Weekly News & Announcements

School Nurse

Updated COVID 19 Guidelines
Main guidance remains:  For Covid+, stay home THROUGH day 5 (+test day = day 0).  New guidance: If no symptoms or symptoms are mild and improving, students may return to school without testing but are asked to mask THROUGH day 10.  If students have 2 negative tests one day apart, they no longer need to mask.
 
It’s (not) just WEED: Is your child getting “crossed”?
Please read HERE and HERE about what that means.
 
Substance use prevention:
What is vaping?
 
Let’s get back to the Dinner Table…What if everyone discussed their “failures” that day/week and what they learned from them?
 
This week’s recipe: Dumpling Stew  I made this recipe this week and it was DELICIOUS!  (modifications included using WF Cauliflower Gnocchi–yum!).
Even though it’s officially spring, it’s still “soup and stew” weather…
I encourage you to eat more “plant-forward”.  Check out the Nutrition page on my website, where I have some great Quick-Start Guides.
Let me know what you think!

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

Wellness Center

One more week until spring break! Spring break is a great time to spend some quality time with your student. In many cases, while students are on break they need something meaningful to occupy their unstructured time away from school. The Lafayette library is hosting the Swell Center over spring break which is a perfect place for 6th to 12th grade students. The Swell Center is completely free and offers a space for students to drop in, connect with peers, unwind or even try new activities. Some of the activities planned for this year include eating 3-D printer pancakes, watching a movie, dance and movement and more! If your student is bored over break, encourage them to drop by the Lafayette library.
 
Last, but certainly not least, Friday, Mar 31 is International Day of TransgenderVisibility.This day is dedicated to the accomplishments of transgender and gender nonconforming people while raising awareness of the work that still needs to be done to achieve trans justice (glsen.org). The Wellness Center at AHS is ALWAYS a safe space for trans and nonbinary students. We celebrate and advocate for the experiences of trans and nonbinary students not only on March 31, but every day. If you are interested in resources on how to support your trans or nonbinary student, RainbowCommunity Center is an invaluable local resource in getting you the support you need.

LPIE

Lafayette Partners in Education (LPIE) is proud to recognize Mary McCosker for her exceptional commitment to support and enrich the education of every child in the Lafayette public schools.
 
Mary served on the LafSD School Board for 13 years, co-led the Acalanes peer tutoring program for over 20 years, and has worked as an LPIE Instructor teaching Lafayette history to third graders for 25 years...and counting! The LPIE Board is excited to honor Mary's long-term contributions to our schools.

CONGRATULATIONS TO
MARY MCCOSKER!

Sports

This week’s can’t miss events:
 
Softball
Monday, Mar 27 at Pinole Valley HS at 4:30pm.
Tuesday, Mar 28 host Berean Christian HS at 4:30pm.
Wednesday, Mar 29 at Miramonte HS at 4:30pm.
Thursday, Mar 30 at San Leandro HS at 4:30pm.
 
Boys golf
Monday, Mar 27 Campolindo HS at Contra Costa CC at 3:30pm.
Thursday, Mar 30 Alameda HS at Chuck Corica GC at 3:30pm.
 
Girls lacrosse
Monday, Mar 28 at Justin Siena HS.  JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7:00pm.
Thursday, Mar 30 host Ygnacio Valley HS 7:00pm.
 
Boys lacrosse
Tuesday, Mar 28 host Bishop O’Dowd HS.  JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7:00pm.
Thursday, Mar 30 at College Park HS.  JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7:00pm.
 
Baseball
Tuesday, Mar 28 Las Lomas HS at 4:00pm.  Varsity is away and JV is home.
Thursday, Mar 30 Antioch HS at 4:00pm.  Varsity and JV are away.
 
Boys tennis
Monday, Mar 27 College Park HS at 4:00pm.  Varsity is away and JV is home.
Tuesday, Mar 28 Northgate HS at 3:30pm.  Varsity is home and JV is away.
Thursday, Mar 30 College Park HS at 4:00pm.  Varsity is home and JV is away.
 
Boys volleyball
Tuesday, Mar 28 at Las Lomas HS.  Freshmen at 4:00pm, JV at 5:00pm and Varsity at 6:30pm.
Thursday, Mar 30 host Northgate HS.  JV at 5:00pm and Varsity at 6:30pm.
 
Stunt
Tuesday, Mar 28 host Concord HS at 5:30 pm and Clayton Valley Charter HS at 7:30 pm.
 
Track & field
Wednesday, Mar 29 at Miramonte HS at 4:00pm.
Friday, Mar 31 and Saturday, Apr 1 Stanford Invitational.
 
Swimming
Thursday, Mar 30 at Miramonte HS at 4:00pm.
 
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.

Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

AHS Garden Restoration Update and Work Parties
We are gearing up to put the finishing touches on the "meditation" garden outside of rooms 508/509. On Sunday Mar 26, from 8am - 12pm, we will be planting and can use your help!! If you can come, please take a moment to fill out this form (so we know you're coming).
 
The garden restoration we are doing would not be possible without grants from the AHS Parents Club and the Lafayette Community Garden Club and the help of all of our volunteers! Stay tuned for more information about spring planting in the farm.
 
Lori Tewksbury, Acalanes Science Teacher

General Administration Announcements

Career Academy Sessions- please encourage your students to attend!
These Academy sessions will be held in the library. We would love for every student to attend one or two sessions of interest to them.


Important Message from College & Career
Naviance? What is it really?
You may have heard of Naviance, but do you really know what that means? Naviance is “a college and career readiness platform that helps students connect academic achievement to post-secondary goals.” This is a tool primarily used by juniors and seniors, but is accessible to frosh and sophomores as well.
 
What can you do on the site?

