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APC Membership
Holiday Gift Giving Guide
‘Tis the season for giving - and receiving - the perfect gift: Acalanes Flags!
Flags are available in two sizes on the Acalanes web store. Get yours today and share your school spirit. Go Dons! -
Acalanes Community Always (ACA)
Holiday Shopping & Dining- ACA Supports Lafayette Shops & Restaurants
Shop Local Lafayette. Our downtown retailers and online shops are thankful to Acalanes families for shopping and dining in Lafayette! They look forward to helping you with your holiday gift giving needs. Check out the downtown Lafayette Dining and Gift Guide brochure & the Lafayette Chamber’s online gift guide that includes links to those businesses that offer online sales or are not included in the PDF guide. Thank you for your ongoing support of these local businesses!
P.S. Seniors are partnering with Sideboard to sell their holiday hot cocoa kits (a perfect gift for students during finals). Email here to order one. -
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)
However you and yours celebrate, Happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Ōmisoka, Boxing Day, and Christmas! -
Parent Education
“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgiving, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” -Proverb borrowed from our Parent Partners at Campolindo
Often, the holiday season can bring high expectations for a cozy and festive time of the year. However, for many this time brings feelings of anxiety or being overwhelmed by the never-ending “to do” list. New research suggests that one aspect of the holiday season can actually lift the spirits and rewire our brains – practicing gratitude and giving. Read more in this blog from the Harvard Medical School or from Cal Berkeley’s Greater Good Magazine. Research reports that being grateful helps people connect to something larger than themselves as individuals – whether to other people, nature or a higher power. The Neuroscience of Gratitude is well-documented in research and there are very simple acts that you can incorporate into your family’s life and encourage your teens to do to help them practice gratitude:- Take a moment to simply acknowledge your gratitude daily. Start each morning with writing or sharing 5 things you are grateful for.
- Write a thank you note – to a teacher or a friend or a neighbor or our local fire or police department – to express your gratitude.
- Find opportunities to volunteer or give. Our students just participated in a few donation drives but several local charities can use our help. A few include GratefulGatherings and the Food Bank of Contra Costa County.
Tuesday, Dec 14 at 4pm Challenge Success Healthier Approach to College Admissions Talk - This event will help parents support their students’ well-being during the college admission process and beyond. Registration link is here with a recording sent afterwards for those who cannot attend the live event. Cost is $10.
Save the Date - Thursday, Jan 20 Challenge Success Well-Balanced Student Virtual Workshop.
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. -
Student Activities
Adopt-a-Family Thank you to our incredible community for opting in to adopt 74 families this holiday season (it is the most EVER)! We delivered the gifts to Families First on Friday and they were overwhelmed with gratitude for our school’s support and response to need. THANK YOU!
Sock & Heavy Coat Drive Together, Stanley & Acalanes, donated 25 FULL black bags of heavy coats & socks to a homeless encampment in Martinez over the weekend. THANK YOU for all your support!
Acalanes Spirit Wear Spiritwear is still available and pick-up is this week! Purchase via the web store. Check them out!
As we end the first semester, we just want to say thank you for all your support, energy, spirit, thoughts & participation. It has been SUCH a pleasure to be back & we look forward to all that is to come in 2022!
Katherine Walton, Student Activities Director -
Wellness Center
Finals are here! These are sure to be highly stressful times for most students. In addition to the standard stressors such as jobs, extracurriculars and homework, the changes in weather as well as the desire to perform well on finals have the potential to throw students for a loop. To help your student perform at their best, help them beat stress by utilizing “Four A’s”:
- Avoid unnecessary stress- Teach your students the importance of boundaries and prioritization. It is okay for them to say no to people and activities that might add extra stress during finals preparation.
- Alter the situation- Encourage your students to talk about their stress instead of keeping it in. This is also a great opportunity to reinforce the value of self care activities that might help them decompress instead of overloading on academics.
- Adapt to the stressor- Take the time to help your students shift their behaviors toward things that will benefit them during this time. Scientists recognize that teens need 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night. Unfortunately, most teens sleep only 7 hours each night or less during finals. Sleeping and eating, regularly not only decreases stress but powers your students bodies to perform their best mentally.
- Accept things you can’t change- Finals aren’t going away. By accepting this reality, students have greater control over the things they can change in relation to finals. Study time, gratitude, personal time and self care are in your students’ control. Each of these things can work toward positively influencing their finals experience.
(Source: Keep Calm During finals by Lisa Brickert, MSW, LCSW)
Kiara Thomas- Wellness Intake Specialist -
College & Career
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.
- Academy - The priority deadline for Cal State Application for many campuses has been extended to December 15. We will continue working on any application support. Students can share essays on Google Docs with me too!
Juniors
- Parent Night-Mark your calendar! Susan Martin, our counselor, and Debbie Levy will host a Junior Parent night to learn more about the college application timeline and career opportunities on Wednesday, January 12, 2022 in the PAC at 6:30pm. The event will be recorded and posted.
- 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.
- University of California TIPS for next year! Check out this to learn the Comprehensive Review criteria for which the UC’s follow to evaluate students for admission.
Sophomores/Freshmen
- PSAT review - Please set up an appointment to go over your student’s PSAT scores if taken.
- Jobs! There are many job opportunities once your child turns 16. Please send them to the CCC to learn more.
- Volunteer Here are some volunteer options to get you started. Check out the newforms for tracking volunteer service hours for recognized service awards.
Resources:
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Counseling
Counselor assignments are by last name.
A - Dr Anne Schonauer
Du-Kr Christine Todd
Ku-Rog Marissa Meadows
Roh-Z Susan Martin
Tuesday, Dec 14 through Friday, Dec 17 Final Exams 2nd Quarter is almost over! Here is the finals week schedule:
Semester Grades First semester grades will be available by Friday, January 7th. Report cards will be mailed home to all students.
