News & Announcements

Counselor assignments are by last name.
A – Dr  Anne Schonauer
Du-Kr  Christine Todd
Ku-Rog  Marissa Meadows
Roh-Z  Susan Martin

Class Visits
We loved visiting seniors and frosh last week! This week we look forward to visiting sophomore and junior English classes. We will provide students with a copy of their transcript as well as other handouts, and will present grade-specific information about academic planning, ways to get involved at AHS, and post-high school planning.

Counselor Appointments
Counselors will begin individual meetings with seniors this week to review graduation status and talk specifics about post-high school plans.  Counselors will either pull students out of elective classes for a 15-20 minute meeting, and they will also offer 6th and 7th period meeting options either in person or via Google Meets. If students need to see their counselor for any reason, they can stop by anytime!  If our door is open, come on in!  If it’s closed, leave us a note or send us an email. We love talking/working with/helping your students! 

Thursday, Sept 30 CSF Applications Due
The CSF application period is now open! Juniors and seniors, especially, should apply. You can download a form here or pick up a blank one in the counseling office. Turn in completed forms to the counseling office and pay dues on the webstore by September 30. CSF is an honor society to recognize students with high academic achievement. Please read the application for more information.

GOT ILLNESS??? STAY HOME!!!
Any student that has illness symptoms should stay home until they have been symptom-free for at least 24 hours.

FDA APPROVES COVID VACCINE
Please consider getting COVID-19 vaccinations for every eligible household member. For every FIVE people that want to get the COVID vaccines, CCCH Mobile Vaccination Team will come here on site to administer. Please get in touch with me to let me know. I am happy to help arrange if you need assistance.

COVID VACCINATION RECORDS
If your student has had COVID vaccinations, please submit this information.

GOT MEDS??? Inhalers? Epipens? Health Conditions and Medications
If your student has a medical condition and/or needs medication available at school, please go to this linkon my webpage to get the appropriate forms. All forms need to be filled out completely AND signed by BOTH parent and physician. You can email me the completed forms, or you can bring them to me at school. Please bring any/all (unexpired) medication in its original bottle directly to me so that I can review the required medical documentation at that time
.
GOT SHOTS???  Immunizations
If there are any updates to your student’s vaccination record, please send me a copy so I can update. If your student is missing any requiredimmunizations, they may not be able to be at school until those are complete.  Please get in touch with me as soon as possible.

COVID Protocols (DON’T Get It!)
Everyone wears a mask indoors. Keep staying healthy and practice hand hygiene.
AUHSD Safety Plan:  SEE PAGES 8-9
Submit your student‘s Covid-19 Vaccine Record HERE

BEYOND COVID
Please be in touch with me to discuss any medical, health and wellness concerns.

Thursday, September 23; 5:30-7:00 pm, Webinar — Tobacco, Vaping, and Cannabis: Everything Adults Need to Know.
This is a live webinar presentation featuring local adult and youth experts. Simultaneous Spanish interpretation and Q&A session included. No cost to attend. Pre-registration required:
More information and registration (English)
More information and registration (Spanish)

Stay healthy and be well,
Dvora Citron, RN, MS
dcitron@auhsdschools.org
925-280-2970 x7128
Acalanes School Nurse Google Site
IG:  acalanesschoolnurse

This week’s can’t miss events:

Girls volleyball

• Tuesday, Sept 7 host Maria Carrillo HS. Freshmen at 4pm, JV at 5pm and Varsity at 6pm.
• Saturday, Sept 12 at Sonoma Valley Invitational.

Girls golf

• Tuesday, Sept 7 v. Miramonte HS at Orinda CC at 3:30pm.

Girls tennis

• Thursday, Sept 9 host Mission San Jose HS at 3:30pm. Varsity is home and JV is away.

Football

• Friday, Sept 10 host Balboa HS. JV at 4:30pm and Varsity at 7pm.

Girls water polo

• Friday, Sept 11 and Saturday, September 12 host Acalanes Invitational.

Boys water polo

• Saturday, Sept 12 in the Miramonte JV Tournament.

Cross country

• Saturday, Sept 12 in the Lowell Invitational at Golden Gate Park.

