New! Feb 7 and Feb 9 at 7pm – Naviance Workshops for AHS families and students. Sign up here! Be sure to have your name displayed on your Zoom log in.

New! Job Opportunity – Local Food Group recently opened a kitchen in Lafayette and is looking for greeters/hosts. Tons of hours available! $14-$16/hr. Check job posting for application details.

New! All grade levels: Please take the time to fill out this questionnaire. Assist the CCC in developing new presentations.

Follow me on Instagram @acalanesccc and my new Facebook Page – community resources for our parents to get the most updated information on college related topics in the news.

Junior Families

• New! Feb 13 and Feb 17 Practice ACT and SAT Tests available for students – proctored under live test conditions; cost: $20ea. Sign up link.
• Parents: One-on-One Appointments – All juniors should book an individual meeting with Ms. Reicher here. Parents can absolutely join. Let’s make sure we are creating a solid timeline for post Acalanes planning. Day/Eve times available!
• No CC&C academy the week of Feb 1-7 as I’ll join our counselors in the course selection presentations to students.  Please encourage them to attend!

Sophomore Families: One-on-One Appointments
All sophomores and their families should book an individual meeting with Ms. Reicher here to discuss timelines, summer options and any college/career related planning.

Seniors: 

• NEW!  DVC enrollment presentation, please pre-register to attend here.
• Update college application results in Naviance.  
• Look for the required senior exit survey coming in March on Naviance.

Scholarships:

• Matt Lynn Scholarship – $1500-2000 awarded to college bound students intending to play varsity sports. Students check Naviance for application.
• Rossmoor Scholarship – $3000 award. Min. GPA 3.0 and max expected family contribution of $20k.
• Assistance League of Diablo Valley Scholarships – Philanthropic program aids students with college expenses based on need, school/community activities, and GPA. Applicants must be residents of Contra Costa County.
• AAUW Scholarship – $2000 awarded to a Senior woman who demonstrates a sustained commitment to community service as well as a grade point average of at least 3.0. Apply now!
• TZU Chi USA Scholars – $1500 awarded on the basis of financial need, academic achievement, and community involvement. Min GPA 3.0, Due 4/22.

Keep connected:

• CCC Website 
• Facebook Page for Students – Have your senior or junior join the College and Career Student FB page.

Thank you for all your support!
Wendy Reicher, College and Career Advisor: wreicher@auhsdschools.org

Congratulations!
Counselors and all of Acalanes send congratulations to the students who were named National Merit Scholarship semi-finalists:  Kai Feinberg, Jamie Lattin, Morgan Mason, Isaiah Orlando, Madison Payne and Jackson Steele. These students were identified as National Merit Scholars based on their high scores on the PSAT and have submitted applications to continue to be considered for the Merit Scholarship competition. 

Course Selection
It’s that time of year again…as mentioned above, counselors will be hosting webinars during academy next week for current students to go over course selection. Students will need to make their selections online by Feb 19. Students should check Canvas and their school Gmail accounts for more information and instructions.

CSF Application Period Begins Feb 1
California Scholarship Federation’s spring application period begins on February 1. Current students in grades 10-12 should apply to this honor society. Students must apply every semester. Be on the lookout for an online application form and how to pay required dues on the webstore starting next week. 

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

Now that the Regional Stay-At-Home order has been lifted, there is hope that we will move into the red tier and then shift to a hybrid model for our schools. Governor Newsom’s efforts to encourage districts to reopen through incentives seem to be stalling, but some legislators who are critical of his plan think maybe there is room for compromise with Assembly Bill 10, which would mandate that schools reopen when they enter the red tier. With Gov. Newsom’s back-to-school plan all but doomed, what might it take to salvage it?  Either way, parents across the state are growing increasingly frustrated with the situation and some are advocating for change. Newly formed California-wide parent group turns up the pressure to reopen schools

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

Is  your student coming back to school in Hybrid? Medical Documentation for Students
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.

Team Vaccine! Interested in Volunteering with Contra Costa Health Services Covid Vaccine Administration?

Here are the requirements to volunteer:   

• Current license: RN, LVN, EMT, or DDS, PharmD or MD. 
• Completed background check and TB Test (provided by Contra Costa County)
• Completed online mandatory trainings Covid-19 Vaccine Training (ca.gov)
• Ability to volunteer 24 hours a week from Sunday through Saturday. Hours vary depending on assignment.
• Candidates must be able to work at all Contra Costa sites and have reliable transportation. 
• If you can meet the minimum requirements, please complete the Volunteer Information Form and send to: COVID19Volunteers@cchealth.org.  

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

Be COVID Proactive!
See update on my google site. Stay healthy by keeping this symptom checklist in mind. “Bubbles” and “Pods” – consider the “stealth health” of yours.  We need to keep this up even with the vaccine rollout!

