Weekly News & Announcements

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)

It’s Women’s History Month and our Thank Her feature is taking off. We had a couple of parents write in about women they admired…keep the suggestions coming! Send in the name and a short description of a woman change-maker you admire. Local tie-ins are always appreciated!
 
Thank Her: Two authors, Judy Blume and Amy Tan, have had a profound impact on the lives of our peers. Judy Blume’s rich collection of novels make adolescents - including many female youth of the 80s - feel seen. Her ability to portray teenage issues with frankness and humor made her relatable reads extraordinarily popular. The New York Times writes that many of Blume’s books are now being turned into films. 
 
Oakland native, Amy Tan, had a breakout hit with The Joy Luck Club in 1989. Her novels, short stories, and essays are filled with intimate details about growing up as a first generation American and about what it is like to be both separate and a part of Chinese culture. Fun facts- Tan started out as a successful business writer and her novel, The Bonesetter’s Daughter, is also an opera!
 
Upcoming Event: Lift Your Voice with Angela Harrelson, TOMORROW, Mar 13 at 7pm, Town Hall Theater
Angela is the aunt of George Floyd and has written Lift Your Voice about how her nephew’s murder changed the world. Tickets to this special event are available at townhalltheater.com.
 
Stay in Touch: Click here to join the DEI mailing list or share feedback.

Student Activities

Women’s Excellence Month
Check out the calendar of events! Students have planned a full month of great activities, including:

• Movie Night in the library Tuesday, Mar 14 at 6pm
• Club events throughout the month of March to celebrate and educate

A Look at Acalanes and the History of the Don
In response to an ongoing conversation regarding our mascot in our school community, the Associated Student Body and a representative student group have reflected on our Acalanes mascot. This week, during academy, student facilitators will be leading educational presentations about our mascot and its history. Following the presentations, there will be two open student forums to hear student opinions and voices. We will also present to parent groups throughout the month of April and release a survey to  students, alumni, and parents to gather feedback and opinions in order to inform our next steps, if any. Student government looks forward to the opportunity to hear from our constituents in the coming weeks.
 
Acalanes Job Fair - this Wednesday during lunch
Check out the list of confirmed employers for our Acalanes Job Fair. Remind your student to get ready, get prepared and seek out employment opportunities!
 
Acalanes is hosting a clothing drive with Youth Homes, a non-profit that provides services to underserved youth in the Bay Area. The drive continues through Wednesday, Mar 15 and you/your student can drop new or used clothes in the collection bins by the front office.
 
The Acalanes Community Outreach Board is holding a fundraiser for Turkey and Syria in response to the earthquakes that those countries have recently faced. There are jars throughout classrooms for cash and checks and we have an online donation pagewhere people can donate. For more information about the earthquakes, check out this World Vision website.
 
Might your student be interested in supporting the Legally Blonde production on Mar 22-25? They can sign up here to bring pink-themed food for the Legally Blonde tailgate on Mar 22 at 6pm. Instructions are in the SignUpGenius!
 
Acalanes will host the Special Olympics on Friday, Apr 21. It is a wonderful event attended by schools throughout the county. We need about 100 student volunteers- if your student is interested in helping, please encourage them to come to room 314 to get a permission form and sign up for a volunteer slot. Parents- we also need your help at the Special Olympics - please sign up to volunteer HERE!
 
2022-2023 Clubs
It is not too late to join a club! Encourage your student to check one or two out. You can view all clubs here.
 
Gratitude Grams
Want to show appreciation to friends, family and staff? Buy a gratitude gram on the webstore filled with fun toys and snacks. Embrace the attitude of gratitude!
 
Looking to stay informed? Follow us on instagram for the latest on student activities and class happenings.
 
Katherine Walton, Leadership Teacher

College & Career

SENIORS
 
District Wide DVC Zoom: Mercy Pono from DVC will be holding a DVC zoom presentation on Apr 12 at 6:30pm. Click here to join. 
 
JUNIORS
 
Junior Parent Night: Please join the College and Career Team on Wednesday, Apr 12 from 6:30-7:30pm in the library for a Rising Senior Night to provide parents with the details of the post-high school planning process.
 
