Weekly News & Announcements

College & Career

Seniors:

• Community College Support: Send your student to discuss community college opportunities and majors. DVC will be visiting on Wednesday, Feb 7 for an admissions presentation during academy in the library.
• Scholarship: Calling senior women with a 3.5+ GPA interested in a local community service scholarship through AAUW - the American Association of University Women. Deadline for application is Wednesday, Feb 14.
• Blackhawk Scholarship Fund: Senior women can apply here for a scholarship.

Frosh, Sophomores, Juniors:
 
Military Academy: Interested in learning more about the 4 military branches? Have your student sign up for Levy or Takahashi academy on Wednesday, Feb 21 in Mr. Takahashi’s classroom. Representatives from all the branches will be on campus to discuss opportunities to serve our country.

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 Martin
 
Course selection for the 2024-2025 school year is happening! Counselors will be visiting classes to go over the course selection process and to hand out forms:

• 11th grade US History classes on Tuesday, Jan 23 and Wednesday, Jan 24
• 9th grade PE classes will be visited on Thursday, Jan 25 and Friday, Jan 26
• 10th grade English classes will be visited on Tuesday, Jan 30 and Wednesday, Jan 31

Course Preview/Open House Night is Thursday, Feb 1. Please come with your students to see what they are doing in their current classes and check out potential classes for next year!

Individual counseling appointments with all 9th, 10th and 11th graders to discuss and collect their course requests will happen the week of Feb 5 - 9. 

LPIE

PROJECT LPIE
Don’t miss your last chance to participate in ProjectLPIE! Open to all Acalanes High School students, this competition is an annual event that showcases students' project-based learning. With 15 categories in a variety of disciplines, the contest is open to any AHS student. Submissions are due THIS Tuesday, Jan 23. Awards will be given in every category and announced at our in-person awards ceremony in February. Click here to register today!  
 
READ-A-THON
LPIE’s 4th Annual Read-a-thon starts tomorrow, Monday, Jan 22. Students who read 40 minutes or more per day during the LPIE Read-a-thon, and collect at least one donation, will be entered for a chance to win exciting prizes. Click here to set-up your PledgeStar page today and get ready to read!

Jocelyn Werner and Jaime Roder, Acalanes LPIE School Chairs
www.lpie.org, Follow us on Instagram

Sports

This week’s can’t miss events:

Boys basketball
Monday, Jan 22 host Berean Christian HS. JV at 6pm and Varsity at 7:30pm.
Monday, Jan 22 Frosh host Las Lomas HS at 4:30pm.
Wednesday, Jan 24 host Miramonte HS. Frosh at 4:30pm, JV at 6pm and Varsity at 7:30pm.
Friday, Jan 26 host Ygnacio Valley HS. JV at 6pm and Varsity at 7:30pm.
Friday, Jan 26 Frosh host Clayton Valley Charter HS at 4:30pm.
 
Girls basketball
Monday, Jan 22 at Berean Christian HS. JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7pm.
Wednesday, Jan 24 at Miramonte HS. JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7pm.
Friday, Jan 26 at Ygnacio Valley HS. JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7pm.
 
Girls soccer
Tuesday, Jan 23 host Alhambra HS. JV at 5pm and Varsity at 7pm.
Thursday, Jan 25 host Campolindo HS. JV at 5pm and Varsity at 7pm.
Saturday, Jan 27 at Windsor HS. JV at 10am and Varsity at 12pm.
Saturday, Jan 27 Frosh-Soph at Miramonte HS at 2pm.
 
Boys soccer
Tuesday, Jan 23 at Alhambra HS. JV at 5pm and varsity at 7pm.
Thursday, Jan 25 at Campolindo HS. Frosh at 4pm, JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7:15pm.
Saturday, Jan 27 host Las Lomas HS. Frosh at 4pm, JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7:15pm.
 
Wrestling
Tuesday, Jan 23 Berean Christian HS and Ygnacio Valley HS at Concord HS at 5pm.
Saturday, Jan 27 Hunter Diemert Memorial Invitational at Livermore HS, NCS JV Tournament at Dougherty Valley HS and Goddess of the Vine girls tournament at Windsor HS.This week’s can’t miss events:
Boys soccer
Tuesday, Jan 16 host College Park HS. Frosh at 4pm, JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7:15pm.
Thursday, Jan 18 Frosh host Berkeley HS at 5pm.
Saturday, Jan 20 host Alameda HS. JV at 11am and Varsity at 1pm.
 
