Danielle Gallagher – Page 21 – Acalanes Parents Club

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)

January 22, 2023

Lunar New Year, the Year of the Rabbit, begins today, Jan 22. Did you know that San Francisco has celebrated Lunar New Year in some form since the Gold Rush era of the 1860s? If you haven’t heard of Chunyun, you might want to stream “Last Train Home” by Lixin Fan, an astonishing documentary about this annual migration during Lunar New Year and its human scale.

Upcoming Events and Announcements

Asian/South-Asian/Asian-American Parents Happy Hour Jan 27, 5:30-8pm at Town Bakery & Cafe in Moraga: If you are a Walamorinda Asian, South Asian, or South/Asian-American identifying parent/guardian, please join us for an affinity space Happy Hour! Free light appetizers and drinks for purchase. Hope you can join us for this informal gathering (parents only event). Please RSVP here.
Attention Parents of Athletes in Female Sports: The Voice In Sport Foundation (VISF) has introduced The Fair Play for Women Act that will strengthen TITLE IX through better education, stronger enforcement and greater transparency in data and reporting. Student athletes can join the VIS Advocate Program to receive FREE advocacy training and contribute to gender equity at your school. All advocates gain access to the VOICEINSPORT platform where they can meet with experts in sports psychology, nutrition, and talk one on one with their favorite college and professional women athletes!
For Your Student: A Night in New Orleans Takes Over the Acalanes Gym

The district Black Student Unions (BSUs) are co-hosting a New Orleans-themed dance on Friday, Feb 3 at 7pm for all AUHSD students. More information is available in the Student Activities section below and will be available in the Daily Don. Tickets are $10 on GoFan.

Student Activities

January 22, 2023

Student Government 2023-2024
Is your student interested in participating in student government next year? Applications are available beginning tomorrow and due Friday, Feb 3 for current 9th, 10th and 11th graders. A link to the application will be in the daily bulletin. There are elected and appointed positions and there is a spot for everyone! For the full list of committees, check out the descriptions. You/your student can also stop by at Open House to talk to current students in the program. If you have a current 8th grader, those apps will be available beginning Jan 30 and there will be an informational meeting at Stanley on Jan 31 during lunch.

A Night in New Orleans – An All-District Dance
On Friday, Feb 3 from 7-9pm, Acalanes will be hosting an all district dance. Tickets are $10 and available on Go Fan. Ticket prices include games, DJ, snacks & crafts. Sponsored by the Black Student Union.

Class Cup Begins this Week!
Encourage your student to come to the gym at lunch Wednesday, Thursday & Friday to cheer on and support their class in basketball. Basketball is the 1st of 3 class intramurals this spring.

Where will The Force be this week? We’ll be at boys basketball on Tuesday at 7pm at HOME vs. Campolindo in camo gear. The FORCE shirts will be for sale at the game along with Dons rally towels. Join us!

2022-2023 Clubs
We had an amazing spring club day and are so excited for the current 59 active clubs on campus! 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.

A couple more dates to highlight:
Friday, Jan 27 at 7:30am: Senior Breakfast for the Class of 2023
Saturday, May 13 at City Hall: Junior & Senior Prom

Katherine Walton, Leadership Teacher

College & Career

January 22, 2023

SENIORS
DVC Registration: Please tell your senior to join us during Academy on Wednesday, Feb 15 in the library for a DVC admissions’ presentation and registration details.

Acalanes College and Career Center Scholarship links. Diablo Valley Assistance League, Rossmoor Scholarship Foundation, and AAUW are also available- large scholarships for students with financial limitations.

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
Job Fair: Walnut Creek Arts & Rec is hiring students aged 15+ for many summer jobs. They are hosting a job fair on Thursday, Feb 9 from 4:30-6:30pm at Shadelands Art Center Auditorium.

A Healthier Approach to College Admissions: Event sponsored by Challenge Success on Thursday, Mar 9 from 4-5:15pm.

SAT Practice Test: Revolution Prep is offering a practice SAT on Saturday, Jan 28, 9am-1pm. Live online! Register here

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
Job Fair: Walnut Creek Arts & Rec is hiring students aged 15+ for many summer jobs. They are hosting a job fair on Thursday, Feb 9 from 4:30-6:30pm at Shadelands Art Center Auditorium. Looking for counselors, coaches, lifeguards, and more!

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

January 22, 2023

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.

Class Visits for Course Selection: This past Thursday, counselors started visiting all Living Earth, Chemistry/ESS, and USH classes to review the course selection process with students for the next school year. During these visits, students receive the form they will use, as well as instructions for how to enter requests in Aeries. We will finish visiting all classes this week on Wednesday, Jan 25 so students can attend the Open House on Thursday, Jan 26 to hear more about classes!

School Nurse

January 22, 2023

Getting Off to a Good Start in 2023
January is a great reason to use our energy towards setting intentions (vs resolutions). Goal-setting follows setting intentions. Focusing on intentions keeps us grounded and allows us to experiment and even fail (great value can be found in failing), and then return back to our intentions.

Use January as a motivation, excuse, whatever reason to focus on BALANCE in your family and with/for your student. Balance and resilience go hand-in–hand. Students will manage stress better with balance in their lives. Prioritize sleep, healthy eating, regular physical movement, and connection, in addition to school and studying. Please consider that each of us only has a 24 hour day. For our teens, 8-10 of those hours should be devoted to sleep. You can do the rest of the math, but the point is to factor in time for taking care of ourselves and also making sure to buffer in time for the unexpected. It’s especially important not to over-schedule – this in and of itself sets up a baseline of unmanageable stress. Please let me know what works well to support balance and resilience for your students.

Not sure how to prevent drug or alcohol use ? Or what to do if you suspect or have discovered substance use ?

