High school students recently took part in service learning projects as part of new college and career readiness days or CCR. Each quarter, students in grades 9-12 will participate in service learning and attend sessions having to do with real life skills. Some sessions students attended in late October included Communication, Social Media Damage Control, Credit Cards 101, College Application workshop, and more.

A big highlight of the day were the service learning projects. Students cleaned up the school grounds, vans, and buses, helped clean the Wobegon Trail, North Park, and other smaller venues.

"I have to say, I was so impressed with my crew cleaning up the Wobegon Trail. Devin and Mitchell got after it! They were crossing creeks, crashing through the woods, and working for trash that had blown into highly inconvenient areas. They were some dedicated kiddos to picking up trash and both had wet feet by the time we made it back to school! In fact, they were so excited about picking up the largest pieces of trash that they requested a picture with it!"
- Jen Hiltner, English teacher and Yearbook advisor.

Also, pictured below are Aaron, Dylan, Cameron, and Peyton who coordinated their own service project. They cut, split, and stacked wood for Aaron's grandmother, who is unable to perform those necessary duties herself. 

The next CCR day will take place in January.

Staff members of Albany Area Schools were honored for all of their hard work and dedication to our students and district at the LEEA banquet last month. These teachers were nominated by their colleagues for the award, which is given out to four staff members each year.

Pictured: High school principal Tim Wege, Albany Elementary music teacher Ross Resley, Albany Elementary Speech/Language Pathologist Sue Noska, Albany Middle & High school art teacher Sarah Mendoza, Albany Middle & High school health/phy. ed teacher Dan Anderson, and middle school principal Paul Conrad.

Students in Exploring FCS 7 made bean bags for a bean bag toss game which will be on the silent auction at Purple Pride by the Rail Side fundraiser at Shady’s on November 14.