Parents say they want kids to be caring, but pay more attention to achievement. Ironically, kids raised to be kind are more successful in school and work (and happier too). We shouldn’t just ask kids what they accomplished. We should also ask who they helped-and who helped them. -Adam Grant
Monday, Feb 28 at 6:30pm in the Miramonte Library. Miramonte Parent Ed will be hosting a talk on Achievement Pressure: What is it doing to our Kids. Speaker is Bryan Clark, PsyD. Masks will be required.
Wednesday, Mar 23 at 6:30 pm at the Miramonte Theater. Miramonte Parent Ed will also be hosting Start Smart, an interactive safe driving class for teens. Attending students will receive a certificate from CHP (California Highway Patrol) to present to their insurance company.
Thursday, Mar 24 Acalanes Parent Ed will be hosting Cynthia Muchnick, M.A., author, speaker, and educational consultant on Alternatives to College and College Prep. Cindy will be speaking in person and available to sign purchased books afterwards. More details soon!
Finally, if your teen is struggling with academics or feeling down or frustrated about school, don’t forget to connect with our Counselors, our Nurse, and our Wellness Center. Feel free to reach out and connect with us with ideas for future topics, shareable resources, or thoughts at parented@acalanesparentsclub.com.
Parent Education
Student Activities
Wednesday, Feb 23 at 6pm in the Campolindo library, Selma Movie Viewing as we continue Black History Month!
“I don’t want a Black History Month. Black history is American history.” – Morgan Freeman. We encourage our community to learn about the heritage and achievements of African Americans through appropriate programs and activities that reflect the Black Excellence Month theme for 2022.
Additional Resources: AUHSD 2022 Resolution-Recognizing & Honoring Black ExcellenceMonth, Support Black Owned Businesses in the Bay Area and Learn about BlackExcellence.
Tuesday, Feb 22 through Friday, Feb 25 CARE Week at Acalanes Each year, students plan & execute CARE Week. CARE Week includes lunchtime activities & dialogues along with student created & student led workshops during academy. The academy sessions will take a look at identity & begin to dialogue about privilege.
Tuesday, Feb 22 at Lunch Asian Student Union hosts a dialogue on the Model Minority Myth in room 314.
Wednesday, Feb 23 at Lunch Jewish Student Union Hosts a challah bake/anti-Semitism talk in room 411.
Friday, Feb 25 at Lunch Latinos Unidos & Black Student Union Highlight Afro-Latinos in room 507 and Queer Student Alliance Hosts a Kahoot and then open dialogue in room 425.
2021-2022 Clubs Anyone can still join a club and now is the perfect time to do so! Check out our 2021-2022 Clubs (clubs highlighted in green are new as of this semester).
Acalanes Spiritwear Looking for Acalanes gear or a welcome gift for the Class of 2026? Two options:
- We have created a spirit pack geared for the Class of 2026. which includes a hooded black sweatshirt, car magnet, cinch pack and flag to fly at your house for $68.00. Proceeds generated from the spirit packs will benefit the Class of 2026.
- Spiritwear is available for purchase on the Acalanes webstore. You can purchase here and once purchased, you will receive an email with directions for pick-up.
Peek into March/April
- Friday, Mar 4 during academy: All-School Spring Rally
- Sunday, Mar 27 at 9am 3rd annual Color Run Fundraiser to support 2023 and 2024 classes. 1.5 mile run through the Acalanes campus with white t-shirts to wear through five color stations where participants will emerge in a rainbow of colors by the end of the run. Open to ALL students in the community. Click here for tickets.
- Saturday, Apr 30 Junior & Senior Prom at Lake Chalet in Oakland
Tuesday, Mar 1 Tickets go live on the webstore
Tuesday, Mar 15 and Wednesday, Mar 16 Juniors & Seniors receive invitations
Katherine Walton, Student Activities Director
College & Career
Seniors
- DVC Virtual Enrollment Support- Click here for help. This process takes some time. Start now!
- Future Educator?– $250 District-wide scholarship available. Friday, March 4 deadline.
Juniors
- Outdoor Education- 5th grade camp counselor. Details here.
- Black College Expo– Mark your calendars and register for Saturday, Feb 26 from 10am to 3pm.
- Volunteer– Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Concord looking for helpers.
- DVC Summer Academies– Earn 1 college unit and get hands–on experience
- Jobs available– City of Walnut Creek Summer Camp Counselors! Send students to the CCC for other great leadership opportunities.
- Out of State College Fair– Wednesday, Mar 23 from 6:30-8:30pm outside at Campolindo with 20+ university admission officers. Mark your calendars!
Sophomores/Freshmen
- SAT goes fully Digital in Spring 2024: Click here to read more!
- Resume Development- Have your child reach out to work on creating a resume!
