Archived Posts

Happy New Year! Counselor assignments are by last name.
A-Dr Anne Schonauer 
Du-Kr Christine Todd 
Ku-Rog Marissa Meadows 
Roh-Z Susan Martin
 
Semester Grades
First semester grades are available on Aeries as of Friday, Jan 7. Report cards will be mailed home to all students. Athletic eligibility will be determined this week by Friday, Jan 14. 
 
Second Semester Class Changes
Counselors will be changing some student schedules through Tuesday, Jan 18. Have your student see their counselor if they wish to discuss a class change.
 
Course Selection for the 2022-2023 School Year
Counselors will visit 9th,10th, and 11th grade classrooms from Thursday, Jan 13 through Friday, Jan 21 to talk about the course selection process for next school year. Please keep an eye out for a course selection sheet coming home with your student! 
 
Junior Parent Night
Come hear our College and Career Advisor Debbie Levy and Counselor Susan Martin discuss senior course requests and college planning on Wednesday, Jan 12 at 6:30pm. Here is the Zoom link to join. Meeting ID: 868 5893 6599
 
Frosh/Soph Parent Night
Come hear Counselors Christine Todd and Marissa Meadows review the course selection process for current 9th and 10th graders on Wednesday, Jan 19 at 6pm. Register here in advance for this webinar.

Happy 2022 Acalanes! It’s traditional to start off the new year with resolutions for good health. It’s possible the current COVID surge has already thrown a wrench in your plans.  Despite our vaccination status and attempts to stay safe and healthy, many of us have friends and family who’ve had Covid or even had it ourselves.  It’s still important for us to set an intention to maximize our health and wellness, and to cultivate those practices we know will support that- healthy eating, optimal sleep, exercise, calm practices (meditation, yoga), connection, to name the most important.

COVID VACCINE
Most students are now eligible to get boosters – PLEASE DO!!!   Despite the burden of COVID virus, our community is working hard to stay healthy and the high vaccination rate and observance of health department guidelines makes a significant difference and helps keep students in school learning. If  you haven’t yet, please submit your students’ COVID vaccine records.

COVID isolation, quarantines, and test kits:  The current guidelines for return to school after COVID illness require a negative COVIDt (if returning before 10 days). School sites do NOT have more test kits to distribute. Please see Principal Shawn’s COVID FAQ’s and Dr. Nickerson’s Covid Update for more details.

Make sure you always have your proof of vaccination – Try this site: https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov/  iPhone users: you can now put your vaccinationrecord in your Apple Health app (and Apple Wallet).

This week’s recipe Chocolate Pie (we all need a “little” indulgence once in a while).

Please be in touch with me to discuss any medical, health, or wellness concerns. Stay healthy and be well.

Dvora Citron, RN, MS
dcitron@auhsdschools.org
925-280-2970 x7128
Acalanes School Nurse Google Site
IG:  acalanesschoolnurse

Happy New Year! It’s that time of year when the kids get back to work in the classroom and LPIE is also hard at work keeping our Lafayette schools flourishing with exceptional programming and funding.
 
One way you can help to grow your child’s education is by contributing to our spectacular LPIE Gala on April 23, 2022 at the Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco. It will feature both a live and silent auction and many prize-winning opportunities. We hope every one of our Lafayette families will contribute to the auction as it is this dedicated community who provides the donations and prizes for this successful event.
 
We are grateful for any auction items you would be willing to donate…nothing is too small! Ideas include- gift certificates, fine wine, event tickets, connection to a vacation home or trip and unique experiences.
 
The money raised from this year’s LPIE Gala will help us meet the $3.5 million goal that supports academic and enrichment curriculum in our six public schools. We cannot do this without you! Please contact Danielle Gallagher or Michelle Berolzheimer to coordinate auction donations or Pay to Play parties or click here to fill out a donation form. Thank you for your support!
 
