• LPIE

    November 20, 2020

    It’s official: the Holidays are here! Need a Christmas tree or wreath? Shop Honey Bear Trees across from Acalanes for your Christmas tree and holiday decor! Choose a Noble Fir, Grand Fir, Fraser Fir, or Douglas Fir. Phone orders and a drive-through or delivery option are available this year. Bring this flyer, and Honey Bear will donate 20% of your purchase price back to LPIE.

    LPIE recognizes the sacrifices families are facing, and knows that the ask to donate is a big one. Therefore, we are excited to launch our Matching Gift Opportunity on December 1!  Thanks to the generosity of two anonymous families, there is a dollar-for-dollar $60,000 match for all donations made between December 1-31. 

    Please join LPIE in helping us preserve an excellent education for our students, even during the most difficult times. Donate in any amount here. 

    Laura-Kate Rurka & Jennifer Palmer
    Acalanes LPIE School Chairs

    www.lpie.org

  • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)

    November 20, 2020

    Week FOURTEEN in the Challenge to Build Habits Supporting Racial Equity: 

    November is Native American Heritage Month
    As we give thanks for our many blessings this Thanksgiving, let’s remember to reflect on historic events from the vantage point of the Native population. We have added a number of different articles/videos covering various issues for you. Pick and choose, or watch them all over the next week! 

    Nov 29 Ordering Deadline for Acalanes DEI Yard Signs
    Available at     shop.acalanes.com.

    More information or questions?
    Email us! Stay current and follow us on our webpage, Facebook and Instagram.

  • From the Activities Director

    November 20, 2020

    Nov 29 Deadline To Order Spirit Wear
    There is just one more week to order spirit wear! We have added some new items to the webstore. This is a perfect opportunity for holiday gifts or winter gear. Items will be available for pick-up on December 17. 

    Adopt-a-Family
    Acalanes Community Outreach in partnership with Concord-based Families First, encourages you to participate in this year’s program. Sign up to adopt an individual, shop for them based on their wishlist items and then drop the wrapped presents off at Acalanes on December 11. This is an amazing opportunity for the Acalanes community and an exciting philanthropic partnership. Sign up here.

    Mental Health Newsletter
    Take a minute & read some narratives, reminders about gratitude & resources to support our mental health.

    The week we return from break has multiple opportunities for students to engage. Here is an overview:

    WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2

    • Lunch with Alumni Raea Gragg - Talk with her about her journey writing a graphic novel, producing a film, resiliency, identity and how to talk about hard things. Event not to miss!
    • Frosh Finals Prep During Lunch - Encourage your frosh student to attend this finals prep dialogue with a teacher from each content area. Teachers will share wisdom about how to prep specifically for their class as we enter the end of Semester 1. 
    • Women in Leadership #2 at 7pm - Hear from Contra Costa County Deputy Attorney Colleen Gleason

    THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3

    • Lunchtime Roundtable - Dialogue with Colleen Gleason on consent and more.
    • Class of 2023 Bonding at 5pm - Join us for Quiplash 

    FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4

    • Equity Council at Lunch
    • Also at Lunch: Environmental dialogue

    2020-2021 Clubs
    Club meetings continue. Check out our 45 clubs!

    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

    November 20, 2020

    We hear about gratitude every Thanksgiving because that’s what the holiday is all about. But we don’t always deliver on our intentions. With the holiday occurring at a particularly challenging point in the pandemic, it’s a good time to think about gratitude in a new way. Or better yet, we can think of it in three ways! Gratitude is a skill, a strength, and a medicine.

    Gratitude is a skill in that you get better at it with practice. In fact, it can become a habit. As we begin to look for reasons to be grateful, they become more apparent. Being appreciative is also a strength. Did you know that people who are grateful are more resilient, sleep better, feel better, and are kinder to other people and themselves? 

    Finally, gratitude can be thought of as natural medicine in that it has a beneficial, healing effect on the body. When we feel grateful, it’s accompanied by sensations in the body. It might feel like warmth or a pleasant swelling in the heart area. Wherever we feel it, the sensation is caused by the release of serotonin, oxytocin, and dopamine. When we cultivate gratitude (deeply versus as a passing thought) the parts of our brains involved with language and recall are activated and we drop into presence. You can cultivate a grateful mood by listing things you’re grateful for-- people, things, places, experiences. Ask your family or friends to join you. As with most things, gratitude is even more effective when you’re doing it while connecting with others.

    Allen Choi, Wellness Coordinator
    Casey Sasner, Intake Specialist

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

  • College & Career

    November 20, 2020

    AAUW Scholarship Application Opportunity
    $2000 awarded to a Senior woman who demonstrates a sustained commitment to community service as well as a grade point average of at least 3.0. Apply now!

    One-on-one Appointments
    Students can book an individual meeting with Ms. Reicher here. Please encourage your student to take advantage regardless of where they are in the process.

    Helpful Links:

    Freshman College Planning
    Sophomore College Planning
    Junior College Planning
    Senior Checklist

    Keep up the good work! 
    Wendy Reicher/College and Career Advisor: wreicher@auhsdschools.org

  • Counseling

    November 20, 2020

    Seniors
    Many seniors have still not ordered official transcripts for college apps or updated their Naviance accounts. Students pay the $5 fee for official transcripts on the webstore. Mrs. Finn, the registrar, will process requests. Documents will be sent electronically through Naviance whenever possible. Please contact Mrs. Finn with questions. Students can review unofficial transcripts in Aeries.

    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. We are trying to reserve the limited slots outside of class time for students. Parents can schedule a time when students are in class.

