• Parent Education

    April 15, 2024

    INSIDE THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PROCESS
    Parents (and students!) of all grade levels are welcome to join an evening with Dr. John Durante, an educator who has interviewed over 200 college admissions representatives for his acclaimed “The College Admissions Process Podcast”. This event will take place on Wednesday, Apr 17 at 6pm* in the Acalanes library.
    (*arrive early as we plan to start at 6pm sharp, as Dr. Durante will be joining us from New York City)

    This event will be moderated by Debbie Levy, Acalanes College & Career Counseling Advisor. The podcast and other resources are available at www.collegeadmissionstalk.com.
     

    SPECIAL NEEDS TRUSTS AND ESTATE PLANNING FOR SPECIAL NEEDS KIDS
    Please join us for a workshop presented by special needs planning attorney, Jonathan Thompson*, on estate planning for children with special needs.

    Special needs planning is a specialized area of the law that focuses on protecting public benefits for people with special needs, while at the same time facilitating a higher quality of life. Jonathan Thompson will provide information on special needs plans that can provide a framework for proper  medical care and management of assets, as well as protect assets from creditors and predators. He will discuss the essential characteristics of special needs trusts, how they work and how to set one up.

    To receive SEED High School updates, sign up for the high school newsletter here.
     * Jonathan is an attorney with the Thompson Law Offices in Walnut Creek.

  • APC Membership & Fundraising

    April 15, 2024



     

    Buy a Brick, Leave a Legacy…
    There’s no better way to honor a special Don than with a customized 2024 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 $300.
    Questions?Contact Legacy Brick Coordinator, Leanne Zimmerman.

  • Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)

    April 15, 2024

    Important Dates

    • April - Autism Awareness month
    • Apr 22 Passover begins

    DEI’s ‘24/25 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 members of our community that would like to get more involved. Do you have a student member of an equity club on campus? Would you like to help them be more successful? Consider joining the APC DEIB committee, as we are actively trying to promote our student groups on campus.
     
    Please check out the new AUHSD DEIB website for many great resources and events! And follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

  • Performing & Visual Arts

    April 15, 2024

    DRAMADONS PLAY FESTIVAL

    Check out Rejected: The 2024 DramaDons’ 10-Minute Play Festival on Thursday, Apr 25 and Friday,  Apr 26. at 7:00pm in the AHS Little Theatre.  Admission is free!

    The DramaDonsemble (Drama 2, Advance Drama, and Advanced Drama Honors) will present nine original short plays written and directed by: Marley Anderson, Vander Bowman, Steph Boustani, Cody Casey, Dakota Goyert, Lux Downing Griggs, Ben Schulz, Lily Thomas, & Elise Warren

    UPCOMING ACALANES CONCERTS!
    Mark your calendars to attend two exciting Acalanes concerts happening in the next few weeks:

    COLLAGE CONCERT
    Featured Music Groups: Various Acalanes Chamber Music Ensembles
    Date: Tuesday, Apr 30
    Time: 6:30pm
    Location: AHS Performing Arts Center
    Admission: Free ($5 donation suggested)

    SPRING CONCERT
    Featured Music Groups: Jazz Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Orchestra and Wind Ensemble. Special guest: Daichi Nannen, AHS All-State clarinet player
    Date: Thursday, May 2
    Time: 6:30pm
    Location: AHS Performing Arts Center
    Admission: Free ($5 donation suggested)

     
     

  • Student Activities

    April 15, 2024

    April Calendar of Events:

    • 10-12 and 15-19: Prom bus sign-ups during lunch
    • 17: Cultural Fair at lunch
    • 18: Talent show at 6:30pm
    • 19: Special Olympics
    • 21-26: Earth Week
    • 27: Prom

    We hope your student will plan to celebrate diversity and promote cross-cultural understanding at the Cultural Fair on Wednesday, Apr 17 during lunch! Students can showcase the richness of their heritage by signing up for a booth at the Cultural Fair. They will have the opportunity to represent a country and be responsible for bringing and serving food from their chosen country and educating others about the cultures and traditions of their country. This can be done by sharing interesting facts, displaying flags and objects of cultural importance, or creating a poster board filled with relevant information. The event will be held throughout campus and participants will receive an email regarding their booth location closer to the date. Students can sign up here.

