Career Academy Sessions – Computer Science on Wednesday, Mar 29
The Engineering Academy was a huge success. Next up is Computer Science, this Wednesday. Please encourage your students to attend. We would love for every student to attend one or two sessions of interest to them.
March Dons Dialogue – Listen to the Recording!
Do not miss the recording or slides from our most recent Dons Dialogue on Friday, Mar 24. This month we had a great discussion on the following topics;
The next Dons Dialogue will be Wednesday, Apr 19 at 6pm in the Acalanes Library.
SWELL CENTER is open at the Lafayette Library over spring break.
If your student is looking for a chance to connect with others at any point over spring break, check out the events at the Swell Center for spring break. Open to all 6-12th graders, Monday through Friday from 11am – 3pm.
Fentanyl, Narcan & Other Important Drug Updates – DATE CHANGE
with Addiction Specialist Dr. Allyson Mayo, Medical Director of Comprehensive Wellness Dr. Rebecca Parish, and CHS Wellness Coordinator Jenna Wrobel
When: Wednesday, Mar 29 at 6:30pm
Where: Campolindo Library
Snowballs or Avalanches: Which ones are more dangerous?
The answer: Both can be!
“As parents and guardians, it’s important to watch for both avalanches and snowballs for ourselves as well in our teens’ lives, as certain times in their lives may be more risky. Transitions or significant life events/traumas are a known factor that plays into depression and increases suicide risk for children and teens.”
Please read an important message here from Dr. Yanni Rho, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. Included is what to watch for in our teens, tips for checking in with our teens and important resources to support teens and parents.
Did you know the City Council of Lafayette proclaims March as DevelopmentalDisabilities Awareness Month? Click here to learn about artist Jamila Rahimi, who designed this year’s DDAM logo. #DDAM2023
March 31st is Transgender Day of Visibility. This is a nice overview for school communities. If you would like to learn more about events happening in Lamorinda, please email us.
As Women’s History Month draws to a close, below is our last feature:
Thank Her: Earlier this year we promoted an event featuring Judy Heumann. It was canceled and we later learned Ms. Heumann had passed away. Dubbed the “rolling warrior”, Heumann was a lifelong civil rights advocate for people with disabilities. Readhere about her life and the lasting impact of her work.
And some housekeeping: We are looking for a few parents to help out with committee work next year. Specifically, we would like to find people interested in re-posting items or announcements to our social media, maintaining a calendar and supporting a few annual events. Not a lot of hours involved but rewarding work. If you are interested, please reachout.
Stay in Touch: Click here to join the DEI mailing list or share feedback.
Tonight, Acalanes is hosting the annual Powderpuff Flag Football tournament from 5-8pm on the field! Come by to watch teams compete in this all-girls flag football tournament. All are welcome!
Acalanes will host the Special Olympics on Friday, Apr 21. It is a wonderful event attended by schools throughout the county. We need about 100 student volunteers so if your student is interested in helping, please encourage them to come to room 314 to get a permission form and sign up for a volunteer slot. Parents– we also need your help at the Special Olympics – please sign up to volunteer HERE!
Calling all 2027 families! Only a couple days left to order your exclusive Class of 2027 spirit pack! The deadline is this coming Friday, Mar 31 – place your order today!
Garden Work Days – We Need You!
We are almost done with the meditation garden and need help to get the plants in! Today there is a work party from 8 AM-12 PM. We will be adding soil to the meditation garden space and then planting native and low water plants!! Fill out this form if you can come!
Encourage your student to sign up for our annual Talent Show on Thursday, Apr 20 at 7pm in the PAC! Applications to perform are due Thursday, Mar 30 and all talents are welcome!
The Diversity Board is hosting the annual Cultural Fair on Thursday, Apr 20 from 5-7pm in the big gym. If you sign up, you get to represent a country of your choosing! There will be food, entertainment, music, and much more. If you are interested, review the sign–upgenius.
Next Steps With the Don: Administration will be facilitating a student forum on Wednesday, Mar 29 during academy in the library if students are interested in continuing the conversation. The same presentation will be presented at the Dons Dialogue on Wednesday, Apr 19 to any parents interested, followed by a survey sent out to the community.
Looking to stay informed? Follow us on instagram for the latest on student activities and class happenings.
Katherine Walton, Leadership Teacher
The Engineering Career Academy was a huge success. Thank you to our Acalanes students for participating and to our wonderful Engineers- Susan Candell, Andrey Kislyuk, Mikhail Dikova, Adrian Levy, Jessica Stankiewicz, Eric Brethauer and David Granlund. Each presenter shared insight into their college and career path and the varying disciplines and opportunities engineers have in the workplace. Next up, is the Computer Science Career Academy on March 29th and the Business Career Academy on April 14th. All students are welcome!
SENIORS
Parent Night: Join on Tuesday, Mar 28 at 6:30 in the PAC to learn about events and To-Do’s for the final months of school.
Update Naviance: Please encourage your students to update Naviance with decisions including acceptances, waitlists, and schools who are missing out on your amazing kids- rejections.
