According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, alcohol is the most commonly abused addictive substance among American youth. Within the past month:
1 in 3 American high school students have drunk alcohol at least once
Almost 1 in 5 have engaged in dangerous binge-drinking
8% consumed alcohol and then drove
20% accepted a ride from someone else who had been drinking
4300+ underage youths die each year due to excessive drinking
There are 189,000+ ER visits by youths as a result of alcohol-related causes
Parents: You Make a Difference! The longer youths delay drinking and drug use, the less chance they have of having problems of use, including addiction. TALK with your kids to discuss how to make smart decisions. Role model for them – your behavior sets the standard. 10% of US children live with alcoholic parents and those children are 4x as likely to become alcoholics.
Brain Development Your student’s brain is still developing and will for years to come. Alcohol can have long-term effects on brain development that can last through adulthood.
Would you be willing to assist in planning next year’s LPIE Gala? We truly can’t do it without parent help!
The LPIE Gala stands as our most significant fundraising event of the year, and it’s all made possible by our amazing parent volunteers. We’re reaching out for help in putting together an extraordinary and enjoyable occasion that will generate much needed funds for our schools. Whether you have prior event planning experience or simply want to contribute to the success of this event, your involvement would be invaluable to us!
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you’re interested in lending a hand. Your support means the world to us!
SPORTS BOOSTER BASH We’re days away, Bash Tickets are almost sold out, and the silent auction is opening today!
This amazing event is happening on Saturday, Apr 20 and will feature a variety of competitive games, including a dunk tank, longest golf drive and best axe throw! Come join your friends for drinks, dinner, live auction, games, dancing and much, much more! Our silent auction is open and has amazing offerings for everyone!
Silent Auction (live now through Friday, Apr 19 at 6pm): OnlineBiddingPage
Remember, this is the biggest, and most fun, fundraising event for all of Acalanes sports! We can’t do it without your support!
*The game schedule below reflects dates and times as of last Friday. Games may change for several reasons, including weather. If you have questions or comments, please contact AcalanesSportsBoosters.
This weeks can’t miss events
Softball Monday, Apr 15 Piedmont HS at 4:30pm. Varsity is home and JV is away. Tuesday, Apr 16 Campolindo HS at 4:30pm. Varsity is away and JV is home. Thursday, Apr 18 Concord HS at 4:30pm. Varsity is away and JV is home.
Baseball Monday, Apr 15 JV at Livermore HS at 4pm. Tuesday, Apr 16 College Park HS at 4pm. Varsity is home and JV is away. Thursday, Apr 18 College Park HS at 4pm. Varsity is away and JV is home. Saturday, Apr 20 Freshmen at Las Lomas HS doubleheader at 10am and 12pm.
Boys Golf Monday, Apr 15 Varsity v. Miramonte HS at Orinda CC at 3:30pm. Tuesday, Apr 16 Varsity v. Northgate HS at Boundary Oak GC at 3:30pm. Wednesday, Apr 17 Varsity v. Campolindo HS at Moraga CC at 3:30pm. Friday, Apr 19 JV v. Campolindo HS at Rossmoor GC at 3:30pm.
Boys Tennis Tuesday, Apr 16 Miramonte HS at 3:30pm. Varsity is home and JV is away. Thursday, Apr 18 Las Lomas HS at 3:30pm. Varsity is away and JV is home.
Boys Volleyball Tuesday, Apr 16 at Northgate HS. JV at 5pm and varsity at 6:30pm. Thursday, Apr 18 host Campolindo HS. JV at 5pm and varsity at 6:30pm. Saturday, Apr 20 Granite Bay JV Invitational.
Girls Lacrosse Tuesday, Apr 16 Host Berkeley HS. JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7pm. Friday, Apr 19 at Campolindo HS. JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7pm.
Boys Lacrosse Wednesday, Apr 17 host Piedmont HS. JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7pm. Friday, April 19 host Las Lomas HS. JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7pm.
