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College & Career
SENIORS:
Senior Exit Survey is Mandatory: If your student has decided on their post high school plans, please have them log into Naviance and finish their Senior Survey. It is the only way final transcripts will be sent to colleges.
JUNIORS, SOPHOMORES, FROSH:
Support for LGBQTIA+ students: Please explore these links to learn more about schools that are more welcoming.
Please visit our College & Career Counseling website any time for additional information and support. -
Counseling
Counselor assignments are by last name:
A-Em Anne Schonauer
En-Kr Erika Vasquez
Ku-Rog Marissa Meadows
Roh-Z Susan MartinSummer School
Counselors are signing students up for summer school - it’s at Acalanes High School this year! If your student has a D or F in a required course, please send them to see their counselor to sign up! Please see HERE for more information. -
School Nurse
PERTUSSIS ( Whooping Cough)
Please review the notification sent to the Acalanes Community from Principal Eric Shawn on Apr 16.
Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is a very contagious bacterial infection that can spread through close contact when people with the disease cough. Symptoms can appear 5 to 21 days after infection. It usually starts like a common cold (e.g., sneezing, runny nose, etc.), followed by a cough that worsens over one to two weeks. People with whooping cough may have coughing spells in which they can’t catch their breath between coughs. Some may loudly gasp (“whoop”) and vomit or feel like they’re choking. There is usually no fever with whooping cough.
In general, the whooping cough vaccines are very effective in either preventing disease or decreasing its severity soon after receiving the vaccine series or booster dose. However, immunity from vaccination wanes quickly over time, so even children who have been fully vaccinated can get whooping cough. A booster vaccine (Tdap) is recommended in middle school at ages 11-12 years and is required for 7th-grade entry in California. It is also recommended for adults, especially pregnant women (with each pregnancy) and caregivers of young infants. The Tdap vaccine is widely available at doctor’s offices, some pharmacies, and local health departments and is generally covered by most insurance plans.
If you are a parent with a child or are in contact with a child: If your child, or a child you are in contact with, has cold symptoms and is coughing, please contact your doctor. Tell the doctor that several confirmed cases of whooping cough have been reported at Acalanes. If your child has been seen by their doctor and whooping cough was diagnosed, please keep your child at home until the child has completed 5 days of the prescribed antibiotic treatment. The most accurate test for diagnosing whooping cough is collected using a nasal swab.
Pertussis Fact SheetSee my website for more information.
Always Your School Nurse,
Dvora Citron, RN, MS
dcitron@auhsdschools.org, 925-280-2970 x7128
IG: acalanesschoolnurse, School Nurse Website -
Wellness Center
Are you or someone you know interested in quitting tobacco use? Kick It California is a free program that helps Californians kick smoking, vaping and smokeless tobacco with the help of proven, science-based strategies. Clinically proven, culturally sensitive and trusted, Kick It California (formerly the California Smokers’ Helpline) opened in 1992 as the first publicly funded statewide quitline. They now offer individual telephone counseling, a texting program, online chat, a smart phone app, Alexa Skill for quit smoking tips, and self-help materials. Take the first step toward quitting by visiting https://kickitca.org/. In Contra Costa County, you can also call 2-1-1 for a direct referral to Kick It California.
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LPIE
THANK YOU ACALANES!
LPIE would love to extend a huge THANK YOU to our wonderful families for their incredible support throughout the 23-24 school year. This year, 53% of Acalanes families contributed to the Annual Giving Campaign. Your generosity and commitment have made it possible for us to continue providing essential support to every student in Lafayette's public schools. Together, we've ensured a successful year of learning and growth. Your contributions truly make a difference in the lives of our students. Thank you!Jocelyn Werner and Jaime Roder, Acalanes LPIE School Chairs
www.lpie.org, Follow us on Instagram -
Sports
You may view the full 2023-2024 Athletic Schedule by clicking HERE.
*The game schedule below reflects dates and times as of last Friday. Games may change for several reasons, including weather. If you have questions or comments, please contact Acalanes Sports Boosters.
This week’s can’t miss events:
Boys Golf
Monday, Apr 29 DAL Championship at Paradise Valley GC in Fairfield.
Softball
Monday, Apr 29 Pinole Valley HS at 4:30pm. Varsity is away and JV is home.
Tuesday, Apr 30 host Miramonte HS at 4:30pm.
Thursday, May 2 at Berean Christian HS at 4:30pm.
Baseball
Tuesday, Apr 30 Clayton Valley Charter HS at 4pm. Varsity is away and JV is home.
Thursday, May 2 Clayton Valley Charter HS at 4pm. Varsity is home and JV is away.
Thursday, May 2 Frosh at Northgate HS at 4pm.
Girls Lacrosse
Tuesday, Apr 30 NCS First Round Playoff.
Thursday, May 2 NCS Quarterfinal.
Boys Volleyball
Tuesday, Apr 30 NCS First Round Playoff.
Thursday, May 2 NCS Quarterfinal.
Diving
Wednesday, May 1 NCS Championship at Concord Community Pool.
Beach Volleyball
Wednesday, May 1 Varsity Clayton Valley Charter HS at Heather Farms at 4pm.
Thursday, May 2 JV Clayton Valley Charter HS at Heather Farms at 4pm.
Boys Tennis
Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 4 NCS Singles & Doubles Championships at La Cantera Tennis Club.
Swimming
Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 4 NCS Championships at Concord Community Pool.
Track & Field
Saturday, May 4 DAL Finals at Campolindo HS.
You may view the full 2023-2024 Athletic Schedule by clicking HERE.