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. Please bring a laptop and your child’s google password to login properly.
 
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
 
Interested in Business? Economics for Leaders (EFL) Program is a selective summer program that teaches student leaders how to integrate economics into the process of decision-making in an interactive learning environment.
 
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
 
Welcome to 4th quarter! Quarter report cards should be available on Aeries Parent Square on Friday, Mar 17. Athletic eligibility will be reviewed also at this time. 
 
Summer School Information: The summerschool 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: Please have your students bring in their completed course selection forms if they haven’t already. 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

While it’s still raining…
You can take this yoga class in your house!               
 
Substance use prevention:
What is vaping?
 
Drowsy Driving Prevention Week
 
This week’s recipe:  Sweet Potato and Black Bean Enchiladas

Dvora Citron, RN, MS
dcitron@auhsdschools.org
925-280-2970 x7128
IG: acalanesschoolnurse

Wellness Center

AUHSD Wellness Presents an In-Person Parent Education Event: Please join Addiction Specialist Dr. Allyson Mayo, Medical Director of Comprehensive Wellness Dr. Rebecca Parish, and CHS Wellness Coordinator Jenna Wrobel for a presentation detailing what parents and guardians need to know about fentanyl, Narcan, and other important drug updates. This will take place on Tuesday, Mar 13 at 6:30pm in the Campolindo Library.

 
Substance use continues to be an issue that adolescents are navigating within our AHS community. It’s important that our entire community is diligent in educating our students around the effects of various substances. Specifically, it is important that we continue to educate our students around smart and safe decision making and how the decisions we make today have the potential to impact our future. Whether or not you think that your student may be using substances, there is no better time than now to start having these conversations. Creating a dialogue is extremely effective in building trust with your AHS student vs. them feeling like they’re getting a lecture. The goal is to foster a space in which your student might feel more comfortable discussing these sensitive topics.
 
Kiara Thomas- Wellness Intake Specialist

Performing Arts

SPRING MUSICAL! Legally Blonde
Wednesday, Mar 22 through Saturday, Mar 25 - 7pm

The Acalanes Performing Arts Boosters proudly presents this year’s Spring Musical: Legally Blonde. Venture with the Acalanes performers to Harvard as Elle Woods (played by Lux Downing Griggs), a sorority girl who enrolls at Harvard Law School to win back her ex-boyfriend Warner (played by Sean McNeil). With the support of her vivacious sorority sisters, she serves as a lawyer in a murder trial and, in the process, meets her pensive and charming boyfriend, Emmett Forrest (played by Cameron Zener). Prices: Adults/General: $25, Students/Seniors: $16

PURCHASE TICKETS:
https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/72096

LPIE

Let’s Get Ready to Bid!
Even if you aren’t attending this year’s Gala in person, you can still bid in our ONLINE AUCTION, opening tomorrow, Mar 13!

And, there's still time to purchase RAFFLE TICKETS for your chance to win a 5-night Palm Desert stay or a stunning diamond necklace. Each ticket is $100 and only 200 tickets are available.

Contact your LPIE Reps to enter: Andrea Hilsabeck and Michele Colaco 
 
Project LPIE - TWO WEEKS LEFT TO ENTER! 
There is still time to register for Project LPIE. Projects are due Monday, Mar 27 and classroom projects are ok to submit.
 
Encourage your students to check out the 13 categories here. Cash awards are given in each category and awards will be presented on Friday, Apr 21.
 
For more info or to register: lpie.org/project-lpie

Sports

This week’s can’t miss events:
Boys Golf
Monday, Mar 13 Wildcat Invitational at Meadow Club GC, Fairfax.
Friday, Mar 17 Alameda HS at Rossmoor GC 3:30pm

Baseball
Wednesday, Mar 15 v. Vacaville HS at 4pm. Varsity is home and JV and Frosh are away.
Thursday, Mar 16 v. Liberty HS at 4pm. Varsity is home and JV is away.
Saturday, Mar 18 at Carmel HS. Varsity at 11am and JV at 2pm.