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

  • Legislative News

    November 20, 2020

    In an unexpected development, it appears there may be good news in the school finance arena - for the short term at least. The California Legislative Analyst’s Office has released its projections for next year’s budget based on tax revenues and predicts a large surplus. Keep in mind, however, that the first use for any additional funds would likely be to pay off the deferrals which the state imposed on school districts this year - i.e. paying back the money the state owes to the schools. In ‘remarkable’ turnaround, California schools can expect huge one-time windfall next year, LAO says

  • School Nurse

    November 20, 2020

    Staying Safe During The Holidays

    Be Covid Proactive!
    See update on my google site. Stay healthy by keeping this symptom checklist in mind.

    Improve Mental Health
    Cook meals together as a family! It doesn’t have to be complicated; it can be as easy as arranging a fruit platter or putting a salad together.

    This is a perfect opportunity with the upcoming holidays and our plans to STAY HOME. There are so many benefits - more to come!

    Dvora Citron, RN, MS
    Acalanes School Nurse Google Site
    dcitron@auhsdschools.org
    IG:  acalanesschoolnurse

  • Performing Arts

    November 20, 2020

    New Date! Thursday, Dec 17 at 7pm AHS Instrumental Virtual Winter Concert
    Enjoy the amazing musical talents of the Acalanes Instrumental Bands. Instrumental Music Director Ms. Lauren Gibson will be showcasing performances by each ensemble (Jazz Ensemble, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, and Orchestra) as well as chamber music. Best of all, you can hear all this beautiful music safely from the comfort of your home via Zoom video conference. Look for the Zoom link at     http://acalanesinstrumentalmusic.com or http://ahsperformingarts.org.

  • General Announcements

    November 13, 2020

    Monday, Nov 16 from 10:30am-1:30pm Make-up School Photos
    If your student still needs their school photo taken, or if they would like to re-take their picture, send them to the Performing Arts Center (PAC) along the outside hallway. Please remember masks are required while on campus, along with social distancing.

    Monday, Nov 16 from 12n-3:30pm AND Thursday, Nov 19 from 3:30-5pm PE Locker Clean Out
    If your student didn’t clear out their PE locker last spring (or since then), now is the time! If PE items are not picked up this week, the school cannot guarantee access to these items until the end of the school year. Again, masks and social distancing are required on campus.

  • APC in Action

    November 13, 2020

    Friday, Nov 20 from 10-11:30am - Dons Dialogue with Principal Bell
    Join Principal Bell online and find out what’s happening on campus. Friday’s focus will include the proposed hybrid schedule for the second semester, along with a preview of the finals testing schedule, and our monthly BIRT Report. Watch your email for a link to register and mark your calendar to attend.

    APC 2020-2021 Fall Grants
    As a result of your generous donations this school year, the Acalanes Parents Club is pleased to fund the following grants, totaling $10,000:

    • Air purifiers and filters to complement district’s upgrade of campus-wide HVAC; additional small purifiers to be used in more confined, high-use areas
    • Outdoor game and social equipment to encourage on-campus student engagement during Fall 2020; long-term use opportunities by AHS Leadership
    • Community-themed T-shirts for staff to welcome students back to campus, designed by Acalanes Diversity Board 
    • Virtual screening of DEI themed documentary “A Most Beautiful Thing” and live conversation following the screening with lead documentary producer, Arshay Cooper 
    • New nurse’s office equipment to safely secure medications and student files; replacement of cloth chairs

  • Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

    November 13, 2020

    Tuesday, Nov 17 at 10am ACA Chat Live with Andrea Powers & Katherine Walton (& Coffee Social @ Sideboard)
    The first interactive chat was a hit! Join the next one by registering here. There will be a socially-distanced coffee at Sideboard at 8:30am (note earlier time!) for any parents who would like to join prior to ACA Chat Live. Dress warmly. Coffee will end in time to get home for ACA Chat Live. Please email to RSVP for coffee to help with a headcount. 

    AHS + Lafayette: Better Together
    Check out the signs in the city marquees in front of Safeway and Lafayette Park Hotel. It’s a great reminder of the growing partnership between our Dons community, the City of Lafayette and the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce. 

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

  • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)

    November 13, 2020

    Week THIRTEEN in the Challenge to Build Habits Supporting Racial Equity. 

    November is Native American Heritage Month
    How many people know that Native American children were separated from their families and sent to boarding schools as a way to “civilize” them into US society? Read about it here.

    Last week, Campolindo hosted an inspiring book group discussing late Congressman John Lewis’ book “Across That Bridge”. For more on John Lewis, take a listen to Terry Gross’ “Fresh Air” interview on NPR. Acalanes DEI is hosting the next book group on February 4. Stay tuned for book selection! 

    This Week is CARE week!
    This is a week dedicated to education and dialogue around equity, and is organized by the diversity board within the leadership class, together with different clubs and student leaders. Check out the details in the Student Activities section and encourage your student to opt in!

    Upcoming “Parent Ed” Dates: 

    • Monday, Nov 16 from 7-8:30pm - Sign up here to join the racial equity seminar. 
    • Wednesday, Nov 18 at 7pm “Be an Upstander, Not a Bystander” with Lori Hayes - Parents are invited to join their students to listen to this conversation. Register here.

    Acalanes DEI yard signs are available at shop.acalanes.com. Order deadline is November 29 and items will be available for pick-up on campus December 17 and 18.

    More information or questions?
    Email us! Stay current and follow us on our webpage, Facebook and Instagram.