AUHSD is hiring Instructional Assistants for the classrooms. The District is looking to parents for help in filling these important positions. Please review the Sept 8 email fromAmy McNamara, Assistant Superintendent, for more information on open positions, qualifications and the competitive pay and benefits.
APC in Action
Please join us this Friday, Sept 16 at 8:45am in the Collaboration Center for our monthly Dons Dialogue. You will hear all about whats happening on campus directly from Principal Shawn, plus valuable open Q&A time. APC will provide coffee and treats. All parents/caregivers welcome.
APC Fall 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 by Friday, Sept 16 to Nicole Sanders, APC Grants Coordinator, or delivered to the APC Box in the front office.
Follow Acalanes Parents Club on Instagram. Contact APC here with any questions.
APC Membership & Fundraising
A big thank you to those who have joined the Acalanes Parents Club (APC) – your contributions make a big difference!
There are still copies of printed directories in the Acalanes Main Office. Any APC member can stop by Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm to pick up a printed directory with addendum.
If you have questions about your APC Membership please contact our VP Fundraising, Lori MacLeod.
Parent’s Club Pro-Tip
Did you know . . . you can customize your preferences for how you want to receive communications from the Acalanes Administration and AUHSD?
Parents can now set preferences in ParentSquare to receive emails instantly or via email digest at the end of the day. You can also elect to turn off the new text alert option if you prefer.
Follow these ParentSquare Instructions to customize your notifications.
Bonus tip, there is a mobile app too! Download the ParentSquare App (iOS App – AppleStore or Android App – Google Play Store).
All LafSD schools also use ParentSquare so you will see messages for all your students in one place.
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)
AUHSD has the privilege of hosting Arshay Cooper on Monday, Sept 19. Cooper’s memoir, “A Most Beautiful Thing”, describes growing up with the stresses of gang violence, drugs and poverty, but how an unexpected encounter with a rowing coach turned out to be a life changing experience. Mr. Cooper will dive into his life story, what it took to be part of the first all black high school rowing crew in a historically privileged white male sport and how he developed into the person he is today. The event will be student moderated.
Don’t just take our word for it, parent Dan Meade has this to say about Arshay’s appearance in 2020:
“I really enjoyed Arshay’s book and presentation to the Acalanes community. His experience growing up as a young man, and his perspective on overcoming adversity, were inspiring to students and parents alike. Arshay is a great communicator and a worthy role model!”
Also coming up are events and activities celebrating Latine Heritage month. Mark your calendars for a community potluck the evening of Thursday, Oct 6 and a special guest on Wednesday, Oct 12.
Please see the Student Activities section below for more details on all of these events.
Stay current: Add us to your Instagram at @acalanesdei
Questions, comments or thoughts to share? Contact us
Student Activities
A Community Night with Arshay Cooper: Monday, Sept 19 at 6:30pm in the Acalanes PAC. Join us for this can’t miss event: An Interactive Chat with Arshay Cooper. His book, “A Most Beautiful Thing,” is a true story of a group of young men growing up on Chicago’s West side who transform their lives when they form the first all-black high-school rowing team in the nation. The film adaptation of the book is star-studded and streaming now on Peacock and Amazon Prime. It is narrated by Rapper Common; and executive produced by Common and NBA stars Grant Hill and Dwayne Wade, along with Grammy-winning producer 9th Wonder.
During the chat, Mr. Cooper will share about his life, trauma, experience as a rower, film career, and more. The evening will be conversational in nature, facilitated by a panel of district student leaders in a Q&A format. Please join us!
Homecoming 2022: U.S. Cities Begins in 14 Days!
Homecoming is always one of the most talked about weeks at Acalanes. The camaraderie amongst classes, the friendly competition, the hallways, STUDENT DODGEBALL, class skits and the culminating NIGHT OUT! I can feel the excitement building on campus! Dates to note:
- Sunday, Sept 25 from 10am-3pm: Hallway Decorating (students can drop in anytime to help-there is a job for everyone!)
- Wednesday, Sept 28 at 7:30pm: A student favorite: Student Dodgeball (students can come to play or just watch)
- Saturday, Oct 1 from 7-10pm: HOCO: A Night Out in our stadium. It is an event for your student not to miss with so many different activities! We do need parent chaperones for the evening so please consider signing up. Tickets are on sale via Go Fan. If students want to bring a guest, they must fill out a guest contract and return by Sept 25. Contracts are on the door of room 314.
As part of Homecoming, we also host a community canned food drive. It begins Monday, Sept 19 and donation bins will be by the flagpole each morning. Please consider donating cans or money. All donations go directly to the Contra Costa Food Bank. The record is 22,000 cans in 2019- as a community, can we beat it?