Softball
Tuesday, Mar 14 v. Mt. Eden HS at 4pm. Varsity is home and JV is away.
Thursday, Mar 16 v. Northgate HS at 4:30pm. Varsity is away and JV is home.

Boys Volleyball
Tuesday, Mar 14 host Deer Valley HS. JV at 5pm and Varsity at 6:30pm.
Thursday, Mar 16 at College Park HS. JV at 5pm and Varsity at 6:30pm.

Boys Tennis
Tuesday, Mar 14 College Park HS at 3:30pm. Varsity is away and JV is home.
Thursday, Mar 16 Campolindo HS at 3:30pm. Varsity is away and JV is home.

Track & Field
Tuesday, Mar 14 host Las Lomas HS at 4pm.
Friday, Mar 17 and Saturday, Mar 18 Dublin distance fiesta.

Boys Lacrosse
Tuesday, Mar 14 host Monte Vista HS. JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7pm.
Friday, Mar 10 host Amador Valley HS. JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7pm.

Girls Lacrosse
Tuesday, Mar 14 at Monte Vista HS. JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7pm.
Friday, Mar 17 at Northgate HS. JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7pm.

Swimming
Wednesday, Mar 15 at Campolindo HS at 4pm.

Stunt
Friday, Mar 17 at Miramonte HS at 5:30pm and 6:30pm.

Unified Basketball
Monday, Mar 13 at Freedom HS at 11am.

The spring sport 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

Acalanes Job Fair - Wednesday, Mar 15 at Lunch
Check out the list of confirmed employers for our Acalanes Job Fair. Please encourage your students to show up. We hope our Acalanes students will get ready, get prepared and seek out employment opportunities!
 
Career Academies: March & April
You are Invited to Share Your Career Path & Experience!
The Acalanes College and Career Center will host Career Academies during March and April and we’d like to invite interested parents, alumni, and community members to share their career experiences/pathways with our students.  Please see Academy dates below. All Academies are held from 10:10-11:05am.


If you would like to be a presenter or know someone who would be a good fit, please email Debbie Levy, dlevy@auhsdschools.org. Please provide your name, industry, and phone number. We will follow up with all contacts. Thank you for your support in helping our students explore careers.

APC in Action

AHS COLOR RUN:  SIGN UP NOW Sunday, Mar 26

Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

Clothing Drive for Underserved Youth
Hey Acalanes Parents! AHS is hosting a clothing drive with Youth Homes, a non-profit that provides services to underserved youth in the Bay Area. The drive will take place from Mar 1 to Mar 15! Please drop new or used clothes in the collection bins by the front office. Thank you for your support!

Acalanes Booster Bash
Don’t miss your chance to attend the hottest party in town AND support athletics at Acalanes!
Saturday, April 15
6-10 pm
Veteran’s Hall, Lafayette
Buy Tickets Here

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)

In honor of Women’s History Month, we are adding a Thank Her feature to our weekly communications throughout March. Contribute to the celebration by sending in a name and short description about an influential woman you admire. Bonus points for someone local or an alum of Acalanes.
 
Thank Her: Do you use Facetime or Zoom? Thank prolific inventor Marian Croak, owner of 200+ U.S. patents. Croak was one of the first two Black women to be inducted to the Inventors Hall of Fame. She is best known for developing Voice Over Internet Protocols (VoIP), technology that converts your voice into a digital signal. Among her inventions is the text-to-donate function which has helped to raise millions of dollars for disaster-relief efforts.
 
Happy Holi! And, chag Purim sameach! IYKYK
 
Don’t miss this important event happening Thursday night!
Repairing the World: Stories From The Tree of Life
Thursday, Mar 9, 7-9pm, Del Valle Theater in Walnut Creek
This is a documentary film on Pittsburgh’s powerful community response to hate in the aftermath of the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in U.S. history, showing what it means to be “stronger than hate.” Please join community members for this free film event sponsored by Campo DEIB. Screening will be followed by a special Q & A with the director.  Register forthe event here.
 
Stay in Touch: Click here to join the DEI mailing list or share feedback.