News & Announcements

General Administration Announcements

Congratulations! We are happy to announce that our very own Ava Freeman has been awarded the Contra Costa County Student Humanitarian of the Year! Contra Costa County proudly honors a high school student each year who is an inspiration to fellow students. Ava was nominated by Mr. Robert Porter, her Studio Art teacher, and was selected by the county for setting an example for others and living Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s dream of equality, peace, justice, non-violence, leadership and inspiration. We are incredibly proud of her!
 
Ava will be recognized at the 45th Annual Ceremony celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. King on Tuesday, Jan 17 at 11am. To learn more about this ceremony, visit www.contracosta.ca.gov/5307 on the Contra Costa County website.
 
Congrats Ava!

 
Mission and Vision Poster Design Contest

Calling all creative minds! AHS is proud to announce a student competition to design our newly adopted mission and vision classroom posters, sponsored by Project LPIE.
 
Check out past designs and poster requirement here: Poster Design Contest Details
 
Competition Winners: A committee of students, staff and LPIE Board Members will review all submissions. Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 designs and the top design will be printed and displayed in every classroom and in the office at AHS.
 
Students should submit their design to Principal Shawn at eshawn@auhsdschools.org or drop physical designs at the main office.
 
Deadline for Submissions: Jan 27. Parents, please encourage your students to participate!
 

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. Exam dates are May 1-5 and May 8-12.
 
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

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APC in Action

Finals Fuel in Action!
Thank you to all the families that contributed snacks, funds or time to hand out fun snacks and encouraging words to all our students between exams. This is a special Acalanes tradition and one of the best volunteer roles on campus. If you missed your opportunity to help this winter, don’t worry Finals Fuel will be back in the spring.

  
 Special thanks to our APC Co-Chairs Sheryl Platt and Janice Metzger!

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APC Membership & Fundraising

Want to make your APC donations go twice as far with Corporate Matching? You can easily check if your company has a matching program here. If you have any questions, please contact corpmatch@acalanesparentsclub.com.
 
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

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Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)

Please save Thursday, Jan 19 from 5:30-7pm for an important parent education event, creating community dialogue in supporting LGBTQ youth. Speaker J. Jessie Cohen (biolinked here) will share a developmental model, as well as case studies and tips for parents. We hope to create a community of support for our parents of LGBTQ youth, and this is a critical step towards that future. A registration link will be available soon. 

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Student Activities

Welcome back to the beginning of semester 2! We are excited to welcome students back to campus on Wednesday!
 
It is a slow week, however, here is a peek at some of the January activities:

  • Monday, Jan 9: District Equity Summit at Del Valle
  • Wednesday, Jan 11 @ lunch: Student Wellness Council
  • Thursday, Jan 12 @ lunch: Class of 2026 trivia in room 314
  • Friday, Jan 13 @ lunch: Spring Club Day

Next week, look for information about ‘23-’24 student government, the CLASS CUP, intramurals, and more!
 
Katherine Walton, Leadership Teacher

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College & Career

SENIORS
 
DVC Registration: Please tell your senior to join us during Academy on Wednesday, Feb 15 in the library for a DVC admissions’ presentation and registration details.
 
Acalanes College and Career Center Scholarship link: Seniors working on recycling projects? Check out the Recycle Smart Scholarshiphttps://www.acalanes.k12.ca.us/Page/2549 Diablo Valley Assistance League, RossmoorScholarship Foundation, and AAUW are also available- large scholarships for students with financial limitations.
 
FAFSA: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is available. The state is asking all seniors to fill out the FAFSA or to opt-out.
 
JUNIORS
 
ACT/SAT Practice Tests: Revolution Prep is offering a practice SAT and ACT: Practice ACT: Saturday, Jan 21, 9am-1pm
Practice SAT: Saturday, Jan 28, 9am-1pm
Live Online! Register here:  Acalanes HS partner landing page
 
Learn about Military Opportunities: The College and Career Center is hosting an Academy session with all 4 branches of the military on Wednesday, Jan 11 in Mr. Takahashi’s room 207. The Coast Guard, Army, Navy, and Marines will each do a short presentation during that time. After the presentations, students can ask individual questions of each branch.
 
1:1 appointments: If you’d like your child to start exploring career interests and begin looking at Naviance, please have them schedule an appointment here.
 
