Staying Safe During The Holidays

Be Covid Proactive!
See update on my google site. Stay healthy by keeping this symptom checklist in mind.

Improve Mental Health
Cook meals together as a family! It doesn’t have to be complicated; it can be as easy as arranging a fruit platter or putting a salad together.

This is a perfect opportunity with the upcoming holidays and our plans to STAY HOME. There are so many benefits – more to come!

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

New Date! Thursday, Dec 17 at 7pm AHS Instrumental Virtual Winter Concert
Enjoy the amazing musical talents of the Acalanes Instrumental Bands. Instrumental Music Director Ms. Lauren Gibson will be showcasing performances by each ensemble (Jazz Ensemble, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, and Orchestra) as well as chamber music. Best of all, you can hear all this beautiful music safely from the comfort of your home via Zoom video conference. Look for the Zoom link at http://acalanesinstrumentalmusic.com or http://ahsperformingarts.org.

Monday, Nov 16 from 10:30am-1:30pm Make-up School Photos
If your student still needs their school photo taken, or if they would like to re-take their picture, send them to the Performing Arts Center (PAC) along the outside hallway. Please remember masks are required while on campus, along with social distancing.

Monday, Nov 16 from 12n-3:30pm AND Thursday, Nov 19 from 3:30-5pm PE Locker Clean Out
If your student didn’t clear out their PE locker last spring (or since then), now is the time! If PE items are not picked up this week, the school cannot guarantee access to these items until the end of the school year. Again, masks and social distancing are required on campus.

Friday, Nov 20 from 10-11:30am – Dons Dialogue with Principal Bell
Join Principal Bell online and find out what’s happening on campus. Friday’s focus will include the proposed hybrid schedule for the second semester, along with a preview of the finals testing schedule, and our monthly BIRT Report. Watch your email for a link to register and mark your calendar to attend.

APC 2020-2021 Fall Grants
As a result of your generous donations this school year, the Acalanes Parents Club is pleased to fund the following grants, totaling $10,000:

• Air purifiers and filters to complement district’s upgrade of campus-wide HVAC; additional small purifiers to be used in more confined, high-use areas
• Outdoor game and social equipment to encourage on-campus student engagement during Fall 2020; long-term use opportunities by AHS Leadership
• Community-themed T-shirts for staff to welcome students back to campus, designed by Acalanes Diversity Board 
• Virtual screening of DEI themed documentary “A Most Beautiful Thing” and live conversation following the screening with lead documentary producer, Arshay Cooper 
• New nurse’s office equipment to safely secure medications and student files; replacement of cloth chairs

Tuesday, Nov 17 at 10am ACA Chat Live with Andrea Powers & Katherine Walton (& Coffee Social @ Sideboard)
The first interactive chat was a hit! Join the next one by registering here. There will be a socially-distanced coffee at Sideboard at 8:30am (note earlier time!) for any parents who would like to join prior to ACA Chat Live. Dress warmly. Coffee will end in time to get home for ACA Chat Live. Please email to RSVP for coffee to help with a headcount. 

AHS + Lafayette: Better Together
Check out the signs in the city marquees in front of Safeway and Lafayette Park Hotel. It’s a great reminder of the growing partnership between our Dons community, the City of Lafayette and the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce. 

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

Week THIRTEEN in the Challenge to Build Habits Supporting Racial Equity. 

November is Native American Heritage Month
How many people know that Native American children were separated from their families and sent to boarding schools as a way to “civilize” them into US society? Read about it here.

Last week, Campolindo hosted an inspiring book group discussing late Congressman John Lewis’ book “Across That Bridge”. For more on John Lewis, take a listen to Terry Gross’ “Fresh Air” interview on NPR. Acalanes DEI is hosting the next book group on February 4. Stay tuned for book selection! 

This Week is CARE week!
This is a week dedicated to education and dialogue around equity, and is organized by the diversity board within the leadership class, together with different clubs and student leaders. Check out the details in the Student Activities section and encourage your student to opt in!

Upcoming “Parent Ed” Dates: 

• Monday, Nov 16 from 7-8:30pm – Sign up here to join the racial equity seminar. 
• Wednesday, Nov 18 at 7pm “Be an Upstander, Not a Bystander” with Lori Hayes – Parents are invited to join their students to listen to this conversation. Register here.

Acalanes DEI yard signs are available at shop.acalanes.com. Order deadline is November 29 and items will be available for pick-up on campus December 17 and 18.

More information or questions?
Email us! Stay current and follow us on our webpage, Facebook and Instagram.

