Archived Posts

The DEI committee invites you to Celebrate Diversity throughout the month of April! Our country and our world is filled with a rainbow of races, religions, and stories…some of which we understand and some we don’t. This month alone we celebrate our Arab-American history, Scottish-American history, Jews celebrate Passover this week (do you know what a seder is?), Christians celebrate Easter next (do you know where the word Easter comes from?), Muslims celebrate Ramadan (do you know what Eid al-Fitr is?), we recognize Autism Awareness month, and we focus on National Child Abuse Prevention month. 

Try to take the time to involve yourself in culture, religion, and language that you don’t usually hear about in your daily life. Get creative with food, watch a documentary or movie that you might know nothing about, listen to music you haven’t heard, hug your children and help them learn to not judge “otherness.” This is our work as people of this Earth. Did we mention that it’s Earth Month too?!

Volunteer opportunities for Acalanes DEI – get involved!
We are looking for new people to join our efforts and get in on the highly relevant work of DEI. Email us! If you believe in the need for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and enjoy writing, are a social media wizard or interested in web content creation, come join us! 

Buy a Brick, Leave a Legacy!
There’s no better way to honor a Don than with a customized 2021 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 $200 until May 15; after that, the price increases to $250. Questions? Contact Legacy Brick Coordinator Melissa Arends.

If you have any questions, please contact VP Fundraising Kelly Daggs.

Here we go! Let’s make the most of April & May together-we are ACA Strong!

April 25-30 Homecoming Week 2021 Let’s enter the DECADES together! 

• Class of 2021 – The 1980’s
• Class of 2022 – The 1990’s
• Class of 2023 – The 1970’s
• Class of 2024 – The 2000’s

There will be many ways for students to get involved in Homecoming Week, both virtually and on campus. Look out for the calendar of events next week. But in the meantime, get excited for two long-standing Acalanes traditions & mark your calendars:

• Sunday, April 25th Hallway Decorating

Students will sign up to work shifts to decorate their class hallway. It is transformational, and our students have fun and do a wonderful job.

• Thursday, April 29th (evening) Live-streamed Virtual Rally

An event for the whole family! Complete with class skits, live performances by incredible students, and more. 

Encourage your student to participate! Let’s do the decades, Acalanes! 

Join the fun & buy an ACA Parent/Sibling Strong Shirt. This is a grey version of the student/staff ACA Strong shirt. You can purchase now via the Acalanes webstore for $10 and pick up from Acalanes after you receive your confirmation email. 

Monday, April 5 Acalanes Leadership Applications Available
Is your 8th grader interested in joining student government at Acalanes? Applications will be available electronically on the Acalanes home page or by emailing Katherine Walton beginning tomorrow and are due April 16th. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to reach out to Katherine Walton.

Sunday, April 18 Deadline To Order Frosh Spirit Packs!
Know an 8th grader? Frosh spirit packs are a great promotion gift and kick off to a career at Acalanes! Each pack is $53 and features a hooded sweatshirt, car magnet & cinch backpack. Proceeds go to the Class of 2025. Order deadline is April 18 and packs will be delivered to your house beginning May 7. Order here.

Monday, April 26 (morning) District Diversity Summit
Know a student who is interested in equity work or already engaged in it? On April 26th the district will host the district diversity summit which is a chance to hear a keynote speaker and connect with other student leaders. Email Katherine Walton if interested in attending.

2020-2021 Clubs
Club meetings continue. Check out our 49 clubs! Clubs continue to be one of the best ways for students to connect as we enter quarter 4. 

If I can ever do anything to help you or your student, don’t hesitate to reach out!

Katherine Walton, Student Activities Director

Welcome Debbie Levy: A New Face in the College & Career Center!
I’m very excited to be the new AHS College & Career Center advisor. I work actively with the Acalanes counselors to support your students and look forward to meeting with the Juniors before school ends to ensure they understand how to use Naviance effectively. 