    The Acalanes Annual Talent Show is happening on Thursday, Apr 18 at 6:30pm and it is a FULL show hosted by a couple of incredible seniors and features acts of all kinds. We are raising money for the SAGE club & the Community Improvement club. Come on out!
     
    The Special Olympics are on Friday, Apr 19 beginning at 10am. Is your student volunteering? If so, there is a mandatory meeting on Apr 10 and Apr 12 (during academy) to train volunteers. Volunteers will get a reminder slip.
     
    The 2024 Junior & Senior Prom is Saturday, Apr 27 at the San Francisco Exploratorium. Prom tickets are on sale now through Apr 19 via Go Fan. Click HERE for the printable permission slips. In order to get a bus assignment, students need a ticket and a signed permission form. Bus sign ups happen during lunch from Apr 10-12 and Apr 15-19.
     
    We still have 2028 frosh spirit packs available for purchase. Spirit packs feature a limited edition 2028 hoodie, string backpack and lanyard. The last day to order these is Thursday, Apr 18 and items will be available for pick-up beginning Wednesday, May 1. All proceeds benefit the class of 2028.

     

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

  • College & Career

    April 15, 2024

    CAREER ACADEMY & TRADE FAIR!
    We are hosting a Trade Fair during lunch on Wednesday, Apr 24 and are looking for more organizations to be represented. Please email Debbie Levy with any suggestions for us and we will follow up.
     
    SENIORS:
    Water Polo Scholarship: The Lafayette Water Polo Foundation is accepting applications for seniors who play water polo.
     
    The Matt Lynn Memorial Scholarship is now available. It will be awarded to college-bound seniors from Acalanes who have participated in a high school varsity sport(s) and who intend to continue playing a varsity or club sport in college.
     
    Diablo Valley Assistance League  is offering a $6000 need-based scholarship for students attending a 4 year university and $4000 for those going to community college.
     
    JUNIORS, SOPHOMORES, FROSH:
    SAT/ACT Free Practice Exams: Practice ACT and digital SAT exams are available with Revolution Prep. Click here to register. The ACT practice exam is on Saturday, Apr 20 from 9am - 1pm. The SAT practice exam is on Saturday, Apr 20 from 9am - 12pm.
    Summer Ideas: DVC Career Academies: 
    St. Mary’s College of California 
    Summer Academy for High School Students: UC Berkeley 
    Summer Sessions:UC Berkeley 
    College of Environmental Design: Cal Poly 
    San Luis Obispo Summer Springboard:
    Girls Who Code Summer Program
     
    Please visit our College & Career Counseling website any time for additional information and support.

  • Counseling

    April 15, 2024

    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
    Students may still ask to change their course requests for next school year. Counselors are keeping a wish list of student requests and will fill these requests as we are able. 
     
    4th Quarter!
    Counselors are monitoring seniors in danger of not graduating - letters from the Associate Principal will be sent home in late March.

  • School Nurse

    April 15, 2024

    APRIL IS ALCOHOL AWARENESS MONTH!

    Honestly, this is not a fun topic to discuss.

    Statistics Tell the Tale

    According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, alcohol is the most commonly abused addictive substance among American youth. Within the past month:

    • 1 in 3 American high school students have drunk alcohol at least once
    • Almost 1 in 5 have engaged in dangerous binge-drinking
    • 8% consumed alcohol and then drove
    • 20% accepted a ride from someone else who had been drinking
    • 4300+ underage youths die each year due to excessive drinking
    • There are 189,000+ ER visits by youths as a result of alcohol-related causes

    Parents: You Make a Difference!
    The longer youths delay drinking and drug use, the less chance they have of having problems of use, including addiction.     TALK with your kids to discuss how to make smart decisions. Role model for them – your behavior sets the standard. 10% of US children live with alcoholic parents and those children are 4x as likely to become alcoholics.

    Brain Development
    Your student’s brain is still developing and will for years to come. Alcohol can have long-term effects on brain development that can last through adulthood.

    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