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APC in Action
Are you looking for a unique opportunity to get more involved with little time commitment? Do you have any Webmaster or Wordpress experience? If so, APC could use your help! We are looking for a Webmaster for next year who could shadow and be trained by our current webmaster. If you are interested in learning more, please contact our APC VPCommunications or Webmaster directly.
Save the Date for our October Dons Dialogue, Wednesday, October 19 at 5:30pm.
Follow Acalanes Parents Club on Instagram. Contact APC here with any questions. -
APC Membership & Fundraising
Lafayette Res Run for Education – How Sweet!
Show your community spirit and support Acalanes (Go Dons!). Sign up for the Lafayette Res Run for Education on Sunday, Oct 23. In 2021, the Lafayette Res Run for Education donated a record $42,568.75 to our local public schools. 15% of Acalanes-designated registrations + donations go back to Acalanes Parents Club. Every registration counts!
Register now for the 5k, 10k, or 2 mile fun run/walk option on Race Day, Sunday, Oct 23, or join the virtual Reservoir Challenge which “runs” Oct 13-22. Be sure to select Acalanes when you register! Need a sweet reason to register? The first 100 students from each school (including all three high schools) will get a voucher for 1/4 lb of bulk candy from Zoonie's Candy Shop at packet pickup!
Support Acalanes by shopping! Did you know that Amazon Prime Early Access Sale is coming up? Tuesday, Oct 11 & Wednesday, Oct 12! You can CONTINUE to support Acalanes every time you shop at Amazon? Simply click on this link to designate Acalanes Parents Club as your charity of choice! Then every time you shop at Smile.Amazon.com, you're supporting Acalanes!
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Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)
UNIDOS! During Latine Heritage Month, we take time to celebrate the histories, cultures and vast contributions of American citizens with Latinx backgrounds. The theme for 2022 is "Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation .” On that note, we encourage you to come out to the Latine Potluck on Thursday, Oct 6 organized by the student equity board (we will be at a community table) and tune in to musician and advocate Doris Anahi Munoz’s keynotezoom on Wednesday, Oct 12. Parent volunteers are still needed for both events and a few other projects. If you can give 1-2 hours on the front lines or behind the scenes, please let us know.
September was National Deaf Awareness month. Tru Biz, a popular novel, centers on deaf culture. The story highlights numerous ways in which the hearing community is desensitized to those with hearing loss. Check it out, the book offers a lot of food for thought. Also, the football “huddle” is widely believed to have originated from deaf athletes who used the circle formation to keep their signed play calls hidden from the opposing football team.
We are social: Add us to your Instagram at @acalanesdei
Have something to contribute or a question? Contact us -
Parent Education
The Emotionally Naked Truth About Youth Suicide
Tuesday, Oct 18, 2022
6:30-8:30pm
Register Here
Acalanes High School with the Lafayette School District, and St. Perpetua School, in partnership with Acalanes Parents Club (APC) and Lafayette School District Parent Education Committee (DEPC) is bringing this important learning opportunity to our community. This is a challenging and important topic, and we are confident that speaker Anne Moss Rogers will help our adult community better understand this complex issue so that we can support our students.
This adult-only event is free of charge. Registration is required. The event will be held on Tuesday, Oct 18, from 6:30-8:30pm, at the Lafayette Orinda Presbyterian Church, 49 Knox Drive, Lafayette. Click on the link here for more information and to register for this important event.
Acalanes Union High School District (AUHSD) Governing Board Candidate Forum
Wednesday, Oct 12 at 7pm
Del Valle Education Center, Rm 401
Moderated by the League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley
Click here for full flyer -
Student Activities
What a week we had on campus! Homecoming 2022 was incredible and we are so appreciative of all of the support that you provided to our community, whether it was our 16 incredible parent liaisons, the food donations, the encouragement and support, or the RECORD breaking donations to the Contra Costa Food Bank. THANK YOU!
Just a few highlights from the week:- Our amazingly well decorated hallways led by the incredible team of class officers and parent liaisons plus all the volunteers. Check out images on @ahs_dons.