Jennifer Palmer and Michele Colaco, Acalanes LPIE School Chairs
www.lpie.org, Follow us on Instagram

Saturday, Mar 19 at Contra Costa Country Club, 2022 Luck of the Dons Booster Bash. The leprechauns made us do it! The Booster Bash is back! Come shake your shamrock at the Bash, which will include dinner, dancing, and other festive activities. May the Luck of the Dons be with you! Boosters support EVERY SINGLE ATHLETE AND TEAM at Acalanes, and the Bash is our largest FUNdraiser of the year. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, Jan 18th at 10am. More info to come soon!
 
Boys basketball
Tuesday, Jan 11 host Las Lomas HS. Freshmen at 4pm, JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7pm.
Saturday, Jan 15 Tamalpais HS in the MLK Shootout at Berkeley HS at 11:30am.

Girls basketball
Tuesday, Jan 11 at Las Lomas HS. JV at 5:30 pm and Varsity at 7pm.
Saturday, Jan 15 Carondelet Jamboree.

Girls soccer
Tuesday, Jan 11 host Las Lomas HS. JV at 5pm and Varsity at 7pm.
Thursday, Jan 13 host Ygnacio Valley HS. JV at 5pm and Varsity at 7pm.

Boys soccer
Thursday, Jan 13 at Campolindo HS. Freshmen at 3:30 pm, JV at 5pm and Varsity at 7pm.
Saturday, Jan 15 host College Park HS. Freshmen at 12pm, JV at 2pm and Varsity at 4pm.

Wrestling
Wednesday, Jan 12 Campolindo HS at Miramonte HS at 5pm.
Saturday, Jan 15 Kermit Bankson Invitational at Albany HS.

Click here for the full Winter Sports Schedule (subject to change)

Hot Lunch Help 
We will continue to support our Cafe Staff this semester on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays. This is a great way to get on campus and see our students in action. Ideally, we need 4 parents from 12:45 to 1:15 pm to help serve lunch and provide line management so that our staff & administration can focus elsewhere.  Please sign up here if you are able to lend a hand.  

Nominating Committee Volunteers NEEDED!
APC Nominating Committee needs your help! We are looking for volunteers to join the 2022 Nominating Committee to help fill our 2022-2023 APC Board. This role has small time commitment with large importance. The committee will begin shortly after we return from Winter Break. To volunteer, please contact Angela Ketcham, APC Parliamentarian at theketchams@sbcglobal.net or 925-286-9907. We look forward to working with you! We can’t do it without you!

A huge thank you to our volunteers who kicked it into high gear before the break!
Kendra Uffleman and Jennifer McCarthy created a magical morning for staff with APC’s Annual Staff Cookie Exchange and Amy Madrigal and Ruth Donner coordinated donations and volunteers for Finals Fuel for our students. Thank you for wrapping up the semester for our students and staff on a high note! 

How did you celebrate New Year’s? Counting down the seconds to the “ball drop” in New York has become a popular tradition in this country that came about in the early 20th century. Event organizers had to come up with a new plan after the ban on fireworks was put in place. 

Different cultures ring in the new year in many different ways, with most customs intended to instill hope, optimism, and luck for their communities in the year ahead. Many Chinese Americans celebrate the Lunar New Year, the most important holiday in China, observed by millions of people around the world. Some Colombian Americans carry empty suitcases at midnight in hopes of bringing a year full of travel. Greek Americans might eat Vasilopita, or Saint Basil’s cake, baked with a silver or gold coin inside to bring its finder good luck throughout the year. 

However your family celebrates, Happy New Year!

You made it through 2021 which is no small feat! Now take a deep breath and center…here comes 2022!

ICYMI, here is a recording of Colin Seale’s talk – The Question is the Answer: Practical Strategies to Unleash Critical Thinking at Home, hosted by MVLA’s parent speaker series.

