The month of December is a time set aside by many to celebrate a variety of traditionsand enjoy time with family, friends and community. We wish you peace and happiness throughout the holiday season.
Be well and we will see you in the new year!
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)
Student Activities
Does your student want to start a club but didn’t get the chance to in the fall? They can create one now! The work done within a club is so important and we want to support that. Please fill out this google form in its entirety by this Friday, Dec 16. Spring Club Day is Friday, Jan 13 at lunch.
Need a way to destress? Come to stress busters tomorrow at lunch in the front quad. There will be therapy dogs, snacks, stress ball making and resources provided by the wellness center. It will be a great way to take a break and recenter before finals!
Adopt-a-Family this Holiday Season!
Thank you for all of your support with adopt-a-family this year. We were able to support 62 families and dropped off the gifts this past Friday. Our community is incredible – thank you for all of the support!.
We wish you a restful, healthy and happy holiday break! See you back on Jan 4 for the new semester!
Katherine Walton, Leadership Teacher
College & Career
SENIORS
Acalanes College and Career Center Scholarship link: https://www.acalanes.k12.ca.us/Page/2549
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.
Common App Support: Your student can click here to make an appointment to work on essays or get help with the entire process.
JUNIORS
ACT/SAT Practice Tests: Revolution Prep is offering a practice SAT and ACT: Practice ACT: Saturday, Jan 21, 9am-1pm
Practice SAT: Saturday, Jan 28, 9am-1pm
Live Online! Register here: Acalanes HS partner landing page
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
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.
Good Luck with Finals this week! Finish strong! Enjoy your well-deserved winter break!
Welcome to Christina Castillo-Gallardo, our Counselor Sub, standing in for Christine Todd while she is on maternity leave during the Spring of 2023. Christina can be reached at ccastillo–gallardo@auhsdschools.org.
Frosh/Soph Parent Meeting Thursday, Jan 12 at 6pm in the AHS Library
Come hear our Counselor Marissa Meadows, College and Career Advisor Debbie Levy, and Counselor Sub Christina Castillo-Gallardo talk about course selection and preliminary college planning for rising 10th and 11th grade students (current 9th and 10th grade students).
School Nurse
Getting Through Finals and Beyond
We’re heading into finals week. You can help your students by providing a supportive environment at home. Provide them with lots of healthy snacks, good sleep patterns (8-10 hours/night) and refreshing recreation in between study sessions and final exams. Help them plan healthy celebrations!
Managing Family Stress During Holiday Season
Healthy Feet
Support your student’s growth and development by encouraging healthy foot care – that includes choosing supportive shoes.
Thinking about holiday gifts? How about things that make being healthy fun!
- Fun water bottles to stay hydrated through the school day
- Beanies to stay warm through cold weather
- Workout clothes and equipment to encourage physical activity
- Journals to encourage mindful time and thought
- Board games to encourage fun and connection
- Fun shoes for walking/hiking (and socks to match!)
- Milk frother and mug (for Healthy Hot Chocolate)
No time for breakfast?
Ask your student what kind of portable healthy food you can make available for them to grab on their way to school:
- Green smoothie
- Fruit (fresh and dried)
- Nuts
- PB&J
- Healthy muffins
Dvora Citron, RN, MS
dcitron@auhsdschools.org
925-280-2970 x7128
IG: acalanesschoolnurse
Wellness Center
Winter Wellness – Drop in at the Lafayette Library SWELL CENTER!
Open Monday, Dec 19 – Friday, Dec 30, from 10am-2pm. Closed Monday, Dec 26.
Open to all 6th – 12th Graders! 
Tips for Test Anxiety
With finals right around the corner, it may be beneficial to discuss test anxiety with your AHS student. Test anxiety is actually a form of performance anxiety which affects 25-40% of students. While it’s perfectly normal for a student to feel nervous before a test, test anxiety can be overwhelming for students and disrupt their concentration and ability. Here are a couple steps you can take to support your student in combating their test anxiety:
- Positive self talk can go a long way in altering one’s perception of their ability. Encourage your student to talk to themselves how they would talk to a friend or loved one experiencing the same anxiety. We are often our own worst critic and in many instances, we talk to ourselves more negatively than we would ever talk to someone else.
