Weekly News & Announcements

Counseling

Counselor assignments are by student last name:
A-F Anne Schonauer  
G-Ka Erika Vasquez
Ke-Re Marissa Meadows 
Rh-Z Susan Martin

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION Counselors are finishing up seeing seniors individually to discuss post high-school plans. October is the month we spend writing letters for Early Decision/Action deadlines - each counselor has over 40 letters to write during October! Please have your student see us right away if they need a letter of rec!
 
GRADES AND ELIGIBILITY The first quarter of the year ended last Friday! Continued athletic eligibility will be determined from these grades this week for all fall sports - students must have a 2.0 GPA and be passing five classes. Quarter grades should be available in Aeries on Friday, Oct 18 or Monday, Oct 21.
 
JUNIOR PARENT NIGHT Please come to the Library on Wednesday, Nov 13 from 6:30-7:30pm to hear from Debbie Levy, College and Career Center Advisor, and Susan Martin, Counselor, about all things juniors should be thinking about as they research and prepare to apply to college next fall! 

School Nurse

Happy October!
October is Breast Cancer Awareness and Prevention Month.  We know a lot more about this area than we used to, so there is a lot we can do to help increase awareness and hopefully reduce our risk of breast cancer. One of the most basic strategies is to teach young women to perform BSE (breast self exam) and encourage them to perform this life-saving technique monthly throughout most of their lives. I am sharing an excellent resource from The Get In Touch Foundation. The Daisy Wheel is an interactive, safe, and easy-to-use tool outlining the eight steps necessary to do breast self-examination. This tool is accessible as a downloadable app and also available as a hard-copy paper tool. I have several of the paper tools in my office and am happy to share with anyone who is interested.

I want to encourage all families to access these tools and share them with your daughters. I encourage you to view this instructional video with your daughter(s) and consider physically practicing this together. Your discussion should include incorporating this practice into a regular health hygiene routine. 

So take action and make a commitment to: 1. Review this information and materials with your daughter(s), or even just yourself; 2. Download the app or/and get the paper tool from me; 3. Schedule this practice on your calendar to perform monthly with a reminder.  Make this a habit that will become a regular practice. The more we perform these preventative health measures, the more it motivates and inspires us to increase our healthy habits in other areas.  I want to hear from you about this – please “get in touch.”

Let me know if you have questions or need support.

​AHS School Nurse Calendar
See 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

With SATs and PSATs right around the corner, it may be beneficial to discuss test anxiety with your AHS student. Test anxiety is actually a form of performance anxiety which affects 25-40% of students. While it’s perfectly normal for a student to feel nervous before a test, test anxiety can be overwhelming for students and disrupt their concentration and ability. Here are a couple steps you can take to support your student in combating their test anxiety:

• Positive Self Talk can go a long way in altering one’s perception of their ability. Encourage your student to talk to themselves how they would talk to a friend or loved one experiencing the same anxiety. We are often our own worst critic and in many instances, we talk to ourselves more negatively than we would ever talk to someone else.
• Acceptance of mistakes can also shift your student’s mindset around their ability. First, remind your student that trying their best is realistically the most they can do. Even when trying our absolute best, people still make mistakes. Second, model this behavior for your students. Are you shaming your student when their best effort isn’t “good enough” or beating yourself up when you make a mistake? Offer grace in the face of mistakes. We’re all human after all.
• Teach test taking basics to your student so they might feel more confident when the time comes to take a test. Believe it or not, study skills and test taking strategies are learned. Just because students have to take tests, doesn’t mean they are actually equipped to do so successfully.

Performing & Visual Arts

LPIE

Did you know that LPIE is made up of over 50 dedicated volunteer board and committee members?
We’re excited to spend the next two weeks highlighting these incredible individuals who give their time and talents to support our schools and students. Stay tuned as we shine a spotlight on the amazing people who make LPIE’s work possible!

Lori MacLeod
My name is Lori MacLeod, and I have four children who have gone through the Lafayette public schools. With my oldest now in college, two sons at Acalanes, and my youngest at Stanley, I can confidently say I’ve seen firsthand how LPIE has profoundly impacted each of their educations.

As the lowest-funded high school district in the state of California, LPIE’s support is crucial for maintaining the quality of education at Acalanes, ensuring our students are set up for successful futures. First and foremost, LPIE funds teachers and educators in positions that the state of California does not cover including 17 class sections at Acalanes. Beyond that, LPIE provides funding for essential supplies across a wide range of departments at Acalanes—from science to PE, photography to auto shop.

And it doesn’t stop there. LPIE is the reason Acalanes students have access to full-time counselors, field trips, and laptops. There’s virtually no area at Acalanes that LPIE hasn’t touched.

I am forever grateful for the foresight of this community’s leaders over four decades ago, ensuring that my children would receive an excellent public school education. I’m honored to continue being part of this process for future students as one of the Acalanes co-chairs.

Sports

*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:

Girls volleyball
Tuesday, Oct 15 at Campolindo HS.  Frosh at 4:30pm, JV at 5:30pm, Varsity at 6:30pm.
Thursday, Oct 17 host Las Lomas HS. Frosh at 4:30pm, JV at 5:30pm, Varsity at 6:30pm.
 
Girls tennis
Tuesday, Oct 15 Las Lomas HS at 4pm. Varsity is home and JV is away.
Thursday, Oct 17 Northgate HS at 4pm. Varsity is away and JV is home.
 
Girls golf
Tuesday, Oct 15 Varsity v. Las Lomas HS at Boundary Oak GC 3:30pm.
Thursday, Oct 17 JV v. Campolindo HS at Moraga CC 3:30pm.
 
Boys water polo
Wednesday, Oct 16 at Northgate HS. JV at 4pm and Varsity at 5pm.
Thursday, Oct 17 host Castro Valley HS. JV at 6pm and Varsity at 7pm.
 
Girls water polo
Wednesday, Oct 16 at Northgate HS. Varsity at 6pm and JV at 7pm.
Friday, Oct 18 and Saturday Oct 19 NorCal JV Tournament at Soquel HS.
 
Flag football
Wednesday, Oct 16 Northgate HS at 6:45pm, College Park HS at 8pm at Northgate HS.
 
Football
Thursday, Oct 17 Frosh host Clayton Valley Charter HS at 5pm.
Friday, Oct 18 at Clayton Valley Charter HS. JV at 4:30pm, Varsity at 7pm.
 
Cross country
Saturday, Oct 19 Mariner Invitational at Redwood HS.

You may view the full 2024-2025 Athletic Schedule by clicking HERE.

General Administration Announcements

MAKE-UP SCHOOL PHOTOS: Tomorrow, Monday, Oct 7
Did your student miss school photos at the beginning of the year? If so, your student will receive a pass tomorrow morning to come to the PAC lobby at a designated time to get a school photo taken and pick up a student ID card. If your student needs to have a photo retaken, they can come to the PAC lobby during brunch to have a new photo taken and ID card printed. 

APC in Action

PEER TUTORING PRESENTS NOTE TAKING 101!
If your child is struggling with note taking, or just looking for new/different strategies, this will be a helpful seminar. Pizza lunch provided for the first 40 students.
Wednesday, October 9, Lunch in Room 107