- Teen Volunteer This is a fun site for teen volunteers only. Check out the new formsfor tracking volunteer service hours for recognized service awards.
- Spring Break Volunteer Opportunity Mexico Service Trip (MVPC) Saturday, Apr 2 through Friday, Apr 8. Learn more by visiting Mexico 2022.
Counseling
Counselor assignments are by last name.
A-Dr Anne Schonauer
Du-Kr Christine Todd
Ku-Rog Marissa Meadows
Roh-Z Susan Martin
California Scholarship Federation (CSF) CSF applications are open now through Monday, Feb 28. Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors should apply. CSF is an honors society that recognizes strong academic performance. Students who have been members for at least 4 semesters receive special recognition. Please see the application for full membership policies. Applications are also available in the Counseling Office now through Monday, Feb 28. Turn in forms to the counseling office and email Anne Schonauer with any questions.
Friday, Mar 11 Deadline to drop classes for second semester. If your student is thinking about dropping a class, please have them see their counselor before this deadline.
School Nurse
February is Heart Healthy Month. Wear RED but EAT GREEN!
Covid Curiosity
Despite the relaxation of the mask mandate, we will continue to wear well-fitted masks correctly at school. Please remain alert to COVID symptoms and continue to report COVID+ cases to us (especially Attendance) and keep your students home when they are ill. Let’s see how things go after the four day weekend.
COVID Vaccine Most students are now eligible to get boosters – PLEASE DO!!! Despite the burden of COVID virus, our community is working hard to stay healthy and the high vaccination rate and observance of health department guidelines makes a significant difference and helps keep students in school learning. If you haven’t yet, please submit your students’ COVID vaccine records.
COVID Isolation, Quarantines and Test Kits The current guidelines for return to school after COVID illness require a negative COVID test (if returning before 10 days). If your student is testing in the School Nurse Office, please make sure they register with Primary Health. School sites do NOT have more test kits to distribute. Please see Principal Shawn’s COVID FAQ’s for more details. We continue to update policy based on the County Health Department guidance.
Make sure you always have your proof of vaccination! Try this site- https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov/ iPhone users- you can now put your vaccinationrecord in your Apple Health app (and Apple Wallet).
Tuesday, Apr 12 from 7pm ET to 8:30pm ET Mindfulness and Media Webinar to learn the steps you can take to help teens navigate technology in a savvy and healthy way.
Invest In Your Student’s Future! How do you support them in Eating 5 A Day (Fruits and Vegetables)? Hint: Apples, bananas and oranges are portable and easy to grab on the way to school. Bags of cut-up veggies can be prepared in advance too.
Please be in touch with me to discuss any medical, health, or wellness concerns.
Stay healthy and be well,
Dvora Citron, RN, MS
dcitron@auhsdschools.org
925-280-2970 x7128
Acalanes School Nurse Google Site
IG: acalanesschoolnurse
Wellness Center
If your student is irritable, lacking focus, having difficulty remembering things and is acting out more than usual, they may be tired. The effects of sleep deprivation can be seen almost instantly. Teenagers need between 8 and 10 hours of sleep each night to aid in healthy development and daily functioning. In reality, a staggering number of teenagers are getting less than 7 hours of sleep each night.
Research suggests that impairment caused by lack of sleep is consistent with impairment caused by drinking alcohol. Not only does sleep deprivation affect immediate wellbeing but there are also links to long term health issues such as heart problems and depression. To be sure that your student is getting enough sleep,
get them into a consistent bedtime routine and limit their technology use before bed. Blue light from TVs, computers and phones will keep teens from getting their crucial rest.
Performing Arts
Acalanes Spring Musical – Be our Guest!
AHS Performing Arts is excited to present the timeless classic, Beauty and the Beast.
Performances will be held Wednesday, Mar 2 through Saturday, Mar 5 each evening at 7pm in the Acalanes Performing Arts Center.
Tickets sell quickly, so reserve your tickets here!
LPIE
Deadline to Register – this Tuesday, Feb 22! Last call for Project LPIE! Open to all Acalanes High School students, this competition is an annual event that showcases the students for their project-based learning. Students compete in 13 categories that recognize students’ skills both within and outside the classroom. Awards are given in every category!
- Students must register by Tuesday, Feb 22
- Projects are due Monday, Mar 21
- Winners will be announced on Thursday, Apr 21 at an Awards Reception on campus
For more details and to register visit www.lpie.org/project–lpie.
Jennifer Palmer and Michele Colaco, Acalanes LPIE School Chairs
www.lpie.org, Follow us on Instagram
Sports
This week’s can’t miss events:
Girls soccer
Tuesday, Feb 22 or Wednesday, Feb 23 NCS semifinals.
Friday, Feb 25 or Saturday, Feb 26 NCS championships.
