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Parent’s Club Pro-Tip
ATTENDANCE Q&A
How do I excuse my student for an appointment during the day?
Call the 24-hour attendance line at 925-280-3973 and leave a message. The messages are checked frequently. If your student needs to leave right away, please call the office directly at 925-280-3970 ext. 7126.
Can tardies be excused? Yes, with a medical or dental note and a student sign in. Otherwise, parents cannot excuse tardies. -
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)
Shanah Tovah! The Jewish High Holidays begin this weekend. Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, starts today at sunset and ends at nightfall on Tuesday, Sept 27. Yom Kippur, the “Day of Atonement” and holiest day of the year in Judaism, starts on Tuesday, Oct 4 at sundown and ends at nightfall on Oct 5. After Yom Kippur, the festive holidays of Sukkot and Simchat Torah follow, concluding the fall holiday celebrations. Click here to learn more about the High Holidays.
As we continue to honor Latine Heritage month, we discovered more about its origins through the National Archives primary sources. Hispanic Heritage Week started in 1968 and was expanded to a 30-day period in 1988. U.S.. Representatives from California played key roles in drafting the legislation that became law.
Join us on Thursday, Oct 6 at 5pm to celebrate Latine Heritage Month with a live performance and food. Sign up to bring a dish to the Latine Potluck.
Last, thanks to Arshay Cooper for sharing his wisdom and positivity this past Monday night. We appreciate the hundreds of students and parents who showed up to listen and contribute to the conversation. Read about it in Blueprint. #donsshowup
Stay current: Add us to your Instagram at @acalanesdei
Have something to contribute or a question? Contact us -
Student Activities
Homecoming 2022 U.S. Cities Begins TODAY!
Homecoming is always one of the most talked about and favorite weeks at Acalanes - the camaraderie amongst classes, the friendly competition, the hallways, STUDENT DODGEBALL, class skits and the culminating NIGHT OUT! Students are excited- please encourage your student to opt in and participate in some aspect of the week. Here is an overview:- Today 10am-3pm Hallway Decorating Students can drop in anytime to help- there is a job for everyone so please encourage your student to come by! Seniors decorate the 200 wing, Juniors decorate the 100 wing, Sophomores decorate the 300 wing and Frosh decorate the 400 wing. Come for an hour or the whole day! Parents are also invited to see the finished hallways- stop by Acalanes today anytime after 3pm to see the magic that gets created!
- Monday
- Dress-up: Anything but a backpack
- Lunchtime activity: obstacle course on the field
- Tuesday
- Dress-up: Wall Street (fancy attire)
- Lunchtime activity: card games in the front quad
- Wednesday
- Dress-up: Beach Day
- Lunchtime activity: Innertube water polo
- 7:30pm: A student favorite- Student Dodgeball (students can come to play or just watch). Must bring Student ID to play.
- Thursday
- Dress-up: Neon
- Lunchtime activity: Capture the flag on the field
- FAB Night Out: Girls Water Polo at 5pm; Girls Volleyball at 6:30pm
- Friday
- Dress-up: Class shirt or color (9: white, 10: blue, 11: grey, 12: black)
- Academy: Homecoming Rally with class skits
- Lunchtime activity: Staff vs. student dodgeball
- 5:30pm: Homecoming tailgate
- 7pm: Football game + halftime show (wear white); each class will do one dance from their skit and the winner will be announced. There will also be a powder toss in the student section.
- Saturday, Oct 1 from 7-10pm HOCO: A Night Out in our stadium. The night has a full arcade, full casino, silent disco, food vendors, tattoo artist, henna, 2 photo experiences and a pretty incredible dance floor and DJ. Tickets are on sale via GoFan and if you have ASB, the promo code is your Student ID number. If students want to bring a guest, they must fill out a guest contract and return it by TOMORROW. Contracts are on the door of room 314. Looking forward to our community celebrating Homecoming all together!
- We still need parent chaperones for the evening so please consider signing up.
As part of Homecoming, we also host a community canned food drive. It has begun and we are making progress towards our goal of 22,000 cans! It ends this Friday, Sept 30. Please bring cans or money to the flag pole before school or at lunch in the various quads. $1= 3 cans. We also added virtual drives through the food bank if you would like to donate directly:
Class of 2023
Class of 2024
Class of 2025
Class of 2026
The class competition is worth 600 points to the winner and as a community, we are feeding families in our county. Please donate!
For an up-to-date look at all the plans with detailed information, check out the 2022 HOCOOverview!
Equity Events
Latine Heritage Month kicked off Sept 15 and lasts through Oct 15. We have several events planned throughout the month to celebrate and educate and two are open to our community:- Thursday, Oct 6: Community Potluck- sign up to bring a dish!
- Wednesday, Oct 12 at 6:30pm via zoom: Doris Anahi Munoz
As always, if there is anything we can do for you or your student, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are here to connect students with activities and interests.
Katherine Walton, Leadership Teacher -
College & Career
Testing Update: Acalanes has canceled all weekend SAT exams and will only be holding school day SAT exams. We will be hosting a Senior only SAT school day on Oct 27 and a Junior only SAT school day in March. 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 regards to this change.
SENIORS
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 from 6:30-7:30pm
- Register in advance for this webinar
- After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining 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, Sept 26: Saint Mary’s College, Savannah College of Art & Design, Miami University of Ohio, Vanderbilt, Southeastern
- Tuesday, Sept. 27: Southern Methodist University, Colorado State, Hawaii Pacific University
- Wednesday, Sept 28: DigiPen Institute of Technology, Western Washington University, St. John’s College
- Thursday, Sept. 29: University of Rochester, Lehigh University
- Friday, Sept 30: Santa Clara University, San Diego State, University of Nevada-Reno
College Application Support: Your student can click here to make an appointment to work on essays or get help with the entire process.
