News & Announcements

This week’s CAN’T MISS events:

Boys tennis

• Tuesday, March 9 at College Park HS at 3:30pm. Varsity is home and JV is away.
• Thursday, March 11 – Las Lomas HS at 3:30pm. Varsity is away and JV is home.

Girls golf

• Wednesday, March 10 – Campolindo HS at Rossmoor GC at 3:30pm.

Cross country

•  Thursday, March 11 at St. Patrick’s HS at 3:30pm.

Boys golf 

• Friday, March 12 – Campolindo HS at Rossmoor GC 3:30pm.

Football

• Saturday, March 13 host Monte Vista HS. Freshmen at 1:30pm, JV at 4pm and Varsity at 7pm.

Projected Calendar Changes
As AHS prepares to open for hybrid instruction, the following calendar changes are anticipated:

• Monday, March 8: Non-school day for students (tentative)
• Friday, March 12: Regular instruction day for students (confirmed)
• Monday, March 15: Non-school day for students (tentative)

Hybrid Instructional Model
For details regarding the return to hybrid instruction, please visit the district website here. This page includes student group/cohort schedules, FAQs, return to hybrid transition timelines, and more. If you have additional questions, please submit your questions to the district using this form. 

AHS Update Regarding SAT Administration
This has been a complicated year for SAT administrations. Due to Covid-related restrictions AHS has had to cancel a number of administration dates and limit capacity moving forward. We apologize for any frustration caused by this ever-changing landscape. Linked here is a message from our AHS testing coordinator about the upcoming March 13 administration.

Due Friday, March 12 – APC Spring 2021 Grants Proposals!
Acalanes Parents Club is excited to announce its spring grant program is now accepting proposals to enhance the educational experience of AHS students during the current distance learning model and the return to in-person hybrid model. Teachers, students, staff and parents are welcome to submit a grant proposal. Contact APC Grants Coordinator Catherine Habas to receive the application submission guidelines or click here. Email completed applications to Catherine Habas at or drop in the APC box in the office. 

Application Deadline Extended to May 1, 2021 – Acalanes & President’s Volunteer Service Awards Program
Due to the continued challenges of identifying and completing volunteer work during COVID, we have made the decision to extend the deadline, so students can finish service hours and submit applications. A few reminders:

• Applications may be submitted between March 25 – May 1, 2021. Please do NOT submit early.
• Completed and signed Applications (along with any supporting materials from your organizations) should be scanned and emailed to communityservice@acalanesparentsclub.com.
• Download the service award application forms here. 
• If you have any questions please email us!

ACA “March Madness”
It’s almost time to welcome hybrid students back on campus!! With a return to Hybrid date of March 16, it’s time to pump up the ACA spirit to new levels! Here are some ways to do so:

• Fly your ACA flag!! Don’t have one? Buy one on the webstore! (See Fundraising section for details.)
• Decorate your student’s mailbox for the first day of Hybrid (decoration kits will be available during “Back to School” hybrid orientation)
• Get your students ready to wear ACA STRONG shirts on Hybrid Day 1, March 16. Students who didn’t pick up an ACA Strong shirt at the last ACA Day can pick one up at Back to School Hybrid Orientation.
• Be on the look-out for more info for a Senior Car Painting effort
• Join the fun & buy an ACA Parent/Sibling Strong Shirt. This is a grey version of the student/staff ACA Strong shirt.  You can purchase now via the Acalanes webstore for $10 and pick up from Acalanes after you receive your confirmation email. 

Buy and Eat Local: Support Lafayette Businesses & Restaurants!
Local businesses and restaurants need our support more than ever! Restaurants are welcoming outside dining again and would appreciate patronage by Acalanes families in their outdoor seating areas or via take-out. As always, local businesses continue to help our classes with dine out fundraising. Mark your calendar to support these businesses AND our Dons!

• Class of 2024: Tuesday, March 3 from 10a to 7p at Sideboard 

Questions, comments, or feedback, email aca@acalanesparentsclub.com.

Wednesday, March 10 at 7pm – Dr. Michael Rich, “The Mediatrician”
Join us online for an informative talk with Dr. Michael Rich, Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Center of Media and Child Health. He will focus on understanding and responding to the ways in which teens and families are affected by the interactive media we use and how we use them. Dr. Rich will also reframe the issue of screen use in adolescents from the values-based “right vs wrong” debate that has prevailed since the earliest days of television to an evidence-based public health issue – how we are changed by our media use, in positive and negative ways, so that parents, teachers, clinicians, and society at large can make critical decisions in raising the next generations to be healthy, happy, and kind.

• No advanced registration is required. Click here to join the event! 

Project LPIE Is Here!

Project LPIE is an annual competition that celebrates Acalanes High School students for their project-based learning, both inside and outside the classroom, with opportunities for entry in 10 different categories. This event is open to all Acalanes High School students. Cash prizes are awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. Students must let LPIE know they want to submit a project by completing the online registration form here. For more details visit lpie.org.

