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Performing & Visual Arts
ACALANES SPRING CONCERTS
Come celebrate the last month of the school year with Director Lauren Gibson and her talented groups of musicians as they perform two magical nights of music!
Dates: Tuesday, May 2 and Thursday, May 4
Time: 7pm
Location: AHS Performing Arts Center
Music Groups:- Tuesday - Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble
- Thursday - Jazz Band, Orchestra, Wind Ensemble
Admission Price: Free
AHS CHOIR POPS CONCERT
Date: Friday, May 5
Time: 7pm
Location: AHS Performing Arts Center
Featuring: Harmonix, Innuendos, Octet
Admission Price: FreJAZZ CAFE
The much-anticipated annual Jazz Café returns to Stanley Middle School on Friday, May 12th at 6:00pm. Lamorinda residents have long flocked to the popular “Jazz Café” event for a fun (and free) evening of jazz, coffee and dessert. There will also be a taco truck on hand. This year’s Café marks the debut of Stanley Middle School’s new music director Todd Minson. Performers include Stanley Jazz Crusaders, Stanley Jazz Messengers, Stanley Chorus, Campo Jazz Ensemble and Acalanes Jazz Ensemble. For more information, contact dalianishimori@gmail.com. -
LPIE
On Apr 21, we held a festive awards ceremony to announce the winners for Project LPIE. We received 155 entries this year! Congratulations to all our talented Acalanes students who participated in Project LPIE 2023. It's not too early to start thinking about projects for 2024!
Click here to view the complete list of all Project LPIE 2023 Winners!
Michele Colaco and Andrea Hilsabeck, Acalanes LPIE School Chairs
www.lpie.org, Follow us on Instagram -
Sports
This week’s can’t miss events:
Boys golf
Monday, May 1 DAL Championships at Diablo Creek GC
Baseball
Tuesday, May 2 Campolindo HS at 4pm. Varsity is away and JV is home.
Thursday, May 4 Campolindo HS at 4pm. Varsity is home and JV is away.
Softball
Tuesday, May 2 at Clayton Valley Charter HS at 4:30pm
Thursday, May 4 host Las Lomas HS at 4:30pm
Boys volleyball
Tuesday, May 2 NCS First Round at 7pm
Thursday, May 4 NCS Quarterfinal at 7pm
Boys lacrosse
Tuesday, May 2 NCS First Round
Thursday, May 4 NCS Quarterfinal
Girls lacrosse
Tuesday, May 2 NCS First Round
Thursday, May 4 NCS Quarterfinal
Swimming
Friday, May 5 NCS Trials at Concord Community Pool at 10:30am
Saturday, May 6 NCS Finals at Concord Community Pool at 10:30am
Boys tennis
Friday, May 5 and Saturday, May 6 NCS Singles & Doubles Championships at James Logan HS
Track & field
Saturday, May 6 DAL Finals at Campolindo HS 9am
The spring sports schedules will be found on the AHS website by clicking here.
If you have any questions, please contact Randy Takahashi at rtakahashi@auhsdschools.org or Haley Walsh at hwalsh@auhsdschools.org. -
General Administration Announcements
Health and Trade Career Academies this Week
The Acalanes College & Career Center is hosting two additional Career Academies this week. Career Academies are quick and interesting ways to learn about future career options and opportunities. All students are invited and encouraged to attend.
Wednesday, Apr 26: Health Careers
Friday, Apr 28: Trade Careers (roofing, electrical, plumbing, automotive and more)
Additional topics will be offered next fall.
Acalanes Alumni Forum
On Tuesday, Apr 25, at 6pm, the Acalanes High School administration and Associate Student Body officers would like to invite our alumni to join in an open Zoom forum to share perspectives, personal experiences, and memories of what it means to be a Don.
Over the past several years, our school community has engaged in a discussion regarding our school’s history and our mascot, “The Don.” This topic is vital to our community and sparks strong feelings and diverse perspectives. The student body originally selected the Don Mascot in 1941, and it is within the ASB constitution, determined by our students, that the mascot is named. Our ASB leaders want to create a dialogue with our current student body and alumni to understand the differing perspectives. Our goal is to come to a common understanding of our values and what our mascot stands for to be inclusive of our Acalanes community.