SOPHOMORES/FROSH
 
Save the Date: Attention 9th and 10th grade families—it is officially course selection season! AHS counselors will host a Frosh/Soph parent night Thursday, Jan 12 from 6-7pm in the AHS Library. Come hear info about graduation requirements, course selection process, and more. We look forward to seeing you there!
 
Volunteer Ideas: Have your student come by the CCC so I can learn about their interests. Check out this website for ideas too! It’s best to set a search filter for teens.
 
Please visit our College & Career Counseling website any time for additional information and support.  

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Counseling

Counselor assignments are by last name:
A-Em Anne Schonauer  
En-Kr Christine Todd / Christina CastilloGallardo during Spring 2023
Ku-Rog Marissa Meadows 
Roh-Z Susan Martin
 
Late Sign Up for AP Exams: Late registration options are still available, but will incur a late fee. Please see here for more details.
 
Welcome to Christina Castillo-Gallardo, our Counselor Sub, standing in for Christine Todd while she is on maternity leave during the Spring of 2023. Christina can be reached at ccastillogallardo@auhsdschools.org.
 
Frosh/Soph Parent Meeting Thursday, Jan 12 at 6pm in the AHS Library
Come hear our Counselor Marissa Meadows, College and Career Advisor Debbie Levy, and Counselor Sub Christina Castillo-Gallardo talk about course selection and preliminary college planning for rising 10th and 11th grade students (current 9th and 10th grade students).

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School Nurse

Happy 2023 and Welcome Back to School!
I hope everyone had a nourishing and restful winter break. Please test for Covid before returning to school on Wednesday. If your student is Covid+ or has another illness, please keep them home and inform the attendance office on the absence recorder (x7973).
 
Did you get your Bivalent Covid Vaccine?
Update your digital record here. It’s easy to schedule at your local pharmacy if you still need yours.
 
Here’s a great website on SLEEP.
 
Start the new year off right by starting the day strong – make time for breakfast!
Ask your student what kind of food they want in the morning before school.  If they sleep until the last minute, talk about what portable healthy food you can make available for them to grab on their way to school:

  • Cereal, instant oatmeal
  • Green smoothie
  • Breakfast burrito
  • Fruit (fresh and dried)
  • Nuts
  • PB&J
  • Healthy muffins

Dvora Citron, RN, MS
dcitron@auhsdschools.org
925-280-2970 x7128
IG: acalanesschoolnurse

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LPIE

Gala raffle tickets are now available for purchase. You can sign up for one here and we will contact you. There are two fabulous prizes:

  • STUNNING DIAMOND NECKLACE generously donated by Solano Jewelers
  • 5 NIGHTS AT THE LAKES COUNTRY CLUB, PALM DESERT generously donated by Sean and Danielle Gallager. 

Tickets are $100 and only 200 tickets will be sold! More information can be found here
 
Questions? Please contact Andrea Hilsabeck or Michele Colaco
Follow us on Instagram or visit www.lpie.org

 

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Sports

This week’s can’t miss events!

Boys Soccer
Tuesday, Jan 3 host Miramonte HS. Frosh at 3:30pm, JV at 5pm and Varsity at 7pm.
Thursday, Jan 5 at Campolindo HS. Frosh at 3:30pm, JV at 5pm and Varsity at 7pm.
 
Girls Soccer
Tuesday, Jan 3 at Alhambra HS. JV at 5pm and Varsity at 7pm.
Thursday, Jan 5  host Campolindo HS. Frosh-Soph at 3:30pm, JV at 5pm and Varsity at 7pm.
 
Girls Basketball
Wednesday, Jan 4 host Campolindo HS. JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7pm.
Friday, Jan 6 at Las Lomas HS. JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7pm.
 
Boys Basketball
Wednesday, Jan 4 at Campolindo HS. Frosh at 4pm, JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7pm.
Friday, January 6 host Las Lomas HS. Frosh at 4pm, JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7pm.
 
Wrestling
Friday, Jan 6 Napa Valley Girls Invitational
 
The winter sport schedules will be found on the AHS website by clicking here.
 
If you have any questions, please contact Randy Takahashi at rtakahashi@auhsdschools.org or Haley Walsh at hwalsh@auhsdschools.org.

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