- The Homecoming Rally was one for the record books - 348 students were involved in class skits this year! Videos of class skits will be available soon along with a HOCO highlight reel.
- Our community rallying together to support the Food Bank and breaking the 2019 record of 22,000 cans. I am so proud of our community helping to feed others in our county.
- 900+ students celebrating all together at the HOCO Night Out event - a great way to end the week!
Latine Heritage Month
Latine Heritage Month kicked off Sept 15 and lasts through Oct 15. We have two community events planned and we encourage you to opt in to one!- Thursday, Oct 6 at 5:30pm: Community Potluck in the front quad- sign up to bring a dish, or just show up! There will be great food, an open mic night of singing and poetry, and time together as a community.
- Wednesday, Oct 12 at 6:30pm via zoom: Doris Anahi Munoz We invite parents, students, staff and our community to an interactive dialogue with Latina musician, record executive and activist, Doris Munoz. Doris Anahi Muñoz is a musician and arts advocate from Los Angeles, California. She released her critically acclaimeddebut EP “Aprendiendo por las Malas” during summer 2022, and is the subject of Mija, a Disney original documentary focused on Doris’ years as an artist manager supporting her family’s immigration journey. It is due to be released on the Disney+ platform soon. Register here.
As always, if there is anything we can do for you or your student, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Katherine Walton, Leadership Teacher -
College & Career
California State Applications: Every day during the month of October and November, please send your child to the CCC to work on the Cal State application. It takes less than 1 hour. We are here to support your child.
FAFSA: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid opened October 1. Please join the Webinar listed below for more support.
Financial Aid 101: In coordination with the three other high schools in the district, we are inviting Senior parents ONLY to a Financial Aid 101 webinar led by a representative from the California Student Aid Commission:- Monday, Oct 3 6:30-7:30pm
- Register in advance for this webinar
- After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information about how to join the webinar.
Essay Workshops: Essay writing will continue for all Levy academy sessions.
College Visits This Week in the CCC Office: Sign up on the Naviance home page or email to register at least 24 hours in advance. Have your students speak with their teachers to get permission. Follow the CCC instagram @ahs_college_career for timing each week.- Monday, Oct. 3: Northwestern University
- Tuesday, Oct. 4: Connecticut College
- Wednesday, Oct. 5: Denison Univ., Univ. of Tennessee, Villanova Univ
- Thursday, Oct. 6: Bucknell University
- Friday, Oct. 7: UC Merced, Union College
UC/Common Application Support: Your student can click here to make an appointment to work on essays or get help with the entire process.
JUNIORS
College Visits: Please have your student join college visits if they are interested in learning more about universities. It’s a fun way to check out majors, clubs, and study abroad options.
Volunteer Opportunities: Encourage your child to check out these great places to give back!
SOPHOMORES/FROSH
Volunteer Opportunity: This is also a good site to search for teen volunteer work.
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
Ku-Rog Marissa Meadows
Roh-Z Susan Martin
Schedule Changes
Counselors will still process requests to drop classes through the end of the first quarter, which ends this Friday, Oct 7.
Individual Student Appointments
Now that the first grading period is over, counselors are trying to check in with students with multiple D’s and F’s. They have also been meeting individually with Seniors to discuss post-high school plans. For those applying to 4-year colleges, we will be walking through the process of requesting required documents for their applications. Individual Frosh appointments will happen after Seniors, likely starting in this month.
AP Exam Registration Opened Oct 1
Sign up for AP Exams until Sunday, Nov 6. Late registration options are available, but will incur a late registration fee. Please see here for more details.
Weekend SAT Exams Canceled
Acalanes has canceled all weekend SAT exams and will only be holding school day SAT exams. We will be hosting a Senior only school day SAT this month and a Junior only school day SAT in the Spring. Information regarding test dates and registration will go out in the Daily Don so please keep an eye out for it. The College Board should notify and refund any students signed up for weekend SAT exams that were originally scheduled at Acalanes. Thank you for your understanding in regard to this change. -
School Nurse
One Shot In Each Arm! Protect your student against illness and missing school (and protect your community as well)! Make their appointments to get both the flu shot and their next Covid booster (now giving new bivalent version effective against variants). Many pediatrician’s offices and most pharmacies have them available.
