News & Announcements

Week TWELVE in the Challenge to Build Habits Supporting Racial Equity
Who was the woman behind the famous quote “I am sick and tired of being sick and tired”? Learn more here about voting rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer. 

November is Native American Heritage Month, and this Wednesday, November 11, is Veteran’s Day.
Enjoy this selection of PBS films documenting often untold stories about Native Americans serving in the U.S. Military.

Saturday, Nov 14 is the day Indian Americans celebrate Diwali.
Diwali is the five-day festival of lights, celebrated by millions of people across the world. It is a festival of new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil, and light over darkness.

Pronouns in Zoom and Canvas
Please encourage your student to add their pronouns into Zoom and Canvas. It allows our community to be more inclusive, less alienating to trans & non-binary people, and to lessen the binary nature of society. 

Deadline Nov 29 to Order Acalanes DEI Yard Signs
Now available at shop.acalanesdons.com. Order yours today! Signs will be available for pick-up Dec 17 and 18.

Is Your Student Passionate About Equity Issues?
Sign up for these newsletters: 

• Acalanes Diversity Board: “Diversity and Equity”. Encourage your student to get involved by sending a DM to @acalanes.diversity. 
• Campolindo DEI: “Diversity Dispatch”. This is an inspiring student DEI effort at Campolindo. They are looking for student collaborators from across the district. Opinion pieces can be submitted using their website. 

Upcoming Dates: 

• Tuesday, Nov 10 from 7-8:30pm AUHSD DEI Book Club – Sign up here to join the book club discussion
• Monday, Nov 16 from 7-8:30pm – Sign up here to join the racial equity seminar series. 
• Wednesday, Nov 18, 7pm “Be an Upstander, Not a Bystander” with Lori Hayes –Parents are invited to join their students to listen to this conversation. Register here.

More information or questions? Email us or visit our webpage.

We are social! Come join us @acalanesdei on Facebook and be sure to follow us @acalanesdei on Instagram too!

Spirit Week Recap
Acalanes had such a great time connecting virtually using the GooseChase app. It was a nice way to connect with students & staff. See the ACAtober recap video via the leadership youtube page. 

Save the Date: Equity Week Nov 16-20

• Wednesday, Nov 18 at 7pm Lori Hayes “Be an Upstander, Not a Bystander” Equity speaker Lori Hayes will join us to dialogue about how we can address issues of equity on our campus and in our community. Register here!
• Every day, our equity clubs will be holding lunchtime events that will allow students to engage in education and dialogue about various issues of equity. Stay tuned for the calendar of events!

Save the Date: Tuesday, Nov 17 from 2:00 to 4:00p Senior “Friendsgiving”

If you have a senior, make sure your student marks their calendar for this “not-to-be-missed” event on campus. Senior students can sign up here 

Adopt-a-Family
Acalanes Community Outreach is pleased to announce that we will be commencing our annual Adopt-a-Family program in partnership with Families First, a Concord-based organization. All are invited to sign up to adopt individuals and provide wishlist items to make their holiday’s special. You sign up to adopt an individual, shop for them based on their wishlist items and then drop the wrapped presents off at Acalanes on December 11. This is an amazing opportunity for the Acalanes community and an exciting philanthropic partnership. Sign up here

2020-2021 Clubs
Club meetings continue this week. Encourage your student to attend even if they missed the first meeting last week. Check out our 45 clubs!

Save the Date: Wednesday, Dec 2 at 7pm – Women in Leadership #2 with Contra Costa County Deputy Attorney
Mark your calendar!

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

Katherine Walton, Student Activities Director

This last week was a lot, wasn’t it? We had daily open sessions at lunch time for students to visit and we used a “circles” process which comes from the field of restorative justice. It’s a beautiful trend in education that is based on Native American traditions. In this process, there are core values and guidelines and everyone who wants to share responds to a prompt. We all speak from our own experience and we focus on feelings–in the mind, heart, body. There’s no debate or responding, just listening to each other and meeting one another where we’re at. Students talked about being tired, anxious, and uneasy but as folks shared, the atmosphere lightened as it became more connected and everyone felt supported. It’s important to name these things. There’s an expression we love in Restorative Justice circles– “Everything that is needed is right here”. And that was true this week! Students talked about the need for self-care during difficult times–how to turn off social media and anxious thoughts, how to move our bodies to relieve tension, and how to CONNECT with family and friends when you’re feeling alone or overwhelmed. Another of our favorite tips that several students shared: “When you feel like you don’t have control, make a list and get stuff done!” And last but not least, when you can, take a day off which we’ll all do on Wednesday! 

Thursday, Nov 19 at 5:30p – “Caring for Oneself & Others”
Brought to you by the Contra Costa Crisis Center, and CourAge Youth Health Coalition. Register here to attend online. 

Allen Choi, Wellness Coordinator
Casey Sasner, Intake Specialist

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

Saturday, Nov 14 from 9a-1p – Practice ACT Exam
Live, online, proctored exam, cost: $10. Sign up here.

Monday, Nov 16 at 5:50p – US Air Force Info Night
Learn about scholarships, career and internship opportunities, admission requirements and the application process. Register here and check out this flyer for more details.

Tuesday, Nov 17 from 7-8pm – Junior Parent Naviance Workshop
Please log in to Wendy Reicher’s Zoom account using your student’s AUHSD Zoom account. Learn about the tools we use to guide your student through the college application process. CODE: 651 363 0875; Password: DONS2021.

One-on-one Appointments
Students can book an individual meeting with Ms. Reicher here. Please encourage your student to take advantage regardless of where they are in the process.

Helpful Links:

• Career Exploration
• Alternatives after High School
• Fall CCC Newsletter for updates!

Freshman College Planning
Sophomore College Planning
Junior College Planning
Senior Checklist

• CCC Website 
• Follow us on Instagram: @acalanesccc
• Facebook Page for Students Have your senior or junior join the College and Career Student FB page 

Keep up the good work! 
Wendy Reicher/College and Career Advisor: wreicher@auhsdschools.org

Seniors
Many seniors have still not ordered official transcripts for college apps or updated their Naviance accounts. Students pay the $5 fee for official transcripts on the webstore. Mrs. Finn, the registrar, will process requests. Documents will be sent electronically through Naviance whenever possible. Please contact Mrs. Finn with questions. Students can review unofficial transcripts in Aeries.

AP Exam Registration
AP Registration ends on November 12th! Any student that may be interested in taking AP Exams must be registered in AP Classroom by November 12th – no exceptions. Students then pay on the webstore. Exams need to be paid for by March 10. Contact Hannah Welling hwelling@auhsdschools.org with questions about registration.

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

Chicken Pox???
As of July 2019, two doses of varicella vaccine are required for California schools. Your student’s immunization record may need to be updated. Please check your records. If your student still needs the 2nd dose, this is a great time to get a FLU SHOT too! Flu vaccines are available at most medical practices and pharmacies. 

(Fore)HEADS-UP!
Part of our “new normal” needs to be checking our temperature each morning, especially if you are leaving your house to be in any public/social environment. That means if you don’t already have a thermometer, this is a good time to get one!

Be Covid Proactive!
See update on my google site. Stay healthy by keeping this symptom checklist in mind.

Parents: Feeling Overwhelmed? Who isn’t???
I found this TedTalk with Elizabeth Gilbert validating and nourishing.

Here’s a great one-pager on SLEEP to remind you why it’s so good for us.

Is your student interested in joining the Acalanes Health & Medicine Student Club? They meet at lunch on the 2nd and 3rd Tuesdays. Check it out here.

Please get in touch with me with any questions, concerns, and/or requests. I look forward to being in touch and connected!

Dvora Citron, RN, MS
Acalanes School Nurse Google Site
dcitron@auhsdschools.org
IG:  acalanesschoolnurse

Online Peer Tutoring
Now is a great time to remind your student to take advantage of Peer Tutoring. Thanks to your APC donations, Peer Tutoring is FREE and available for all academic subjects. No appointment is necessary and it’s easy to participate. Click here for the schedule. Students can access Peer Tutoring using the link emailed through Canvas every Monday morning. 

AHS + Lafayette: Better Together
Check out the signs in the city marquees in front of Safeway and Lafayette Park Hotel. It’s a great reminder of the growing partnership between our Dons community, the City of Lafayette and the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce. 

Last Chance to Donate – Ends Tomorrow! Canned Food Drive for the Contra Costa Food Bank
Bins are at the flagpole and in front of Whole Foods. 

ACA E-Thanks to Acalanes Teachers, Admin & Staff
This effort kicked off last week and there is already tremendously positive feedback from the emails and thank you notes. The goal is for each AHS staff member to receive an email of thanks. It’s not too late to sign up here to express gratitude. These emails make a difference!

Save the Date: ACA Days
The first round of ACA Days was so successful that next month each class will have their own ACA Day! Make sure your students mark their calendars for these “not-to-be-missed” events on campus. More details to follow. 

• • Frosh/Soph: Monday, November 16 from 3-5p
  • Juniors: Wednesday, November 18 from 3-5p
  • Seniors: Tuesday, November 17 from 2:30-4:30p

Tuesday, Nov 17 ACA Chat Live with Andrea Powers & Katherine Walton
The first interactive chat was a hit! Parents won’t want to miss the next one.

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

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3rd – have you voted yet? 
Whether you are mailing in your ballot (make sure it’s postmarked by Tuesday) or voting at the polls, this is your opportunity to voice your opinion. Not sure where to deliver the ballot? Go to: Find Your Vote Center and Dropbox Locations. Voting is a right and a privilege, so don’t miss out!  And be sure to fill out your entire ballot, because in addition to the presidential election, there are several critical state propositions and local elections which will directly affect our schools and students. 

You can find impartial analysis of all the propositions at https://votersedge.org/ca. And if you’ve ever wondered why California has a proposition system (perhaps while you’re wading through your ballot trying to decipher the various propositions), here’s a quick illustrated explanation.  Majority Rules: California’s Proposition Process Explained – The Lowdown.

Week ELEVEN in the Challenge to Build Habits Supporting Racial Equity
Antisemitism is on the rise, 75 years after the end of the Holocaust and Second World War. This week in Lafayette we experienced the ugliness of anti-semitism shown through the defacing of one family’s property, and of public property. In continuing to educate ourselves, we suggest you read about the increasing growth in anti-semitism around the world, and in this country. 

BIRT – What is it?
As you know, (Bias Incident Reporting Tool) is a part of AUHSD’s effort to promote a safe environment. It is a reporting system (not a policing tool) for incidents of bias, discrimination, micro-aggressions, racism, and sexism on/off campus, and/or during campus-related activities. It is a way to empower our students, faculty, and parents to speak up about incidents that may directly affect them or others. Click here to learn more. 

Upcoming Dates:

• Tuesday, Nov 10 from 7-8:30pm AUHSD DEI Book Club – Sign up here to join the book club discussion.
• Monday, Nov 16 from 7-8:30pm Racial Equity Series with Dr. Watson – Sign up here to join the seminar series. 
• Wednesday, Nov 18, 7pm “Be an Upstander, Not a Bystander” with Lori Hayes – Parents are invited to listen to this conversation. Register here. 

More information or questions? Email us or visit our webpage.

We are social! Come join us @acalanesdei on Facebook and be sure to follow us @acalanesdei on Instagram too!