- Acceptance of mistakes can also shift your student’s mindset around their ability. First, remind your student that trying their best is realistically the most they can do. Even when trying our absolute best, people still make mistakes. Second, model this behavior for your students. Are you shaming your student when their best effort isn’t “good enough” or beating yourself up when you make a mistake? Offer grace in the face of mistakes. We’re all human after all.
- Teach test taking basics to your student so they might feel more confident when the time comes to take a test. Believe it or not, study skills and test taking strategies are learned. Just because students have to take tests, doesn’t mean they are actually equipped to do so successfully.
LPIE
Gala raffle tickets are now available for purchase. You can sign up for one here and we will contact you. There are two fabulous prizes:
- STUNNING DIAMOND NECKLACE generously donated by Solano Jewelers
- 5 NIGHTS AT THE LAKES COUNTRY CLUB, PALM DESERT generously donated by Sean and Danielle Gallager.
Tickets are $100 and only 200 tickets will be sold! More information can be found here.
Questions? Please contact Andrea Hilsabeck or Michele Colaco
Follow us on Instagram or visit www.lpie.org
Sports
This week’s can’t miss events!
Boys soccer
Tuesday, Dec 13 host Ygnacio Valley HS. JV at 5pm and Varsity at 7pm.
Thursday, Dec 15 at Northgate HS. Frosh at 3:30 pm, JV at 5pm and Varsity at 7pm.
Friday, Dec 16 St. Mary’s HS in the De La Salle Showcase at 4pm.
Girls soccer
Tuesday, Dec 13 at College Park HS. JV at 5pm and Varsity at 7pm.
Thursday, Dec 15 host Northgate HS. JV at 5pm and Varsity at 7pm.
Boys basketball
Friday, Dec 16 host Concord HS. Frosh at 4pm, JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7pm.
Wrestling
Saturday, Dec 17 Bill Martell Invitational at Northgate HS and Castro Valley Girls Invitational.
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.
Finals Prep
We have your students covered as they prepare to finish the semester strong! Please be sure to visit our website for even more information on all the events planned to support our students through finals.
Tuesday, Dec 6 Frosh Finals Informational Meeting at Lunch in the Library
Come hear from teachers in English, Math, World History, Living Earth & World Language about best practices to prep for finals. They will not only share information on finals, but best ways to study as well.
Finals goodie bags will be given to the first 150 Frosh thanks to APC!
Wednesday, Dec 7 ‘Wellness in the Winter’ Session during Academy
Our Wellness in the Winter session is a space to gather together and practice coping skills to thrive during finals and a long break with family.
Wednesday, Dec 7 Exam Jam from 3-5pm in the Library
Kick start your finals studying and preparation during exam jam. We will have teachers from each department, along with peer tutors, on hand to support and answer questions. It is a great opportunity to finish up study guides, begin to study while enjoying delicious snacks and a quiet environment. See you there!
And don’t forget to encourage your student to take advantage of these additional resources this week:
- Peer Tutoring during every academy, lunch, 7th period, and every day 1 hour after the final school bell.
- Wellness Center will be open for students to drop in Monday through Friday from 8am – 4pm (with teacher approval during class hours).
- Acalanes library will be open from 7:30am to 5pm daily.
Check out our Finals Prep Webpage for more information and resources!
General Administration Announcements
Acalanes Teacher Wins Master Teacher Fellowship Appointment
Sydney Johnson was selected as one of twelve candidates internationally for the ABE (Amgen Biotechnology Experience) Master Teacher Fellowship.
This program will support Ms. Johnson in collaborating with experts from STEM fields, developing curriculum infusing research-based pedagogy, inclusive classroom practices, and cutting-edge biotech concepts and technologies.
This was a very selective process and a big honor! Ms. Johnson teaches Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Earth and Space Science at Acalanes.
Please join us in congratulating Sydney Johnson!
View full press release here.