• Surveys: career interest and intelligence surveys
• College Research: extensive data on all colleges plus Supermatch College Search
• Admissions data for Acalanes students using Scattergrams
• Senior Year Uses:
  • Store college list
  • Request Transcripts
  • Request Letters of Recommendation
  • Complete a Student and Parent survey for counselors to use when writing letters of recommendation

If you are a parent of a current junior and want a Naviance tutorial on Monday, Apr 24 from 6:30-7:30pm in the library, please sign up using the following link.

APC in Action

March Dons Dialogue - This Friday at 8:45am! Join us on Friday, Mar 24 in the Collaboration Center for coffee, treats and great dialogue!  This month’s topics include;

• Grading with Associate Superintendent John Walker
• Department spotlights on Social Science and Special Education plus our Equity & Inclusion teacher
• Incidence Reporting System with Associate Principal Powers
• Q&A with Principal Shawn

Grab a friend and come join us for coffee, treats and community! AHS COLOR RUN:  Sunday, Mar 26 at 9am Please support this fundraiser for the Classes of 2024 and 2025! This fun event is open to all ages!

• Get Your Tickets Here
• Sign Up to Help Here

Parent Ed

UPCOMING AUHSD WELLNESS PARENT EDUCATION
Supporting Students with Anxiety
With Acalanes Wellness Center Coordinator, Patrick Turner, MA, PPS, APCC
 
WHEN: Tuesday, Mar 21 from 6-7:30pm
WHERE: On Zoom - Register Here
 
Click here to review the full AUHSD Wellness Parent Education Series for 2023.

Recordings of past Wellness Parent Ed events can be viewed on the AUHSD website here. Topics include Depression & Anxiety, The Fentanyl Epidemic, Connecting with Your Teen and more.
 

Fentanyl, Narcan & Other Important Drug Updates - DATE CHANGE
with Addiction Specialist Dr. Allyson Mayo, Medical Director of Comprehensive Wellness Dr. Rebecca Parish, and CHS Wellness Coordinator Jenna Wrobel

WHEN: Wednesday, Mar 29 at 6:30pm - Date Change
WHERE: Campolindo Library
Open to all AUHSD parents!
 

Snowballs or Avalanches: Which ones are more dangerous?
The answer: Both can be!
“As parents and guardians, it’s important to watch for both avalanches and snowballs for ourselves as well in our teens' lives, as certain times in their lives may be more risky.  Transitions or significant life events/traumas are a known factor that plays into depression and increases suicide risk for children and teens.”
 
Please read an important message here from Dr. Yanni Rho, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. Included is what to watch for in our teens, tips for checking in with our teens and important resources to support teens and parents.

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)

It’s Women’s History Month and our Thank Her feature is live for two more weeks. Parents, do you have a woman trailblazer you would like to see included in our feature? Send in the name and a short description.
 
Thank Her: Shonda Rhimes, television writer, director, and producer. Rhimes turned up the heat on Thursday night television with her huge hits, Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal. And then there is Bridgerton. Her casting is some of the most diverse on television, and her characters are attractive, ambitious, and deeply loyal. Rhimes dramas take us out of our everyday lives and let us live in places that are intriguing, suspenseful, seductive and full of bad decision making for a few hours. Grab your popcorn and wine and press play!
 
It is a busy time for spiritual observances and cultural festivities. Here are a few underway or starting soon: There will be celebrations for Nowruz (Persian New Year) on Mar 20, and the holy month of Ramadan begins Mar 22. Those observing Lent started in February and will conclude Apr 6. Passover starts Apr 5 and concludes on Apr 13. And Easter takes place Apr 9.
 
Stay in Touch: Click here to join the DEI mailing list or share feedback.

Student Activities

It’s the musical, Legally Blond! Don’t miss this opportunity to see our annual musical beginning this Wednesday through Saturday. Students have worked incredibly hard on the production! Buy your ticket today! If you are coming to Wednesday’s opening night, please plan to come to the pre-musical tailgate at 6pm in the front quad.
 
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 Wednesday. 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 so 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!
 
Calling all 2027 families! Only a couple more weeks to order your exclusive Class of 2027 spirit pack! The deadline is Friday, Mar 31 - place your order today!
 
Garden Work Days - We Need You!
We are almost done with the meditation garden and need help to get the plants in!
Please come Sunday, Mar 19 from 9am-1pm and/or Sunday, Mary 26 from 8am-12pm. We will be adding soil to the meditation garden space and then planting native and low water plants!! Fill out this form if you can come!
 
Encourage your student to sign up for our annual Talent Show on Thursday, Apr 20 at 7pm in the PAC! Applications to perform are due Thursday, Mar 30 and all talents are welcome!
 
The Diversity Board is hosting the annual Cultural Fair on Thursday, Apr 20 from 5-7pm in the big gym. If you sign up, you get to represent a country of your choosing! There will be food, entertainment, music, and much more. If you are interested, review the sign-upgenius.
 
Next Steps With the Don: Last week students engaged in educational lessons about the history of Acalanes and our mascot, the Don. Administration will be facilitating a student forum on Wednesday, Mar 29 during academy in the library if students are interested in continuing the conversation. The same presentation will be presented at the Dons Dialogue on Wednesday, Apr 19 to any parents interested, followed by a survey sent out to the community.
 
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 Wednesday, 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. Parents and students login into Naviance the same way using the students’ Acalanes email address and their district password. Instructions for how to login:

• Go to Naviance.com
• Click "Sign In" Students & Families
• Enter zip code (94549) and "Go"
• Click on "Acalanes High School"
• Click on "student" NOT "parent"
• Click on "Continue with Clever"
• Enter "Acalanes High School"
• "Login with Google"
• Enter your student's auhsd google email & passwordH

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
 
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.