Second Semester Class Changes Counselors will be changing some student schedules during the first 10 days of second semester only. There are limited options, as our classes are year-long by design. Have your student see their counselor if they wish to discuss a class change. -
School Nurse
We are still very much in a pandemic. We are seeing some cases of COVID and also needing to quarantine some students. Please continue to keep your students home when they have illness symptoms, and test as warranted/concerned.
COVID VACCINE: We still don’t have records submitted on all students who have had both COVID vaccines. This is not yet required, but helps a lot when there are exposures. Please turn your student’s COVID vaccine record in to me if you have not. I continue to encourage you to get your students and your families vaccinated. Please contact me for support if needed. Don’t forget to get your FLU shot too!
Proof of vaccination: Try this site: https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov/ iPhone users: you can now put your vaccination record in your Apple Health app (and Apple Wallet)
FINALS are next week! How can you support your students?- Keep lots of healthy food available, especially fresh vegetables and fruits. Do the work for them- buy, clean, peel, cut, chop, etc. Put it into easy containers, put it out for them during study breaks with hummus, guacamole, and salsa.
- Help them with their calendar this week. Try to reduce their busy schedule. Schedule study times and times for restorative exercise.
- Support sleep. You can create “quiet hours” in your house (9pm to 7am). Most of your kids need at least 9 hours of sleep for optimal health (and good grades!).
Need ideas for holiday gifts? Refresh your student’s mask supply with some fun new designs!
PLEASE EAT MORE PLANTS to keep your student and your family healthier and smarter.
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 -
LPIE
Thank you to all the families who have donated to our students’ education through LPIE. The end of the tax year is fast approaching and you still have time to give the 100% Tax Deductible gift of education in 2021.
There are a variety of ways to give: monthly payments, company match, IRA Charitable Distribution (or DAF), and gifts of stock are all options. Every dollar counts. Click here to donate today.
Jennifer Palmer and Michele Colaco, Acalanes LPIE School Chairs
www.lpie.org, Follow us on Instagram -
Sports
Can’t miss events through Winter Break
Boys basketball
Friday, Dec 17 at Concord HS. Freshmen at 4pm, JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7pm.
Saturday, Dec 18 host Washington HS. Freshmen at 3pm, JV at 4:30pm and Varsity at 6pm.
Tuesday, Dec 21 at Amador Valley HS. Freshmen at 2pm, JV at 3:30pm and Varsity at 5pm.
Tuesday, Dec 28 through Thursday, Dec 30 host the Chris Huber Memorial Invitational.
Girls basketball
Friday, Dec 17 v. Deer Valley HS in the Liberty Invitational at 5:30pm.
Saturday, Dec 18 at Liberty HS in the Liberty Invitational at 9am
Wednesday, Dec 22 host Casa Grande HS. JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7pm.
Boys soccer
Friday, Dec 17 v. California HS in the De La Salle Showcase at 3pm.
Saturday, Dec 18 at Pitman HS in the Ygnacio Valley Showcase at 4pm.
Girls soccer
Friday, Dec 17 host Miramonte HS. JV at 4pm and Varsity at 6pm.
Wrestling
Saturday, Dec 18 in the Bill Martell Invitational at Northgate HS
Monday, Dec 27 in the Lou Bronzan Invitational at Liberty HS
Click here for the full Winter Sports Schedule (subject to change) -
Finals Prep 1, 2, 3
We have your students covered as they prepare to finish the semester strong! This week’s options are listed below, and make sure to visit our website for even more information!
Tuesday, Dec 7 from 2:45 to 3:45pm - Wellness Winter Workshops (#2) Our Wellness Winter Workshop (session 2 of 2) is a space to gather together and practice coping skills to thrive during finals and a long break with family. We will have an afternoon snack of Boba with good company. Space is limited and registration is required. Sign-up here.
Wednesday, Dec 8 from 3:15 to 5:30pm in the Library - ExamJam for All StudentsStudents can drop in to get questions answered by teachers on hand from each subject. Peer tutors will also be available for guidance. It is a great two hour block of time to jump into final exam preparation.
Thursdays before finals from 3:30 to 5pm in Room 105/106 - MATHursdays with Mr. Plant Current Associate Principal and forever Math teacher, Mr. Plant, is providing valuable math support for students every Thursday. Appointments are not required, but students should come prepared with specific material (study guides, homework) to work on. This is not an open tutorial.
And don’t forget to encourage your student to take advantage of these additional resources!- Peer Tutoring This week, Monday through Friday every Academy, Lunch, 7th Period, and after school until 4pm
- Wellness Center This week, open for students to drop in Monday through Friday from 7:30am - 3:30pm (with teacher approval during class hours)
- Acalanes Library Open from 7:30am to 5:30pm daily
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APC in Action
Parent VOLUNTEER Opportunities:
- LAST CALL-Staff Appreciation Holiday Cookie Exchange This is the best way to show our Teachers & Staff how much we appreciate all they do for our students. We provide the treats and they get to take home a plate full of holiday cookies. Sign up here if you are able to bake and/or purchase holiday goodies for this Friday, Dec 10.
- Finals Fuel This is a wonderful way to get on campus and make a difference! Help our students finish strong by providing snacks in between their finals. Please sign up here if you are able to donate snacks and/or work a shift.
- Hot Lunch Help This is the final week of hot lunch for 2021. It’s just 30 minutes of your time but it makes a HUGE difference in and out of the cafeteria. Sign up here if you’re able to help from 12:45-1:15 any day this week.
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!
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