Happy May! Congratulations to the seniors who made their final college decision!
Debbie Levy will be gone for the rest of the year, but the College & Career Center will be staffed with limited hours:
Monday – Closed
Tues/Th – Open during lunch and 7th period
Wed/Fri – Open during Academy and lunch
Finals Week – Closed
SENIORS
Senior Exit Survey: Important! If your student knows their post high school plan, please update Naviance. In order for final transcripts to be sent, students MUST go to “About Me” and “Surveys from Your School” and fill out “2023 Senior Exit Survey.” This is the only way transcripts are sent to colleges.
JUNIORS
Please stop by the College & Career during our open hours. Please also take a few minutes to complete this survey – https://forms.gle/iGfrVqLkdAK85VJ58.
Looking for college resources over the summer? Please see links below.
College Essay Guy
Free College Essay Resources for Students-
Registration required for live summer courses
How to Write the College Application + Supplemental Essays Course
https://www.collegeessayguy.com/how–to–apply–for–college
How to Write a Personal Statement Online Course for Students
https://www.collegeessayguy.com/how–to–write–a–personal–statement
Additional College Resources
https://www.collegeessayguy.com/college-application-hub
https://www.collegeessayguy.com/webinars-live-events
SOPHOMORES/FROSH
Volunteer Job Fair: There will be a volunteer job fair at Civic Park on Saturday, May 20 from 10am-1pm. Check out great opportunities to support your community!
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.
College & Career
Counseling
Counselor assignments are by last name:
A-Em Anne Schonauer
En-Kr Christina Castillo–Gallardo
Ku-Rog Marissa Meadows
Roh-Z Susan Martin
Summer School Information: The summer school website is up and running! Please use the link to get information about summer school offerings/dates. It will be at AHS this year! Please have your student see their counselor to sign up, get forms, and figure out which classes to take.
Geometry for Advancement: AUHSD does offer one course for advancement in summer – Geometry. This is an accelerated class designed for strong Algebra students (who have an A test average) to accelerate in math. Students may be placed in Algebra 2 or Algebra 2 Advanced upon completion of this class. Please have your student see their counselor for more information. This class also requires a teacher recommendation.
School Nurse
Teens and Caffeine:
It’s pretty common to walk around school in the morning (and even later) and see kids drinking “energy” drinks. Despite the normalization of caffeine products, there is NO official recommendation for caffeine consumption in youth aged 12-18 (NO caffeine is recommended for children under 12). However, for teens that DO consume caffeine, the recommendation is to keep it under 100 mg. Consider having a discussion about caffeine consumption and the following questions:
- How much caffeine is in your drink?
- What other ingredients are in it (sugar, creamer, etc.)?
- What other ways can you “get” energy? (Hint: sleep, healthy foods, exercise).
Alcohol:
Please take a look at this site. There is so much that is “normalized” about alcohol use, but I encourage you to send a strong message discouraging our underage students from using. Parents, please discuss with other parents how you can support creating opportunities for your kids to have fun without the dangers of alcohol use.
Dvora Citron, RN, MS
dcitron@auhsdschools.org
925-280-2970 x7128
IG: acalanesschoolnurse
Wellness Center
May is mental health awareness month! We celebrate this month to destigmatize mental health issues, provide support and generate awareness of what mental health means for all of us.
Destigmatizing mental health issues has played a huge role in making mental health care more widely accessible to those who need it. The implementation of Wellness Centers in AUHSD is largely in part to widespread efforts to normalize mental health and provide support at school, where students spend a huge portion of their time.
Mental health comes in all shapes and sizes. Many people assume that mental health struggles are a matter of pathology but, in reality, someone may have mental health challenges without ever receiving a diagnosis. When thinking about mental health in broad terms, a perfect analogy for understanding is a car. Cars need regular maintenance to make sure that things run smoothly for as long as possible and when things come up, a car needs to be checked out to get things back to baseline. Mental health is extremely similar in the sense that if we are not taking care of our mental health, it is more likely that things will come up. If these things are not addressed appropriately, they have the potential to impact our lives in ways that are less than ideal. The Acalanes Wellness Center is here to support your students no matter what their mental health looks like. Mental health is a journey, not a destination. Check in with your student for a better understanding of where they might be on their journey.