For an up-to-date look at all the plans with detailed information, check out the 2022 HOCOOverview!
Clubs
Our clubs are up and running! We have 60 recognized clubs this year and all will hold their first meetings this week or next. Encourage your young person to check one or two out. If I can be of support or assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Equity Events
Latine Heritage Month kicks off Sept 15 through Oct 15. We have several events planned throughout the month to celebrate and educate and two are open to our community:
- Thursday, Oct 6: Community Potluck-sign up to bring a dish!
- Wednesday, Oct 12 at 6:30pm via zoom: Doris Anahi Munoz
Class Shirts
If your student did not get their pre-ordered class shirt, please have them stop by room 314 to pick it up.
ASB Stickers/Shirts
Thank you to the 900 families who purchased ASB stickers this year. We really appreciate your support! Three reminders:
- The sticker should be on the top of the ID card. If it is not, the student can take their ID card to the main attendance office to have it punched.
- The sticker provides discounts to local businesses for students so don’t forget to take advantage!
- If your student didn’t get the black spirit shirt at Dons Day, please have them go to room 314 to pick up one.
As always, if there is anything we can do for you or your student, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are here to connect students with activities and interests.
Katherine Walton, Leadership Teacher
College & Career
SENIORS
Essay Workshops: Essay writing will continue for all Levy academy sessions.
College Visits This Week in the CCC Office Sign up on the Naviance home page or email to register. Have your students speak with their teachers to get permission. Follow the CCC instagram @ahs_college_career for timing each week.
- Monday, Sept 12: Puget Sound
- Tuesday, Sept 13: Macalester, Univ. of Toronto, Northern Arizona, Seattle Univ., Knox, Colgate, Wash. Univ. St. Louis
- Tuesday, Sept 13: HBCU College Fair- Carpools & Bus Trip to Deer Valley
- Wednesday, Sept 14: Univ. of San Francisco, Hamilton College, Lesley Univ., Franklin & Marshall, Pitzer, Univ. of New Hampshire
- Thursday, Sept 15: Binghamton Univ. Oregon State, Merrimack
- Friday, Sept. 16: George Washington Univ., University of Connecticut
College Application Support Your student can click here to make an appointment to work on essays or get help with the entire process.
JUNIORS
Practice SAT and ACT Exams Click here to register your student for free online practice tests on Saturday, Sept 17 and Saturday, Sept 24 from 9am-1pm with Revolution Prep.
Volunteer Opportunity Encourage your child to check out these great places to give back!
SOPHOMORES/FROSH
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
Schedule Changes
Counselors will still process requests to drop classes through the end of the first quarter, Friday, Oct 7.
Individual Senior Appointments
Beginning this week, counselors will be meeting individually with Seniors to discuss post-high school plans. For those applying to 4-year colleges, we will be walking through the process of requesting required documents for their applications.
CSF applications are open!
The deadline to apply is Sept 30. CSF is the only honor society at Acalanes. Students need to apply each semester. Application forms are available in the counseling office or on the website. Read the form for more details about membership requirements. Seniors who qualify are recognized with gold stoles to wear at graduation.
School Nurse
COVID: Please call in your student’s absence to the Attendance Recorder and continue to follow the district’s Covid guidance. The school is not notifying teachers, so students should access Canvas as much as possible and stay in contact with their teachers to communicate their remote progress in their classes.
One Pill Can Kill
Please see my website for more information on medications, health issues, forms, etc.
Nutrition Tips: 1. Take your kid(s) to the grocery store with you and have them pick out healthy snacks and foods (especially fruits and vegetables). They’ll be more invested in their food choices when they get to help choose! 2. Have an abundance of fresh vegetables and fruits available for them (apples, bananas, celery, carrots, salad ingredients).
Book Recommendation: Atomic Habits: I’m still reading it but it has a great framework for designing effective strategies for change based on cultivating qualities vs. just achieving goals. Wonderful way to engage in family discussions and practice.
Dvora Citron, RN, MS
dcitron@auhsdschools.org
925-280-2970 x7128
Acalanes School Nurse Google Site
IG: acalanesschoolnurse
Wellness Center
September is suicide awareness and prevention month. Although this is an extremely difficult topic to discuss with your student, it is also extremely necessary to do so.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people ages 10 to 34 and it can touch any community at any time. It is important to know the warning signs and what to do if you suspect that your child or someone else that you care about is suicidal. Parents looking for resources to educate themselves on the statistics, warning signs and preventative measures surrounding teen suicide can find them here.
In the hope of making suicide prevention more accessible than ever, 988 is a new national emergency phone number that will immediately connect callers to professional crisis support personnel.
Kiara Thomas- Wellness Intake Specialist