JUNIORS
Junior Parent Night: Please join the College and Career Team on Wednesday, Apr 12 from 6:30-7:30pm in the library for a Rising Senior Night to provide parents with the details of the post-high school planning process.
Parent Naviance Training: The College and Career team will host a Naviance training session on Monday, Apr 24 from 6:30-7:30pm in the library to help parents learn how to navigate the college process with their students. Bring a laptop and your students’ password. Parents and students login into Naviance the same way using the students’ Acalanes email address and their district password. Instructions for how to login:
1:1 appointments: If you’d like your child to start exploring career interests and begin looking at Naviance, please have them schedule an appointment here.
SOPHOMORES/FROSH
What is your Sophomore doing this summer? This is the time to think about a meaningful summer experience- volunteer, work, community class or summer program. Please have your student stop by if they need help with summer ideas.
Interested in Marine Biology? – On Saturday, Apr 29th you can learn about the terrestrial and aquatic animals The Marine Mammal Center & Lindsay Wildlife Experience care for! You will have the opportunity to meet & learn about marine and terrestrial animals, watch & practice mock intubation, learn about wildlife, ecology & biology career paths, and more. Hopefully you will leave this event with an increased passion for all land and sea animals and use that passion to help advocate for the protection of our environment. For more information, click here.
Interested in Business? Economics for Leaders (EFL) Program is a selective summer program that teaches student leaders how to integrate economics into the process of decision-making in an interactive learning environment.
Volunteer Ideas: Have your student come by the CCC so I can learn about their interests. Check out this website for ideas too! It’s best to set a search filter for teens.
Please visit our College & Career Counseling website any time for additional information and support.
Counselor assignments are by last name:
A-Em Anne Schonauer
En-Kr Christine Todd / Christina Castillo–Gallardo during Spring 2023
Ku-Rog Marissa Meadows
Roh-Z Susan Martin
Summer School Information: The summer school website is up and running! Please use the link to get information about summer school offerings/dates. It will be at AHS this year! Please have your student see their counselor to sign up, get forms, and figure out which classes to take.
Geometry for Advancement: AUHSD does offer one course for advancement in summer – Geometry. This is an accelerated class designed for strong Algebra students (who have an A test average) to accelerate in math. Students may be placed in Algebra 2 or Algebra 2 Advanced upon completion of this class. Please have your student see their counselor for more information. This class also requires a teacher recommendation.
Course Selection Changes: If your student wants to make any changes to their class requests for next year, please have them see their counselor to discuss.
Updated COVID 19 Guidelines
Main guidance remains: For Covid+, stay home THROUGH day 5 (+test day = day 0). New guidance: If no symptoms or symptoms are mild and improving, students may return to school without testing but are asked to mask THROUGH day 10. If students have 2 negative tests one day apart, they no longer need to mask.
It’s (not) just WEED: Is your child getting “crossed”?
Please read HERE and HERE about what that means.
Substance use prevention:
What is vaping?
Let’s get back to the Dinner Table…What if everyone discussed their “failures” that day/week and what they learned from them?
This week’s recipe: Dumpling Stew I made this recipe this week and it was DELICIOUS! (modifications included using WF Cauliflower Gnocchi–yum!).
Even though it’s officially spring, it’s still “soup and stew” weather…
I encourage you to eat more “plant-forward”. Check out the Nutrition page on my website, where I have some great Quick–Start Guides.
Let me know what you think!
Dvora Citron, RN, MS
dcitron@auhsdschools.org
925-280-2970 x7128
IG: acalanesschoolnurse
One more week until spring break! Spring break is a great time to spend some quality time with your student. In many cases, while students are on break they need something meaningful to occupy their unstructured time away from school. The Lafayette library is hosting the Swell Center over spring break which is a perfect place for 6th to 12th grade students. The Swell Center is completely free and offers a space for students to drop in, connect with peers, unwind or even try new activities. Some of the activities planned for this year include eating 3-D printer pancakes, watching a movie, dance and movement and more! If your student is bored over break, encourage them to drop by the Lafayette library.
Last, but certainly not least, Friday, Mar 31 is International Day of TransgenderVisibility.This day is dedicated to the accomplishments of transgender and gender nonconforming people while raising awareness of the work that still needs to be done to achieve trans justice (glsen.org). The Wellness Center at AHS is ALWAYS a safe space for trans and nonbinary students. We celebrate and advocate for the experiences of trans and nonbinary students not only on March 31, but every day. If you are interested in resources on how to support your trans or nonbinary student, RainbowCommunity Center is an invaluable local resource in getting you the support you need.
Lafayette Partners in Education (LPIE) is proud to recognize Mary McCosker for her exceptional commitment to support and enrich the education of every child in the Lafayette public schools.
Mary served on the LafSD School Board for 13 years, co-led the Acalanes peer tutoring program for over 20 years, and has worked as an LPIE Instructor teaching Lafayette history to third graders for 25 years…and counting! The LPIE Board is excited to honor Mary’s long-term contributions to our schools.
CONGRATULATIONS TO
MARY MCCOSKER!
