Weekly News & Announcements

Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

It’s an exciting month ahead for all things ACA. Check our ACAtober details below:

Thursday, Oct 8 ACA Day  
It’s ACAtober and the first ACA Day is a “not to be missed” drive-by event on campus. Check out the class sections for more info. In addition to some old-fashioned Acalanes spirit, the first 50 students from each class will receive a cool gift of ACA SWAG!! Students will also have a chance to write/drop off thank you notes for Lafayette firefighters & police officers, health care workers and/or our awesome AHS teachers & staff. Acalanes families can help with the ongoing fire devastation by donating to the Acalanes Community Always Fire Relief Fund.

Tuesday, Oct 6 at 10am ACA Chat Live!
This event, hosted by co-Associate Principal Andrea Powers & Student Activities Director Katherine Walton, is a “not to be missed” informal, engaging and interactive parent forum. Pandemic exhaustion tips for students will be highlighted along with ways parents can help students stay engaged. Expect a light-hearted but highly informative hour. Watch your email box tomorrow for details on how to participate. 

Campus Clean Up
WOW!! Students (and parents) turned out BIG for the effort to spruce up the campus on Saturday.  It was the largest student turn-out ever and it was great to see Acalanes students so motivated to connect and give back. 

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

APC in Action

APC Student Directory
The directory is now available to APC Members (families who donate any amount to APC are members!) via Acalanes Parents Club website.  For privacy reasons, the directory is password protected. Members can look for an email with password information in their inbox later today. Not sure if you’re a member?  Go to the Web Store, log into your account and view your order history. Thank you for your support! A huge thank you to Sharon Hunt, Danielle Gallagher and Linda Choi for creating the directory and making it accessible to our members. 

Applications Due October 9: APC Grants, All Ideas Welcome!
Acalanes Parents Club will continue its APC Grant Program this year with a focus on creative solutions to enhance the educational experience of AHS students during distance learning, and with an eye toward ideas for when we gather again in-person. Teachers, students and parents are encouraged to submit a grant proposal by accessing the criteria and application form here. Email APC Grants Coordinator Catherine Habas with questions. To submit your completed proposal, email Catherine or deliver to the APC box in the office. 

2020-21 Acalanes & President's Volunteer Service Awards Program
The 2020-21 program year continues to be challenging for identifying volunteer opportunities. It is very important that students looking for opportunities to volunteer in our local community follow safety guidelines in order to keep yourself, families and neighbors safe. This year we are reducing the volunteer service hour minimum to 20 hours and adding in flexibility to volunteer requirements. This reduction applies only to the Acalanes Volunteer Service Award. The President's Volunteer Service award is a federal program and we cannot modify their program requirements. We encourage students to be creative with ideas that can turn into volunteer opportunities. Ideas to consider (verification of hours is still necessary):

• Grocery shopping or running errands for senior, disabled or at-risk neighbors
• AHS Stege Elementary pen-pal program
• AHS Clubs focused on service such as Key Club, Children's Hospital, Equip for Equality, Environmental, Asian Student Union, SAGE, Protect Animals Worldwide

If you have a great idea about a way to be of service in your community and want to see if it qualifies under the AHS program, email us!

Parent Cohort Preview from AHS Admin

Nationally recognized speaker Keith Hawkins, will help lead a student dialogue about resiliency, perseverance and finding your “why” during Monday morning’s Cohort session. Check in with your student after school and see how it went. Here are some questions you can ask to continue the dialogue at home:

• What current struggle are you dealing with right now? What are the reasons you will stick it out and persevere even though I know it might be a struggle. 
• Turn your “I can’t” statements into “I can” statements. Resilience starts in your mind. Your self-talk is one of your most powerful tools. Take challenges in stages. Break down the challenge into steps that are more manageable. Do one task at a time.
• What is a goal you have for yourself? What is your first step towards meeting that goal? How can I support?

In addition, Keith will be live on Wednesday at lunch to further dialogue with our students around resilience and perseverance. Please encourage your student to attend. The Zoom link will be sent out through Canvas. 

General Announcements

High School Poll Worker Program
For any student who plans to work at the polls on November 3, please remember that you need to have your form signed by one of our school administrators. As our campus is currently closed, please make sure your student emails both Mrs. Perlman and Mrs. Gullberg to let them know when they’d like to stop by and have their form signed. Our office is open by appointment only from 8:00aM to 4:00pm.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)

This is our seventh week in the challenge to build habits supporting racial equity. Let’s continue celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month!

For week seven, learn about labor leader Dolores Huerta, the woman who coined the slogan “Sí, se puede” (“Yes, we can”).

Tuesday, November 10 from 7-8:30pm - AUHSD DEI Book Club
The book selection is “Across that Bridge: Life Lessons and a Vision for Change” by late Congressman John Lewis. Sign up here to participate. 

