Archived Posts

On Monday, we will be providing a workshop for teachers on creating an anxiety toolkit to benefit students as they transition to whatever learning module they are will be in for the remainder of the year. Please be sure to talk to your students about the transition ahead. It will take the community time and patience to adjust. 

And don’t forget: Alcohol, Cannabis & Prescription Drug Expert Panel, is scheduled for Tuesday, March 30 at 5:30 pm. This live webinar will focus on a panel of local adult and youth experts to discuss the impact of alcohol, cannabis, and prescription drugs on young people in our communities and share resources for youth and adults. You may register here. This will be simultaneously interpreted in Spanish. 

Allen Choi, Wellness Coordinator
Casey Sasner, Intake Specialist

For updates, tips and advice, follow Wellness on Social Media: Instagram @acalaneswellness

Seniors

• DVC Registration (for graduating students only) Enrollment presentations sign up
• This is a busy time for admissions decisions to roll out. Remember to check ALL emails from schools to make sure you don’t miss anything. If you have any questions about an admission decision or financial aid reach out directly to the university. 

• Congratulations to all seniors who have heard from schools already!!! These are such exciting times. It is very helpful for everyone to log into Naviance and update the decisions. 

• 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

• Sunday, March 14 Virtual College Fair – St. Mary’s usually hosts a huge fair with over 100 colleges; this year it is virtual. This is a great time to connect with schools you want to get more information about and a great way to connect with admissions reps. 

• • https://www.strivescan.com/wacac/

Resources:

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

Resources:

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

Friday, March 12 – Third Quarter Ended
Teachers have most of next week to update grades. The 3rd quarter progress report will be officially available in Aeries by Tuesday, March 23.  

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.  Counselors will still be doing most of our appointments via Zoom when hybrid instruction begins. (Remember how small the offices are!)  

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

Our school district has an agreement in place to re-open, but other school districts, especially the largest ones in the state, have not been able to achieve this. Now Governor Newsom and state legislators have reached a deal which should accelerate the process by providing hefty incentives to reopen and removing some of the obstacles about which school districts had complained. Meanwhile, the federal government has confirmed that standardized testing must resume this year, meaning students still in remote learning in California would be asked to take standardized tests at home. The state is applying for a waiver to give California some flexibility on how and when the tests are administered within the 2020-2021 school year.

Questions? Email our APC Legislative Representative.

This week’s can’t miss events:

Boys tennis

• Tuesday,March 16 at Campolindo HS at 3:30pm.  Varsity is away, JV is home.
• Thursday, March 18 Miramonte HS at 3:30pm.  Varsity is home, JV is away.

Girls lacrosse

• Tuesday, March 16 Varsity hosts Miramonte HS at 7:30pm and JV hosts Concord HS at 5:30pm.
• Thursday, March 18 Varsity at Miramonte HS at 7:30pm and JV at Concord HS at 5:30pm.

Softball

• Tuesday, March 16 Varsity at Monte Vista HS at 4pm.
• Thursday, March 18 v. San Ramon Valley HS at 4pm. Varsity is home, JV is away.

Golf

• Wednesday, March 17 Campolindo HS at Moraga CC 3:30pm.

Football

• Saturday, March 20 host Las Lomas HS. Freshmen at 1:30pm, JV at 4pm and Varsity at 7pm.

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

This Week’s School Schedule
As AHS prepares to open for hybrid instruction, the following calendar is in effect for March 8 through March 12

• Monday, March 8: Non-school day for all students
• Tuesday, March 9 through Friday, March 12:
  • In-person student orientation (see schedule below) 
  • Asynchronous schedule. Students must check in each day at 9am with their Cohort Academy teacher. 
  • On Tuesday & Wednesday, students will have required modules in Canvas regarding health and safety during hybrid learning. 
  • On Thursday and Friday, teachers will assign regular coursework.

Tuesday through Friday from 10a to 12n Student Orientation
Student orientation is required for all students attending in-person school; students not attending school in person are welcome but it is not mandatory. Orientation is approximately 40 minutes for grades 10 through 12; 60 minutes for 9th graders. Refer to this online document for event details and specific times by last name.