Be prepared to be inspired after listening to Episode 5 of the LPIE Podcast!
Our host Adam speaks with members of the team who publish the student-run newspaper Blueprint, which is proudly supported by your LPIE dollars. Harnessing the words and artwork of over 60 Acalanes journalists, this award-winning newspaper provides stories and information pertinent to the Lafayette community.

The podcast also provides one more illustration of how Lafayette schools are developing young minds and equipping them with the skills and tools needed to succeed throughout their education, careers, and lives, thanks to the dedication and support of our teachers, community, and LPIE. This is a “must listen” for every parent at Acalanes – Click here to listen.

Laura–Kate Rurka & Jennifer Palmer
Acalanes LPIE School Chairs

www.lpie.org

This week: Equity Week is fully programmed and put on by our students. It provides multiple entry points for dialogue around various issues of equity and is a wonderful opportunity for students to educate themselves, engage in important conversations and show up for their peers. Please encourage your student to attend! All event Zoom links will be sent via Canvas on Monday morning.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16

• Cohort: Equity workshop on identity and intersectionality & practice of mindful inquiry
• Lunch: Queer Straight Alliance Kahoot Event

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17

• Lunch: Black Student Union Event

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18

• Lunch: Girl Up! 
• 7pm: Lori Hayes “How to be an Upstander, not a Bystander” She is not to be missed-she is real, brilliant, dynamic & engaging Register here!

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19

• Lunch: Jewish Club
• 6pm: Latinos Unidos Movie Night

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20

• Academy: Asian American Club
• Lunch: Erasure Dialogue 

New spiritwear available now!
We have added some new spiritwear to the webstore. Perfect opportunity for holiday gifts or winter gear. Last day to place your order is November 29. Items will be available for pick-up on December 17. 

Don’t Miss Out! Encourage your senior student to attend Tuesday’s Senior “Friendsgiving”
Senior students can sign up here 

Adopt-a-Family
Acalanes Community Outreach is pleased to announce that we will be commencing our annual Adopt-a-Family program in partnership with Families First, a Concord-based organization. All are invited to sign up to adopt individuals and provide wishlist items to make their holiday’s special. You sign up to adopt an individual, shop for them based on their wishlist items and then drop the wrapped presents off at Acalanes on December 11. This is an amazing opportunity for the Acalanes community and an exciting philanthropic partnership. Sign up here

2020-2021 Clubs
Club meetings continue. Check out our 45 clubs!

Save the Date: Wednesday, Dec 2 at 7pm – Women in Leadership #2 with Contra Costa County Deputy Attorney
Mark your calendar!

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

Katherine Walton, Student Activities Director

With the end of the semester on the horizon, we want to share a treasure of a worksheet you can use in supporting your student with “decatastrophizing.” This is one of the many types of cognitive distortions adolescents can have that can create overwhelm and inertia. An example of this would be, “I’m so far behind, I’m going to fail all of my classes!” While understandable, this is not a supportive or motivating statement. This worksheet helps enlist logic, reasoning and perspective-taking so that students can move out of their emotional brain and into problem-solving mode. You can print this out, or better yet, incorporate it into a script that you use in navigating the conversation with your student. And remember that oftentimes, these types of, albeit irrational, thoughts sometimes need to be voiced. What’s not helpful is when we as parents meet these comments with our own negative emotions. We hope you find this helpful!

Don’t forget: Thursday, Nov 19 at 5:30p “Caring for Oneself & Others”
Brought to you by the Contra Costa Crisis Center, and CourAge Youth Health Coalition. Register here to attend online.

Allen Choi, Wellness Coordinator
Casey Sasner, Intake Specialist

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

Monday, Nov 16 at 5:50p – US Air Force Info Night
Learn about scholarships, career and internship opportunities, admission requirements and the application process. Register here and check out this flyer for more details.

Tuesday, Nov 17 from 7-8pm – Junior Parent Naviance Workshop
Please log in to Wendy Reicher’s Zoom account using your student’s AUHSD Zoom account. Learn about the tools we use to guide your student through the college application process. CODE: 651 363 0875; Password: DONS2021.

One-on-one Appointments
Students can book an individual meeting with Ms. Reicher here. Please encourage your student to take advantage regardless of where they are in the process.

Helpful Links:

• Career Exploration
• Alternatives after High School
• Fall CCC Newsletter for updates!

Freshman College Planning
Sophomore College Planning
Junior College Planning
Senior Checklist

• CCC Website 
• Follow us on Instagram: @acalanesccc
• Facebook Page for Students Have your senior or junior join the College and Career Student FB page 

Keep up the good work! 
Wendy Reicher/College and Career Advisor: wreicher@auhsdschools.org