Wednesday, March 10 at 7pm – 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 

Laura-Kate Rurka & Jennifer Palmer
Acalanes LPIE School Chairs

www.lpie.org

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Thank you to everyone who helped shine light on, and honor, the contributions and experiences of black people during Black History Month. Students, teachers, and parents partook in an array of events highlighting Black excellence, suffering, and the need to lean in to the uncomfortable work of becoming antiracists. Here again is a useful link if you are unsure where to start on that journey.

March is Women’s History Month, dedicated to reflect upon and remember achievements of women in our society, culture and history. 

• Enjoy exploring this timeline of women’s history.  
• COVID-19 has disproportionately affected women. Learn more about this topic in this video by PBS. 

Last week the Acalanes community had the pleasure to host in conversation the activist, chef, rower, and author of “A Most Beautiful Thing,” Arshay Cooper. The event was enjoyed by well over 200 people, as Mr. Cooper shared his story of poverty, fear, chance opportunities seized, grueling hard work, and success. He offered true inspiration and insight to all of us through his storytelling, reminding us that “there is talent everywhere,” asking us to consider “what is on the other side of this event/experience/moment,” encouraging us “to become a school that is a voice not an echo,” and during all of this “to give what hurts to get better.” Discomfort is part of the journey to becoming better. Thank you to our student and adult moderators, and to the Acalanes administration for helping bring this event to us.

• If you attended the Arshay Cooper Zoom event, please take this 5 minute survey to help us enhance our programming.

Thursday Mar 25 from 6-7:30pm
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.

Wednesday March 3, from 7-8:30pm Racial Equity Series, Session 5
Reminder to join Dr. Lori Watson for a discussion on “Children and Race” this Wednesday. Zoom link will be sent out to all those registered prior to the meeting.

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

Lastly, we invite you to join our committee!
If you have ideas or questions, or you want more information, email us! Stay current by visiting our webpage, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

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.

ACA Strong Shirts
Missed buying a grey ACA Strong shirt at our drive through? You can purchase now for $10 via the Acalanes webstore and pick up from Acalanes after you receive your confirmation email. 

Deadline Sunday, March 14 Acalanes Spirit Wear
We have spirit wear available for the last time this school year! We added a couple new items including a tribute t-shirt to Mr. Huber and proceeds donated to the Parkinson’s Foundation in his name. Check out our spiritwear on the Acalanes webstore. Items can be either picked up at Acalanes or delivered beginning April 6. 

April 18 Deadline To Order Frosh Spirit Packs!
Know an 8th grader? Frosh spirit packs are a great promotion gift and kick off to a career at Acalanes! Each pack is $53 and features a hooded sweatshirt, car magnet & cinch backpack. Proceeds go to the Class of 2025. Order deadline is April 18 and packs will be delivered to your house beginning May 7. Order here.

April 5 Acalanes Leadership Applications Available
Is your 8th grader interested in joining student government at Acalanes? Applications will be available electronically beginning April 5th. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to reach out to Katherine Walton.

2020-2021 Clubs
Club meetings continue. Check out our 49 clubs! Clubs continue to be one of the best ways for students to connect. We will be pushing out more information about clubs at the end of the week. Please encourage your student to check Canvas to learn more.

If I can ever do anything to help you or your student, don’t hesitate to reach out!

Katherine Walton, Student Activities Director

Monday’s cohort academy will support students envisioning return to school in the context of mental health and in particular, how to work with the anxiety that may accompany re-conditioning to a new and very different school environment. There will be an exercise on resilience which some mistake as a personality characteristic or innate capacity. In fact, resilience can only be acquired by facing challenges. This has certainly been a year to build resilience! In the presentation, cohort teachers will share their own perspectives on their return to school and then lead students in an exercise that comes from the field of expressive arts therapy. Students will reflect on what they’ve experienced and what they’ve learned about themselves over the last year. They’ll also do some dreaming about the future, including some realistic visioning on what it will be like to be back at school in a new and different way. We know how important it is to have something to look forward to and at the same time to anticipate accurately. Please engage with your students about their journey so far–what was hard; what they learned about themselves; what habits they might want to retain and which ones they’d like to let go. As we eagerly anticipate their return, know that we believe in your students and we are here to help them succeed.

