Seniors
Many seniors have still not ordered official transcripts for college apps or updated their Naviance accounts. Students pay the $5 fee for official transcripts on the webstore. Mrs. Finn, the registrar, will process requests. Documents will be sent electronically through Naviance whenever possible. Please contact Mrs. Finn with questions. Students can review unofficial transcripts in Aeries.

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

In case you missed it in the flood of election news, here are the latest results on the three propositions which had a connection to education issues: Live election results for Propositions 15, 16 and 18.

Is your student interested in a health science career? Tell them to come to the Acalanes Health & Medicine Student Club meeting next week at lunch on Tuesday, when they’ll hear from a Bay Area Doctor in Residency.

(Fore)HEADS-UP! Part of our “new normal” needs to be checking our temperature each morning, especially if you are leaving your house to be in any public/social environment. That means if you don’t already have a thermometer, this is a good time to get one!

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

Here’s a great one-pager on SLEEP to remind you why it’s so good for us.

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

Tuesday, Dec 8 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.

Reminder: School Schedule Changes
Since Wednesday is a school holiday (Veteran’s Day), student schedules will shift accordingly:

• Monday: Wednesday block schedule starting with Academy at 9am, ending with 6th period at 1:30pm (with zero period at 2:55pm); no cohort on Monday.
• Tuesday: Regular Tuesday block schedule
• Wednesday (no school)
• Thursday/Friday: Regular Distance Learning schedule

Sound of Music On Campus
Hear from AHS alum and ABC Reporter Matt Boone as he covers a group of Acalanes Choir students returning to campus to make music together, safely and socially distanced. Enjoy!

Friday, Nov 20 from 10-11:30am Dons Dialogue with Principal Bell
Join Principal Bell online and find out what’s happening on campus. Hear from select speakers and get your questions answered. Mark your calendar and stay tuned for details! 

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 participant, 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! Parents won’t want to miss the next one. There will be a socially distanced “coffee social” at Sideboard at 9am for any parents who would like to join prior to ACA Chat Live. More details to come.

ACA E-Thanks to Acalanes Teachers, Admin & Staff
There continues to be  heart-warming positive feedback from the emails and thank you notes sent already. The goal is for each AHS staff member to receive an email of thanks. It’s not too late to sign up here to express gratitude. These emails make a difference!

2nd Annual ACA Day has been postponed from November to December
The previously scheduled ACA Days (Nov 16-18) will now be held in December. 

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.

In case you missed it in the flood of election news, here are the latest results on the three propositions which had a connection to education issues: Live election results for Propositions 15, 16 and 18.

As always, Edsource.org remains a good source for education-related news. For a look at the issue of school reopenings around the state (including a map, in case you haven’t had enough of those!), see:

• Leading school superintendents ask Gov. Newsom to impose a ‘common standard’ for reopening schools in California 
• Students getting in-person instruction at accelerating pace in California

Week TWELVE in the Challenge to Build Habits Supporting Racial Equity
Who was the woman behind the famous quote “I am sick and tired of being sick and tired”? Learn more here about voting rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer. 

November is Native American Heritage Month, and this Wednesday, November 11, is Veteran’s Day.
Enjoy this selection of PBS films documenting often untold stories about Native Americans serving in the U.S. Military.

Saturday, Nov 14 is the day Indian Americans celebrate Diwali.
Diwali is the five-day festival of lights, celebrated by millions of people across the world. It is a festival of new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil, and light over darkness.

Pronouns in Zoom and Canvas
Please encourage your student to add their pronouns into Zoom and Canvas. It allows our community to be more inclusive, less alienating to trans & non-binary people, and to lessen the binary nature of society. 

Deadline Nov 29 to Order Acalanes DEI Yard Signs
Now available at shop.acalanesdons.com. Order yours today! Signs will be available for pick-up Dec 17 and 18.

Is Your Student Passionate About Equity Issues?
Sign up for these newsletters: 

• Acalanes Diversity Board: “Diversity and Equity”. Encourage your student to get involved by sending a DM to @acalanes.diversity. 
• Campolindo DEI: “Diversity Dispatch”. This is an inspiring student DEI effort at Campolindo. They are looking for student collaborators from across the district. Opinion pieces can be submitted using their website. 

Upcoming Dates: 

• Tuesday, Nov 10 from 7-8:30pm AUHSD DEI Book Club – Sign up here to join the book club discussion
• Monday, Nov 16 from 7-8:30pm – Sign up here to join the racial equity seminar series. 
• Wednesday, Nov 18, 7pm “Be an Upstander, Not a Bystander” with Lori Hayes –Parents are invited to join their students to listen to this conversation. Register here.

More information or questions? Email us or visit our webpage.

We are social! Come join us @acalanesdei on Facebook and be sure to follow us @acalanesdei on Instagram too!

Spirit Week Recap
Acalanes had such a great time connecting virtually using the GooseChase app. It was a nice way to connect with students & staff. See the ACAtober recap video via the leadership youtube page. 

Save the Date: Equity Week Nov 16-20

• Wednesday, Nov 18 at 7pm Lori Hayes “Be an Upstander, Not a Bystander” Equity speaker Lori Hayes will join us to dialogue about how we can address issues of equity on our campus and in our community. Register here!
• Every day, our equity clubs will be holding lunchtime events that will allow students to engage in education and dialogue about various issues of equity. Stay tuned for the calendar of events!

Save the Date: Tuesday, Nov 17 from 2:00 to 4:00p Senior “Friendsgiving”

If you have a senior, make sure your student marks their calendar for this “not-to-be-missed” event on campus. 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 this week. Encourage your student to attend even if they missed the first meeting last week. 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