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

January 22, 2023

We are so excited to have students back to start the new year! It’s very common for people to use this time to set new goals for the upcoming year. Goal setting is a great way to set up yourself, and your student, for success. Discuss setting SMART goals with your student:

Specific– narrow goals are more efficient for planning and execution.
Measurable– how will you know that you are making progress toward reaching your goal?
Attainable– it’s important that goals are realistic and can actually be achieved.
Relevant– be sure that your goals align with what you find important in the short and long-term.
Time based– when setting an end date to assess whether you have met your goal, the date should be both motivating and achievable.

Setting, working toward and achieving SMART goals is extremely beneficial to mental health. Everyone likes to feel capable and accomplished. This can help improve self esteem as well as fostering an internal locus of control.

Finally, the next AUHSD Wellness Parent Education opportunity is taking place via Zoom this week on Tuesday, Jan 24 from 6-7:30pm. While these webinars are free to attend, we do ask that you register here prior to attending.

Kiara Thomas- Wellness Intake Specialist

Performing Arts

January 22, 2023

For an excellent overview of all VAPA classes, listen to the Dons Dialogue recording from Friday, Jan 20 (see link above)!

Band Student Recognition
We are very proud to recognize and honor our talented Acalanes musicians who were accepted into these distinguished ensembles this year!

Contra Costa County Honor Band
Serina Eun, Melina Galacatos, Miles Garcia, Zach Garcia, Zero Hill, Nathan Joseph, Monique Khouw, Sabrina Koo, Daichi Nannen, Cole Ruebner, Anthony Smario, Aya Watanabe, Koto Watanabe, Adelina Zheng

California All-State Jazz Ensemble
Spencer Tantameng

More details to follow on the exact times of their public performances later this year.

Upcoming Lafayette District Band Festival Events

District Band Festival 1:

Monday, Jan 23 at 7pm in the Stanley Middle School Gym.
Springhill and Happy Valley Elementary, Stanley Symphonic and Silver Bands, and Acalanes Wind Ensemble will be performing.

District Band Festival 2:

Tuesday, Jan 24 at 7pm in the Stanley Middle School Gym.
Lafayette and Burton Valley Elementary, Stanley Cadet band, and Acalanes Symphonic Band will be performing.

District Orchestra Festival:

Wednesday, Jan 25 at 7pm in the Stanley Middle School Gym.
Combined Elementary Strings, Strings Intermezzo, Stanley String Orchestra, and Acalanes Orchestra will be performing.

Sports

January 22, 2023

This week’s can’t miss events

Boys basketball
Tuesday, Jan 24 host Campolindo HS. Frosh at 4pm, JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7pm.
Saturday, Jan 28 host College Park HS. Frosh at 4pm, JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7pm.

Girls basketball
Tuesday, Jan 24 at Campolindo HS. JV at 4pm and Varsity at 5pm.
Saturday, Jan 28 at Alhambra HS. JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7pm.

Boys soccer
Tuesday, Jan 24 host Northgate HS. Frosh at 3:30pm, JV at 5pm and Varsity at 7pm.
Thursday, Jan 26 at Miramonte HS. JV at 5pm and Varsity at 7pm.
Saturday, Jan 28 at College Park HS. JV at 3pm and Varsity at 5pm.

Girls soccer
Tuesday, Jan 24 at Northgate HS. JV at 5pm and Varsity at 7pm.
Thursday, Jan 26 host Alhambra HS. JV at 5pm and Varsity at 7pm.
Saturday, Jan 28 host Miramonte HS. JV at 3pm and Varsity at 7pm.

Wrestling
Wednesday, Jan 25 Berean Christian HS and Ygnacio Valley HS at Mt. Diablo HS at 5pm.
Saturday, Jan 28 Hunter Diemert Memorial Invitational at Livermore HS.

The winter 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.

General Administration Announcements

January 15, 2023

AUHSD Curriculum Survey
On Jan 19 and 20, all Acalanes students will take a survey about the English and Social Science curriculum. Our district has engaged in work around our curriculum and would like to hear input from our students. Student feedback will be valuable as we strengthen the curriculum and refine our Ethnic Studies course.

Helpful Resources for Course Selection

January 15, 2023

Course selections for the 2023-2024 are due Friday, Feb 3! Acalanes has a wealth of resources available to assist you and your students in the process.

OPEN HOUSE & COURSE PREVIEW

Open House & Course Preview is back in person this year! A detailed program for the evening will be available next week. Please note, new this year, is a strongly recommended session for all students planning to take 2+ Honors/AP Classes. This important session will be held during Open House & Course Preview from 7:35-8:00pm, with a makeup session during Academy on Friday, Jan 27.

GRADE LEVEL STUDENT PRESENTATIONS
All 9th, 10th and 11th grade students recently attended grade specific presentations on course options with counselors, admin and teachers. The presentations are available below for parents to review and discuss with students. We encourage you to take a look, there is a lot of good information!
Rising Sophomores (Current Frosh ) In –House Course Preview Presentation
Rising Juniors (Current Sophomores ) In –House Course Preview Presentation
Rising Seniors (Current Juniors ) In –House Course Preview Presentation

9th & 10th GRADE PARENT NIGHT
The library was packed with Frosh/Soph parents this past Thursday night! If you missed the evening or want additional access to all the valuable information shared, please see these slides below. Thank you to the parents and counselors for a great session!
Frosh/Soph Parent Night Slides

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)

Student Activities

College & Career

Counseling

School Nurse

Wellness Center

Performing Arts

Sports

General Administration Announcements

Helpful Resources for Course Selection

Acalanes Parents Club

About Us

Support Organizations

Social Media

Helpful Resources for Course Selection