Parent Education

Academy with a Purpose
 Our students attend academy on Wednesday and Friday mornings from 10:10-11:05am. Students use TeachMore (an online platform) to select where they would like to go for academy or teachers can also tag a student to attend their academy for test make-ups or targeted support.
 
Ask your student(s) where they are going for academy each week and encourage them to make a good selection. These periods are a great time to get homework completed, work on group projects or participate in enrichment activities. Peer Tutoring is always a valuable option during the academy periods as well.

Yield at the “Shark’s Teeth” for Dons
Last fall, the city installed a raised crosswalk by the school entrance to improve safety. Please give pedestrians space by stopping at the “Shark’s Teeth”. These triangles indicate where vehicles (autos and bikes) must stop when there are pedestrians crossing. Please also pass this tip on to any Dons who are new to driving. Thanks for your help in keeping our students safe!

Preparing for a Teen Driver – Free Parent Information Night
We know that the process of teaching your teen how to drive and earn their license can feel daunting. That’s why we are excited to offer an informative presentation by driving experts and Greenlight Simulation founders Jason Zimmerman and Josh Hurley. They will lay out the steps to acquire a license and provide some foundational tips on how to approach behind-the-wheel driver training with your teen.

• What: Parent Pit Stop – A Guide To Getting Your Teen Behind The Wheel
• When: Thursday, Feb 6 – 6:30-7:30pm
• Where: Acalanes High School Library

Click here for more information and to RSVP (space is limited).

Here are some valuable pro-tips from seasoned student leaders that we want to share:

• Check in with your students about finals. Encourage them to take advantage of the many resources available to help study and de-stress. Visit the APC website for a reminder of resources available. You can even print the handy exam schedule here.
• Encourage your student to visit the RogerHub website to utilize their Final Grade Calculator. Some students find it helpful to calculate what score they need to achieve on their final exam in order to get the semester grade they desire in the class.

Let’s face it, finals can be a stressful time not only for our students, but also us parents, so hang in there!

Yield at the “Shark’s Teeth” for Dons
This fall, the city installed a raised crosswalk by the school entrance to improve safety. Please give pedestrians space by stopping at the “Shark’s Teeth”. These triangles indicate where vehicles (autos and bikes) must stop when there are pedestrians crossing. Please also pass this tip on to any Dons who are new to driving.
 
Thanks for your help in keeping our students safe!

Virtual Parent Education Night: Song for Charlie- Fentanyl Awareness
Thursday, Nov 7 from 6:30-9pm

STUDENTS SHOULD CHECK OUT THE CAFETERIA!
Did you know that Acalanes offers free breakfast, brunch and lunch for all students? Our amazing cafeteria staff prepares a variety of tasty baked goods and meals from scratch every day, making it easy for our students to stay fueled for success. As a reminder, Acalanes is a closed campus, so students are not allowed to leave during lunch. Encourage your students to take full advantage of the free meals on campus – or take a few extra minutes to pack a lunch in the morning.
 
If you’d like to see the cafeteria in action, please sign up here to come help out at lunch. We have a fun new volunteer opportunity available on Mon, Wed and Fri at lunch. Sign up here.

ATTENDANCE Q&A – PART 2
What does my student do if they are marked absent by their teacher and it is an error?
Have the student come into the attendance office to get a teacher correction form.
 
Do I need to excuse my student if they already have an early dismissal for sports?
No. Early sports dismissals are included in the Daily Don (email and/or text) sent from the office each morning.
 
If my student returns with a medical/dental note, do I still need to call the attendance line?
Yes, the absence still needs to be verified by a parent. Please call the 24-hour attendance line at 925-280-3973.

Song for Charlie – Educational Presentation about the Dangers of Fentanyl
This is a district wide Parent Education Night on fentanyl awareness. Join us on Oct 8 from 6:30-8pm at Los Lomas High School Theatre to view a documentary produced by the nonprofit organization Song for Charlie followed by a Q & A panel.

GRADING WINDOWS AND REMINDERS
Parents/guardians should have received an email last week from Parent Square with a Progress Report for your student(s). Note, the Progress Report shows just a snapshot of the grading status on Friday, Sep 20 and may already show something different in Canvas now.
 
1st Semester Grading Window:

• Q1 Progress Report: Sep 20
• Q1 Ends: Oct 11
• Q2 Progress Report: Nov 8
• Semester 1 Ends: Dec 20

The best way to support our students academically is not necessarily through these report cards but more so by being an “Observer” in Canvas and encouraging and assisting our students with self-advocacy.
 
The Acalanes educational philosophy reinforces the learning over the points. When reviewing Canvas with your students please help your students keep this in mind.
 
If you have questions about grading or resources for students please attend our next Dons Dialogue (Oct 18) for open discussion on topics like this and more.