Swimming Tuesday, Apr 16 at Las Lomas HS at 4pm. Saturday, Apr 20 DAL JV Championship Meet at Miramonte HS.
Track & Field Wednesday, Apr 17 host Campolindo HS at 3:30pm. Saturday, Apr 20 DAL Frosh-Soph Meet at Campolindo HS.
Beach Volleyball Thursday, April 18 Carondelet HS at Heather Farms at 4:00 pm.
Competitive Sport Cheer Friday, Apr 19 Alhambra HS at 6:30pm and College Park HS at 7:30pm at College Park HS.
Diving Saturday, April 20 NCS Qualifying Meet at 10am.
You may view the full 2023-2024 Athletic Schedule by clicking HERE.
CAREER ACADEMY & TRADE FAIR! The Acalanes College and Career Center will host a Creative Arts and Design Career academy on Wednesday, Apr 10 at 10am. One of our committed speakers is Joel Flory, the co-founder of VSCO. We would like to invite other interested parents, alumni, and community members to share their career experiences/pathways in graphic design, film/screenwriting, animation, sculpture, painting, fashion, photography, graphic design, etc. with our students. If you would like to be a presenter or know someone who would be a good fit, please email DebbieLevy and provide your name, industry, and phone number. We will follow up with all contacts.
In addition, we are hosting a Trade Fair during lunch onWednesday, Apr 24 and are looking for more organizations to be represented. Please email DebbieLevy with any suggestions for us and we will follow up.
SENIORS: Water Polo Scholarship: The Lafayette Water Polo Foundation is accepting applications for seniors who play water polo.
The Matt Lynn Memorial Scholarship is now available. It will be awarded to college-bound seniors from Acalanes who have participated in a high school varsity sport(s) and who intend to continue playing a varsity or club sport in college.
Diablo Valley Assistance League is offering a $6000 need-based scholarship for students attending a 4 year university and $4000 for those going to community college.
AP EXAM PROCTORS NEEDED – Great Volunteer Opportunity Our AP Students need YOUR help! We are searching for parents to help with proctoring AP Exams the first two weeks of May 2024. Exam dates are May 6-10 and May 13-17.
Exams start everyday at either 8am or 12pm. Students know to show up 30 minutes prior to start time for check in. Proctors for morning exams would be needed starting at 7:15am and afternoon exams starting at 11:15am. Exams can range from 2-4 hours and we ask that you please plan to stay for the longest amount of time possible. Restrictions: Parents, you are NOT allowed to proctor an exam that your own child is taking.
If you are interested in learning more about proctoring AP exams, please contact the Acalanes Testing Coordinator, Nicole Singleterry at nsingleterry@auhsdschools.org
APC GRANTS AWARDED FOR SPRING 2024 Thank you to the teachers, students and staff who submitted proposals for an APC spring grant. We had a large number of requests representing many different interests! APC grants are funded through parents annual donations – so THANK YOU parents! We are pleased to announce that five grants have been awarded this spring:
Math clubs will receive a grant to help fund participation in AMC math competition and various other online competitions.
Special Education classrooms will receive grant funds for classroom sensory items, including fidgets and calming tangibles, as well as plants for students to care for.
The Social Science Department will receive a grant to fund student and school fees to attend the UC Davis Model UN Conference.
A Math Department classroom will get enhancements to create a “Building Thinking Classroom” program for Algebra I.
A Special Education classroom will receive funds to purchase 6 Hokki stools to provide “active seating”, allowing for subtle movement, but also helping students sit comfortably and focus on learning.
SPRING CAMPUS CLEAN UP: Sunday, Apr 14, 11am – 2pm Help us make our campus shine! Earn volunteer service hours, connect with your Acalanes community, and share in our Dons pride! All are welcome! Students can sign up on the Helper Helper app (click HERE for instructions) and adults can volunteer through the SignUpGenius. Thanks for your help and GO DONS!
