GET OUT TO VOTE on Tuesday, Nov 8!
Cheers to all our Acalanes students voting for the first time this year. Make your voices heard!
If you are still seeking information to help you make an informed decision, visit here for recordings from the local Candidate Forums including our Acalanes Union High School Governing Board Candidate Forum.
Legislative News
Student Activities
November has a lot of wonderful programming for students – please encourage yours to opt in!
Addressing the Problem: Sustainability and Trash on Campus Week
Is your family looking to learn more about how to live sustainably? Maybe your student just wants to eat snacks? (Pocky!?) If so, the sustainability jeopardy tomorrow, Nov 7 at lunch in room 314 is just right for your student.
Custodial Appreciation
Do you feel the custodians are underappreciated? Then please encourage your student to come to the custodial appreciation poster signing!! It is taking place on Tuesday, Nov 8 in the front quad during lunch. Students can say thanks to all of our wonderful custodians who put so much time and effort into keeping Acalanes clean!!
Support the Environment
Be part of the solution, not the pollution. Encourage your student to join the enviro council meeting on Wednesday, Nov 9 during academy room 314 to learn and discuss how they can help improve the trash issue at our school. There will be cupcakes and Izze’s. BE THERE!
Be clean, be green, be a recycling machine! In the 10-minute passing period on Thursday, Nov 10 after lunch, students are encouraged to clean up trash in their quad before heading to class. Let’s do our part to keep our campus clean.
Please Donate to the Coat and Sock Drive!
Students can bring new or gently used coats and new socks to the front office from Oct 31 through Nov 10. Everything collected will be donated to a homeless encampment in Martinez.
Garden Clean Up – Come Help!
You and/or your student can sign up here to help clean up our garden. Our work day is Nov 13 and hours can count toward volunteer awards.
Adopt-a-Family this Holiday Season!
With the holiday season approaching, it’s time for Acalanes’ annual Adopt-a-Family event!! Adopt-a-Family’s mission is to give to those in need during the holiday season. If you have the desire to make a difference in the community, we encourage you to sign up to help! We will connect you with families or individuals, along with their wish lists of gifts. All gifts need to be dropped off on Dec 9 and then brought to Uplift Family Services and Pacific Clinics in Concord, an organization Acalanes has been working with for the past 10+ years to support local families during the holidays. If you would like to adopt a family, please fill out our Google Form. If you are interested in adopting one person, sign up on our Sign–Up Genius. We would love for you to participate!
SAVE THE DATE – Chris Huber Memorial Gymnasium Dedication
The Chris Huber Memorial Gymnasium dedication will be held on
Saturday, Dec 10 at 6:30pm at Acalanes High School. Chris Huber was a beloved educator and basketball coach at our school and our gym will be named for him. There will be a reception to follow and we hope you’ll join us!
Buy Gratitude Grams now! These are a great way for students to appreciate classmates, friends, staff members and teachers by sending them a little goodie bag filled with love and appreciation. Each gram is $5 and they are available for purchase on the webstore.
As always, if there is anything we can do for you or your student, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Thank you and go Dons!
Katherine Walton, Leadership Teacher
College & Career
SENIORS
Scholarships: Please send your student to the CCC this week. There are several significant scholarships available through the Diablo Valley Assistance League, Rossmoor Scholarship Foundation, and AAUW.
California State Applications: Every day during the month of November, the CCC is open to help with the Cal State application. It takes less than an hour.
UC Applications: Have your student come by any day this month to work on the UC applications due on Wednesday, Nov 30.
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.
UC/Common App Support: Your student can click here to make an appointment to work on essays or get help with the entire process.
JUNIORS
Parent Night: Counselor Susan Martin and College and Career Center Advisor Debbie Levy will discuss post-high school options on Wednesday, Nov 9 in the PAC from 6:30-7:30pm.
Out of State College Fair: Sign up here to meet college admission counselors from more than 20 colleges in the Acalanes library on Wednesday, Nov 30 from 6:30-8:30pm. Learn about the benefits of out of state schools, scholarship opportunities, financial aid and costs, and how to find your “match” school.
Volunteer Opportunities: Encourage your child to check out these great places to give back!
SOPHOMORES/FROSH
Out of State College Fair: Sign up here to start learning a bit about colleges early! Meet college admission counselors from more than 20 colleges in the Acalanes library on Wednesday, Nov 30 from 6:30-8:30pm. Get excited about the benefits of out of state schools, scholarship opportunities, financial aid and costs, and how to find your “match” school.
Volunteer Opportunity: This is also a good site to search for teen volunteer work.
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
Ku-Rog Marissa Meadows
Roh-Z Susan Martin
Frosh Appointments Now that the big push to get letters of recommendation done for seniors, counselors will begin to check-in individually with their frosh students – their first final exams are only FOUR school weeks away!
Sign up for AP Exams through Today, Nov 6. Late registration options are available, but will incur a late fee after today. Please see here for more details.
Junior Parent Night Wednesday, Nov 9, 6:30pm in the PAC
We are hoping that many junior parents can come to the PAC on Wednesday, Nov 9 for a presentation by Debbie Levy, our College and Career Advisor, and Susan Martin, one of our counselors. We will be speaking about post-high school options for your students and things to think about now.
Performing Arts
Musical festivities continue in November with the Fall Jazz Concert, Thursday, Nov 17. Director Lauren Gibson and her amazing Acalanes Jazz Ensemble will be joined by special guests, the talented Stanley Messengers (Todd Minson, Director). Join us for a night of wonderful music!
Date: Thursday, Nov 17
Time: 7pm
Location: AHS Performing Arts Center
Music Groups: Acalanes Jazz Ensemble and Stanley Messengers
Admission Price: Free ($5 donation suggested for adults)
School Nurse
Sleep! Hope you changed your clock last night! Look here for ways to help your teen get more sleep. Help your students create a good window (# of hours of sleep) by supporting a healthy schedule in which they have a balance of exercise, down time, nourishing food and happy connection.
One Shot in Each Arm! Protect your student against illness and missing school (and protect your community as well)! Make their appointments to get both the flu shot and their next Covid booster (now giving the new bivalent version effective against variants). Many pediatrician’s offices and most pharmacies have them available.
What I’m Reading: Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence and I’m listening to Hooked on Audible. They have very connected themes.
Recipe: I made THESE MUFFINS last week (I used a can of pureed pumpkin instead of the applesauce and water). Great to have on hand for your kids to grab for breakfast when they’re heading out of the house in the morning.
Please see my website for more information on medications, health issues, forms, etc. Does your child have an EPIPEN? Hopefully you have let me know. HERE is some interesting information about Benadryl vs. Epinephrine.
Dvora Citron, RN, MS
dcitron@auhsdschools.org
925-280-2970 x7128
IG: acalanesschoolnurse
Wellness Center
Did you know there is a difference between regular listening and active listening? Active listeners differ from passive listeners, in that they are intentionally going out of their way to show the speaker that they are being heard. Mastering the art of active listening can greatly improve all of your relationships, especially your relationship with your student. Instead of listening to your child and intending to respond, try listening to your child intending to understand what, exactly, they are trying to convey. Here are a few tips that might help you improve your active listening skills:
- Face the speaker and make eye contact while they are speaking.
- Pay attention to body language, as well as verbal language.
- Listen without interrupting, judging or jumping to conclusions.
- Ask questions if you need clarification.
- Reflect back what is being said so the speaker knows you are understanding.
- Stay focused and don’t multitask.
- Don’t insert your opinions or solutions unless asked.
Most people, including your child, just want to be heard and supported. Taking the time to practice active listening and employing your skills with your student not only models good listening behavior, but also supports the idea that you are a safe and trustworthy person for them to confide in.Taking the time to practice active listening and employing your skills with your student not only models good listening behavior, but also supports the idea that you are a safe and trustworthy person for them to confide in.
LPIE
LPIE Read-a-thon Happening NOW through Nov 15
Thank you to every student who has already created an LPIE Read-a-thon pledge page! There’s still time to join. If you haven’t had the opportunity to create your pledge page yet, click here.
We have amazing raffle prizes! Any reader who logs at least 40 minutes and turns in their pledge sheet on time with at least one donation is entered to win:
- Six Flags Tickets
- Warriors Tickets
- AirPods
- Drone with Camera
- Movie Tickets
- Gift Cards
- And more!
Keep reading, Acalanes!
Gala Tickets On Sale Tomorrow, Nov 7!
Tickets for the LPIE Gala to be held on Saturday, Mar 25, 2023 at Roundhill Country Club go on sale on tomorrow, Monday, Nov 7 at 9am. Please visit our gala webpage for additional details.
The Gala Raffle Tickets are also now available for purchase from Andrea Hilsabeck or Michele Colaco, or you can sign up for one here and we will contact you. Only 200 tickets will be sold at $100 each and we have two fabulous prizes:
- 5 Nights at Lake Country Club, Palm Desert Condo
- Solano Jewelers Gold & Diamond Lariat Necklace
Questions? Please contact Andrea Hilsabeck or Michele Colaco
www.lpie.org, Follow us on Instagram
Sports
This week’s can’t miss events!
Girls Golf
Monday, Nov 7 CIF NorCal Championships at Berkeley CC
Girls Water Polo
Wednesday, Nov 9 NCS Semi Final
Saturday, Nov 12 NCS Championship
Football
Friday, Nov 11 or Saturday, Nov 12 NCS Quarterfinal 7 pm
The fall sport schedules are available on the AHS website. Click here.
If you have any questions, please contact Randy Takahashi at rtakahashi@auhsdschools.org or Haley Walsh at hwalsh@auhsdschools.org.
APC in Action
Thank you Dr. Z and Peer Tutoring!
Huge shout out to Dr. Z and our incredible Peer Tutoring program for hosting the Pizza with Dr. Z Math Seminar this week. As you can see, it was standing room only! It’s hard to pass up math time with Dr. Z and Pizza.
All of this is possible thanks to your generous donations to APC. Be on the lookout for more valuable opportunities organized by Peer Tutoring.
Peer tutoring is located in Room 107. Hours are: Academy, 7th period, lunch and every day 1 hour after school.
Volunteer Service Awards
The 2022-23 volunteer program year has kicked off for the Acalanes and President’s Service Awards so please make sure your student is logging those hours! It’s a great opportunity for students to give back AND be recognized for their service. Visit the ServiceAward page under Get Informed on the APC website to learn more and find the forms. You can also email communityservice@acalanesparentsclub.com with any questions.
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