Here are the Fall sports schedules (subject to change):

• Cross Country
• Football
• Girls Golf
• Girls Tennis
• Girls Volleyball
• Boys Water Polo
• Girls Water Polo

• Free student Peer Tutoring. Academic expectations and standards can be tough. APC understands that. We fund 100% of Peer Tutoring, an academically nurturing environment led by professionals and staffed by students who have been there, done that, with almost every teacher at AHS.
• College & Career Center programs. The C&C Center helps guide students on their post-Acalanes journey, taking the stress out of the process and helping students see the opportunities that lie ahead.
• Investment in Culture & Community. APC helps students create and maintain connection and belonging to the school and to each other through speakers and in-school programming.
• Parent Liaison Advisors. APC liaisons help leadership students plan and execute events throughout the year to involve and connect all students to AHS and their class.
• Academic Club Support. Academics and learning do not stop at the classroom door. APC supports clubs in external memberships and competitions so students are able to extend learning outside of our campus.
• Finals Fuel. An AHS tradition during finals week. A kind “good luck” and a healthy snack provided by parent volunteers is sometimes all our students need to take on yet another final during a stressful week. 

• The Acalanes Lunch Program needs your help!  Do you have an hour to spare on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday to help handout school lunches? If so, sign up here https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4DABA9283-lunch 
  • Contact Caroline Volk cvolk@auhsdschools.org or Rebecca Ward rward@auhsdschools.org with questions.
• If your student is vaccinated, you can submit proof of their COVID-19 vaccination here. Vaccinated students are not subject to quarantine if they are asymptomatic and determined to be a close contact to a COVID-19 positive individual. If you do not have a Google account, which is required to submit the documents electronically, you may use your student’s school email address.

Last Friday, students were invited to join the first equity council meeting of the school year. Ask your student whether they attended and what they may have learned. Equity council discusses issues of equity, programming on campus, and provides opportunities for students to connect.
 
Who was Althea Gibson? As the 2021 US Open starts this week, we remember the first African American tennis player to play at the US National Championships, later to win Wimbledon (1957) and the US Open (1958), when most clubs and tournaments were not open to Black players. 
 
Follow us on Instagram @acalanesdei!

Hello Families!  For those of you who missed our first Parent Education presentation, here is the recording and written transcript of our most recent talk, A Year Away: Practical Tips for a Successful Return to School, presented by Dr. Ardis Martin. We have also included the slides containing resources at Acalanes from the Wellness Center, courtesy of our Coordinator, Allen Choi. As Dr. Martin suggests, open lines of communication with your teen is critical. Here is an additional resource from Adolescent Counseling Services for those who would like support or helpful tips on how to do so.

Thursday, Sept 9 at 7pm on Zoom Julie Lythcott-Haims “Your Turn: How to be an Adult” Talk
This free event, described below, is sponsored by LPIE and the Lafayette Library and Learning Center Foundation.

Hello Acalanes Parents,

I’m Michele Colaco, one of your two Acalanes LPIE Representatives for the 2021-22 school year. I have a son who is a Freshman at Acalanes and a daughter in seventh grade at Stanley.
 
This is my third year on the LPIE Board. In addition to serving as your Acalanes Representative, I also help with the Social Media communications for LPIE. I originally joined the LPIE team to get a better understanding of the challenging funding situation facing our California schools. In my roles, I have seen firsthand how vital LPIE is for our students, our schools and our community.
 
The more involved I’ve become, the more impressed I am with the close partnerships LPIE has with the schools. This is especially true at Acalanes, where LPIE donations support 15 electives plus critical enrichment programs such as counseling services, wellness services and college level labs, just to name a few. 
 
Your support of LPIE makes a world of difference for all of our students at Acalanes.  Please feel free to reach out  if you have any questions, comments or suggestions and remember that EVERY donation, regardless of size, counts! Our goal is 100% participation this year. Thank you for your support of LPIE and our DONS!
 
If you have not yet had a chance to make a donation to LPIE, you can do so via the Webstore or www.lpie.org.

