Children don’t just need to be loved; they need to know that nothing they do will change the fact that they are loved.
Alfie Kohn
Lots of talks to have on your radar if you have the time, energy, and inclination (all online):
Monday, Nov. 15 at 7pm Navigating School District Services For Children with Special Needs – Talk Hosted by The Center for Children and Youth
Join this talk to learn about the Individual with Disabilities Education Act, 504 educational plans, and IEP’s(Individualized Education Program), and how the schools can support your child’s specific learning needs. Cost is $45.
Tuesday, Nov 16th at 7pm Colin Seale – The Question is the Answer: Practical Strategies to Unleash Critical Thinking At Home
MVLA Parent Speaker Series hosts Mr. Seale, an educator, attorney, and author of Thinking Like a Lawyer. He will share powerful, yet practical tools to equip parents to foster and engage critical thinking in their children. Registration link for this free event is here.
Tuesday, Dec. 14 at 4pm Challenge Success, a non-profit organization that focuses on the well-being of the student, will be hosting a Healthier Approach to College Admissions talk, helping parents to support their students’ well-being during the college admission process and beyond. Registration link is here with a recording sent afterwards for those who cannot attend the live event. Cost is $10.
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
Adopt a Family
With the holiday season approaching, it’s time for Acalanes’ annual Adopt-a-Family event to give to those in need! We work with Families First, a non-profit in Concord. Please sign up to make a difference in our community. Sign up to adopt one individual via this Sign–Up Genius. We are so grateful for community support!
Sock & Heavy Coat Drive
Key Club & Leadership are running a sock and heavy coat drive November 29 through December 10th for a homeless encampment in Martinez. Donation bins will be at the flagpole in the morning and in the attendance office throughout the day. We are working in conjunction with the Stanley Leadership program to make this a community effort.
Acalanes Spirit Wear
As we approach the holidays, we wanted to design and offer five new Acalanes items for purchase. All are designed by our students and all proceeds benefit the classes of ’23, ’24 and ’25. You can order through Wednesday, November 17and items will be available for pick-up December 9 and 10 after school. Check them out!
Deadline to Apply Friday Nov 19 Last call for CARE Leaders- Applications Now Available
Is your student interested in encouraging equity on campus and continuing the dialogue? They can sign up to be a CARE Leader! The application was sent via Canvas and is also in the daily bulletin and the deadline to apply is Friday, November 19. Each year, Acalanes puts on what is called CARE week (Compassion, Acceptance, Respect, and Equality). CARE leaders will lead a CARE Workshop during Academy time in order to continue our education around issues of equity. Students will be trained on the content of the workshop along with facilitation tips and techniques.
Week at a glance
- Monday at lunch Junior/Frosh bonding-obstacle course
- Tuesday through Thursday at lunch Senior Dodgeball in the big gym
- Tuesday at 7pm Jazz Band Concert
- Wednesday at Academy Student Equity Council: Myths and half-truths about Thanksgiving
- Friday at Academy Friendly Faces (SPED) Thanksgiving party
- Friday at Lunch Senior Friendsgiving
A Peek Ahead: Wednesday, Dec 1 Social Media documentary and discussion in Room 314
Encourage your student to come to Walton’s Academy to watch Project Socialize, a documentary about social media and its effects on teenagers.
RECAP
Custodial Appreciation
Last week, our community and the students spent some time appreciating our custodial staff through written notes, goodies (including a nice basket from APC) and a video. We appreciate each and everything that they do for our campus.
Fall Sports Highlight Video
Enjoy this quick highlight video featuring fall athletes + highlight footage. Congratulations to all of our fall athletes!
2021-2022 Clubs
We are just kicking off the 2nd quarter and it is never too late to start attending club meetings. Clubs are continuing to meet and it is one of the BEST ways for students to get connected at Acalanes. Club meeting times and contact information are in the spreadsheet.
As always, I am here to support you and your students. If there is anything I can do, please don’t hesitate to reach out via e-mail.
Katherine Walton, Student Activities Director
Wellness Center
In recent years you may have noticed a boom in the usage of the term “self-care, the umbrella term for anything an individual does to maintain their physical, emotional and spiritual health.” It may seem as if this term is a new and trendy buzzword and that taking care of yourself is rudimentary and self-explanatory. Unfortunately, taking care of ourselves is extremely difficult when considering some of the challenges that we face on a day-to-day basis. Some barriers to self care may include:
- the mindlessness of daily routines in which we are driven by autopilot
- yielding to others needs before our own
- avoiding specific tasks that lead to the rationalization of why you just don’t have the time
Your student may be facing some of these barriers as well. This week, I challenge you to consider the benefit of self-care not only for your personal wellbeing but for the wellbeing of your AHS student. “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” If your physical, emotional, and spiritual health are depleted, are you really showing up for life to the best of your ability? By prioritizing effective health and wellness behaviors, your student will see that you are making it a point to take care of yourself and are more likely to follow suit. Talk to your student about self-care, start that mindfulness practice, dance around the house to your favorite music and find what feels nourishing to your soul.
Kiara Thomas, Wellness Intake Specialist
College & Career
SENIORS
- Scholarship Opportunity: Check out this site for many scholarships!
- DVC will host a panel of course instructors and program coordinators will discuss their various fields. Attendees will learn about course offerings and career pathways. Featured areas include: Culinary Arts, Dental Hygiene, Industrial Design/Engineering, Pre-Apprenticeship and Music. Register here!
- Academy We will continue working on Cal State Applications, Common App, Coalition App, and UC apps this week! Students can share essays on Google Docs with me too!
- Virtual visits are upcoming TODAY, Sunday, Nov 14. There are hundreds of colleges attending! Pick a few of your favorites and join!