COVID Please call in your student’s absence to the Attendance Recorder and continue to follow the district’s Covid guidance. The school is not notifying teachers, so students should access Canvas as much as possible and stay in contact with their teachers to communicate their remote progress in their classes. Here is a California COVID-19 Isolation & Quarantine Calculator. And here is additional information about staying up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.
One Pill Can Kill LA Times article
THIS is an excellent resource for prevention and early action.
Please see my website for more information on medications, health issues, forms, etc.
Weekly Nutrition Tips:
Look for seasonal fall fruits and vegetables (pumpkin?) and start integrating them into your meals (muffins, stews, etc). Use pomegranate seeds to flavor yogurt, cereal, salads.
Dvora Citron, RN, MS
dcitron@auhsdschools.org
925-280-2970 x7128
IG: acalanesschoolnurse -
Wellness Center
With SATs and AP Tests right around the corner, it may be beneficial to discuss test anxiety with your 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 about 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.
Source: kidshealth.org
Kiara Thomas- Wellness Intake Specialist -
Performing Arts
Mark your October calendar for the widely popular Acalanes Pops Concert! Directors Lauren Gibson and Meredith Hawkins will lead their talented students in performing beloved music from various soundtracks. Don't miss this fun-filled evening!
Date: Wednesday, October 19, 2022
Time: 7:00-8:30pm
Location: AHS Performing Arts Center
Music Groups: Acalanes Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Orchestra and Choir
Admission: Free ($5 donation suggested for adults)
Click here for full flyer
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LPIE
Thank you for supporting LPIE as we strive to reach our goal of 100% participation. We are very pleased to announce the following September Sweepstakes winners:
Jagged Little Pill - Mike Zawadski (Acalanes)
Frozen - Camille Tsao (Acalanes)
Giants - Lisa Goeller (Stanley)
Questions? Please contact Andrea Hilsabeck or Michele Colaco
www.lpie.org, Follow us on Instagram -
Sports
This week’s can’t miss events!
Girls Golf
Monday, Oct 3 Campolindo HS at Contra Costa CC at 3:30pm.
Girls Volleyball
Tuesday, Oct 4 at Northgate HS. Frosh at 4pm, JV at 5pm and Varsity at 6:30pm.
Thursday, Oct 6 host Las Lomas HS. Frosh at 4pm, JV at 5 pm and Varsity at 6:30pm.
Saturday, Oct 8 Stockton Classic
Girls Tennis
Tuesday, Oct 4 College Park HS at 4pm. Varsity is home and JV is away.
Thursday, Oct 6 Campolindo HS at 4pm. Varsity is away and JV is home.
Girls Water Polo
Wednesday, Oct 5 host Campolindo HS. JV at 4pm and Varsity at 5pm.
Thursday, Oct 6 at Amador Valley HS. Varsity at 4:30pm and JV at 5:30pm.
Boys Water Polo
Wednesday, Oct 5 host Campolindo HS. Varsity at 6pm and JV at 7pm.
Friday, Oct 7 and Saturday, Oct 8 Jesuit Classic.
Football
Friday, Oct 7 host Las Lomas HS. JV at 4:30pm, varsity at 7pm.
Cross Country
Saturday, Oct 8 Crystal Springs Invitational
The fall sport schedules will be found on the Acalanes High School website by clicking here.
If you have any questions, please contact Randy Takahashi at rtakahashi@auhsdschools.org or Haley Walsh at hwalsh@auhsdschools.org. -
APC in Action
If you are not receiving class specific emails from your class liaisons, register for your class here on our website.
Follow Acalanes Parents Club on Instagram. Contact APC here with any questions.
Social Media