• March 22 Register for Project LPIE 
• April 12 Projects due 
• May 6 Winners will be announced and notified by LPIE 

Laura-Kate Rurka & Jennifer Palmer
Acalanes LPIE School Chairs

www.lpie.org

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Thank you to everyone who helped shine light on, and honor, the contributions and experiences of black people during Black History Month. Students, teachers, and parents partook in an array of events highlighting Black excellence, suffering, and the need to lean in to the uncomfortable work of becoming antiracists. Here again is a useful link if you are unsure where to start on that journey.

March is Women’s History Month, dedicated to reflect upon and remember achievements of women in our society, culture and history. 

• Enjoy exploring this timeline of women’s history.  
• COVID-19 has disproportionately affected women. Learn more about this topic in this video by PBS. 

Last week the Acalanes community had the pleasure to host in conversation the activist, chef, rower, and author of “A Most Beautiful Thing,” Arshay Cooper. The event was enjoyed by well over 200 people, as Mr. Cooper shared his story of poverty, fear, chance opportunities seized, grueling hard work, and success. He offered true inspiration and insight to all of us through his storytelling, reminding us that “there is talent everywhere,” asking us to consider “what is on the other side of this event/experience/moment,” encouraging us “to become a school that is a voice not an echo,” and during all of this “to give what hurts to get better.” Discomfort is part of the journey to becoming better. Thank you to our student and adult moderators, and to the Acalanes administration for helping bring this event to us.

• If you attended the Arshay Cooper Zoom event, please take this 5 minute survey to help us enhance our programming.

Thursday Mar 25 from 6-7:30pm
The last AUHSD Book Club Event of the year will be hosted by Las Lomas High School. The book selection is “Becoming” by Michelle Obama (adapted for young readers). RSVP here. Las Lomas is encouraging purchase from Marcus Books in Oakland to support a local black business.

Wednesday March 3, from 7-8:30pm Racial Equity Series, Session 5
Reminder to join Dr. Lori Watson for a discussion on “Children and Race” this Wednesday. Zoom link will be sent out to all those registered prior to the meeting.

Order by March 14! “Stand Together” DEI Lawn Sign
$14 on the webstore.

Lastly, we invite you to join our committee!
If you have ideas or questions, or you want more information, email us! Stay current by visiting our webpage, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Fly your Acalanes flag on March 15th!
We are all beyond excited to see this day finally come!  Show your Acalanes spirit and fly your “A” flag on the first day of in-person school.  Don’t have a flag?  No problem!  Flags are still available on the webstore. Flags purchased before March 9 will be available for pick up in the front quad at Acalanes on Friday, March 12 from 4-5pm. Don’t miss out!

If you have any questions, please contact VP Fundraising Kelly Daggs.

ACA Strong Shirts
Missed buying a grey ACA Strong shirt at our drive through? You can purchase now for $10 via the Acalanes webstore and pick up from Acalanes after you receive your confirmation email. 

Deadline Sunday, March 14 Acalanes Spirit Wear
We have spirit wear available for the last time this school year! We added a couple new items including a tribute t-shirt to Mr. Huber and proceeds donated to the Parkinson’s Foundation in his name. Check out our spiritwear on the Acalanes webstore. Items can be either picked up at Acalanes or delivered beginning April 6. 

April 18 Deadline To Order Frosh Spirit Packs!
Know an 8th grader? Frosh spirit packs are a great promotion gift and kick off to a career at Acalanes! Each pack is $53 and features a hooded sweatshirt, car magnet & cinch backpack. Proceeds go to the Class of 2025. Order deadline is April 18 and packs will be delivered to your house beginning May 7. Order here.

April 5 Acalanes Leadership Applications Available
Is your 8th grader interested in joining student government at Acalanes? Applications will be available electronically beginning April 5th. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to reach out to Katherine Walton.

2020-2021 Clubs
Club meetings continue. Check out our 49 clubs! Clubs continue to be one of the best ways for students to connect. We will be pushing out more information about clubs at the end of the week. Please encourage your student to check Canvas to learn more.

If I can ever do anything to help you or your student, don’t hesitate to reach out!

Katherine Walton, Student Activities Director

Monday’s cohort academy will support students envisioning return to school in the context of mental health and in particular, how to work with the anxiety that may accompany re-conditioning to a new and very different school environment. There will be an exercise on resilience which some mistake as a personality characteristic or innate capacity. In fact, resilience can only be acquired by facing challenges. This has certainly been a year to build resilience! In the presentation, cohort teachers will share their own perspectives on their return to school and then lead students in an exercise that comes from the field of expressive arts therapy. Students will reflect on what they’ve experienced and what they’ve learned about themselves over the last year. They’ll also do some dreaming about the future, including some realistic visioning on what it will be like to be back at school in a new and different way. We know how important it is to have something to look forward to and at the same time to anticipate accurately. Please engage with your students about their journey so far–what was hard; what they learned about themselves; what habits they might want to retain and which ones they’d like to let go. As we eagerly anticipate their return, know that we believe in your students and we are here to help them succeed.

Allen Choi, Wellness Coordinator
Casey Sasner, Intake Specialist

For updates, tips and advice, follow Wellness on Social Media: Instagram @acalaneswellness