On Feb 10, LPIE officially announced the largest campaign in our history. For more than four decades, Lafayette Partners in Education (LPIE, formerly LASF) has provided critical support to Lafayette’s six public schools. The $12 million LPIE Endowment Campaign seeks to provide a stable, secure, and self-sustaining source of funding that will benefit generations of students – today, tomorrow, and beyond.
Learn more about the LPIE Endowment here.
LPIE Endowment
Parent Education
Please save the date for our next AUHSD Wellness Parent Education Event!
What: “Supporting Students With Sleep: Why Sleep Is Important”
Presented by Deniz Keskinel, MSc
Date: Tuesday, Feb 21
Time: 6-7:30pm
Where: Over Zoom
Register Here
Click here to review the full AUHSD Wellness Parent Education Series for 2023. Recordings of past Wellness Parent Ed events can be viewed on the AUHSD website here. Topics include Depression & Anxiety, The Fentanyl Epidemic, Connecting with Your Teen and more.
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)
Things we are loving this week: Black Excellence Month. As we honor the contributions and influence of Black Americans in our culture, we want to put a spotlight on the autobiographical works of two master storytellers. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates and A Most Beautiful Thing by Arshay Cooper were enormously popular in our parent book clubs and worth sharing again. Both are TBR worthy.
Do you have a recommendation or highlight to share about Black Excellence Month? Please chime in and we will do our best to share it!
Upcoming Community Conversations & Events: Get to Know Acalanes DEI
Date TBD – planned for late February or early March
Informal meet-up to get to know one another. We will also be available to answer questions and talk about the past, present and future of our work. Sweet treats, savory sips and cool people provided. Email us so we can send you the exact date and location.
Being Heumann: Acclaimed Memoir of a Disability Rights Advocate
Tuesday, Feb 28 from 6-7:30pm, Orinda Books
Join Facing History to discuss Ms. Heumann’s life, her landmark civil rights activism, and how we can all be upstanders and advocates in our communities today. An RSVP is strongly encouraged if you’d like to attend.
Repairing the World: Stories From The Tree of Life
Thursday, Mar 9 from 7-9pm, Del Valle Theater
What if your community turned a blind eye to acts of aggression and did nothing to speak out against hate? Please join Campo DEIB for this free film event depicting how the city of Pittsburg, PA has come together to fight hate and extremism in the aftermath of the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue. Moderated by Rabbi Jill Perlman of Temple Isaiah, there will be a Q&A session with director, Patrice O’Neill, after the film. Register for theevent here.
Stay in Touch: Click here to join the DEI mailing list or share feedback.
Student Activities
Acalanes celebrates Black Excellence Month! We challenge all from the Acalanes community to get involved, learn something, celebrate and opt in. Students can check out the calendar of events here – encourage your student to attend an event or two!
Our spring spirit webstore closes this Tuesday, Feb 21. Don’t forget to place your order! Items will be available for pick-up at the end of March. Check it all out here.
Is your student looking for community service hours? Two opportunities:
Join the Acalanes Green Team to work on creating a more sustainable school community. Help students sort trash at trash stations in the frosh and sophomore quads. Students can sign up here! We will have our first informational meeting on Wednesday, Feb 22 at lunch!
Brown Bag Lunch Day
Volunteer for Brown Bag Lunch Day on Sunday, Mar 5! Brown Bag Lunch Day is a community service event that distributes lunches to the homeless in San Francisco. Click the link to sign up/learn more: Brown Bag Lunch Google Form
The Class Cup will continue this week with volleyball. Each grade has one team to participate in the event. Everyone is welcome to join! Come support your class and have fun!!! Students can sign up here and check out the current points standings here.
3v3 March Madness Basketball will be Mar 1-3 during lunch in the big gym. Students can sign up to play in teams of 3- 2 students and 1 staff member. Only one student per team can be a current Acalanes Basketball player.
2022-2023 Clubs
It is not too late to join a club! Encourage your student to check 1 or 2 out. You can view all clubs here.
Gratitude Grams
Want to show appreciation to friends, family and staff? Buy a gratitude gram on the webstore filled with fun toys and snacks. Embrace the attitude of gratitude!
Looking to stay informed? Follow us on instagram for the latest on student activities and class happenings.
Katherine Walton, Leadership Teacher
College & Career
SENIORS
Acalanes College and Career Center Scholarship links. Diablo Valley AssistanceLeague, is available- large scholarships for students with financial limitations. The MattLynn scholarship will be awarded to college-bound seniors from Acalanes High School who have participated in a high school varsity sport(s) and who intend to continue playing a varsity or club sport in college.
FAFSA: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is available. The state is asking all seniors to fill out the FAFSA or to opt-out.
JUNIORS
Interested in Business? Economics for Leaders (EFL) Program is a selective summer program that teaches student leaders how to integrate economics into the process of decision-making in an interactive learning environment.
Looking for volunteer hours this spring? Girls on the Run of the Bay Area is recruiting junior coaches for our spring season in Lamorinda!
Hospice Volunteer Work: Anchor Health is looking for volunteers with parents to work with Hospice patients. Please come by the CCC for more information.
A Healthier Approach to College Admissions: Event sponsored by Challenge Success on Thursday, Mar 9 from 4-5:15pm.
1:1 appointments: If you’d like your child to start exploring career interests and begin looking at Naviance, please have them schedule an appointment here.
