Weekly News & Announcements

Legislative News

While our school district moves ahead with comprehensive plans for a return to in-person instruction using a hybrid learning model, other districts around the state have not been able to agree to do so. Now a group of state legislators, including Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, D-Orinda, have proposed a bill requiring every school district to physically return to school in stages once that district has returned to the red tier. The bill is particularly focused on the huge numbers of English learners and low-income, foster, and homeless students who have fallen behind during distance learning. California Assembly leaders press for all districts to resume in-school teaching in the spring

Parent Education

Jan 12 at 7 pm - Challenge Success presents “A Healthy Approach to College Admissions”
The college admissions process can be a source of stress and anxiety for students and parents alike. This research-based workshop addresses many of the important questions we hear from families. What do college rankings really measure? Are students who attend more selective colleges better off later in life? What is “fit” and why does it matter? Participants will learn practical strategies to help reduce unnecessary pressure around the college admissions process and ways to support their student’s overall well-being and readiness for life in college and beyond. Stay tuned for more information and registration details.

School Nurse

PTG (Posttraumatic Growth): Using Challenge To Cultivate Resilience
During this pandemic, we are ALL experiencing trauma, grief, and loss, individually and collectively, and that cannot and should not be minimized in any way. This, undoubtedly, is going to be the hardest holiday season that most of us have ever experienced. But I want to encourage everyone to look for opportunities for growth and resilience. We can set an intention to practice anchoring ourselves in core values that support health and wellness, including gratitude, self-care, and generosity (to name a few). Try visualizing those values as “eyeglasses” that you put on (ex: now I am putting on my gratitude glasses. What does my perspective look like from here?).

In anticipation of the opportunity to return to our school sites to some degree in January, I implore you and your families to be vigilant about staying healthy and taking whatever precautions you can to prevent the spread of Covid in your households and families, and in our community. Our school district is working hard to create a protocol to promote safety and health on our school sites and in our school community. We need to be cohesive partners in working together to promote health and safety in our community.  Thank you for your commitment!

Updated Medical Forms
Parents, please make sure you turn in any pertinent medical forms for your students for this school year, especially if your students will be in the Hybrid Model. See this page on my website and let me know if you have any questions.

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!

Happy Healthy Holidays to all!

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

Performing & Visual Arts

Performing Arts has as NEW website!!! Check out our event details and more at ahsperformingarts.org

WINTER PERFORMANCE EVENTS

Tuesday, Dec 15 at 7pm-  2020 Choral Music Virtual Winter Concert, “Together, from a Distance”
This streamed concert will feature music from the Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque and Classical eras, as well as some solo acts. Look for the YouTube link on the Acalanes Performing Arts website on the day of the concert.

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 this Zoom live webinar link. Look for more details at acalanesinstrumentalmusic.com or on our website.

Tuesday, Dec 22 at 7 pm - DramaDons Holiday Special
Happy Holidays from the DramaDons! The DramaDons have a present for you! The premiere of our Holiday Special will include selections of work that the DramaDons have created over this past semester. Pieces include original puppet stories, dialect monologues, an 8-minute Zoom movie adaptation, and an original children's theatre Zoom play. YouTube link to the Holiday Special will be available on the day of the performance on our website as well as on Instagram @ahs_dramadons.

Sports

The California Department of Public Health has postponed the issuance of its updated youth sports guidance. The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) does not expect the CDPH will issue any guidance allowing for schools to return to full practice and competition until after January 1, 2021, at the earliest. All full practice and competition start dates are officially on hold until updated guidance is issued. Read the full press release here.

APC in Action

Peer Tutoring
As students prepare for final exams, be sure to remind your Don to take advantage of Acalanes’ FREE Peer Tutoring program. Fellow students are ready to support their peers in any academic subject. Students can get help with test prep, essay writing guidance, lesson clarification, how to create a weekly work schedule, and much more. The tutors and directors connect personally with each student to provide an encouraging and engaging environment. Students can book peer tutors on TeachMore.