Girls soccer
Tuesday, Jan 16 at College Park HS. JV at 5pm and Varsity at 7pm.
Saturday, Jan 20 Frosh-Soph host Las Lomas HS at 9am and play at Campolindo HS at 2pm.
 
Girls basketball
Wednesday, Jan 17 host Alhambra HS. JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7pm.
Friday, Jan 19 host Campolindo HS. JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7pm.
 
Boys basketball
Monday, Jan 15 at Bishop O’Dowd HS. Frosh at 4pm and JV at 5:30pm.
Wednesday, Jan 17 at Alhambra HS. Frosh at 4:30pm, JV at 6pm and Varsity at 7:30pm.
Friday, Jan 19 at Campolindo HS. Frosh at 4:30pm, JV at 6pm and Varsity at 7:30pm.
 
Wrestling
Tuesday, Jan 16 at Mt. Diablo HS at 5pm.
Saturday, Jan 20 San Ramon Valley Invitational and Livermore JV Barn Burner.
 
You may view the 2023-2024 Athletic Update by clicking HERE.

Helpful Resources for Course Selection

Course selections for the 2024-2025 school year are due the week of February 5! Acalanes has a wealth of resources available to assist you and your students in the process.

IN HOUSE COURSE PREVIEW
This month, we will inform all of our rising 9th, 10th and 11th grade students of the courses and choices they have to make to register for classes for the next school year at our In House Course Preview Program. 9th through 11th graders will be required to attend one academy program in the PAC. Teachers will share the elective course options available to that grade level for next year:

• Wednesday, Jan 17 - All current 9th graders ("rising sophs")
• Friday, Jan 19 - all current 10th graders ("rising juniors")
• Wednesday, Jan 24 - all current 11th graders ("rising seniors")

Students will attend regular academy when their grade is not participating in their In House Course Preview presentation.
 
COURSE PREVIEW & OPEN HOUSE - for Students and Parents
Thursday, Feb 1:

• 5:30pm | Acalanes Parents Club Hosted Reception
• 5:45pm | Incoming 9th Grade Family Meeting
• 6:15 - 8:00pm | Drop-In Opportunities
• 6:30 - 7:00pm | Break-Out Session 1
• 7:05 - 7:30pm | Break-Out Session 2
• 7:35 - 8:00pm | Break-Out Session 3

The night is a valuable resource for current frosh, sophomores and juniors who are mapping out their future courses, as well as an excellent way for incoming 9th grade students to experience all that Acalanes has to offer. It's also a great way to connect with fellow Acalanes parents.

APC in Action

DONS DIALOGUE - FRIDAY, JAN 19 at 8:45am in the Collaboration Center
We hope to see you for our January Dons Dialogue. Join us to hear all about the course selection process and timeline from the Counseling Department. Plus, teachers will join us to discuss HSD/Ethnic Studies, PE Considerations, AP African American Studies, AP Psychology, Data Science & Statistics, and Instrumental Music & Beginning Band. And of course there will be Q&A time plus coffee and treats!

We know it's hard to believe, but course selections for next year are due the week of February 5! So be sure to attend (and encourage your students to attend) all the events available to assist with the course selection process (Dons Dialogue, Open House & Course Preview and class academies).

WANT TO GET MORE INVOLVED?
Help do something positive for our school and students? APC is looking for parents who want to make a difference and enhance our students' high school experience. There is no better way than joining our vast APC Board. From big roles to smaller event driven jobs, the 2024-25 APC Board slate is opening soon. Click here to learn more about all the APC roles and how you can help AHS next year. If interested, please email past-president and Parliamentarian, Veronique Kuhner.

Parent Education

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)

Upcoming Important Dates:

• Jan 15: Martin Luther King Jr Day
• Jan 16: National Day of Racial Healing
• Jan 25: Mahayana New Year
• Jan 27: International Holocaust Remembrance Day

Drawing inspiration from both his Christian faith and the peaceful teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led a nonviolent movement in the late 1950s and ‘60s to achieve legal equality for African Americans in the United States. He is the only non-president to have a national holiday dedicated in his honor and is the only non-president memorialized on the Great Mall in the nation’s capital. He is also memorialized in hundreds of statues, parks, streets, squares, churches and other public facilities around the world as a leader whose teachings are increasingly relevant to the progress of humankind. Please learn more here.

As we approach February, we are supporting our students in celebrating Black Excellence month. They have requested parent assistance in decorating and informing Acalanes students and families about the many contributions of Black Americans in our world. If you would like to help please reach out to us at diversityandinclusion@acalanesparentsclub.com.