SOPHOMORES/FROSH
Interested in Business? Economics for Leaders (EFL) Program is a selective summer program that teaches student leaders how to integrate economics into the process of decision-making in an interactive learning environment.
Volunteer Ideas: Have your student come by the CCC so I can learn about their interests. Check out this website for ideas too! It’s best to set a search filter for teens.
Please visit our College & Career Counseling website any time for additional information and support.
Counseling
Counselor assignments are by last name:
A-Em Anne Schonauer
En-Kr Christine Todd / Christina Castillo–Gallardo during Spring 2023
Ku-Rog Marissa Meadows
Roh-Z Susan Martin
Late Sign Up for AP Exams: Late registration options are still available, but will incur a late fee. Please see here for more details.
The CSF application period is open! CSF (California Scholarship Federation) is an honor society and current 10th, 11th and 12th graders are encouraged to apply. A complete CSF application has 2 parts: an application form and a payment via the webstore. The deadline is Tuesday, Feb 28! Students who are members for at least 4 semesters, including during senior year, will get a special stole to wear at graduation. Read the FAQ on the application form and talk to Ms. Schonauer for any clarification.
Course Selection Changes: Please have your students bring in their completed course selection forms if they haven’t already. If your student wants to make any changes to their class requests for next year, please have them see their counselor to discuss.
School Nurse
February is Heart Health Month! GET HEALTHY as a family!
Kids who develop healthy habits in childhood and adolescence will be more likely to sustain a healthy lifestyle throughout their lives and will suffer less incidence and severity of chronic disease.
Substance use prevention:
- Keep your home safe: Lock Your Meds
- Have family dinner
- Know where your kids are
- Spend regular time together
What else would you like to see on my website?
Dvora Citron, RN, MS
dcitron@auhsdschools.org
925-280-2970 x7128
IG: acalanesschoolnurse
Wellness Center
The Wellness Center is starting up a couple of new groups. Check in with your AHS student and submit a referral if they are interested in participating.
The Wellness Center is starting up a couple of new groups. Check in with your AHS student and submit a referral if they are interested in participating.
Wellness Wednesdays started last week during academy: Is your student feeling stressed, overwhelmed or just wants to improve their understanding of mental health? They can join us during academy on Wednesdays to connect with others in a safe and supportive space. We will discuss various mental health topics in the hope of destigmatizing mental health challenges and improving our coping skills. Space is limited. Sign up for “Wellness Center” academy on Teachmore.
Expression Through Dance and Movement- starting Friday, Feb 24 during lunch: A program created to focus on increasing student confidence by using body movement to gain insight into behavior patterns and gaining the ability to express themselves through dance. This will allow individuals to create new ways of coping with stressors. This program also provides an opportunity to make friends, try new activities and develop new coping skills. Stop by the Wellness Center for more info or to sign up.
Last but not least, the Contra Costa County Office of Education and their Tobacco Use Prevention and Education program needs your help in preventing tobacco and cannabis usage by students. They are looking to gather parent feedback through this survey. Your feedback is extremely valuable to us so that we can best support our students. Your responses are highly encouraged and greatly appreciated!
Kiara Thomas- Wellness Intake Specialist
Sports
BOOSTER BASH Tickets on Sale Now!!!
This week’s can’t miss events:
Girls soccer
Tuesday, Feb 21 or Wednesday, Feb 22 NCS Semifinal
Friday, Feb 24 or Saturday, Feb 25 NCS Championship
Boys soccer
Tuesday, Feb 21 or Wednesday, Feb 22 NCS Semifinal
Friday, Feb 24 or Saturday, Feb 25 NCS Championship
Girls basketball
Wednesday, Feb 22 NCS Semifinal
Friday, Feb 24 or Saturday, Feb 25 NCS Championship
Boys basketball
Wednesday, Feb 22 NCS Semifinal
Friday, Feb 24 or Saturday, Feb 25 NCS Championship
Wrestling
Friday, Feb 24 or Saturday, Feb 25 CIF Championship
Girls lacrosse
Tuesday, Feb 21 at Granada HS. JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7pm.
Boys tennis
Thursday, Feb 23 v. Bishop O’Dowd HS at 3:30pm. Varsity is away and JV is home.
Baseball
Friday, Feb 24 v. Tamalpais HS at 3:30pm. Varsity is away and JV is home.
The winter and spring sport schedules will be found on the AHS website by clicking here.
If you have any questions, please contact Randy Takahashi at rtakahashi@auhsdschools.org or Haley Walsh at hwalsh@auhsdschools.org.
APC in Action
APC Spring Grant Application Window is Now Open!
We invite all AHS teachers, staff, students, and parents to submit a grant application for programming, materials or projects that enhance the educational experience for our school community; all ideas are welcome. Click here for criteria and application. Completed proposals and questions can be submitted to Nicole Sanders or delivered to the APC Box in the front office before the Friday, Mar 3 deadline.
SAVE THE DATE: ACALANES HIGH SCHOOL COLOR RUN Sunday, Mar 26 at 9am
The 4th annual Color Run fundraiser will take place at AHS and supports the classes of 2024 and 2025. It is a 1 or 2 mile loop through the Acalanes campus and is open to ALL of our local community- elementary, middle and high school students. Each participant receives a white t-shirt to wear through the five color stations where participants will emerge in a rainbow of colors by the end of the run. Sign up today!