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General Administration Announcements
AP EXAM PROCTORS NEEDED - Great Volunteer Opportunity
Our AP Students need YOUR help! We are searching for parents to help with proctoring AP Exams the first two weeks of May 2024. Exam dates are May 6-10 and May 13-17.
Exams start everyday at either 8am or 12pm. Students know to show up 30 minutes prior to start time for check in. Proctors for morning exams would be needed starting at 7:15am and afternoon exams starting at 11:15am. Exams can range from 2-4 hours and we ask that you please plan to stay for the longest amount of time possible.
Restrictions: Parents, you are NOT allowed to proctor an exam that your own child is taking.
If you are interested in learning more about proctoring AP exams, please contact the Acalanes Testing Coordinator, Nicole Singleterry at nsingleterry@auhsdschools.org
Proctor Shifts to Fill!
Week 1- Wednesday May 8: 7am-12pm or 11am-4pm --- 2 proctors needed per shift
- Thursday May 9: 7am-12pm --- 1 proctor needed
- Friday May 10th: 7am-12pm --- 2 Proctors needed
Week 2
- Monday May 13: 7am-12pm or 11am-4pm --- 1 proctor per shift
- Tuesday May 14: 7am-12pm--- 1 proctor needed
- Wednesday May 15: 11am-4pm --- 2 proctors needed
- Friday May 17: 7am-12pm or 11am-4pm --- 2 proctors needed per shift
REMINDER: PLEASE COMPLETE ONLINE SURVEY - California's School Meals for All (SMFA) Program
If you haven’t already taken the Online Survey we encourage you to participate. Please share your experiences and perceptions of SMFA and its impacts on your student and family.
All parents/guardians, regardless of participation in the survey, are eligible to enter a raffle to win one of four electronic gift cards valued at $50 each.
To take the survey and/or enter the raffle, click on this link: Parent Online Survey -
APC in Action
APC DONS DIALOGUE - Friday, Apr 26 at 8:45am in the Collaboration Center
Join us for our second to last Dons Dialogue of this school year. Come for the coffee and treats and stay to hear department highlights, student activities plus an open Q&A with Principal Shawn. We hope to see you there!
2024-2025 ACALANES PARENTS CLUB BOARD SLATE
We are proud to announce our slate of nominees for the 2024-25 APC Board of Directors. A big thank you to this year’s Nominating Committee for their time and dedication in placing these amazing volunteers. The APC general membership will vote to approve the slate at the spring general meeting, immediately preceding Dons Dialogue on Friday morning, May 17. If you have any questions, please contact APC Parliamentarian, Veronique Kuhner.
2024-2025 Parents Club Board Nominees
Co-Presidents: Andrea Hilsabeck & Michele Colaco
VP Special Projects: Raina Foster
VP Communications: Kendra Uffelman
VP Community Partners: Nicole Long
VP Fundraising: Carrie Daughters
VP Services: Ali Krick
Co-Head Liaisons: Sarah Cusumano & Heidi Keely
Secretary: Kim Hamill
Treasurer: Lee Huskins
Assistant Treasurer: Jocelyn Birrell
Auditor: Sierra Culbertson
Past President/Parliamentarian: Sarah Cusumano -
Parent Education
INSIDE THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PROCESS
Thank you to everyone that came out to the library last Wednesday (and over 100 of you online) to hear directly from John Duarante about some behind the scenes information in the college admissions process. Debbie Levy, our head of the college and career counseling center, was a fantastic host!
In case you missed it, you can watch the zoom HERE (Passcode: dg93mEF*)
His biggest message was for students to make a really great “marketing packet” about themselves and their time in high school. He also made it clear that there are things students can control and things they cannot…and everyone should be looking to find the best fit for themselves and not their parents or friends.
Several parents have also asked for the A-Z list of his podcasts:
SPECIAL NEEDS TRUSTS AND ESTATE PLANNING FOR SPECIAL NEEDS KIDS
Please join us for a workshop presented by special needs planning attorney, Jonathan Thompson*, on estate planning for children with special needs.
Special needs planning is a specialized area of the law that focuses on protecting public benefits for people with special needs, while at the same time facilitating a higher quality of life. Jonathan Thompson will provide information on special needs plans that can provide a framework for proper medical care and management of assets, as well as protect assets from creditors and predators. He will discuss the essential characteristics of special needs trusts, how they work and how to set one up.
To receive SEED High School updates, sign up for the high school newsletter here.
* Jonathan is an attorney with the Thompson Law Offices in Walnut Creek. -
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)
Important Dates
- April - Autism Awareness month
- Apr 22 Passover begins
This year, Passover begins tomorrow, April 22 at sundown and ends on Tuesday, April 30 at sundown. Passover, or "Pesach" in Hebrew, is an eight-day (or seven in Israel) celebration that commemorates the Jewish people's escape from slavery in ancient Egypt. Passover involves several traditional events that honor the history of the Jewish people. During the first two nights of Passover, a Seder meal is hosted, which includes ritual blessings and symbolic food and drinks. Additionally, Passover customs require several changes to daily life. During Passover, observant Jews forgo leavened grain and bread products. Instead, these foods are replaced with matzah, an unleavened cracker or flatbread. Some households also refrain from working, driving, and using electricity. You can learn even more here.
DEI’s ‘24/25 planning is underway. Please share any thoughts or ideas you have with us here. This is a collaborative process; we encourage participation. It is important that a plethora of voices and ideas are heard. We are also looking for members of our community that would like to be more involved. Time commitment and involvement is up to you but the more you do, the bigger impact you will have on our Acalanes community.Please check out the new AUHSD DEIB website for many great resources and events! And follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
Social Media