Please click here to register.
We look forward to seeing you and hearing you share what it means to be a Don! -
APC in Action
We're in the home stretch…Let's end the year with a grand slam as we fuel our students during Finals week
Who's on first? You! By donating and/or delivering snacks to our students during finals week May 24-26.
What's on second? Shop our Amazon wish list and have it delivered to the Finals Fuel clubhouse or donate directly to the Costco Run (venmo: @sheryl-platt-1 or paypal: sheryl@slpdesigns.net )
Why on 3rd? Help our students re-energize between final exams!
I don't know in left field? Click here for the Sign Up Genius that includes more information on donating and volunteering.
April Dons Dialogue - Listen to the Recording!
If you missed our most recent Dons Dialogue on Wednesday, Apr 19, here are the recording or slides from the discussion. This month's topics included;- Student activities update
- Mascot presentation with ASB Officers
- Department Chairs, Barth & Schottland, discussed ChatGPT
- End of year awards & celebrations update
- Q&A with Principal Shawn
The next Dons Dialogue will be Friday, May 12 at 8:45am in the Collaboration Center.
Please consider helping out at Prom and Grad Night!
We are in need of some additional help for both Prom and Grad Night and - we literally can’t hold these momentous events without parental support, so we urge you to consider joining the team! There are many opportunities to help- and for those of you with younger students, this is a great chance to get some visibility into the fun that’s to come for your student(s)!- PROM - Chaperone at SF City Hall – Saturday, May 13 – Sign up Here
- GRAD NIGHT - Check in, Bus & Cruise Volunteers – Friday, May 26 – Sign up Here
We can’t thank you enough for your time, support and generosity. YOU are what makes this ACA community so amazing!
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APC Membership & Fundraising
Buy a Brick, Leave a Legacy…
There’s no better way to honor a Don than with a customized 2023 Legacy Brick on our Dons Legacy Wall! Prominently displayed in the Main Quad, our Dons Legacy Wall provides families a lasting way to recognize their special student, teacher, coach, team, performance group, club, and more. Purchase your brick through the Acalanes Web Store for $250. Contact Legacy Brick Coordinator Leanne Zimmerman with any questions. -
Acalanes Community Always (ACA)
AHS Garden Update - We've been busy!!
We planted most of our summer crops last Sunday in the farm (the garden space across from the autoshop). We received donations from the Moraga Gardens Nursery and have a few more crops still to plant. Our hope is to have summer crops for staff and families to pick up over the summer. Stay tuned for more details about this.
We have one more major workday and can use your help! Sunday Apr 30 from 9-12pm we will be adding mulch to the planted area in the meditation garden. After this work day, the meditation garden should be done (except for the ongoing weeding/maintenance). If you can come, please complete the form here below.
Any questions, please feel free to contact Lori Tewksbury - LTewksbury@auhsdschools.org
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Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)
April is Autism Awareness Month honoring and recognizing our fellow community members on the autism spectrum. Have you heard people talk about neurodiversity? Harvard Health explains the origin of the term and application here.
DEI’s 2023-2024 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 parents to help out with events and communications next year. We have several active members aging out or retiring. Specifically, we would like to find people interested in re-posting items to our social media, maintaining an announcements calendar, and supporting a few annual events. Not a lot of hours involved, but definitely rewarding work. If you are interested, please reachout. -
Student Activities
Junior and Senior Prom Saturday, May 13 at SF City Hall! It is going to be a wonderful, fun evening with dinner, photos and various activities for students to enjoy. Tickets are on sale via the Acalanes webstore and prices are $95 for Acalanes juniors/seniors and $135 for outside guests or 9th or 10th graders. All students must turn in a filled out permissionform when getting a bus assignment. Bus assignments start this WEDNESDAY in the front quad. Questions? Email Katherine Walton.