Monday, November 16 from 7-8:30pm - Myself…My Story with Dr. Lori Watson
Last week we had our first valuable, inspiring and challenging session with Dr. Lori Watson. This is an Acalanes parent-specific series of six seminars, where we explore issues of race and identity. Join us for the next session on November 16 by signing up here! More details, including program dates and session topics are available here.

Reminder: Bias Incident Reporting Tool is available here. Students can report anonymously if they wish. 

Interested in joining our committee? Have questions? Email us.

APC Membership & Fundraising

October 16-31, Virtual Lafayette Res Run For Education
The race will be virtual this year, and we encourage you to join us for one of four races: 5k, 10k, 2 mile walk/run, or the 2.7 mile reservoir run/walk. Registration is $25; reference Acalanes and a portion of your fees go straight to our school. Zoonies, the newest ASB Spirit Card partner, has a gift for the first 100 sign-ups from Acalanes (thank you, Zoonies!). Support Acalanes and sign up now. Go Dons!

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

From the Activities Director

New Spirit Wear With A Purpose!
Acalanes! Check out the new spirit wear available and order by Monday, October 12th. There are a few cancer awareness items, an Acalanes bucket hat (highly requested by students) and our Acalanes anti-racist shirt. Orders will be available for pick-up October 29th. 

Looking for CARE Leaders
Acalanes is continuing our education around issues of equity. One of the ways we will do this is through CARE Week & CARE Workshops, which are student-led.  We are looking for 55 students to lead a workshop in Monday cohort about on campus discrimination, bias and lived student experience at Acalanes and in our community. We are looking for students who are versed in the protocol (compass and agreements) as well as students who can be comfortable leading uncomfortable conversations. Apply here.

Monday, Oct 5 - Class Shirt, Spirit Wear and Yearbook Pick-up
Stop by room 314 from 7:30-8:45am or 1:30-3pm to pick up your class shirt, spirit wear order or yearbook if you have yet to do so.

Tuesday, Oct 6 - Volunteer Service Awards Informational Meeting
Join us for a Zoom meeting all about volunteer service on Tuesday at lunch. Zoom link will be sent out via canvas. College & Career Advisor Wendy Reicher and APC Volunteer Program liaison Diane Archer will join me in answering questions about the awards program and ways to give back to you community. Here are the 2020-2021 volunteer forms.

2020-2021 Clubs
Club meetings continue this week. Encourage your student to attend even if they missed the first meeting last week. Check out our 44 clubs!

ACA-Fire Relief Fund
Fires continue to plague our state and our local community. Together, as an Acalanes community, we wanted to support our first responders and those who have been affected. Consider contributing to the Acalanes Fire Relief Fund. If everyone at Acalanes donates $1, we would be at $1,400 total. Let’s do this Dons!

Tomorrow, Oct 5 - Last Day To Drop Off School Supplies for Stege
Acalanes is holding a supplies drive for Stege Elementary School, our sister school since 2013. Each year we make personal bags for every student at Stege and work with their administration to hand them out. This year we are collecting pencils, erasers, crayons and colored pencils between now and October 5. There are bins at the flagpole. 

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

You can catch Wellness on Tuesday at 10am in the ACA Chat Live! And now here’s a contribution from one of our amazing mental health support interns: 

"Hello, my name is V and I'm one of the new Wellness Support Interns at Acalanes! We've made it to the end of Suicide Awareness Week, but this does not mean this is the end of suicidal thoughts or behaviors for students. As we continue to move through the fires and the pandemic, not to mention the upcoming election, it's more important than ever to keep your eyes peeled for any shifts in mood, attitude, or behavior in your children. We recommend saving the Suicide Prevention Lifeline--you can never predict exactly what might happen, so it's better to just be prepared. Please do reach out to the Wellness Center if you need further resources or support. Take care!"  

Allen Choi, Wellness Coordinator
Casey Sasner, Intake Specialist

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

College & Career

One-on-one Appointments
Students can book an individual meeting with Ms. Reicher here. All senior students should set up at least one appointment to discuss post AHS plans. 

Tuesday, Oct 27 at 7pm Financial Aid Night (rescheduled)
Join us for an online presentation about college costs. The meeting link is here, and you can review this helpful handout for details. Learn more about presenter Tim Lenahan.

Upcoming events for Juniors:

• Tuesday, Oct 6 at 7pm Class of 2022 Parent/Student Presentation - Lots of great college planning information. Hear from your Class Liaisons, as well as Wendy Reicher and Counselor Susan Martin. Watch your email for the Zoom link!
• Thursday, Oct 8 from 3:30-4p ACA Day Drive-Through - I look forward to seeing juniors at the first ACA Day.  I’ll have an otter pop for you to cool off!