Seniors

• Update Naviance with College Decisions/Exit Survey Congratulations to all seniors!  Please 1) log into Naviance 2) Click on About Me 3)Choose Surveys from Your School 4)Click Senior Exit Survey to update the decisions. This is how your students’ final transcripts will be sent!

• DVC Applications – It’s time to apply to DVC or other community colleges. The registration deadline is May 8. I can help students if they join my Academy and/or they can sign up for this very informative upcoming Webinar led by DVC staff and students April 8 at 2:30pm.
  
• Admission Decisions – This is a busy time for admissions decisions to roll out. Remind your students to check ALL emails from schools to make sure they don’t miss anything. If you have any questions about an admission decision or financial aid, reach out directly to the university. 

• Scholarships – There are still scholarships available. Naviance has many listed under the colleges section. Some deadlines are quickly approaching. Some applications require essays, so students should plan ahead. Here are some links to other scholarship sites:
  • https://student.naviance.com/acalanes 
  • https://www.niche.com/colleges/scholarships/ 
  • https://www.fastweb.com/college-scholarships
  • https://www.scholarships.com/financial-aid/college-scholarships/scholarship-directory/school-year/high-school-senior
  • https://scholarships360.org/scholarships/top-scholarships-for-high-school-seniors/ 

Juniors

• SAT Testing Reminder – Although many schools are test-optional, there are 2 upcoming SAT dates for students who may have prepared for these exams already.  Locations are limited, but do check the College Board website to register for the May 8 or June 5 SAT administrations. Deadlines are soon.  
• “Junior Jump Start” College Visits for six small liberal arts colleges on April 22 at 5pm. This is an interesting opportunity to get to know Williams, Carleton, Amherst College, Swarthmore, Pomona College, and Bowdoin. Tell your friends! Click here for the sign up.
• More Virtual College Visits – Check out these informative Virtual College Visits on April 14 & April 28 from 5:00-7:45pm. Students will have the opportunity to interact and ask questions of a large group of college admissions officers from very popular colleges. The program will also include sessions on topics such as finding a college that fits, paying for college, and writing a college essay presented by college admission counselors.
• First-Generation Students – The district has excellent resources to help students who are first in their family to go to college. Sessions on Deciphering Financial Aid Award Letters: Zoom- April 6th @ 4:30PM & Post High School Options:  Zoom- April 13th @ 4:30PM.

All Students
Please feel free to call me at 925-280-3975, email me at dlevy@auhsdschools.org. I’m available for Academy visits for six students from 11:30am-noon Tuesday-Friday. You can also reach me for appointments on Mondays with your students by clicking here. I look forward to working with your families! 

Resources:

• CCC Website 
• How to request a transcript
• College 101
• Internships and Volunteering Ideas
• Scholarships

June 7 through July 15 AUHSD Summer School
Summer school is for students who need to repeat a required course after earning a D or F grade. Email your counselor for an application.   

Counselor Appointments
We love talking to our students! Email is the best way to reach us. Counselors have appointment slots for students and will email them a link for signing up.  

A- Ed  Anne Schonauer
Ee-Kr  Christine Todd
Ku-Ros  Marissa Meadows
Rot-Z  Susan Martin

The American Rescue Plan which President Biden signed on March 11th will send significant amounts of one-time funding to schools and colleges nationwide. In California, $15.3 billion will be allocated to K-12 schools, while another $5 billion is going to California’s colleges and universities. For more specific information on how much funding our district will receive and how it compares to other districts around the state, see here: Find out how much California school districts and charter schools will get in Covid relief | Database

Questions? Email our APC Legislative Representative.

COVID and Back-to-School

• All students should complete screening online BEFORE leaving home for school in the morning. 
• If your student has any symptoms that fall within the COVID symptom list, please keep them at home and call in their absence to the Attendance Recorder.
• Please connect with me ASAP if your student has COVID, a known exposure to COVID, or is experiencing COVID symptoms. I will be in touch as soon as possible to discuss next steps.

