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.
College & Career
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.
tions.
Parent Education
AHS and APC Present Internet Safety Night
Thursday, Nov 3
6:30pm in the PAC
We’re excited and grateful to have another Parent Ed opportunity this week and hope you’ll be able to join. As mentioned above, we have invited the experts to come share all we need to know about internet safety for our teenagers. You will hear directly from District Attorney, Paul Graves, and Senior Inspector, Daryl Holcombe with the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s office on internet safety.
This is such an important topic and you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about what parents need to know for their new high schoolers, as well as those getting ready to graduate, and what happens in college and the postgraduate world. View full flyer here.
Free for all AUHSD parents/guardians.