JUNIORS
Internship available: Recycle Smart has student internship opportunities available now for those interested in sustainability. They are seeking Acalanes students!
Volunteer Opportunity: 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, 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 October.
CSF Applications are Open!
The deadline to apply is Sept 30. CSF is the only honor society at Acalanes. Students need to apply each semester. Application forms are available in the counseling office or on the website. Read the form for more details about membership requirements. Seniors who qualify are recognized with gold stoles to wear at graduation.
AP Exam Registration Opens Oct 1
Sign up for AP Exams between Oct 1 and 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 in October 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 yourself against illness and missing school (and protect your community as well)! You can get your flu shot and your next Covid booster (now giving new bivalent version effective against variants!). Make your appointments now!
If you have just had Covid, THIS is helpful information.
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
Please see my website for more information on medications, health issues, forms, etc.
I was still at home at the beginning of this week with Covid (yes, it’s true). I took the opportunity to get rid of some expired items in my pantry. I found some of the ingredients (unexpired!) for a pumpkin bread from the Forks Over Knives magazine (see below) to make. Good healthy snack or breakfast.
Nutrition Tips for the week:- Use smoothies to include fruits and vegetables in your breakfast or snack. Stock up on frozen fruits and keep spinach and bananas on your regular market list. I love including a Dragon Fruit smoothie pack in mine - nutritious and gorgeous pink color.
- Pick up the new copy of Forks Over Knives magazine at your local supermarket. Great ideas for fall recipes and it’s just a wonderful collection of food photos.
Portable Yoga: LOL! All yoga is portable! Try this Subtle Yoga practice (you do need a connected digital device to access a browser).
Dvora Citron, RN, MS
dcitron@auhsdschools.org
925-280-2970 x7128
IG: acalanesschoolnurse -
Wellness Center
When it comes to mental health and overall wellness, locus of control is a key factor in how your student relates to the world. In psychology, locus of control is related to the extent to which an individual believes that they are in control of facets that impact their lives. To have an external locus of control, an individual believes that life happens to them. In other words, there are external influences driving the events that occur in one’s life. Opposite to this is an internal locus of control, when an individual believes that they have control over what happens in their life. An example of this would be a student understanding the fact that they do have the choice of whether or not they will attend a class.
While we are well aware that there are plenty of things that happen in life that are entirely out of our control (a pandemic for example), locus of control becomes relevant when considering what to do in the face of said thing. Research has proven time and again that people with a higher internal locus of control are happier and more mentally healthy. When interacting with your student, consider the role you play in fostering an internal locus of control. As a caregiver it is easy to want to rescue your student in a time of need, however, what might be more beneficial is teaching them the value in advocating for themselves. With that being said, it is equally important to be a soft place for them to land if things don’t work out how they would have hoped.
Kiara Thomas-Wellness Intake Specialist -
LPIE
The 25th annual Lafayette Art, Wine & Musical Festival was a great success! Thank you to everyone who showed up in support of our local businesses and a very special thank you to all the volunteers. LPIE continues to be the largest beneficiary of this amazing event, and we are very grateful to the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce for supporting our local schools. Also, huge congratulations to Rookie Volunteer of the year and LPIE’s Diamond Business Partner, Paddy Kehoe, for once again stepping up to support our schools and local community.
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, Sept 26 Northgate HS at Contra Costa CC at 3:30pm.
Wednesday, Sept 28 Northgate HS at Boundary Oak CC at 3:30pm.
Friday, Sept 30 JV v. Campolindo HS at Rossmoor GC at 3:30pm.
Girls Volleyball
Tuesday, Sept 27 at Northgate HS. Frosh at 4pm, JV at 5pm and Varsity at 6:30pm.
Thursday, Sept 29 host Las Lomas HS. Frosh at 4pm, JV at 5pm and Varsity at 6:30pm.
Girls Tennis
Tuesday, Sept 27 Miramonte HS at 4pm. Varsity is away and JV is home.
Cross Country
Wednesday, Sept 28 DAL Center Meet at Hidden Valley Park at 3:30pm.
Boys Water Polo
Wednesday, Sept 28 host Berkeley HS. JV at 5pm and Varsity at 6pm.
Thursday, Sept 29 host Miramonte HS. Varsity at 6pm and JV at 7pm.
Girls Water Polo
Thursday, Sept 29 host Miramonte HS. JV at 4pm and Varsity at 5pm.
Football
Friday, Sept 30 host Oakland HS at 7pm.
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. -
General Administration Announcements
On Friday, all students participated in the first of four ACA Equity Days planned for this school year. The theme for this first discussion was Mental Health and Self Care. If you would like to have a follow up conversation with your students please review the emailfrom 9/15 with suggested discussion topics.
AUHSD is hiring Instructional Assistants for the classrooms. The District is looking to parents for help in filling these important positions. Please review the Sept 8 email fromAmy McNamara, Assistant Superintendent, for more information on open positions, qualifications and the competitive pay and benefits. -
APC in Action
The APC Fall Grant application window is open for one more week! We invite all AHS teachers, staff, students, and parents to submit a grant application for programming, materials or projects that enhance the educational experience for our school community; all ideas are welcome. Click here for criteria and application. Completed proposals and questions can be submitted by Friday, Sept 23 to Nicole Sanders, APC GrantsCoordinator, or delivered to the APC Box in the front office.
Follow Acalanes Parents Club on Instagram. Contact APC here with any questions.
Social Media
