Weekly News & Announcements

School Nurse

1.  Your student is exhibiting symptoms that fall within possible signs and symptoms of COVID (which is almost everything!).  
   • Without COVID testing, your student can return to school after 10 days and after the symptoms have been resolved for at least 24 hours (without fever-reducing medication).
   • With a negative COVID test result, your student can return to school after the symptoms have been resolved for at least 24 hours (without fever-reducing medication).
2. Your student has been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID.  In this case, your student must stay home for 10 days, even if without symptoms or even with a negative test result.

Performing & Visual Arts

April 30 and May 1 at 7pm - One Act Shakespeare Live: Macbeth & Midsummer The Acalanes DramaDons are proud to present “One Act Shakespeare Live: Macbeth & Midsummer.” These exciting 40-minute versions of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth and A Midsummer Night’s Dream will stream live on the DramaDons’ YouTube channel. Each play is presented for one night only, so log on to see Macbeth on April 30 and Midsummer on May 1 at 7pm PST.

This is not just your average “Zoom play.” All actors will perform from individual remote studios set up in classrooms on the Acalanes campus. Then, using the magic of technology, actors’ images will be composited into a single frame, giving the illusion of working together, and all of it will happen live, in real time!

If you’d like to learn more, check out the article about our production on page 33 of the latest issue of the Acalanes Blueprint.

May 1 Deadline - 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.

APC in Action

Friday, April 16 from 10-11:30am - Dons Dialogue with Principal Bell
Join Principal Bell online to hear about the following topics:

• End of the Year Events Update
• Athletics Update with Acalanes Athletic Director, Randy Takahashi
• Department Updates from Math and Sciences

Register in advance here to attend this webinar.

Tuesday, April 20 at 7pm - “Angst” Film Screening & Discussion
Pre-register for this event in the Parent Ed section below, where you can find further event details. 

Applications Due Saturday, May 1! Acalanes Volunteer Service Awards Program 
Submit your applications NOW! After applications have been reviewed and qualified all students will be notified, via email, of their award level (Acalanes or President’s).

• Completed and signed Applications (along with any supporting materials from your organizations) should be scanned and emailed here.
• Download application forms here.
• If you have any questions, please email us! 

APC Grants Awarded!
We are pleased to announce that five 2021 APC Spring Grants have been awarded - these projects encourage self-regulation and wellness, celebrate school community spirit, improve our campus experience, and drive thoughtful conversations around diversity and equity. Specifically, the grants were awarded in these areas: 

• A guest speaker for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in May 
• Wellness tools for each classroom to promote self regulation concerning anxiety and stress
• Signage to celebrate ACA and return to campus for in-person 
• User-friendly bulletin boards across campus to encourage easier communication from clubs, class events, and school-wide happenings 
• Refresh of our Senior Deck (a special spot on campus to celebrate all graduating seniors) to accompany the beautiful new mural that was a gift from the graduating class of 2020

Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

**EVENT FOR INCOMING FRESHMEN & THEIR FAMILIES** Tuesday, May 4 from 5:30-6:30pm Acalanes Athletics & Activities Night, Acalanes Main Quad
This is a “not to miss" event geared towards new Freshmen and their families highlighting ways to get involved at Acalanes. Incoming freshmen and their parents can meet coaches and athletes from all the 22 Acalanes sports, connect with student leaders, and learn more about the numerous clubs on campus. Last names A-L are scheduled from 5:30-6pm and M-Z from 6-6:30pm. Share this information with new ACA families! Questions? Email aca@acalanesparentsclub.com.

Thursday, April 22 from 3:30-5pm - “Dog Days are Over” Celebrate the last 25 Days of ACA
Our last ACA Day drive-through will be all about our ACA dogs! Get your students ready to dress up your family dog (or cat) in their best Don’s blue. There will be a series of awards and treats given out to dogs who join the drive-through and we’ll be posting pictures on our social channels. Start thinking of costumes for your pooch. More details to come regarding the 25 Days of ACA celebrating each day until the end of the school year. Let’s finish the year ACA Strong! 

