LPIE’S State of the Foundation: What’s at Risk?
The 2020-21 school year looks completely different with most school traditions and experiences reimagined. It’s been hard on everyone and because of this, donations to LPIE are significantly down.
So far, we’ve raised $2.5M towards our $4.3M goal.
Please take five minutes to hear six important points about the significance of LPIE funding and what’s at risk next year. Click here.
Laura-Kate Rurka & Jennifer Palmer
Acalanes LPIE School Chairs
Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by Black Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in history. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. More here!
Thursday Feb 4 from 6:30-8pm – District Book Club Event
Dive into the novel “Between the World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates. Learn more and register here. Invite a friend! Event is open to all.
Tuesday Feb 9, from 7-8:30pm – Racial Equity Series, Session 4
Join Dr. Lori Watson for a discussion on “Whiteness.” Zoom link will be sent out to all those registered prior to the meeting.
Tuesday Feb 23 from 6:30-7:30pm – Private Virtual Speaker Event with Arshay Cooper, author of the novel “A Most Beautiful Thing” and co-star of the movie with the same name. Space is limited, so sign up here to ensure your spot! Purchase the book here, and watch the movie on Amazon Prime or Xfinity. The students will have access to a special film screening from Feb 19-21.
We welcome you to join our committee.
Please email us if you have ideas or questions or you want more information! Stay current by visiting our webpage, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Black History Month Kicks Off Tomorrow
There is a lot to celebrate, and a lot of dialogue in which to engage. We kick off Black History Month in cohort tomorrow and events continue throughout the month. Our challenge to the Acalanes community is to engage in at least one event. Check out the calendar of events here. Two community events to register for ahead of time:
ACA STRONG Light Display
This school year has looked different and felt different AND YET we are here, together. We want each student & family to know that our community is strong and we stand together. Please join us as we display thousands of lights on our campus. We will “turn the lights on” at 5pm on January 29, and every subsequent Thurs-Sun until Valentine’s Day. Drive through, admire the light display, and remember that we are ACA STRONG. It is an additional, fun way to connect to our campus and we encourage you to participate!
ACA STRONG
We’ve got heart. Show your ACA Spirit by showing how much “heart” you have for Acalanes and our Lafayette community. Beginning tomorrow, chalk your driveway with a BIG BLUE heart, hang hearts in your windows and look out for blue hearts and ACA Strong posters throughout Lafayette. Check out @ahs_dons on Instagram to see pictures and submit yours!
Monday, February 1st at 5pm – Virtual Rally
Tune in to watch the first ever virtual rally with pre-recorded material and our rallies board live from the Frosh quad. It will be live streamed on the Acalanes YouTube page.
Jan 28-Feb 14 – Donate to Monument Crisis Center
During the ACA DAY drive-through, consider dropping off some of the most needed items for Monument Crisis Center – peanut butter & cereal. Donation boxes will remain at Acalanes through February 14th.
Admin Tells All
At lunch on Thursday our administration will host a lunch dialogue to discuss any and all things with students. Does your student have questions about our return to hybrid, sports, course selection or something else? Encourage them to attend Admin Tells All!
Friday, Feb 5 During Academy COVID Cabaret Spring 2021 Musical Information Meeting
Is there a role in a show you’ve always wanted to play? Do you have a favorite Broadway song that you’ve always wanted to perform? Well we’re doing the Spring Musical a little differently this year due to the circumstances. Please join us for our first informational meeting in Academy on Friday, February 5th. While we are devastated we cannot perform together onstage, we are very excited about our upcoming Cabaret! You will have an opportunity to direct and star in your own 3-4 minute piece! Please join Gibson’s Academy link “Spring Musical” offering in TeachMore on Friday, February 5th for more information!
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 on clubs at the end of the week. Please encourage your student to check canvas.
Student Government 2020-2021
We will begin the process of elected student government positions & committees within leadership next week. Look out for information sessions and application deadlines. Student government operates best when it has a variety of voices and experiences!
Save the Date! Wednesday, Feb 10 from 5:30-6:30pm Class of 2025 Drive Through Welcome
If you have or know of students coming to Acalanes next year, pass along this date! We want to welcome them to Acalanes with goodies, staff hellos, and a connection to campus!
If I can ever do anything to help you or your student, don’t hesitate to reach out!
Katherine Walton, Student Activities Director
The following is a message from our Bring Change to Mind student leadership board:
“We are asking parents to help us spread the word about the BC2M club and a special opportunity. We will be co-hosting a district-wide meeting with all four BC2M clubs to have an open conversation about students’ mental health. There will be various topics to choose from and a guest speaker. This district-wide meeting will be hosted on February 8th from 11-1 pm on zoom. To attend, students must RSVP: Bring Change 2 Mind District Summit (AUHSD) (google.com)
The deadline to RSVP is on Thursday, February 4th at 10 pm. This meeting is very important in sparking conversation amongst students and building a sense of community and understanding throughout the district. Invite a friend and help us spread the word on Instagram @bringchangetomindacalanes.