• Tuesday, March 9 – Seniors
• Wednesday, March 10 – Juniors
• Thursday, March 11 – Sophomores
• Friday, March 12 – Frosh

Required Health Screening
All students are required to complete a COVID-19 screening every day that they come to school, including next week’s orientation. Health screenings should be completed in the morning prior to arriving at school. AHS recommends that students use the cell/mobile set up as it allows for a daily text reminder. Email registration is also available. 

Student Cohort Reminder
All students have been assigned a group based on their selection of either in-person hybrid or fully-remote learning. Please log in to Aeries PASS parent portal to confirm your student’s group. Refer to the district website for your student’s specific schedule as determined by their group.

Additional Resources

• ICYMI: Read Principal Bell’s email from March 2 detailing AHS projected return to hybrid guide and checklist
• Visit this District online document for the latest details regarding the return to hybrid instruction including student schedules, FAQs, timelines and more. 
• View Contra Costa County tier metrics here

2021-2022 Looking for Volunteers for the APC Board and Committees
The nominating process for the upcoming APC board and related volunteer positions is underway. The APC Nominating Committee is looking for volunteers to fill a handful of positions. Job descriptions can be found here. If you’re interested in getting involved in a small (or large) role with APC, please reach out to APC Parliamentarians Dawn Brightbill &Sarah Cusumano at parliamentarian@acalanesparentsclub.com. 

APC Spring Grants Deadline Extended One Week to Friday, March 19!
Now is the chance to submit your ideas to enhance the educational experience of AHS students! Teachers, students, staff and parents are welcome to submit a grant proposal. Click here to learn more about past grants and program guidelines, and fill out an application. Email completed applications to Catherine Habas at or drop in the APC box in the office. 

Application Deadline Extended to May 1, 2021 – Acalanes & President’s
Volunteer Service Awards Program
Due to the continued challenges of identifying and completing volunteer work during COVID, we extended the deadline so students can finish service hours and submit applications. Visit the website for details and encourage your student to participate! 

ACA Back to School “March Madness”
It’s almost time to welcome hybrid students back on campus!! With a return to Hybrid date of March 16, it’s time to pump up the ACA spirit to new levels! Here are some ways to do so:

• Fly your ACA flag!! Don’t have one? Buy one on the webstore! (See Fundraising section for details.)
• Decorate your student’s mailbox for the first day of Hybrid (decoration kits will be available during “Back to School” hybrid orientation)
• Get your students ready to wear ACA STRONG shirts on Hybrid Day 1, March 16. Students who didn’t pick up an ACA Strong shirt at the last ACA Day can pick one up at Back to School Hybrid Orientation.
• Senior & Junior Car Painting – March 14th from 1-2:30 in the Acalanes parking lot. We will provide the paint!
• 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. 

Questions, comments, or feedback, email aca@acalanesparentsclub.com.

New Start Time! Wednesday, March 10 from 6-7:30pm Dr. Michael Rich, “The Mediatrician”
Join us online for an informative talk with Dr. Michael Rich, Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Center of Media and Child Health. He will focus on understanding and responding to the ways in which teens and families are affected by the interactive media we use and how we use them. Dr. Rich will also reframe the issue of screen use in adolescents from the values-based “right vs wrong” debate that has prevailed since the earliest days of television to an evidence-based public health issue – how we are changed by our media use, in positive and negative ways, so that parents, teachers, clinicians, and society at large can make critical decisions in raising the next generations to be healthy, happy, and kind.

• No advanced registration is required. Click here to join the event! 

Project LPIE Is Here!
Project LPIE is an annual competition that celebrates Acalanes High School students for their project-based learning, both inside and outside the classroom, with opportunities for entry in 10 different categories. This event is open to all Acalanes High School students. Cash prizes are awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. Students must let LPIE know they want to submit a project by completing the online registration form here. For more details visit lpie.org.

• March 22 – Register for Project LPIE 
• April 12 – Projects due 
• May 6 – Winners will be announced and notified by LPIE 

This week, during LPIE’s “It’s Up to All of Us” video series, parent Eli Chan sheds light on the value of “people” funded by LPIE, which makes up 72% of the support LPIE gives to our schools. These are skilled individuals who provide instruction, expanded learning opportunities, mental health services, and so much more for our students. Imagine what our children’s educational experience would be like without these people. These positions are not “extra”; they are essential.

Laura-Kate Rurka & Jennifer Palmer
Acalanes LPIE School Chairs

www.lpie.org

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