October 16-31 – Virtual Lafayette Res Run For Education
The Lafayette Chamber and the City of Lafayette co-sponsor the Lafayette Res Run for Education, traditionally held on an October Sunday. Due to COVID-19, the legendary race will be a virtual one this year, held from October 16-31, 2020. Join us for one of four races: 5k, 10k, 2 mile walk/run, or the 2.7 mile reservoir run/walk. Registration for all races is $25; reference Acalanes when you register and a portion of your fees go straight to our school. Race packets include the must-have traditional long sleeve t-shirt and race bib. Zoonies, the newest ASB Spirit Card partner, has a gift for the first 100 sign-ups from Acalanes (thank you, Zoonies!) Support Acalanes and sign up now. Go Dons!

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

Student Activities Update for the Week (video)

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 44 clubs!

Through Monday, Oct 5 – School Supplies Drive for Stege
Acalanes is holding a supplies drive for Stege Elementary School, our sister school since 2013. Each year we make personal bags for every student at Stege and work with their administration to hand them out. This year we are collecting pencils, erasers, crayons and colored pencils between now and October 5. There are bins at the flagpole. From 4-5 pm on Friday, Oct 2 and Monday, Oct 5, we will collect money as well as physical supplies. Soon, we will accept donations via the Acalanes Web Store. Thank you for your support.

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

Katherine Walton, Student Activities Director

Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Awareness
In tomorrow’s Cohort Academy, students will be exploring this topic, and you will receive more information from Principal Bell about it. 

Suicide can be a scary topic for parents to think about and discuss. You have our compassionate understanding on that! As mental health support professionals, we also know that it’s essential to talk about the reality of mental health challenges and suicidal ideation in adolescence. And it’s critical to know the signs and how to help. Being open about suicide does NOT cause a person to contemplate it more seriously. That’s one of the many myths surrounding suicide, and mental health challenges that we can all play a role in dispelling. 

The Wellness Team will provide the content and resources for Monday’s discussion, and you can ask your student to share with you what they learned. To help you with the conversation, visit this resource from a wonderful organization called Each Mind Matters. If your student misses Cohort Academy, the entire presentation will be available to them in Canvas–you can suggest that you watch it with them. And as always, if you’re concerned about your student’s mental health, fill out a wellness referral HERE

Allen Choi, Wellness Coordinator
Casey Sasner, Intake Specialist

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

All senior students should set up at least one appointment to discuss post AHS plans. Students can book an individual meeting with Ms. Reicher here. 

Tuesday, Sept 29 at 7pm – Financial Aid Night
Join Tim Lenahan for an online presentation about college costs. The meeting link is here, and you can review this helpful handout for details. Learn more about presenter Tim Lenahan.

Mark your calendars for Senior events:

• Wednesdays and Fridays Senior Academy – Academy is available on Wednesdays and Fridays for all Seniors working on college applications. The Zoom link is in Naviance. Please have students check their AUHSD gmail accounts for all communications from Ms. Reicher. 
• Tuesday, Oct 13 at 7pm FAFSA Night – The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form allows students to request federal grants, work-study, and loans all in one application. Join us online to learn more. 

For Juniors: Tuesday, Oct 6 at 7pm – Class of 2022 Parent/Student Presentation
Lots of great college planning information. Hear from your Class Liaisons, as well as Wendy Reicher and Counselor Susan Martin. Watch your email for the Zoom link!

Check out the Fall CCC Newsletter for updates!

ICYMI
If you weren’t able to attend our webinar on “Navigating the College Admissions & Testing Landscape”, watch the replay here.

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 

Wendy Reicher/College and Career Advisor: wreicher@auhsdschools.org

Wendy Reicher

Progress Reports
Grades were updated in Canvas this past week. Parents should make sure they have observer status to see updates. Please encourage your students to use Peer Tutoring and use Academy time to check in with a teacher or counselor. 

Transcripts
For Seniors ordering transcripts, have your list of colleges updated on Naviance and pay the $5 fee for official transcripts on the webstore. Mrs. Finn, the registrar, will process requests. Please contact Mrs. Finn with questions. Students can review unofficial transcripts in Aeries.

Deadline Wednesday, Sept 30 – CSF Applications Due
California Scholarship Federation (CSF) is an honor society. The application period this semester will be Sept 15-30. Payment of $7 must be made on the webstore. All grades of “CR” last semester will count toward eligibility for the September application period. The application form is online. Students need to be logged in with their school account to fill out the form. 

