APC

Parent Education

INSIDE THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PROCESS
Thank you to everyone that came out to the library last Wednesday (and over 100 of you online) to hear directly from John Duarante about some behind the scenes information in the college admissions process. Debbie Levy, our head of the college and career counseling center, was a fantastic host!

In case you missed it, you can watch the zoom HERE (Passcode: dg93mEF*)

His biggest message was for students to make a really great “marketing packet” about themselves and their time in high school. He also made it clear that there are things students can control and things they cannot…and everyone should be looking to find the best fit for themselves and not their parents or friends.
Several parents have also asked for the A-Z list of his podcasts:


SPECIAL NEEDS TRUSTS AND ESTATE PLANNING FOR SPECIAL NEEDS KIDS
Please join us for a workshop presented by special needs planning attorney, Jonathan Thompson*, on estate planning for children with special needs.

Special needs planning is a specialized area of the law that focuses on protecting public benefits for people with special needs, while at the same time facilitating a higher quality of life. Jonathan Thompson will provide information on special needs plans that can provide a framework for proper  medical care and management of assets, as well as protect assets from creditors and predators. He will discuss the essential characteristics of special needs trusts, how they work and how to set one up.

To receive SEED High School updates, sign up for the high school newsletter here.
 * Jonathan is an attorney with the Thompson Law Offices in Walnut Creek.

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Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)

Important Dates

  • April – Autism Awareness month
  • Apr 22 Passover begins

This year, Passover begins tomorrow, April 22 at sundown and ends on Tuesday, April 30 at sundown. Passover, or “Pesach” in Hebrew, is an eight-day (or seven in Israel) celebration that commemorates the Jewish people’s escape from slavery in ancient Egypt. Passover involves several traditional events that honor the history of the Jewish people. During the first two nights of Passover, a Seder meal is hosted, which includes ritual blessings and symbolic food and drinks. Additionally, Passover customs require several changes to daily life. During Passover, observant Jews forgo leavened grain and bread products. Instead, these foods are replaced with matzah, an unleavened cracker or flatbread. Some households also refrain from working, driving, and using electricity. You can learn even more here.
 
DEI’s ‘24/25 planning is underway. Please share any thoughts or ideas you have with us here. This is a collaborative process; we encourage participation. It is important that a plethora of voices and ideas are heard. We are also looking for members of our community that would like to be more involved. Time commitment and involvement is up to you but the more you do, the bigger impact you will have on our Acalanes community.

Please check out the new AUHSD DEIB website for many great resources and events! And follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

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Parent Education

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 Wednesday, 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.
 

SPECIAL NEEDS TRUSTS AND ESTATE PLANNING FOR SPECIAL NEEDS KIDS
Please join us for a workshop presented by special needs planning attorney, Jonathan Thompson*, on estate planning for children with special needs.

Special needs planning is a specialized area of the law that focuses on protecting public benefits for people with special needs, while at the same time facilitating a higher quality of life. Jonathan Thompson will provide information on special needs plans that can provide a framework for proper  medical care and management of assets, as well as protect assets from creditors and predators. He will discuss the essential characteristics of special needs trusts, how they work and how to set one up.

To receive SEED High School updates, sign up for the high school newsletter here.
 * Jonathan is an attorney with the Thompson Law Offices in Walnut Creek.

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APC Membership & Fundraising



 

Buy a Brick, Leave a Legacy…
There’s no better way to honor a special Don than with a customized 2024 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 $300.
Questions?Contact Legacy Brick Coordinator, Leanne Zimmerman.

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Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)

Important Dates

  • April – Autism Awareness month
  • Apr 22 Passover begins

DEI’s ‘24/25 planning is underway. Please share any thoughts or ideas you have with us here. This is a collaborative process; we encourage participation. It is important that a plethora of voices and ideas are heard.

We are also looking for members of our community that would like to get more involved. Do you have a student member of an equity club on campus? Would you like to help them be more successful? Consider joining the APC DEIB committee, as we are actively trying to promote our student groups on campus.
 
Please check out the new AUHSD DEIB website for many great resources and events! And follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

Read more

Parent Education

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.

Read more

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.
 
EidAlFitr 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.

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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.

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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.

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Parent Education

POWERFUL COMMUNITY EDUCATION EVENT TUESDAY, MAR 19
Students, parents and community members are encouraged to attend “Paralyzed to Powerful” with Robert Paylor on Tuesday, Mar 19 at 7pm. This event will take place in the Acalanes Performing Arts Center (PAC) and while the event is free, we ask that you RSVP so we can plan accordingly.

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