Performing & Visual Arts
Jazz Café at Stanley Middle School
The much-anticipated annual Jazz Café returns to Stanley Middle School on Friday, May 12 at 6pm. Lamorinda residents have long flocked to the popular “Jazz Café” event for a fun (and free) evening of jazz, coffee and dessert. There will also be a taco truck on hand. This year’s Café marks the debut of Stanley Middle School’s new music director Todd Minson. For more information, please contact dalianishimori@gmail.com.
Date: Friday, May 12
Time: 6pm
Location: Stanley Middle School
Performers include:
- Stanley Jazz Crusaders
- Stanley Jazz Messengers
- Stanley Chorus
- Campo Jazz Ensemble
- Acalanes Jazz Ensemble
Admission Price: Free
Sports
This week’s can’t miss events:
Softball
Monday, May 8 host Campolindo HS at 4:30pm
Tuesday, May 9 at Oakland Tech HS at 4:30 pm
Thursday, May 11 at Concord HS at 4:30pm
Baseball
Tuesday, May 9 Northgate HS at 4pm. Varsity is home and JV is away.
Thursday, May 11 Northgate HS at 4pm. Varsity is away and JV is home.
Boys tennis
Tuesday, May 9 NCS Team First Round
Thursday, May 11 NCS Team Quarterfinal
Saturday, May 13 NCS Team Semifinal and Championship
Boys volleyball
Tuesday, May 9 NCS Semifinal at 7pm
Thursday, May 11 NCS Championship at 7pm
Boys lacrosse
Tuesday, May 9 NCS Semifinal at 7pm
Thursday, May 11 NCS Championship at 7pm
Swimming
Friday, May 12 and Saturday, May 13 CIF Championships at Clovis West HS
Track & field
Saturday, May 13 NCS Tri-Valley Championships at Freedom HS
The spring sports 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.
General Administration Announcements
GRADUATION INFORMATION
Acalanes Class of 2023
Friday, May 26 at 6pm
APC in Action
Acalanes Staff Appreciation Lunch on May 11!
We are planning to treat our teachers and staff to a fabulous lunch spread on Thursday, May 11 to show them how much we appreciate all that they do! Please sign up here if you are able to help!
We’re in the home stretch…Let’s end the year with a grand slam as we FUEL our students during FINALS week!
Who’s on first? You! By donating and/or delivering snacks to our students during finals week May 24-26.
What’s on second? Shop our Amazon wish list and have it delivered to the Finals Fuel clubhouse or donate directly to the Costco Run (venmo @sheryl-platt-1 or paypal sheryl@slpdesigns.net )
Why on 3rd? Help our students re-energize between final exams!
I don’t know in left field? Click here for the Sign Up Genius that includes more information on donating and volunteering.
Please consider helping out at Prom and Grad Night!
We are in need of some additional help for both Prom and Grad Night – we literally can’t hold these momentous events without parental support, so we urge you to consider joining the team! There are many opportunities to help – and for those of you with younger students, this is a great chance to get some visibility into the fun that’s to come for your student(s)!
- PROM – Chaperone at SF City Hall – Saturday, May 13 – Sign up Here
- GRAD NIGHT – Check in, Bus & Cruise Volunteers – Friday, May 26 – Sign up Here
We can’t thank you enough for your time, support and generosity. YOU are what makes this ACA community so amazing!
APC Membership & Fundraising
Buy a Brick, Leave a Legacy…
There’s no better way to honor a Don than with a customized 2023 Legacy Brick on our Dons Legacy Wall! Prominently displayed in the Main Quad, our Dons Legacy Wall provides families a lasting way to recognize their special student, teacher, coach, team, performance group, club, and more. Purchase your brick through the Acalanes Web Store for $250. Contact Legacy Brick Coordinator Leanne Zimmerman with any questions.
