Weekly News & Announcements

Legislative News

There are several measures on the November 2020 ballot which will directly affect our students.  Prop 15 in particular is being hotly contested.  

Proposition 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.

Proposition 16: Repeal Proposition 209 – Restore Affirmative Action
This constitutional amendment, placed on the ballot by the legislature, asks the voters of California to vote on permitting 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

Proposition 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, raising as much as $11.5 billion in additional funding for schools and other local governments. It protects all homeowners and renters by maintaining tax protections for ALL residential property. This money would be allocated to schools (40%) and other local governments (60%).

LPIE

Art Auction from Jennifer Perlmutter Galleries to Benefit LPIE! Win an Original Work of Art
All paintings are 30” x 30” x 1.5” stretched canvas and ready to hang. Local delivery or pick up. Auction begins Sept 29 on Instagram. To bid, go to @jenperlmuttergallery on Instagram. Instructions to bid will be released September 29.

Follow artists to bid: @deetivenanartist @Katiekorotzer @jenniferperlmutterart 

Thank you so much for supporting LPIE, and happy bidding to all!  

Laura-Kate Rurka & Jennifer Palmer
Acalanes LPIE School Chairs

www.lpie.org

APC in Action

Due Friday, Oct 9 2020-2021 APC Grant Applications
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. 

ICYMI
Watch the replay of Friday’s Dons Dialogue with Principal Bell here.

General Announcements

Canvas Support for Parents
Visit the Acalanes School District Canvas Support website to help with login, setup and more.

Monday, Sept 21 Student Academy Cohort Session
Tomorrow your student will attend their next Academy Cohort Equity Session. As in previous sessions, this Zoom link is on their Cohort Teacher's Canvas page. If your student is having trouble logging into Zoom, please make sure they are following the correct link. You can check your parent portal on Canvas for this information too. 

High School Student Poll Worker Program
Is your student interested in working the polls this fall? Visit this link to learn more about the program, including how students can apply. 

Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

The ACA Campus Clean-Up is scheduled for the first weekend of October. It will be terrific to get teams of students and parents socially-distanced in zones to help spruce up campus. While more details will follow, we are looking for zone captains to help out. Team ACA is also working on the creation of an Acalanes Alumni Network. As part of the effort, we are looking for “famous” alums (or ones with a great redemption story). Email Dawn Brightbill and Sarah Cusumano to let us know at aca@acalanesparentsclub.com.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)

Continue to Build Habits Supporting Racial Equity
Each week, we suggest you explore something that will help you become more educated and thoughtful in this area. September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month during which we recognize the invaluable histories, cultures and contributions of community members whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America. For Week Five: Learn about Puerto Rican civil rights pioneer Felicitas Gómez Martínez de Mendez and how she helped pave the way for Brown v. Board of Education. 

Tuesday, Sept 22 from 7-8:30pm Register to Attend Book Club!
Join us online for a teacher-moderated discussion about the book How to Be An Antiracist by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi. Register for the event here. Don’t miss this important discussion, even if you haven’t had a chance to finish the book! Click here for the ‘Shortform’ book summary. Let’s meet online on Tuesday! 

Thursday, Oct 1 from 6:30-8pm Parent Racial Equity Seminar
The first in a series of six seminars with Dr. Lori Watson will allow parents to intimately explore issues of race and identity. Dr. Watson will respond to parent questions that have come up since her last parent forum. She will also address the teacher-moderated racial equity workshops our children have attended. Let’s continue to listen and learn! Register in advance for this meeting here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. 

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

From the Activities Director

2020-2021 Clubs Kick Off This Week!
Get excited! Clubs are the best way to connect students to campus right now. Please watch this quick video from Katherine Walton where she details everything you need to know about clubs this year. Encourage your student to check out the module in Canvas tomorrow to see the 43 clubs on campus and find out more about them. Club meetings will begin on Wednesday and students will receive a spreadsheet in their Canvas inbox this week with times, days and Zoom links.

Sunday (TODAY!) at 5 pm - Acalanes Game Night
Join us for game night! We will have three different games running simultaneously in breakout rooms. This is a great chance for your student to decompress, connect with peers, and have some friendly competition. Students were sent the Zoom link through Canvas, and it can also be found on Instagram - @ahs_dons - link in bio.

Monday, Sept 21 (TOMORROW!) from 7:30 to 9am or 1:30 to 3pm - Yearbook/APC Flags/Spiritwear/Class Shirt Late Pick-up
Come to Room 314 to get your items. 

Friday, Sept 25 from 9 to 10am During Academy - Student Equity Council Meeting
Encourage your student to join this open group, hosted by Katherine Walton, that dialogues about issues of equity on the Acalanes campus. On Friday, the group will discuss the racial equity lessons, plan programming, and hear more from Acalanes administration about the equity site plan. 

September Student Equity Newsletter

Applications Due Friday, Sept 25 - Pen Pal Program with Stege Elementary
Acalanes High School students and Stege Elementary School students can join in a pen pal program! We will match a student from each school to one another based on common interests. There will be weekly letters or emails to your buddy with different themes each week. Once you fill out the google form, there will be an expectations meeting at lunch via Zoom Wednesday, Sept 23. Interested students MUST be at the expectations meeting to participate unless you specify ahead of time that you cannot attend.

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

We thought we’d provide an overview for parents of Wellness operations during distance learning. During lunch, we offer various activities, like journaling, games, mindfulness practice, and more. We are still doing intakes and zoom or phone therapy. Students can access the Wellness Center during regular school hours but we do not pull students from synchronous classes. We can use Academy where a student does not need extra help or has not been tagged. We also meet with students after school. We do not typically meet with students during the early morning hours so as not to take away from sleep. However, for students who are early risers, we will meet with them at their request. Finally, please note that on 9/29 at 5:30 pm, Contra Costa County’s Tobacco Prevention group will present “Vape Pens and Teens: What Our Community Needs to Know”. You can register here.

Allen Choi, Wellness Coordinator
Casey Sasner, Intake Specialist

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