Hispanic Heritage Month, Safe Haven, & National Merit Semifinalists 

Dear Albany Community, 

We are celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 until October 15 to honor the histories, cultures and contributions of people whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central & South America, including  nearly 20% of Albany students who identify as Hispanic or Latino/a/x/e. The energetic members of Familias Latinas de Albany are organizing their biggest event of the year, Celebración Latina, for Saturday, October 4, which includes cultural performances, music, food trucks and plenty of activities. It’s not just a party, though. Classrooms and libraries across the District will be teaching about Latin heritage. Familias Latinas is asking Latino/a/x/e community members to read a book to an elementary school class that highlights Latino/x culture or characters because it is important that students see diverse representation in the curriculum and at their schools. Familias Latinas’ goal is to reach every elementary school classroom during Hispanic Heritage Month so keep an eye out for their volunteer posts or email familiaslatinasdealbany@gmail.com if you'd like to help. 

Below are some excellent resources for learning more and for celebrating this month in lots of different ways.

• The official website for National Hispanic Heritage Month sponsored by The Library of Congress and others is a vast resource of top-quality resources. 

• The Pew Research Institute has a great webpage of interesting key facts about National Hispanic Heritage Month and the U.S. LatinX population. 

• Museum of the American Latino brings to life the distinct kaleidoscope of U.S. Latino experiences and contributions within the fabric of American history. 

• National Education Association provides lessons, activities, and videos, designed for the classroom but fun and do-able at home.

AUSD Is A Safe Haven

Albany Unified School District is a diverse and vibrant community of students and families, many of whom have deep ties to immigrant experiences. With nearly half of all children in California having at least one immigrant parent, we know how important it is to create safe, welcoming, and inclusive learning environments for every student, no matter their nationality or immigration status.

We are committed to ensuring that every student has access to a free and equitable education. By law, no child can be denied public education based on immigration status, and California law further protects against discrimination in any educational program or activity.

We also know that immigration enforcement can create uncertainty and fear for some families. Albany Unified is unwavering in its commitment to be a safe haven for all students. Guided by our mission, we will continue to build schools where peace, belonging, and equity are at the center—places where every student feels safe, supported, and able to thrive.

National Merit Semifinalists

Over 1.3 million juniors in about 20,000 high schools entered the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The nationwide pool of semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. I am very proud to announce the seven semifinalists from Albany High School: Lucas Bai; Grace Ha; Andrew Li; Tessa O'Donnell; Judah Spiegel; Matthew Tan; and Charlotte Trenkle. Congratulations to each of you! 

Calendar Highlights: 

Please see messages from your school for complete information about events. 

• September 19: NO SCHOOL—Staff Professional Development Day

• September 23: Regular Board Meeting - CANCELLED due to Rosh Hashanah,  

• October 4: Celebración Latina, Albany Middle School Courtyard (time to be determined)

• October 14: Regular Board Meeting

• October 28: Board Study Session: SPED and Budget

Important Links

• Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)

• MTSS for Educators and Students

• Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain

Sincerely, 

Sara Stone

Superintendent

Albany Unified School District

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