We are especially interested in getting freshmen and sophomores who want to be involved in the effort to de-stigmatize mental illness! This is a great opportunity for them to connect with others, especially students in upper grades. Thank you!”
Emily Ingram, Alara Rose, Kael Osborne, Anna Toldi, Zoë Weinstein, Rachel Zhang, and Taja Maycock.
Allen Choi, Wellness Coordinator
Casey Sasner, Intake Specialist
For updates, tips and advice, follow Wellness on Social Media: Instagram @acalaneswellness
New! Feb 7 and Feb 9 at 7pm – Naviance Workshops for AHS families and students. Sign up here! Be sure to have your name displayed on your Zoom log in.
New! Job Opportunity – Local Food Group recently opened a kitchen in Lafayette and is looking for greeters/hosts. Tons of hours available! $14-$16/hr. Check job posting for application details.
New! All grade levels: Please take the time to fill out this questionnaire. Assist the CCC in developing new presentations.
Follow me on Instagram @acalanesccc and my new Facebook Page – community resources for our parents to get the most updated information on college related topics in the news.
Junior Families
Sophomore Families: One-on-One Appointments
All sophomores and their families should book an individual meeting with Ms. Reicher here to discuss timelines, summer options and any college/career related planning.
Seniors:
Scholarships:
Keep connected:
Thank you for all your support!
Wendy Reicher, College and Career Advisor: wreicher@auhsdschools.org
Congratulations!
Counselors and all of Acalanes send congratulations to the students who were named National Merit Scholarship semi-finalists: Kai Feinberg, Jamie Lattin, Morgan Mason, Isaiah Orlando, Madison Payne and Jackson Steele. These students were identified as National Merit Scholars based on their high scores on the PSAT and have submitted applications to continue to be considered for the Merit Scholarship competition.
Course Selection
It’s that time of year again…as mentioned above, counselors will be hosting webinars during academy next week for current students to go over course selection. Students will need to make their selections online by Feb 19. Students should check Canvas and their school Gmail accounts for more information and instructions.
CSF Application Period Begins Feb 1
California Scholarship Federation’s spring application period begins on February 1. Current students in grades 10-12 should apply to this honor society. Students must apply every semester. Be on the lookout for an online application form and how to pay required dues on the webstore starting next week.
Counselor Appointments
We love talking to our students! Email is the best way to reach us. Counselors have appointment slots for students and will email them a link for signing up. We are trying to reserve the limited slots outside of class time for students. Parents can schedule a time when students are in class.
A- Ed Anne Schonauer
Ee-Kr Christine Todd
Ku-Ros Marissa Meadows
Rot-Z Susan Martin
Now that the Regional Stay-At-Home order has been lifted, there is hope that we will move into the red tier and then shift to a hybrid model for our schools. Governor Newsom’s efforts to encourage districts to reopen through incentives seem to be stalling, but some legislators who are critical of his plan think maybe there is room for compromise with Assembly Bill 10, which would mandate that schools reopen when they enter the red tier. With Gov. Newsom’s back-to-school plan all but doomed, what might it take to salvage it? Either way, parents across the state are growing increasingly frustrated with the situation and some are advocating for change. Newly formed California-wide parent group turns up the pressure to reopen schools
Parents!
Please report any COVID-related absences to the Attendance Recorder as soon as possible so I can do appropriate follow-up.
Is your student coming back to school in Hybrid? Medical Documentation for Students
We still need updated medical documentation for your student, especially if they will be participating in the Hybrid Model. Does your student need medication available at school? Does your student have updated medical issues/health issues? Do they have a new immunization record? Parents, please make sure you turn in any pertinent medical forms for your students for this school year, especially if your students will be in the Hybrid Model. See this page on my website and let me know if you have any questions.
Team Vaccine! Interested in Volunteering with Contra Costa Health Services Covid Vaccine Administration?
Here are the requirements to volunteer:
COVID District Protocol
Available on AUHSD site and on my site.
Be COVID Proactive!
See update on my google site. Stay healthy by keeping this symptom checklist in mind. “Bubbles” and “Pods” – consider the “stealth health” of yours. We need to keep this up even with the vaccine rollout!
Dvora Citron, RN, MS
Acalanes School Nurse Google Site
dcitron@auhsdschools.org
IG: acalanesschoolnurse
Friday, Feb 5 During Academy COVID Cabaret Spring 2021 Musical Information Meeting
Is there a role in a show you’ve always wanted to play? Do you have a favorite Broadway song that you’ve always wanted to perform? Well we’re doing the Spring Musical a little differently this year due to the circumstances. Please join us for our first informational meeting during Academy on Friday, February 5. While we are devastated we cannot perform together onstage, we are very excited about our upcoming Cabaret! You will have an opportunity to direct and star in your own 3-4 minute piece! Please join Gibson’s Academy link “Spring Musical” offering in TeachMore on Friday, February 5th for more information!
The CIF North Coast Section (NCS) approved a sports framework to allow local leagues to create a sports schedule in accordance with guidance from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). Read the statement here.
Diablo Athletic League (DAL), the local league for AHS sports, established a preliminary schedule for “purple tier” sports beginning February 1. Read more from the DAL here.