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

LPIE

Congratulations Lafayette Community! You Unlocked the $100K Match!Thank you to our community for donating $174,000 in March which unlocked a $100K matching gift from a group of generous donors. You read that right - this equals $274,000 raised in March for our students. Amazing! We received donations from over 120 families. Whether it was your first donation to LPIE this year, or your third, we are grateful for your participation to support our Lafayette students.Thank you for helping LPIE take a big step toward our goal of $4.3M.

Tired of Cooking? Dine & Donate to LPIE with two delicious opportunities.

Visit: www.lpie.org/dineanddonate to order. 

• Mark & Mike's NY Style Delicatessen - owned by a former Lafayette resident, father to First Grade Burton Valley Elementary Teacher, Leslie Hagel, and grandfather to two current Acalanes Dons!  
• Cuisine of Nepal

As parents, we all have questions about our children after graduation. Take a peek at how Acalanes High School is addressing those questions in Episode 10 of the LPIE Podcast series. Adam talks with Travis Bell, Anne Schonauer, and Wendy Reicher about Career Counseling at Acalanes, which is jointly funded by LPIE. Simple answer: it is a conversation that starts when the counselors meet their students in 8th Grade. This allows counselors the time to truly get to know students, better enabling them to offer choices and support the students’ social emotional development while at Acalanes. That common theme of fostering the whole child is an absolute goal here. An Acalanes graduate will have options. The Acalanes counselors make sure those options are the best ones for that student. Click here to hear more: 

Laura-Kate Rurka & Jennifer Palmer
Acalanes LPIE School Chairs

www.lpie.org

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Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)

Continue Celebrating Diversity throughout the month of April! Our country and our world is filled with a rainbow of races, religions, and stories… This month, learn about Arab-American history, Scottish-American history, Passover, Easter, and Ramadan. We also recognize Autism Awareness month, and we focus on National Child Abuse Prevention month.

Try to take the time to involve yourself in culture, religion, 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! 

Parent Education

Tuesday, April 20 at 7pm - “Angst” Film Screening & Discussion INDIEFLIX Education has sparked a global conversation about anxiety through screenings of its documentary, “Angst: Raising Awareness Around Anxiety.” Join us on April 20 as Acalanes Parents Club and Campolindo Parents Club co-host a special screening of the 56-minute documentary followed by an informative panel discussion led by the Wellness Center Teams from both schools. Pre-register for this event here.

From the Activities Director

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

Thursday, April 15 and Friday, 16 at 7:30am - Senior Breakfast
A not to miss event for our seniors! Breakfast, music, raffles, pictures & the senior panoramic picture. 

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. Here is the calendar of events! Mark your calendars! 

• Sunday, April 25 from 10am-4pm Hallway Decorating

Please encourage your student to sign up! 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 29 at 6pm 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! 

Monday, April 19 from 6-8pm - Self Defense Class For Students and Adults
We are excited to offer this special opportunity for our student body! Join us to learn self-defense strategies in various situations. Students should sign up with a parent, guardian, or caring adult to participate in this training. It is limited to 20 pairs of students and adults, so sign up early! Sign-up link.

Thursday, April 22 from 3:30-5pm “Dog Days are Over” - Celebrate the last 25 Days of ACA
Our last ACA Day drive-through will be all about our ACA dogs! Get your students ready to dress up your family dog in their best Don’s blue. There will be a series of awards and treats given out to dogs who join the drive-through and we’ll be posting pictures on our social channels. Start thinking of costumes for your pooch. More details to come regarding the 25 Days of ACA celebrating each day until the end of the school year. Let’s finish the year ACA Strong!

Earth Week
The students have planned a robust Earth Week (two weeks actually!). Events that feature student clubs, local organizations and non-profits, dialogues and education. Please encourage your student to opt in! Calendar of events

Monday, April 5 - Acalanes Leadership Applications Available
Is your 8th grader interested in joining student government at Acalanes? Applications are now available and are due April 19th. 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.

Join the fun and 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. 

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 fourth quarter. 