Performing & Visual Arts

The Acalanes Choir will be performing at the Lafayette Schools Concert with all of the elementary schools and Stanley on Thursday, Jan 25 at Stanley Middle School at 7pm. We're really looking forward to singing with all of the kids. It's always a very special and sweet performance. We hope to see you there!

Student Activities

We are back! A few invitations and reminders as we cruise into week 2 of 2nd semester!
 
Club Applications
Did your student want to start a club in the fall but didn’t get the chance? Now is the opportunity! Applications are available and due on Monday, Jan 16. A google form application is in the daily bulletin and on canvas. This Friday, Jan 19, during lunch is our Spring Club Day. Please encourage your student to stop by, check out our clubs and get involved.
 
Get ready for semester 2 and organize your school supplies!
Join us on Thursday, Jan 18 in the library at lunch! We will have snacks and school supplies to organize your backpack. This is a chance to get organized coming back from break. Encourage your student to sign up so we know who to expect!
 
Is your student looking for a BLUE CREW shirt and didn’t get one? Have them stop by room 314 with $2 to get their shirt!
 
SAVE THE DATE: Lunchtime Rally on Friday, Jan 26 in the Chris Huber Gym!
YOU (our community!) are invited to attend a lunchtime rally celebrating our very successful fall sports teams who went into playoffs and won (flag football, cross country, football) and to also welcome our winter sports athletes. The rally will feature sideline cheer, along with our jazz band. Want to feel the positive energy of Acalanes High School? See you at the lunchtime rally!
 
Future events:

• Jan 22: Leadership applications available for 2024-2025 school year
• Jan 22 & 24: Class Cup Trivia at lunch
• Jan 26: Senior Breakfast (7:30am), Senior Speaker Series (academy) and a lunchtime rally for students and community (lunch). All are invited to attend the lunchtime rally to recognize our fall sports and highlight our winter athletes!
• Jan 31: Staff/Student Trivia

Looking to stay informed? Follow us on Instagram for the latest on student activities and class happenings.
 
Katherine Walton, Activities Director

Counseling

Counselor assignments are by last name:
A-Em Anne Schonauer  
En-Kr Erika Vasquez
Ku-Rog Marissa Meadows 
Roh-Z Susan Martin
 
Course selection for 2024-2025 school year is coming! Counselors will be visiting 9th, 10th and 11th grade classrooms next week to discuss the course selection process with students and hand out forms.

Frosh/Soph Parent Night All 9th and 10th grade parents are invited to an evening with Erika Vasquez and Marissa Meadows, two of our AHS Counselors, who will present information about the course selection process that parents should know. Please come to the library on Thursday, Jan 18 at 6:30pm for this informative event! 

School Nurse

Switch it up with your kids and consider asking them “What did you fail at today? And what did you learn from that?” Help support their ability to see “failure” as a growth experience.
 
Here is a great resource on Character Strengths from the VIA Institute. I hope you find this a resource that inspires positive conversation and connection in your family.
 
A Twist on Tuna Salad: This “No-Tuna” Salad is one of  my favorite recipes. I’ve been making it weekly these days. It’s a great way to incorporate legumes into your eating, and besides using it for sandwiches, you can spread it on crackers or cucumber slices for a snack or appetizer.
 
“It’s never too late–or too early–to start living healthier lives.”
Michael Greger, MD, FACLM  Founder, NutritionFacts.org
 
Happy 2024!
 
Always Your School Nurse,
Dvora Citron, RN, MS
dcitron@auhsdschools.org, 925-280-2970 x7128,
IG: acalanesschoolnurse, ​School Nurse Website

Wellness Center

We are so excited to have students back to start the new year! It’s very common for people to use this time to set new goals for the upcoming year. Goal setting is a great way to set up yourself, and your student, for success. Discuss setting SMART goals with your student:

• Specific- narrow goals are more efficient for planning and execution.
• Measurable- how will you know that you are making progress toward reaching your goal?
• Attainable- it’s important that goals are realistic and can actually be achieved.
• Relevant- be sure that your goals align with what you find important in the short and long-term.
• Time based- when setting an end date to assess whether you have met your goal, the date should be both motivating and achievable.

Setting, working toward, and achieving SMART goals is extremely beneficial to mental health. Everyone likes to feel capable and accomplished. This can help improve self esteem, as well as fostering an internal locus of control.