Orientation times set for new students

By Lynsi Musselman

New students at Albany High School and Albany Junior High school, including all incoming seventh graders, are urged to register online for a time slot to come to campus for a personal face-to-face orientation.

The interactive signup form is posted on the Albany Jr/Sr High School Facebook page, as well as on the district’s website.

The orientation dates are scheduled for Aug. 12, 13, and 14, and will not be the traditional in-person group meeting that has taken place in previous years.

Once a parent or student has signed up at albanyisd.net/laptop-pick.html, the student will come to the secondary campus during the reserved time to pick up a laptop, turn in the required signed laptop form, and have registration information checked.

AHS/AJHS principal Glen Hill said there will be different stations spaced out to avoid close contact.

“There will be a video posted on the Facebook page that will cover familiar policies during a traditional school year, as well as new COVID-19 rules and guidance,” Hill said. 

One of the changes this year, he said, is that the advisory period will be used to inform students about correct hygiene and handwashing as well as disperse information that would normally be announced in an assembly.

Hill also said there is a new lock system on the doors that the students are not used to, since it was installed during spring break of 2019-2020.

“All students will have to enter the campus through the main doors,” Hill explained. “Exterior doors will remain locked throughout the day, but students will be able to exit from all doors. This also helps reduce the number of surfaces that are being touched.”

Other information to be on the lookout for are new and revised schedules for cross country and volleyball.

“Albany is in an unique position where we have not had as many -COVID-19 cases as other counties,” Hill reported. “Most schools we will compete against or towns we travel to are not as fortunate.”

Hill concluded that more than likely, Albany ISD will continue to receive constantly evolving guidance from the UIL on attending sporting events, especially sports that are played indoors.

AISD director of student services Leigh Lowe is excited about having all students ready to go when school starts on Wednesday, Aug. 19.

“And we hope to see all secondary students during these three days set aside for orientation,” Lowe said.

For more information, call the AHS/AJHS office at 325-762-3974, or click on the ‘students’ tab on the district webpage at albanyisd.net.