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

Friday, Feb 5 During Academy COVID Cabaret Spring 2021 Musical Information Meeting
Is there a role in a show you’ve always wanted to play? Do you have a favorite Broadway song that you’ve always wanted to perform? Well we’re doing the Spring Musical a little differently this year due to the circumstances. Please join us for our first informational meeting during Academy on Friday, February 5. While we are devastated we cannot perform together onstage, we are very excited about our upcoming Cabaret! You will have an opportunity to direct and star in your own 3-4 minute piece! Please join Gibson’s Academy link “Spring Musical” offering in TeachMore on Friday, February 5th for more information!

The CIF North Coast Section (NCS) approved a sports framework to allow local leagues to create a sports schedule in accordance with guidance from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). Read the statement here.

Diablo Athletic League (DAL), the local league for AHS sports, established a preliminary schedule for “purple tier” sports beginning February 1. Read more from the DAL here. 

Cancelled: Tuesday, Jan 26 PSAT for Sophomores
The AUHSD District has cancelled the PSAT for Sophomores at Acalanes High School on January 26 due to the extension of the California Stay at Home Order. The school day schedule has been adjusted accordingly, with Tuesday, January 26 returning to a regular class schedule. 

Registrants may either defer their exam payment/registration to be applied to the Fall 2021 PSAT exam (date TBD), or receive a full refund of the $30 exam cost. To choose the refund option, please email Hannah Welling at hwelling@auhsdschools.org by January 31. If you do not email your refund request by January 31, your student will automatically be registered for/paid for the Fall 2021 PSAT. Please contact Hannah Welling with any questions.

2020-21 Acalanes & President’s Volunteer Service Awards Program
Spring is the time for students to submit their volunteer service applications and now is the time to start getting organized! Given the limited volunteer opportunities, we reduced the service hour minimum to 20 hours to help more students qualify for the Acalanes Award. The President’s Volunteer Service award is a federal program and we cannot modify their minimum number of hours/program requirements. 

We encourage students to be creative with ideas that can turn into volunteer opportunities while following guidelines to keep yourself, families and neighbors safe.  Ideas to consider (verification of hours is still necessary):

• Grocery shopping or running errands for senior, disabled or at-risk neighbors
• Tutoring or Homework help (unpaid) for younger students in your neighborhood (non-family members)
• AHS Clubs focused on service such as Key Club, Children’s Hospital, Equip for Equality, Environmental, Asian Student Union, SAGE, Protect Animals Worldwide

If you have a great idea about a way to be of service in your community and want to see if it qualifies under the AHS program, email us!  In the meantime, download the service award application forms here. Then submit completed, scanned applications between March 25 and April 10, 2021 to communityservice@acalanesparentsclub.com. 

Tuesday, Jan 26 at 10am – ACA Chat Live with Andrea Powers & Katherine Walton
Join the first ACA Chat Live of 2021. If you haven’t joined before, check out this always-popular, high spirited online parent chat. Register here. 

Friday, Jan 29 – ACA “We’ve Got Heart” DAY Campus Drive-Thru Honoring Mr. Huber: 

• 3:00-3:30pm Seniors
• 3:30-4:00pm Juniors
• 4:00-4:30pm Sophomores
• 4:30-5:00pm Freshmen

Reminders!
• ALL students who attend will receive a new! ACA STRONG t-shirt
• Drop a note or letter of remembrance for Mr. Huber’s family
• Monument Crisis Center’s Food Drive Donations of peanut butter and boxes of cereal will be collected to support families in need
• Class officers & leadership will distribute fun goodie bags
• Seniors won’t want to miss a special “College Apps are Done!” treat
• Wave to AHS teachers & staff

ACA STRONG T-Shirts for Sale at ACA DAY (1/28)
For AHS parents (and siblings) who also want the new ACA STRONG t-shirt, we will have extras available for purchase at the ACA DAY Campus Drive-Thru on 1/28. $10 per t-shirt. Cash only please. 

Friday, Jan 29 from 5-8pm – ACA STRONG Light Display Kick-Off 
Mark your calendar! Students, parents, siblings & community members are invited to drive through campus to enjoy the ACA STRONG light display, which will include a coordinated radio broadcast complete with an Acalanes DJ! More details to come this week. THIS IS A NOT TO BE MISSED EVENT and is a great opportunity to be a part of some community spirit! 

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

Join the LPIE Board!
LPIE is actively recruiting interested parents and community members to serve on the 2021-2022 Board, commencing on July 1. For 40 years, serving on the LPIE board has been an excellent way to gain knowledge about what is going on in the TK-12 schools and to help preserve LPIE’s mission to support and enrich the education of every child in the Lafayette public schools. While many board members have children currently attending Lafayette schools, we also welcome community at large members. All board members provide an integral perspective by infusing LPIE’s board with fresh ideas and viewpoints. We encourage anyone interested to apply. 

If you are interested in applying, we invite you to complete this brief Google form. You many also call the LPIE office at 925-299-1644 to request that an application be mailed to you.  

Please contact LPIE’s Vice President Danielle Gallagher at danielle.gallagher@gmail.com with any questions about the board.

Laura-Kate Rurka & Jennifer Palmer
Acalanes LPIE School Chairs

www.lpie.org