Class Cup Kickball is all week at lunch. Encourage your student to play or come out and watch!
There will be a Student Forum to discuss our mascot on Wednesday in room 314 during lunch. Students engaged in really great dialogue sharing various perspectives at the previous two. Encourage your student to attend!
Looking to stay informed? Follow us on Instagram for the latest on student activities and class happenings.
Katherine Walton, Leadership Teacher -
College & Career
SENIORS
Senior Exit Survey: Important! If your student knows their post high school plan, please update Naviance. In order for final transcripts to be sent, students MUST go to “About Me” and “Surveys from Your School” and fill out “2023 Senior Exit Survey.” This is the only way transcripts are sent to colleges.
JUNIORS
Parent Naviance Training: The College and Career team will host a Naviance training session on Monday, Apr 24 from 6:30-7:30pm in the library to help parents learn how to navigate the college process with their students. Bring a laptop and your students’ password. Parents and students login into Naviance the same way using the students’ Acalanes email address and their district password. Instructions for how to login:
1:1 appointments: If you’d like your child to start exploring career interests and begin looking at Naviance, please have them schedule an appointment here.
SOPHOMORES/FROSH
What is your Sophomore doing this summer? This is the time to think about a meaningful summer experience- volunteer, work, community class or summer program. Please have your student stop by if they need help with summer ideas.
Interested in Marine Biology? - On Saturday, Apr 29 your student can learn about the terrestrial and aquatic animals that the Marine Mammal Center and Lindsay Wildlife Experience care for! They will have the opportunity to meet and learn about marine and terrestrial animals, watch and practice mock intubation, learn about wildlife, ecology and biology career paths, and more. Hopefully they will leave this event with an increased passion for all land and sea animals and use that passion to help advocate for the protection of our environment. For more information, click here.
Volunteer Ideas: Have your student come by the CCC so I can learn about their interests. Check out this website for ideas too! It’s best to set a search filter for teens.
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 Christine Todd / Christina Castillo-Gallardo during Spring 2023
Ku-Rog Marissa Meadows
Roh-Z Susan Martin
Summer School Information: The summer school website is up and running! Please use the link to get information about summer school offerings/dates. It will be at AHS this year! Please have your student see their counselor to sign up, get forms, and figure out which classes to take.
Geometry for Advancement: AUHSD does offer one course for advancement in summer - Geometry. This is an accelerated class designed for strong Algebra students (who have an A test average) to accelerate in math. Students may be placed in Algebra 2 or Algebra 2 Advanced upon completion of this class. Please have your student see their counselor for more information. This class also requires a teacher recommendation.
Course Selection Changes: If your student wants to make any changes to their class requests for next year, please have them see their counselor to discuss. -
School Nurse
ALCOHOL: Please take a look at this site. There is so much that is “normalized” about alcohol use, but I encourage you to send a strong message discouraging our underage students from using. Parents, please discuss with other parents how you can support creating opportunities for your kids to have fun without the dangers of alcohol use.
Visiting college campuses? Check out their Student Health & Wellness Centers. It’s a great idea to know where it is BEFORE your student may need it. These health centers are specialized in care for the college age population and have many expanded programs to support students and are especially helpful when being away from home and parents for the first time. I always recommend that students go there in the fall to get their flu shots. Can’t visit physically? Check out their websites!
A new nutrition infographic on my website: 5 Ways to Use Chickpeas
Dvora Citron, RN, MS
dcitron@auhsdschools.org
925-280-2970 x7128
IG: acalanesschoolnurse -
Wellness Center
We’re in the home stretch of the school year! As it wraps up, it is just as important now as in the beginning of the year to prioritize mental health. An easy way to boost mental health is to get outside! Encourage your students to spend some time in the sun soaking up some mood boosting vitamin D or moving their bodies in a way that works for them. Being outside, specifically around water and lush greenery, taps into our natural state and promotes quicker stress relief. Take advantage of our break from the rain by spending some time outdoors as a family!
Social Media