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. 

Counselor Assignments Student last names:
A- Ed  Anne Schonauer
Ee-Kr  Christine Todd
Ku-Ros  Marissa Meadows
Rot-Z  Susan Martin

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

School Immunization Requirements are still in place.
Please check in with your local pediatrician’s office, Primary Care Provider, or our County Health Department.

Flu Vaccine
Beginning in October, please have everyone in your family get a Flu vaccine. We all want to stay as healthy as possible, individually and collectively as a community. Reduced illness from flu will also ease the burden of illness from Covid in our hospital facilities.

Medical Forms and Medications at School
Please turn in any relevant medical forms your student might need for the 2020-21 school year. Those forms should be dated no earlier than June 2020. You can access forms here.

Here’s a great article on How To Be Stronger Co-Parents During The Pandemic

Please get in touch with me with any questions, concerns, and/or requests. I look forward to being in touch and connected!

Is your student interested in joining the Acalanes Health & Medicine Student Club? Check it out here.

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

Three Virtual Projects from Our Choral Music Students
Tune in for some exceptional online programming from our Dons students over the next two months: 

• National Parks History through Music Program This program is put together by our recently retired AHS institution Larry Freeman, along with the Rangers at Hyde Street Pier National Maritime Park. They will provide a recording of a Sea Chantey entitled “Randy Dandio.”
• November 16 – High School Notes Program Invited by the Diablo Regional Arts Association to participate in the High School Notes program, our Dons will sing in a virtual concert November 16. Acalanes, along with 11 other high schools, will collaborate with Deke Sharon, who arranged music for the Pitch Perfect movies and Sing Off. Our students will perform “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran and join other high schoolers in a group number to be determined.

GO DONS!

AHS Fight Song Rediscovered 
Instrumental Music Director Lauren Gibson was thrilled when student Autumn Long recently passed along a recording of the original Acalanes fight song from 1956 and highlights of other school events that year. 

This year, our music students will record the fight song to ignite our Dons spirit. The fight song, written specifically for Acalanes, has not been performed in years and will now be played at upcoming football and other Acalanes sports games. 

A link to the 1956 recording, which includes a surprise visit by Marilyn Monroe (portrayed by an Acalanes student), is here. Enjoy!

There are several measures on the November 2020 ballot which will directly affect our students.  Prop 15 in particular is being hotly contested.  

Proposition 18: Primary Voting for 17-Year-Olds
This constitutional amendment allows 17-year-olds who will be 18 at the time of the next general election to vote in primary elections and special elections. 18 other states plus DC already allow this.

Proposition 16: Repeal Proposition 209 – Restore Affirmative Action
This constitutional amendment, placed on the ballot by the legislature, asks the voters of California to vote on permitting the use of race, gender, and ethnic diversity as factors (but not decisive factors) in education including college admissions, government hiring, and government contracting.  CSU Trustees endorse repeal of affirmative action ban

Proposition 15: California Schools and Local Communities Funding Act 
This initiative would require commercial and industrial real estate property worth $3 million or more be taxed on current market value, raising as much as $11.5 billion in additional funding for schools and other local governments. It protects all homeowners and renters by maintaining tax protections for ALL residential property. This money would be allocated to schools (40%) and other local governments (60%).

Art Auction from Jennifer Perlmutter Galleries to Benefit LPIE! Win an Original Work of Art
All paintings are 30” x 30” x 1.5” stretched canvas and ready to hang. Local delivery or pick up. Auction begins Sept 29 on Instagram. To bid, go to @jenperlmuttergallery on Instagram. Instructions to bid will be released September 29.

Follow artists to bid: @deetivenanartist @Katiekorotzer @jenniferperlmutterart 

Thank you so much for supporting LPIE, and happy bidding to all!  

Laura–Kate Rurka & Jennifer Palmer
Acalanes LPIE School Chairs

www.lpie.org

Due Friday, Oct 9 2020-2021 APC Grant Applications
Acalanes Parents Club will continue its APC Grant Program this year with a focus on creative solutions to enhance the educational experience of AHS students during distance learning, and with an eye toward ideas for when we gather again in-person. Teachers, students and parents are encouraged to submit a grant proposal by accessing the criteria and application form here. Email APC Grants Coordinator Catherine Habas with questions. To submit your completed proposal, email Catherine or deliver to the APC box in the office. 

ICYMI
Watch the replay of Friday’s Dons Dialogue with Principal Bell here.