Allen Choi, Wellness Coordinator
Casey Sasner, Intake Specialist

For updates, tips and advice, follow Wellness on Social Media: Instagram @acalaneswellness

DVC Registration (for graduating students only)

• Enrollment presentations sign up

Seniors 

• Be sure to check each college admissions portal for results
• Update college application results in Naviance.  
• Follow up on any scholarship or financial aid needs.

Resources:

• CCC Website 
• How to request a transcript
• College 101
• Internships and Volunteering Ideas
• Scholarships

Class of 2023 PE Credit Options
Current Sophomores can earn PE credits through both Athletic PE and Independent PE options as well as yoga and weight training classes during the 2021-2022 school year (their junior year). Athletic PE is for students in Acalanes sport and Independent PE can include activities outside of school sports teams. Students will need to sign up at the beginning of a semester next school year and will need to provide weekly documentation of activity to earn credit. Please see your counselor for more detail. 

June 7 through July 15 AUHSD Summer School
Summer school is for students who need to repeat a required course after earning a D or F grade. Email your counselor for an application.   

Geometry for Advancement
The District is also planning to offer a summer geometry class for those who want to advance more quickly through the math curriculum. This course is only open to students who are currently enrolled in Algebra 1 in 9th grade and have strong performance in Algebra 1. Email your student’s counselor if interested. 

Counselor Appointments
We love talking to our students! Email is the best way to reach us. Counselors have appointment slots for students and will email them a link for signing up. We are trying to reserve the limited slots outside of class time for students. Parents can schedule a time when students are in class. 

A- Ed  Anne Schonauer
Ee-Kr  Christine Todd
Ku-Ros  Marissa Meadows
Rot-Z  Susan Martin

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. Legislators and school officials continue to argue over how to re-open the schools as Senate Bill 86, the latest proposed solution, remains in limbo. Rising tensions, heated words add pressure to reach a deal soon on reopening California schools. Meanwhile, the federal government has confirmed that standardized testing must resume this year despite the pandemic, meaning that unless a waiver is issued, millions of children who are still in remote learning in California will be asked to take standardized tests at home. Schools must give standardized tests this year, Biden administration says

Questions? Email our APC Legislative Representative.

We need RAIN!
While we actually do need rain here in the Bay Area and California, R.A.I.N.  is also an acronym for a mindfulness practice that we all need. Take a look at the link and practice on your own and with your family.

Let me know what you think!

Smile With Your Eyes!
I am resharing face mask resources: one from our District and one from the CDC. It’s really important that we’re all consistent for health and safety reasons, and to build a culture of trust. 

• Please note the types of masks that are NOT acceptable.
• Make sure to wear a CLEAN mask every day.
• Please wear your mask so that the top covers the bridge of your nose and the bottom goes under your chin. If you are constantly readjusting, it does not fit properly.

Parents!
Please report any COVID-related absences to the Attendance Recorder as soon as possible so I can do appropriate follow-up.

Updated Medical Documentation Needed for Students in Hybrid
We still need updated medical documentation for your student, especially if they will be participating in the Hybrid Model. Does your student need medication available at school? Does your student have updated medical issues/health issues? Do they have a new immunization record? Parents, please make sure you turn in any pertinent medical forms for your students for this school year, especially if your students will be in the Hybrid Model. See this page on my website and let me know if you have any questions.

COVID District Protocol
Available on AUHSD site and on my site.

Free Yoga Class
I want to share a wonderful resource with you that supports neuroregulation: Subtle® Yoga for Greater Nervous System Resilience and Brain Function Subtle Yoga is very accessible, and is beneficial for anyone and everyone. Enjoy!

Stay healthy and be well,

Dvora Citron, RN, MS
Acalanes School Nurse Google Site
dcitron@auhsdschools.org
IG:  acalanesschoolnurse