Upcoming Events for Seniors: 

• Monday, Oct 5 All Day, Admission Reps Virtual Visits for students.  Over 40+ schools are scheduled. Juniors and seniors can sign up in Naviance to attend.
• Thursday, Oct 8 at 3pm ACA Day Drive-Through - I look forward to seeing seniors at the first ACA Day. I’ll have an otter pop to cool you off!
• Tuesday, Oct 13 FAFSA workshop - The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form allows students to request federal grants, work-study, and loans all in one application. Learn about how and why to fill out these crucial financial aid forms for your future college freshman.
• Tuesday, Oct 27 at 7pm Financial Aid Night (rescheduled) Join us for an online presentation about college costs. The meeting link is here, and you can review this helpful handout for details. Learn more about presenter Tim Lenahan. 

Freshman College Planning
Sophomore College Planning
Junior College Planning
Senior Checklist

• CCC Website 
• Follow us on Instagram: @acalanesccc
• Facebook Page for Students Have your senior or junior join the College and Career Student FB page 

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

Counseling

Juniors
See the note in the Juniors section about a presentation from counseling and College & Career Center next week, Oct 6 on Zoom.

Friday, Oct 9 - Last Day to Drop a Class
Students must email their counselor to do this. Students can drop a class if their remaining schedule will still have six classes. It is too late to add a new class. Email your counselor with any questions.

End of Quarter
October 9 is the end of the quarter grading period. Grades will be updated the following week. It’s gone by fast! Quarter grades are essentially progress reports at the halfway point in the semester. Grades and credits are updated on the transcript at the end of each semester. 

Transcripts
For Seniors ordering transcripts, have your list of colleges updated on Naviance and pay the $5 fee for official transcripts on the webstore. Mrs. Finn, the registrar, will process requests. 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. Counselor Assignments Student last names:

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

School Nurse

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

School Immunization Requirements are still in place.
Please check in with your local pediatrician’s office, Primary Care Provider, or our County Health Department.

Flu Vaccine is available NOW!
Make sure to have everyone in your family get a Flu vaccine. We all want to stay as healthy as possible, individually and collectively as a community. Reduced illness from flu will also ease the burden of illness from Covid in our hospital facilities. Flu vaccine is available at most medical practices and pharmacies. Free CC County Flu Shot Clinics begin next week.

Medical Forms and Medications at School
Please turn in any relevant medical forms your student might need for the 2020-21 school year. Those forms should be dated no earlier than June 2020. You can access forms here.

Here’s a great article on How To Be Stronger Co-Parents During The Pandemic

Please get in touch with me with any questions, concerns, and/or requests. I look forward to being in touch and connected!

Is your student interested in joining the Acalanes Health & Medicine Student Club? Check it out here.

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

Performing & Visual Arts

AHS Fight Song Rediscovered
Instrumental Music Director Lauren Gibson was thrilled when student Autumn Long recently passed along a recording of the original Acalanes fight song from 1956 and highlights of other school events that year. This year, our music students will record the fight song to ignite our Dons spirit. The fight song, written specifically for Acalanes, has not been performed in years and will now be played at upcoming football and other Acalanes sports games. A link to the 1956 recording, which includes a surprise visit by Marilyn Monroe (portrayed by an Acalanes student), is here. Enjoy!

Virtual Projects from Our Choral Music Students
Tune in for some exceptional online programming from our Dons students over the next two months: 

• National Parks History through Music Program - This program is put together by our recently retired AHS institution Larry Freeman, along with the Rangers at Hyde Street Pier National Maritime Park. They will provide a recording of a Sea Chantey entitled “Randy Dandio.”
• AHS Fight Song - As mentioned above, stay tuned as Instrumental, Vocal Music and Cheer bring our Fight Song back to life!
• November 16 High School Notes Program - Invited by the Diablo Regional Arts Association to participate in the High School Notes program, our Dons will sing in a virtual concert November 16. Acalanes, along with 11 other high schools, will collaborate with Deke Sharon, who arranged music for the Pitch Perfect movies and Sing Off. Our students will perform “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran and join other high schoolers in a group number to be determined.

Go Dons!

Legislative News

With so much attention on the presidential race, it might be possible to forget that there are other important items on the ballot. Several state propositions will directly affect our schools and students, so be sure to fill out your entire ballot!  

Prop 15: California Schools and Local Communities Funding Act
This initiative would require commercial and industrial real estate property worth $3 million or more be taxed on current market value. This money would be allocated to schools (40%) and other local governments (60%). It is estimated to result in $11.5 billion in additional funding statewide, and between $1.9 million and $3.4 million for AUHSD. How Prop. 15 would increase K-12 districts’ funding. For an even-handed discussion of the pros and cons, see here: Quick Guide: Proposition 15, the proposed ’split-roll’ tax on commercial property 

Prop 16: Repeal Proposition 209 – Restore Affirmative Action
This constitutional amendment would permit the use of race, gender, and ethnic diversity as factors (but not decisive factors) in education including college admissions, government hiring, and government contracting. CSU Trustees endorse repeal of affirmative action ban

Prop 18: Primary Voting for 17-Year-Olds
This constitutional amendment allows 17-year-olds who will be 18 at the time of the next general election to vote in primary elections and special elections. 18 other states plus DC already allow this.