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

Katherine Walton, Student Activities Director

Wellness Center

It’s been so rewarding to once again meet with students face to face (masked and distanced) and we continue to be available for students who are in full distance learning as well. We did an on campus meet and greet during lunch periods with all four grades and it was great to pass out treats and to hear how it is for them to be on campus. We hope you’ll join us on Tuesday, April 20 at 7pm for our “Angst” Film Screening & Discussion generously sponsored by Parents Club! INDIEFLIX Education has sparked a global conversation about anxiety through screenings of its documentary, “Angst: Raising Awareness Around Anxiety”. Acalanes and Campolindo High Schools will co-host this special screening of the 56-minute documentary followed by an informative panel discussion led by the Wellness Center Teams from both schools. Pre-register for this event here. 

Allen Choi, Wellness Coordinator
Casey Sasner, Intake Specialist

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

College & Career

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 or Zoom.
• Admission Decisions
  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
  The Acalanes Performing Arts Boosters 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. 

Juniors

• Healthcare Internship Opportunity - Junior Achievement is offering a 4 week internship for students interested in medical careers. Application Due 4/23
• Stay in the loop - Please follow the CCC instagram to keep up-to-date with college timeline details. Share this with your students too. @ahs_college_career
• 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. Join a session on Post High School Options:  Zoom-April 13th @ 4:30pm.
• Job Opportunities - Several local businesses are hiring currently.  Have your students pick up applications at Zoonies or Vitality Bowl, or click here for applications for Roughing it Day Camp, if your child is interested in employment.

Sophomores

• Healthcare Internship Opportunity - Junior Achievement is offering a 4 week internship for students interested in medical careers. Application Due 4/23

All Students
Learn about what we do in the College & Career Center to support your students. Hop on a Zoom during the month of April with your new advisor, Debbie Levy, to learn more & ask questions! We can set more in depth follow-up appointments too!

Freshmen & Parents - 7-7:30pm Monday

Sophomores & Parents - 7-7:30pm Tuesday

Juniors & Parents- 7:35-8:05pm Monday

Seniors & Parents- 7:35-8:05pm Tuesday

Latest News
Please follow the CCC instagram to keep up-to-date. Share this with your students too. @ahs_college_career

Resources:

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

Counseling

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

Legislative News

Save the date for Advocacy Day!  This annual event is taking place online this year, so it’s easy to attend. (It’s also free.) 

Advocacy Day for Education 2021: Moving Forward with Resiliency
The first Advocacy Day took place in 1980, prompted by the passage of Proposition 13 and its anticipated negative impact on education. Today, Advocacy Day serves as a vehicle to both influence our legislators and inform our volunteers and community members. Four decades of advocacy have focused on issues of finance, education reform, class size, standardized testing, special needs and children’s health issues. This year is different.

Undeniably, the pandemic has greatly impacted the schools and the health of our families and communities. For exactly one year we have faced uncertainty on a daily basis and the challenge of not knowing what the future holds for our students and schools. This year Advocacy Day will focus on “Moving Forward with Resiliency.” We will have the opportunity to hear from and ask questions of our school superintendents and state legislators. A panel of highly respected frontline medical and mental health experts will share the most current information and recommendations. The equity issues at play will be addressed by both educators and corporate professionals.

Together we will advocate directly to our legislators for the education of all our children.

Save the Date for one or all of our three sessions:

• Session One: Thursday, April 29 9:00-11:30am
• Session Two: Thursday, April 29 6:00-8:00pm
• Session Three: Friday, April 30 9:00-11:00am

Register here. 

Questions? Email our APC Legislative Representative.

School Nurse

1.  Your student is exhibiting symptoms that fall within possible signs and symptoms of Covid (which is almost everything!).  
   1. Without Covid testing, your student can return to school after 10 days AND after the symptoms have been resolved for at least 24 hours (without fever-reducing medication).
   2. With a NEGATIVE Covid test result,  your student can return to school after the symptoms have been resolved for at least 24 hours (without fever-reducing medication). See page 1

1. Your student has been exposed to someone who has tested positive for Covid.  Your student stays home for 10 days, even if without symptoms or negative test results. See page 2