Weekly News & Announcements

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

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.

School Nurse

• 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.

Performing & Visual Arts

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.

Sports

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.

Return to Hybrid Update

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.

APC in Action

ICYMI: Tune in to a replay of Principal Bell’s Dons Dialogue from Friday, March 19. Topics included Hybrid return update, budget review (including a discussion about LPIE, our education foundation) and department updates from English, Social Studies and World Language.

Peer Tutoring: In Person and Remote
AHS Peer Tutors are ready to help their classmates in all academic subjects! The schedule for this free service is as follows:

• Mondays: all remote anytime from 10am to 3:35pm
• Tuesdays through Fridays: from 11:30am to 12:35pm and 2:05-3:20pm
  • These sessions have tutors in-person in the Peer Tutoring Room (6), as well as remote tutors. Students can stop by during the times listed below, or sign onto Zoom via the links sent on Mondays, or posted on TeachMore.

Our tutors are excited to "see" you again!

Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

Today! Sunday, March 21 from 12-3pm Spring Campus Clean Up
Let's reconnect, share school spirit, and spruce up our school! All are welcome - students, parents, teachers, staff, and community members. This is a great opportunity for friends, family members, clubs, and teams to work together in socially-distanced zones. Participation hours count towards the Acalanes Volunteer Service Award. Click here to sign up. Questions? Email here for more information.

Show ACA Spirit & Fly your Acalanes Flag!!
Now that some student are back on campus, it’s a great chance to show our ACA spirit. Hang your flag proudly to show you’re a Dons family.

• Don’t have a flag? Stop by Sideboard to pick one up and grab a coffee or meal while you’re there. Or, you can purchase one on the webstore. 

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.

General Announcements

Attendance Procedures for All Students
Here’s a refresher about attendance processes for students and parents:

• Students attending in person:
  • If your student is arriving late to campus or leaving early, they MUST come to the Attendance Office to sign in and/or sign out.  
  • Parents/guardians need to call the 24-hour attendance line at 925-280-3973 regarding any student absence, including all day absences, late arrivals or early departures.

• Students attending remotely:
  • Parents/guardians need to call the 24-hour attendance line at 925-280-3973 regarding any student absence, including all day absences, late arrivals or early departures.

A copy of AHS Attendance Procedures can be found online here.

LPIE

In its fourth week of LPIE’s “It’s Up to All of Us” video series, parents Yukie Fujimoto and Peter Marchetti share why they value the depth and breadth of classes available to our children. LPIE funds 15 electives at Acalanes that provide expanded learning opportunities so that your student can discover and explore different interests. 

49% of Acalanes parents have donated this year. Every gift is matched dollar-for-dollar in March. Will you take advantage of the matching gift and donate today? It’s up to all of us. 

Laura-Kate Rurka & Jennifer Palmer
Acalanes LPIE School Chairs

www.lpie.org

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Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)

Violence is on the rise against members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Learn more below:

• Anti-racism groups and prominent Asian-American figures are renewing demands for urgent action against growing hate and violence. Forbes article.
• Stop AAPI Hate is a collaboration between the Asian Pacific Planning and Policy Council (A3PCON), Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA), and the Asian American Studies Department of San Francisco State. This group recently published a report that tracked violence against the AAPI population. 65% of incidents are reported by women.
• 20 Ways to support Asian Communities.

We honor and celebrate women during International Women’s History Month, as we invite you to explore these resources: 

• U.K. women are taking to social media and Parliament halls to share experiences and demand that violence against women be taken more seriously. 
• More than 11.6 million firms are owned by women, which translates into 9 million jobs and $1.7 trillion in sales. Learn more about the Female Founder Collective.
• See this Resource list to support women in business.
• There are not very many Black Women in Venture Capital, but they do exist! Check out this list of Black Women in VC. 
• Read about top beauty brands run by BIPOC women. 

We also continue to celebrate “Developmental Disabilities Month.” Learn more here:

• Watch “From Independence to Inclusion” (26 min), a video about how society cares for Developmentally Disabled people.
• Dyslexia means difficulty to read, spell and write. But it can also translate to an excellent ability to “think outside the box,” both creatively and abstractly. Is dyslexia a super-power? 

Monday, March 22 at 1pm AUHSD Asian Student and Staff Gathering Wellness Coordinators from Acalanes and Miramonte will host a drop-in space for any Asian-identifying student or staff person. Zoom information available via Canvas.

Thursday, March 25 from 6-7:30pm AUHSD Book Club hosted by Las Lomas HS. The book selection is “Becoming” by Michelle Obama (adapted for young readers). RSVP here. Consider purchasing the book from Marcus Books.

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! 

Membership & Fundraising

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, price increases to $250. Questions? Contact Legacy Brick Coordinator Melissa Arends.

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

From the Activities Director

It was such a great week to see students back on campus-thank you for all your support throughout the week!

April 25-30 - Homecoming Week 2021
Although it will look a little bit different, hallway decorating & class skits will be happening, along with a live stream rally. Skit practices will be virtual, so any student can opt in! All classes have advertised this on Canvas and on their social media. 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. 

Wednesday, March 24 at lunch - Equity Curriculum Site Meeting
Is your student interested in hearing updates and engaging in dialogue about Social Science and English curriculum with an equity focus? Encourage them to attend this lunchtime roundtable. More information will be sent via Canvas.

Monday, April 5 - Acalanes Leadership Applications Available
Is your 8th grader interested in joining student government at Acalanes? Applications will be available electronically beginning April 5th. 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.

2020-2021 Clubs
Club meetings continue. Check out our 49 clubs! Clubs continue to be one of the best ways for students to connect. We will be pushing out more information about clubs at the end of the week. Please encourage your student to check out Canvas to learn more.

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

Katherine Walton, Student Activities Director