ACALANES SERVICE AWARD DEADLINE: Friday, Apr 19! Thanks to APC, the Acalanes and Presidential Service Awards have gone digital. New this year, APC funded the Helper Helper app where students can find and record volunteer hours and earn a community service award. To qualify, all hours must be entered AND validated by the student’s supervisor by April 19, 2024 so please encourage your students to get their hours entered now!!
Since April, over 250 students have created Helper Helper accounts and logged over 6,900 volunteer service hours and we’re hoping that number will keep increasing!
Students who volunteer at least 30 hours by April 19, 2024, will get an Acalanes Service Award so please encourage your students to get those hours entered as that deadline is quickly approaching!
To learn more and/or join the Helper Helper app, check out the volunteerwebsite.
ACALANES COMMUNITY OUTREACH & IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FUNDRAISER The Acalanes Community Outreach and Improvement Programis hosting a fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (Light the Night) from Apr 8-26.
Please donate as any and every donation makes a difference! Please check and see if your company does matching gifts when donating to double your impact! Feel free to check out our website for more information. Thank you!
The mission of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and myeloma, as well as improve the quality of life of patients and their families. They also fund research to advance lifesaving treatments, provide patients, survivors, caregivers, families, and healthcare professionals with hope, guidance, education and support, and drive advocacy for policies that protect patient access to lifesaving treatment.
ACA GARDEN SPRING UPDATE We are getting ready to plant our summer crops!! The garden club started tomato and pepper seeds in January and we are currently starting to harden them off in anticipation of planting them in April. The Moraga Garden Farms also donated zucchini, Swiss chard, lettuce and kale starts with promises of herbs, tomatoes and peppers when we get back from spring break.
SEED HIGH SCHOOL FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE: Where our special needs high schoolers hang out with their typical peers. Upcoming regular meeting dates:
Thursday, Apr 18: 5-6:30pm
Thursday, May 16: 5-6:30pm
Volunteers and participants should RSVP here(volunteers get 2-hour community service validation per session). To receive SEED High School updates, sign up to the High School newsletter here.
INSIDE THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PROCESS Parents (and students!) of all grade levels are welcome to join an evening with Dr. John Durante, an educator who has interviewed over 200 college admissions representatives for his acclaimed “The College Admissions Process Podcast”. This event will take place on Tuesday, Apr 17 at 6pm* in the Acalanes library. (*arrive early as we plan to start at 6pm sharp, as Dr. Durante will be joining us from New York City) This event will be moderated by Debbie Levy, Acalanes College & Career Counseling Advisor. The podcast and other resources are available at www.collegeadmissionstalk.com.
Apr 2 World Autism Awareness Day – all of April is Autism Awareness month
Apr 9 Eid-Al-Fitr
Apr 22 Passover begins
April is Autism Awareness Month, honoring and recognizing our fellow community members on the autism spectrum and their families. Have you heard people talk about neurodiversity? Harvard Health explains the origin of the term and application here.
Eid–Al–Fitr is celebrated by Muslims worldwide because it marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan. People greet each other with “Eid Mubarak,” meaning “Blessed Eid”, and with formal embraces. Sweet dishes are prepared at home and gifts are given to children and to those in need. In addition, Muslims are encouraged to forgive and seek forgiveness. Practices vary from country to country.
TOP AWARDS FOR ACALANES HS INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC ENSEMBLES! At the recent California Music Educators Association (CMEA) Festival held on Mar 23, Acalanes High School Instrumental Music ensembles received the highest possible Unanimous Superior rating for all three music groups—Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and String Orchestra! This means that each group received top scores from all three stage judges and the one sight-reading judge.
Acalanes Symphonic Band
Acalanes Wind Ensemble
Acalanes String Orchestra
Huge congratulations on this incredible achievement for our students and our wonderful band director, Edwin Cordoba, in his first year teaching at Acalanes, and for positioning Acalanes as one of the premier high school music programs in Contra Costa County!
Upcoming regular meeting dates:
