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.
Parent Education
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)
Important Dates
- 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.
Please check out the new AUHSD DEIB website for many great resources and events! And follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
Performing & Visual Arts
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!
Student Activities
April Calendar of Events:
- 10-12 and 15-19: Prom bus sign-ups during lunch
- 17: Cultural Fair at lunch
- 18: Talent show at 6:30pm
- 19: Special Olympics
- 21-26: Earth Week
- 27: Prom
We hope your student will plan to celebrate diversity and promote cross-cultural understanding at the Cultural Fair on Wednesday, Apr 17 during lunch! Students can showcase the richness of their heritage by signing up for a booth at the Cultural Fair. They will have the opportunity to represent a country and be responsible for bringing and serving food from their chosen country and educating others about the cultures and traditions of their country. This can be done by sharing interesting facts, displaying flags and objects of cultural importance, or creating a poster board filled with relevant information. The event will be held throughout campus and participants will receive an email regarding their booth location closer to the date. Students can sign up here.
The Acalanes Annual Talent Show is happening on Thursday, Apr 18 at 6:30pm and it is a FULL show hosted by a couple of incredible seniors and features acts of all kinds. We are raising money for the SAGE club & the Community Improvement club. Come on out!
The Special Olympics are on Friday, Apr 19 beginning at 10am. Is your student volunteering? If so, there is a mandatory meeting on Apr 10 and Apr 12 (during academy) to train volunteers. Volunteers will get a reminder slip.
The 2024 Junior & Senior Prom is Saturday, Apr 27 at the San Francisco Exploratorium. Prom tickets are on sale now through Apr 19 via Go Fan. Click HERE for the printable permission slips. In order to get a bus assignment, students need a ticket and a signed permission form. Bus sign ups happen during lunch from Apr 10-12 and Apr 15-19.
We still have 2028 frosh spirit packs available for purchase. Spirit packs feature a limited edition 2028 hoodie, string backpack and lanyard. The last day to order these is Thursday, Apr 18 and items will be available for pick-up beginning Wednesday, May 1. All proceeds benefit the class of 2028.
Looking to stay informed? Follow us on Instagram for the latest on student activities and class happenings.
Katherine Walton, Activities Director
School Nurse
KEEP AN EYE ON SLEEP!
Based on recent feedback I’ve received from parents, I encourage you to talk with your child about sleep. They may not know how important it is and how much they need. You may be able to discuss together how to optimize their schedule so that they can get more of the sleep they need. Good quality and amount of sleep = academic success!
Acalanes students need SLEEP to:
- Excel in the classroom by maximizing attention, memory and learning abilities
- Perform better in sports by being faster, stronger and more accurate
- Feel positive and have a more optimistic attitude toward life
- Look their best and maintain a healthy weight
- Have fun and enjoy life by making better decisions and staying safe
Teens need between 8-10 hours of sleep per night. Working backwards, if your student can get to school on time if they sleep until 7am, they should be considering going to bed as early as 9pm but not later than 11pm. Parents can assist their students in prioritizing their sleep environment and sleep windows.
To optimize sleep quality, parents can help by:
- Keeping digital devices out of the room
- Leaving 3 hours between eating and going to sleep
- Having a wind-down time before bed
- Being prepared for the next day before going to bed (including having breakfast and snacks ready/available)
When you go visit prospective colleges, think about visiting the Student Health Center. They are expertly equipped to address a variety of health and wellness issues for 18-25 year olds, whose bodies and brains are still growing and developing
See my website for more information.
Always Your School Nurse,
Dvora Citron, RN, MS
dcitron@auhsdschools.org, 925-280-2970 x7128
IG: acalanesschoolnurse, School Nurse Website
Sports
This week’s can’t miss events:
Boys Golf
Monday, Apr 8 Varsity v. Northgate HS at Contra Costa CC at 3:30pm.
Boys Volleyball
Tuesday, Apr 9 host Berean Christian HS. JV at 5pm and varsity at 6:30pm.
Thursday, Apr 11 host Las Lomas HS. JV at 5pm and varsity at 6:30pm.
Saturday, Apr 13 Granite Bay Varsity Invitational.
Softball
Tuesday, Apr 9 Varsity host Mt. Diablo HS at 4:30pm.
Thursday, Apr 11 Las Lomas HS at 4:30pm. Varsity is away and JV is home.
Saturday, Apr 13 Vanden HS at 11am. Varsity is away and JV is home.
Baseball
Tuesday, Apr 9 Northgate HS at 4pm. Varsity is away and JV is home.
Thursday, Apr 11 Northgate HS at 4pm. Varsity is home and JV is away.
Saturday, Apr 13 Frosh at James Logan HS doubleheader at 11am and 1pm.
Boys Tennis
Tuesday, Apr 9 College Park HS at 3:30pm. Varsity is away and JV is home.
Thursday, Apr 11 Campolindo HS at 3:30pm. Varsity is away and JV is home.
Boys Lacrosse
Tuesday, Apr 9 at Washington HS. JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7pm.
Thursday, Apr 11 host Alhambra HS. JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7pm.
Girls Lacrosse
Tuesday, Apr 9 at University HS. Varsity at 3:30pm and JV at 5pm.
Friday, Apr 12 at Northgate HS. JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7pm.
Saturday, Apr 13 Frosh-soph at Miramonte HS at 9am.
Swimming
Thursday, Apr 11 host Clayton Valley Charter HS at 4pm.
Track & Field
Friday, Apr 12 and Saturday, Apr 13 host Bob Warren Relays.
Competitive Sport Cheer
Friday, Apr 12 Las Lomas HS at 5:30pm and Clayton Valley Charter HS at 6:30pm at Las Lomas HS.
Diving
Friday, Apr 12 host AUHSD meet at 4pm.
You may view the full 2023-2024 Athletic Schedule by clicking HERE.
APC in Action
DONS DIALOGUE – Listen to the Recording!
Don’t miss the video or slides from our most recent Dons Dialogue on Friday, Mar 22.
The agenda included a great discussion of the following;
- Special Education Highlight with Claire and Erin*
- Special Olympics review from Walton
- English and Social Science Department Highlights from Barth and Schottland
- ASB Student Report with Zoya
*In case you missed it, please visit here to enjoy the recent National News Clip that highlights some of the amazing work happening in our SPED classrooms! Congratulations to Ms Hall and Mason!
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 Sign Up Genius. Thanks for your help and GO DONS!
DONS SHOWED UP FOR ROBERT PAYLOR
Our Lamorinda community really showed up last week for the inspirational talk with Robert Paylor. See below for some important takeaways from the talk.
If you were unable to attend and hear Robert’s story, “Paralyzed to Powerful”, we encourage you to read more about his story here.
APC is proud to bring important events like this to our Acalanes Community. Thank you to everyone who contributes to APC. Your support enables events like this.
Acalanes Community Always (ACA)
ACABOTS IS LOOKING FOR SPONSORS!
Acabots, the Acalanes High School Robotics team, engages students in engineering and robotics, aiming for victory in FRC California competitions. We rely on sponsorships to fund new parts, equipment, registration fee, and create wonderful experiences. Our club welcomes all students, covering diverse tasks from design to programming. We’re seeking business and personal sponsors to support our endeavors. If you are interested in supporting us, please contact lucas.ulbrich25@auhsdschools.o
Go Dons!
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.
Parent Education
TRANSITION IEPs, PLANS AND GOALS — HOW TO BUILD THEM
Please join us on Wednesday, Mar 27 at 7pm for an informative workshop presented by Sarah Fairchild of the Tollner Law Firm on transition IEPs, plans and goals and how to build them. We will look at students’ legal rights and entitlements as well as practical strategies for creating effective transition plans and evidence-based best practices in transition planning. This event will take place in the Acalanes library.
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)
Upcoming Important Dates:
- Women’s History Month (March)
- Disability Awareness Month (March)
- Gender Equality Month (March)
- Mar 25 Holi celebrated
- Mar 31 Easter and Trans Day of Visibility
Holi has immense religious significance for Hindus and is one of the most popular Hindu festivals celebrated with much enthusiasm and fanfare across India. Also known as The Festival of Color, in West Bengal, Assam and Tripura, it is also known as the ‘Dol jatra’ or ‘Basanta Utsav’. Traditionally celebrated in late February or early March in the Gregorian calendar, Holi marks the arrival of spring and the end of winter, coinciding with the full moon or Purnima on the evening of the Hindu month of Phalguna. It’s a time for people to come together, put aside their differences and celebrate life’s brighter moments.
Easter, also called Pascha or Resurrection Sunday, is a Christian festival and cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in the New Testament as having occurred on the third day of his burial following his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary c. 30 AD.
International Transgender Day of Visibility (often referred to as TDOV or Trans Day of Visibility) is an annual event occurring on Mar 31 dedicated to celebrating transgender people and raising awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide, as well as a celebration of their contributions to society. Joe Biden officially proclaimed Mar 31, 2021 as a Transgender Day of Visibility, saying in part, “I call upon all Americans to join in the fight for full equality for all transgender people.” Biden was the first American president to issue a formal presidential proclamation recognizing the event. Biden issued a similar proclamation a year later, welcoming Jeopardy! contestant and local transgender woman Amy Schneider to the White House and announcing a set of measures intended to support transgender rights.
Please check out the new AUHSD DEIB website for many great resources and events! And follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
