Our school district has an agreement in place to re-open, but other school districts, especially the largest ones in the state, have not been able to achieve this. Now Governor Newsom and state legislators have reached a deal which should accelerate the process by providing hefty incentives to reopen and removing some of the obstacles about which school districts had complained. Meanwhile, the federal government has confirmed that standardized testing must resume this year, meaning students still in remote learning in California would be asked to take standardized tests at home. The state is applying for a waiver to give California some flexibility on how and when the tests are administered within the 2020-2021 school year.

Questions? Email our APC Legislative Representative.

This week’s can’t miss events:

Boys tennis

• Tuesday,March 16 at Campolindo HS at 3:30pm.  Varsity is away, JV is home.
• Thursday, March 18 Miramonte HS at 3:30pm.  Varsity is home, JV is away.

Girls lacrosse

• Tuesday, March 16 Varsity hosts Miramonte HS at 7:30pm and JV hosts Concord HS at 5:30pm.
• Thursday, March 18 Varsity at Miramonte HS at 7:30pm and JV at Concord HS at 5:30pm.

Softball

• Tuesday, March 16 Varsity at Monte Vista HS at 4pm.
• Thursday, March 18 v. San Ramon Valley HS at 4pm. Varsity is home, JV is away.

Golf

• Wednesday, March 17 Campolindo HS at Moraga CC 3:30pm.

Football

• Saturday, March 20 host Las Lomas HS. Freshmen at 1:30pm, JV at 4pm and Varsity at 7pm.

Click this link to see a list of current sports and their full schedules.

This Week’s School Schedule
As AHS prepares to open for hybrid instruction, the following calendar is in effect for March 8 through March 12

• Monday, March 8: Non-school day for all students
• Tuesday, March 9 through Friday, March 12:
  • In-person student orientation (see schedule below) 
  • Asynchronous schedule. Students must check in each day at 9am with their Cohort Academy teacher. 
  • On Tuesday & Wednesday, students will have required modules in Canvas regarding health and safety during hybrid learning. 
  • On Thursday and Friday, teachers will assign regular coursework.

Tuesday through Friday from 10a to 12n Student Orientation
Student orientation is required for all students attending in-person school; students not attending school in person are welcome but it is not mandatory. Orientation is approximately 40 minutes for grades 10 through 12; 60 minutes for 9th graders. Refer to this online document for event details and specific times by last name.

• Tuesday, March 9 – Seniors
• Wednesday, March 10 – Juniors
• Thursday, March 11 – Sophomores
• Friday, March 12 – Frosh

Required Health Screening
All students are required to complete a COVID-19 screening every day that they come to school, including next week’s orientation. Health screenings should be completed in the morning prior to arriving at school. AHS recommends that students use the cell/mobile set up as it allows for a daily text reminder. Email registration is also available. 

Student Cohort Reminder
All students have been assigned a group based on their selection of either in-person hybrid or fully-remote learning. Please log in to Aeries PASS parent portal to confirm your student’s group. Refer to the district website for your student’s specific schedule as determined by their group.

Additional Resources

• ICYMI: Read Principal Bell’s email from March 2 detailing AHS projected return to hybrid guide and checklist
• Visit this District online document for the latest details regarding the return to hybrid instruction including student schedules, FAQs, timelines and more. 
• View Contra Costa County tier metrics here

2021-2022 Looking for Volunteers for the APC Board and Committees
The nominating process for the upcoming APC board and related volunteer positions is underway. The APC Nominating Committee is looking for volunteers to fill a handful of positions. Job descriptions can be found here. If you’re interested in getting involved in a small (or large) role with APC, please reach out to APC Parliamentarians Dawn Brightbill &Sarah Cusumano at parliamentarian@acalanesparentsclub.com. 

APC Spring Grants Deadline Extended One Week to Friday, March 19!
Now is the chance to submit your ideas to enhance the educational experience of AHS students! Teachers, students, staff and parents are welcome to submit a grant proposal. Click here to learn more about past grants and program guidelines, and fill out an application. Email completed applications to Catherine Habas at or drop in the APC box in the office. 

Application Deadline Extended to May 1, 2021 – Acalanes & President’s
Volunteer Service Awards Program
Due to the continued challenges of identifying and completing volunteer work during COVID, we extended the deadline so students can finish service hours and submit applications. Visit the website for details and encourage your student to participate! 

ACA Back to School “March Madness”
It’s almost time to welcome hybrid students back on campus!! With a return to Hybrid date of March 16, it’s time to pump up the ACA spirit to new levels! Here are some ways to do so:

• Fly your ACA flag!! Don’t have one? Buy one on the webstore! (See Fundraising section for details.)
• Decorate your student’s mailbox for the first day of Hybrid (decoration kits will be available during “Back to School” hybrid orientation)
• Get your students ready to wear ACA STRONG shirts on Hybrid Day 1, March 16. Students who didn’t pick up an ACA Strong shirt at the last ACA Day can pick one up at Back to School Hybrid Orientation.
• Senior & Junior Car Painting – March 14th from 1-2:30 in the Acalanes parking lot. We will provide the paint!
• Join the fun & buy an ACA Parent/Sibling Strong Shirt. This is a grey version of the student/staff ACA Strong shirt. You can purchase now via the Acalanes webstore for $10 and pick up from Acalanes after you receive your confirmation email. 

Questions, comments, or feedback, email aca@acalanesparentsclub.com.

New Start Time! Wednesday, March 10 from 6-7:30pm Dr. Michael Rich, “The Mediatrician”
Join us online for an informative talk with Dr. Michael Rich, Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Center of Media and Child Health. He will focus on understanding and responding to the ways in which teens and families are affected by the interactive media we use and how we use them. Dr. Rich will also reframe the issue of screen use in adolescents from the values-based “right vs wrong” debate that has prevailed since the earliest days of television to an evidence-based public health issue – how we are changed by our media use, in positive and negative ways, so that parents, teachers, clinicians, and society at large can make critical decisions in raising the next generations to be healthy, happy, and kind.

• No advanced registration is required. Click here to join the event! 

Project LPIE Is Here!
Project LPIE is an annual competition that celebrates Acalanes High School students for their project-based learning, both inside and outside the classroom, with opportunities for entry in 10 different categories. This event is open to all Acalanes High School students. Cash prizes are awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. Students must let LPIE know they want to submit a project by completing the online registration form here. For more details visit lpie.org.

• March 22 – Register for Project LPIE 
• April 12 – Projects due 
• May 6 – Winners will be announced and notified by LPIE 

This week, during LPIE’s “It’s Up to All of Us” video series, parent Eli Chan sheds light on the value of “people” funded by LPIE, which makes up 72% of the support LPIE gives to our schools. These are skilled individuals who provide instruction, expanded learning opportunities, mental health services, and so much more for our students. Imagine what our children’s educational experience would be like without these people. These positions are not “extra”; they are essential.

Laura-Kate Rurka & Jennifer Palmer
Acalanes LPIE School Chairs

www.lpie.org

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In March, we continue to celebrate Women’s History Month and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. 

Monday, March 8 International Women’s Day
This year’s theme is “Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 World.” The crisis has highlighted both the centrality of their contributions and the disproportionate burdens that women carry.

Wednesday, March 10 Harriet Tubman Day honors the life of the anti-slavery activist. Read more about Tubman’s work in the Underground Railroad. 

• Enjoy this selection of women artists chosen by OMCA (Oakland Museum of CA) 
• Ever curious which are the top ten countries for full equal rights for women? 
• Women enjoy a historic high representation in the US Congress. Learn more in this Rutgers report. 
• Learn about one young woman’s perspective being on the autism spectrum. 
• Chloé Zhao is the first Asian American woman to win a Golden Globe in the “Best Director, Motion Picture” category. 
• Ma Rainey was a queer Black woman who reinvented the blues in the 1910s and 1920s. 
• Enjoy this PBS video about trailblazing Yankton Dakota Sioux woman, Zitkála-Šá, who advocated for Native people. 

Thursday, March 25 from 6-7:30pm AUHSD Book Club
The last AUHSD Book Club Event of the year will be hosted by Las Lomas High School. The book selection is “Becoming” by Michelle Obama (adapted for young readers). RSVP here. Las Lomas is encouraging purchase from Marcus Books in Oakland to support a local black business.

Order your “Stand Together” DEI Lawn Sign by March 14 $14 on the webstore.

Volunteer opportunities for Acalanes DEI…Get Involved!
We are looking for new people to join our efforts and get in on the highly relevant work of DEI. Email us! Several subcommittees are looking for help, including the Communications team. If you are passionate about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and enjoy writing, are a social media wizard or a webmaster, come join us!

Fly your Acalanes flag on March 15th!
We are all beyond excited to see this day finally come!  Show your Acalanes spirit and fly your “A” flag on the first day of in-person school.  Don’t have a flag?  No problem!  Flags are still available on the webstore. Flags purchased before March 9 will be available for pick up in the front quad at Acalanes on Friday, March 12 from 4-5pm. Don’t miss out!

If you have any questions, please contact VP Fundraising Kelly Daggs.