JUNIORS
- Jobs! See’s Candy in Lafayette is paying $16 and is actively recruiting Acalanes students. Tell your child to stop by the CCC for an application.
- Virtual College Visits Check out these interesting virtual visits: Midwest Colleges TODAY Sunday, Nov 14 – Art and Stem Fair
- DVC will host a panel of course instructors and program coordinators will discuss their various fields. Attendees will learn about course offerings and career pathways. Featured areas include: Culinary Arts, Dental Hygiene, Industrial Design/Engineering, Pre-Apprenticeship and Music. Register here!
SOPHOMORES/FRESHMEN
- Internship Opportunity! Recycle Smart is offering an internship program for student leaders striving for zero waste.
- Volunteer Here are some volunteer options to get you started. Check out the newforms for tracking volunteer service hours for recognized service awards.
RESOURCES
Counseling
Counselor assignments are by last name.
A – Dr Anne Schonauer
Du-Kr Christine Todd
Ku-Rog Marissa Meadows
Roh-Z Susan Martin
Tuesday, Dec 14 through Friday, Dec 17 Final Exams
2nd Quarter is going by fast! There are less than four weeks of school before finals week! Here is the finals week schedule: 
Counselor Appointments
Counselors are checking in with all 9th and 10th graders during November. We want to start getting to know them and help them as best we can! We are always seeing any student for drop-in appointments.
Progress Reports
The third grading period of the semester ended on Friday, Nov 5. Teachers will enter grades through Wednesday, Nov 10 and progress reports will be mailed home to parents if a student has a D or F grade in any class. Updated grades can be viewed in Aeries and Canvas beginning Monday, Nov 15.
School Nurse
Happy November! Enjoy this Happiness Calendar from GGSC. Check out the links!
FLU SHOT REMINDER: Get yours!
COVID VACCINE: I continue to encourage you to get your students and your families vaccinated. Please contact me for support if needed.
Proof of vaccination: Try this site: https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov/
Got Masks? Many students are arriving at school without a mask. Please make sure to have a generous supply of clean masks in your car/your student’s car. ALSO in your student’s backpacks and lockers… Everyone wears a mask indoors (outdoors optional with social distancing) and all are encouraged to practice good hand hygiene.
Any student that has illness symptoms should stay home until they have been symptom-free for at least 24 hours. If your student has NOT been vaccinated for COVID-19 and/or has had a fever, please provide a negative COVID-19 test result before returning to school.
If there are any updates to your student’s vaccination record, please send me a copy. If your student is missing any required immunizations, they may not be able to be at school until those are complete. Please get in touch with me as soon as possible.
PLEASE EAT MORE PLANTS to keep your student and your family healthier and smarter. HERE is a great recipe that’s easy and inexpensive. Pair with a green salad. Let me know what you think of it.
Quick Links
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
LPIE
Read-a-Thon
Thanks to all our students who are participating in the Read-a-Thon. All reading must be logged in your online Pledgestar page by November 18. Prizes will be announced soon!
Gala Waitlist and Raffle Tickets
The waitlist for the April 23rd Gala can be found here. Raffle tickets are $100. Only 200 total tickets will be sold and it is not necessary to attend the Gala to win one of two fabulous prizes:
- Three Nights at the Esperanza, Los Cabos, Mexico, generously donated by Esperanza
- Diamond Hoop Earrings, generously donated by Solano Jewelers
To purchase a Raffle Ticket, click here to submit your name and phone number and someone will call you to complete the purchase.
JenniferPalmer and MicheleColaco, Acalanes LPIE School Chairs
www.lpie.org, Follow us on Instagram
Performing Arts
Tuesday, Nov 16 at 7pm – Jazz Concert in AHS Performing Arts Center
The musical festivities continue in November with a Jazz Concert hosted by our renowned Acalanes High School Jazz Ensemble, led by Music Director Lauren Gibson. They will be joined by members of the Las Lomas High School Jazz Ensemble. Come and enjoy some fabulous music! Free admission, masks required.
Sports
This week’s can’t miss events
Girls water polo
Tuesday, Nov 13 CIF NorCal Quarterfinals.
Thursday, Nov 17 CIF NorCal Semifinals.
Saturday, Nov 19 CIF NorCal Championships.
Boys water polo (if qualify)
Tuesday, Nov 13 CIF NorCal Quarterfinals.
Thursday, Nov 17 CIF NorCal Semifinals.
Saturday, Nov 19 CIF NorCal Championships.
Football
Friday, Nov 18 or Saturday, Nov 19 NCS Semifinals at 7:00 pm.
Girls basketball
Wednesday, Nov 14 JV hosts Benicia HS at 5:15 pm and Varsity hosts Terra Nova HS at 7:00 pm.
Saturday, Nov 19 at Windsor HS. JV at 10:00 am and Varsity at 11:30 am.
Here are the Fall sports schedules (subject to change):
APC in Action
APC Fall Grants Awarded
We are pleased to announce two grants have been awarded to Science and Mathematics and Special Education. The two awarded grants will fund pilot programs that may become more widely adopted by teachers beyond our current school year:
- Problem Attic, a tool to be used to garner deeper assessment data and comprehension checks for students in science and mathematics. A total of 23 teachers will pilot the program in their classrooms.
- Study.com, an online intervention program which will serve mild to moderate special education students. It will provide modular, on-demand content and short teaching videos to help students access curriculum. It will also provide assessment data for teachers who create the individualized learning plans.
Thank you to our APC community, as your donations help fund our grant program.
Hot Lunch Volunteers
Thank you to our parents who have signed up and volunteered to help with our free hot lunch program. There are still slots to be filled so please do sign up here if you are able to help any day of the week, 12:45am to 1:15pm. Thank you for your help!