Thursday, Jan 20 at 6:30 pm via Zoom The Well-Balanced Student with Laura Easley and Douglas Tsoi (Challenge Success)
When we are too focused on grades and performance, we deny our children the time and energy they need to tackle the demanding work of growing up. In this presentation, you’ll learn how you can establish a healthier home environment for your school-aged child, reduce academic stress without sacrificing achievement, and increase your child’s resilience, creativity, and well-being. This talk is especially timely given all of the challenges our teens have had to face through the pandemic. Registration information to follow soon. 

Finally, if your teen is struggling with academics or feeling down or frustrated about school, don’t forget to connect with our Counselors, our Nurse, and our Wellness Center.

Feel free to reach out and connect with us with ideas for future topics, shareable resources, or thoughts at parented@acalanesparentsclub.com.

2022! Here’s to a great second semester, let’s make the most of it!

It is a quiet first week back as students get reacquainted to school and begin to plan activities. 

A peek ahead:
Monday, Jan 10 at 7:30am – Senior Breakfast on the football field
Wednesday, Jan 12 at lunch – Vision Board Making
Wednesday, Jan 12 at 3:45pm – District Diversity Meeting. All are invited to attend!
Friday, Jan 14 at lunch – Second Semester Club Day

Save the Date:
February is Black History Month
Saturday, Apr 30 – Junior & Senior Prom at Lake Chalet in Oakland

Katherine Walton, Student Activities Director

Share these goal setting tips with your AHS student to help develop their perspective on what is really important to them.

When making a new year’s resolution, the key to success is setting realistic goals. How many times have you or people around you made a resolution so extreme that it is out of the window by January 7th? It happens often because people either make goals that are too broad or make goals that require a complete lifestyle overhaul. 

• Set an extremely specific goal. Note that there is a major difference between “exercise more” and “exercise 20 minutes each day.” By creating specific goals you are able to measure progress. 
• Take baby steps. If you are someone that hasn’t prioritized a major facet of your resolution in the past, start by gradually increasing your goal. For example, if you currently spend 3 hours on your phone each day, creating a resolution to completely stop spending idle time on your phone is unrealistic. Cut down your time spent by 30 minutes each week to reach your goal. Small changes to habits you wish to kick are changes nonetheless. 
• Finally, a great way to preserve mental health in new year’s resolutions is to accept that changes take time and persistence. If you happen to fall off of your resolution there is no shame in picking back up. If your goal is valuable to you, getting back on track should be a sign of persistence opposed to a sign of failure. Accepting setbacks is key in making positive changes. 

Happy New Year!
Kiara Thomas- Wellness Intake Specialist

SENIORS

• Scholarship Opportunity – Check out this site for many scholarships!
• Rossmoor Scholarship Foundation – If your family has financial need and your child has been actively involved in community service, please check out this generous $2,500 scholarship!
• American Association of University Women – (AAUW) offers three $2,000 Scholarships to a graduating young woman who demonstrates a sustained commitment to community service as well as a grade point average of at least 3.0. If you know someone who meets these criteria, please share or email me.

JUNIORS 

• Save the Date! Wednesday, Jan 12 at 6:30pm in the PAC Parent Night – Susan Martin, our counselor, and Debbie Levy will host a Junior Parent night to learn more about the college application timeline and career opportunities. The event will be recorded and posted.
• Tuesday, Feb 1 from 6 to 7pm in the Collab Center at Acalanes Bookclub Meeting – Join junior parents to discuss Who Gets in and Why by Jeffrey Selingo. 
• PSAT review – Please set up a 1:1 appointment to go over your child’s PSAT scores and take a deeper look at your students’ strengths and areas for growth.

SOPHOMORES/FRESHMEN

• Personality Test – Click here for your student to take a 10 minute personality test! It’s a great first step in recognizing how people connect with others. Next is a look at a career interest profiler test.
• Resume Development – Have your child reach out to work on creating a resume!
• Volunteer – Here are some volunteer options to get you started. Check out the new forms for tracking volunteer service hours for recognized service awards.

RESOURCES

• CCC Website