Best wishes for a great school year!
Michele Colaco
 
Jennifer Palmer and Michele Colaco
Acalanes LPIE School Chairs
www.lpie.org
Follow us on Instagram

ID Cards
Students will be receiving their ID cards in their English classes this week. If you purchased an ASB card, it will be indicated on the ID card. If for some reason your student doesn’t see it, but you purchased ASB, please have them bring their ID card to the main attendance office. Reminder: With ASB, students get discounts and/or gifts with purchases to local Lafayette restaurants and businesses. See the discounts here (more are added every day!)
 
Due TUESDAY Club Applications
Club Applications are now available. Students received the application in their Canvas inbox and can stop by room 314 any time with questions. We will host a Club Day on Sept 10 during Academy for students to get more information and join our 2021-2022 clubs!
 
Events this week:
We have a busy week of programming. See below for the calendar!

• Wednesday, Sept 1 at Lunch New Crew leader meeting in room 314
• Wednesday, Sept 1 from 5-9pm Visit Chipotle and grab dinner! Class fundraiser
• Friday, Sept 3 at Lunch Friendly Faces informational meeting in room 314. Friendly faces plan events with our special education classes. It is a great club for students to get involved in!
• Friday, Sept 3 at 7pm First home football game! Wear Blue!

Homecoming 2021 Theme is… Board Games!
Homecoming will run Sept 26-Oct 2. Sub-themes are: Seniors – Candyland, Juniors – Clue, Sophomores – Monopoly, Freshmen – Jumanji

• Tuesday, Aug 31 at Lunch 9th grade informational meeting in room 314
• Wednesday, Sept 1 at Lunch 10th grade informational meeting in room 314

Staying in Touch
I know it can be hard to find information about the happenings at Acalanes. We will use Canvas email, the daily bulletin, and social media to communicate events, opportunities and more. Our social media is @ahs_dons. Please follow us!
 
As always, I am here to support you and your student. If there is anything I can do, please don’t hesitate to reach out via e-mail.
 
Katherine Walton, Student Activities Director

ALL GRADES

Wednesday, Sept 1 at 7pm – Financial Aid Night with Tim Lenahan, the College Finance Guy 
Mark your calendars for an informative evening. The cost of college is the 2nd largest purchase a family makes. Learn options available to make good financial decisions with regard to college choices. Here’s the Zoom link.
 
SENIORS

• Wednesday, Sept 8 at 6:30pm Senior Parent Webinar – Mark your calendars! This will be a night to learn about college & career planning details. Here’s the webinar link.
• 8 dates to join Virtual College Visits! Check this out! There are hundreds of colleges to explore. In “live” sessions, your student can ask questions! This is a great way to look at MANY schools and narrow down lists.
• College Visits! Juniors and Seniors! Big College Visit Week Upcoming! All visits are in-person, unless otherwise specified. The virtual ones have been quite engaging too! This is an excellent way to let a university know you may be interested! Tell your student to come by the CCC in the morning to pick up a pass. Sign up on Naviance or email dlevy@auhsdschools.org. 
  • Monday:     
    • University of Pittsburgh 8:30-9:15am
    • Texas Tech 11:15am – 12:00pm
    • Seton Hall 2:15-3:00pm
  • Tuesday:      
    • Loyola University Chicago 9:45-10:30am
    • Georgia Tech (virtual) 10:30-11:00am
    • Vanderbilt (virtual) 11:10-11:40am
    • University of Arizona 12:55-1:35pm
  • Wednesday: 
    • St Mary’s College 8:35-9:20am
    • Villanova University (virtual) 9:20-10:05am
    • Penn State University (virtual) 1:35-2:20pm
    • University of New Hampshire (virtual) 2:20-3:05pm
  • Thursday:    
    • University of Nevada, Reno (virtual) 11:10-11:40am
  • Friday:         
    • UC San Diego (virtual) 8:35-9:20am

JUNIORS

• Naviance Training – Your students will learn how to log onto Naviance and gain other college/career tips in classroom visits on September 7 and 8.
• Join a College Visit – Check out the VISITS above.

SOPHOMORES/FRESHMEN

• Volunteer and Work in the Community  – Click here for some ideas to get you started. We will be visiting with all students this year to introduce them to Naviance and ways to expand their interests.

RESOURCES

• CCC Website