COVID Resources and Protocols
Available on the District website and on my site.

Thursday, April 8 at 4pm “Pandemic Parenting: Supporting Teen Mental Health” Webinar
Join us for this webinar, where Dr. Archana Basu will discuss how the pandemic is affecting teen, parent, and family mental health. Dr. Basu will provide practical evidence-based ways to manage parental stress, and share tips for communicating with and supporting teens and young adults.

Stay healthy and be well,

Dvora Citron, RN, MS
Acalanes School Nurse Google Site
dcitron@auhsdschools.org
IG:  acalanesschoolnurse

Acalanes Performing Arts Booster Scholarship
APAB will award one $1,000 scholarship to a Senior in the Acalanes Class of 2021 who participates in either Choral Music, Drama or Instrumental Music with an intent to major or minor in a performing art at a two or four-year college, university, or performing arts school. Applications are available now and must be submitted by May 1. Click here for the application.

This week’s can’t miss events:

Softball

• Tuesday, April 6 Varsity hosts Ygnacio Valley HS at 4:3pm.
• Thursday, April 8 Varsity hosts Miramonte HS at 4:30pm. 

Girls lacrosse

• Tuesday, April 6 at Campolindo HS. JV at 5:30pm, Varsity at 7:30pm.
• Thursday, April 8 hosts Campolindo HS. JV at 5:30pm, Varsity at 7:30pm.
• Saturday, April 10 JV at Berkeley HS at 12pm.

Boys soccer

• Tuesday, April 6 hosts Clayton Valley Charter HS. JV at 5:30pm, Varsity at 7:30pm.
• Thursday, April 8 at Campolindo HS. JV at 5:30pm, Varsity at 7:30pm.

Football

• Saturday, April 10 hosts Miramonte HS. JV at 4pm, Varsity at 7pm.
• Saturday, April 10 Freshmen at Amador Valley HS at 1pm.

Track & field

• Saturday, April 10 hosts Northgate HS at 9am.

Click this link to see a list of current sports and their full schedules.

This Week’s Hybrid School Schedule
Here is the school schedule this week.

Free Breakfast and Lunch Cafe Meals
Free breakfast and lunch meals are available during school days to all AUHSD students. These meals are “grab and go” in order to minimize lines. Meals include an entree, fruit, and milk. To ensure accurate meal counts, student IDs are scanned at meal pick-up. These free meals are courtesy of a USDA waiver. No a la carte food items will be offered at this time. Please direct any questions about this program to foodservices@auhsdschools.org.

Academy Reminder
Students participating in either the Hybrid In-Person Model or Fully Remote Model will both have access to Academy twice per week. Access the schedules here. And please help your students remember these tips:

• When students sign up to attend Academy with a specific teacher, please remind them to make sure their class year matches the slot offered. Many teachers teach several different grade levels and have earmarked certain Academy times for specific grades. 
• If possible, encourage your student to sign up for both of their weekly Academy sessions on Monday.

Reminder: Required Health Screening
All students and all school visitors are required to complete a COVID-19 screening every day that they come to school. Health screenings should be completed in the morning prior to arriving on campus. AHS recommends that students use the cell/mobile set up as it allows for a daily text reminder. Email registration is also available. 

• Pro tip: Students should screen shot their “all clear” page and use it as their home screen. This “all clear” page is required to enter campus, but the page disappears from the website after logging off.

AUHSD COVID and Antibody Testing
Be sure to take advantage of AUHSD weekly testing services scheduled each Monday at one of the district’s high school campuses. Watch your email for weekly reminders and a link to make your appointment. 

Additional Resources

• Log in to Aeries PASS parent portal to confirm your student’s cohort; refer to the District website for your student’s specific schedule as determined by their Cohort.
• Visit this District webpage for the latest details regarding hybrid instruction including student schedules, FAQs, and more. 
• View Contra Costa County tier metrics here.