Boys soccer
Tuesday, Feb 22 or Wednesday, Feb 23 NCS semifinals.
Friday, Feb 25 or Saturday, Feb 26 NCS championships.
Girls basketball
Wednesday, Feb 23 NCS semifinals.
Friday, Feb 25 or Saturday, Feb 26 NCS championships.
Boys basketball
Wednesday, Feb 23 NCS semifinals.
Friday, Feb 25 or Saturday, Feb 26 NCS championships.
Wrestling
Friday, Feb 25 or Saturday, Feb 26 CIF championships at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield.
Baseball
Tuesday, Feb 22 Marin Catholic HS at 3:30 pm. Varsity is home and JV is away.
Wednesday, Feb 23 St. Patrick’s HS at 3:30 pm. Varsity is away and JV is home.
Boys golf
Tuesday, Feb 22 Benicia HS at Blue Rock GC at 2:30 pm.
Boys tennis
Tuesday, Feb 22 De La Salle HS at 3:30 pm. Varsity is home and JV is away.
Thursday, Feb 24 Bishop O’Dowd HS at 3:30 pm. Varsity is home and JV is away.
Boys volleyball
Tuesday, Feb 22 host Pittsburg HS. JV at 5:00 pm and Varsity at 6:00 pm.
Thursday, Feb 24 host Berkeley HS. JV at 5:00 pm and Varsity at 6:00 pm.
Softball
Thursday, Feb 24 Kennedy HS, Fremont at 4:00 pm. Varsity is home and JV is away.
Girls lacrosse
Friday, Feb 25 host Campolindo HS. JV at 5:30 pm and Varsity at 7:00 pm.
Boys lacrosse
Friday, Feb 25 at Campolindo HS. JV at 5:00 pm and Varsity at 7:00 pm.
Competitive sport cheer
Friday, Feb 25 Ygnacio Valley HS at 5:30 pm and Las Lomas HS at 7:30 pm.
Click here for the full Winter Sports Schedule (subject to change) 
Luck of the Dons 2022 Booster Bash!
Saturday, Mar 19, 6pm
Contra Costa Country Club (801 Golf Club Road, Pleasant Hill)
Less than 40 tickets left! Buy yours today! Need another opportunity to get lucky? Seelenbacher Jewelers in Alameda has donated a stunning 14K white gold diamond halo pendant (set with one brilliant cut diamond weighing .75 carats and surrounded by 14 round brilliant cut diamonds with a total weight of .32 on an 18” cable style neck chain). Valued at $5,200, only 100 raffle tickets will be sold for $100 each. Please email Meredith Meade if you would like to purchase a ticket!
Don’t forget you can also sponsor one of our hardworking coaches to attend the event. Purchase a ticket for a coach here!
The Acalanes Boosters Club is a non-profit, fundraising organization composed of Acalanes High School parents and school administrators who work closely with the school’s coaches to ensure the safety and well-being of Acalanes student athletes by providing significant, supplemental funding to all twenty-seven sports programs.
Have a fantastic item to donate for the auction? We are still looking for vacation homes, sporting event tickets, and sign-up parties (or any other item or experience that you want to contribute). Please contact your team’s Booster Representative or email us here. Proceeds for items that are donated on behalf of your student’s team(s) are split 50/50: the team(s) receive 50% of the proceeds and the Boosters general fund (allocated to all sports) receives 50%.
What does Boosters fund? Visit the site to read about all of the ways that Boosters supports the Acalanes athletes. Join the Daily Sports Report email list, and follow us on Twitter @AcalanesBooster!
APC in Action
The APC Nominating Committee is in full swing and planning for the 2022-2023 school year! Below is a list of positions we need to fill in the Acalanes Parents Club. Being a part of this amazing, thoughtfully run organization is rewarding and an opportunity to help the school, teachers, staff, and students in a variety of ways. Come join the team! If you have any questions, please contact Nominating Committee Lead Angela Ketcham or anyone from our 2022 Nominating Committee: Sherry Quinn, Kristen Labrosse, Maria Nicolacakis, Jennifer Palmer, Katharine Wallace, Danielle Upp and Catherine Habas.
Open positions:
President Elect
VP Fundraising
Assistant Treasurer
Secretary
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Liaison
Co-Hospitality Chairs
Grants Coordinator
Volunteer Coordinator
Legislative Representative
Co-Parent Ed. Coordinator
Student Awards Coordinator
Stanley Liaison
APC Spring Grants: Submissions are Open! Applications due Friday, Mar 4 All ideas are welcome. Acalanes Parents Club is pleased to 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. Click here for criteria and application. Completed proposals and questions can be submitted by emailing APC GrantsCoordinator Catherine Habas. Proposals can also be delivered to the APC box in the front office.
