual arts classes.

Coming soon:

  • Portrait Exhibition – Depictions of Self
  • Painting and Photography
  • AP Students Exhibition
  • Art and Technology

The display panels were designed by Richard Hogle and built in-house by his team.

Photo Gallery

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