Jennifer Hoover – Page 12 – Acalanes Parents Club

General Administration Announcements

February 2, 2025

Course Selections Due Tomorrow, Feb 3
As a reminder, course selections (and alternates) for the 2025-2026 school year should be entered into Aeries by tomorrow, Monday, Feb 3 (although students are able to make changes through Feb 10).

Counselor Appointments will take place from Feb 3-11. All students will meet with their counselor for a pre-assigned 5-minute appointment during the school day to discuss their course selection and alternate choices. This meeting is to confirm that students have submitted their courses and alternates into the Aeries portal.

Frosh counselor appointments – Feb 3 – 4
Sophomore counselor appointments – Feb 4 – 6
Junior counselor appointments – Feb 6 – 11

Course Preview Resources for Students
Students and parents are encouraged to view our course preview videos to familiarize themselves with the courses available. Students will view videos in their classes and in academy over the last two weeks in January and in early February.

Rising Frosh (Current 8th Grade Students) – Class of 2029
Rising Sophomores (Current Frosh) – Class of 2028
Rising Juniors (Current Sophomores) – Class of 2027
Rising Seniors (Current Juniors) – Class of 2026
Students Interested in Taking 2+ honors or AP courses are encouraged to view this presentation when considering what courses they request.

More information on Course Selection can be found here.

APC in Action

February 2, 2025

Spring 2025 Grants Application Now Available!
Acalanes Parents Club is looking to award grants that will enhance and enrich the educational experience of AHS students in new and innovative ways. Teachers, staff and students are encouraged to submit ideas for meaningful programs and educational equipment. Click here to read more and access the application! Applications are due by Friday, Feb 14.

PEER TUTORING- KEEPING AHS STUDENTS ON TRACK
During the fall semester, Peer Tutoring had almost 5000 visits from students of all grade levels. Our students have come to rely upon the program for a productive, welcoming place to study and get academic support. Our tutors not only work with students who drop in to Room 107, but are also requested by faculty to provide additional help in the classroom. Teachers have already effectively used our tutors over 130 times for help with test prep, test review, essay editing and math support just between August and December.

This past semester, as with its previous 25+ year history, Peer Tutoring has continued to be an invaluable component to the success of Acalanes and its students. We thank APC for funding 100% of the Peer Tutoring program and you for your continued support.

Please reach out to Angela Ketcham or Bill Powers with any questions.

Follow Acalanes Parents Club on Instagram. Please reach out to APC here with any questions.

Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

February 2, 2025

Acalanes Gives Back
Acalanes is collecting shampoo, soap, and conditioner starting Monday, Feb 3 through Thursday, Feb 13 in front of the main office. Your donations will support local families in need, including newly arrived refugees and unhoused individuals.
Maya Smith, a Lafayette resident and community leader, has relaunched the Lamorinda Care Collective (LCC), a local resource providing essential items free of charge. All donations stay within our community, directly helping those in need. Please consider contributing and making a difference!

Campus Culture Committee

February 2, 2025

Upcoming Important Dates

February: Black Excellence Month
Jan29 – Feb 16: Lunar New Year
Feb 28 – Mar 29: Ramadan

Black History Month is an annually observed commemorative month originating in the United States, where it is also known as African American History Month. It began as a way of remembering important people and events in the history of the African diaspora, initially lasting a week before becoming a month-long observation in 1970. Our school district recognizes it as Black Excellence Month to celebrate not only the history, but the present excellence in the Black community. Students from the Black Student Union (BSU) will be holding events throughout the month. Please support them by encouraging your students to attend the club’s events, including the Quad City Dance at the end of the month.

Chinese New Year/Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival, celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. Marking the end of winter and the beginning of spring, this festival takes place from Chinese New Year’s Eve (the evening preceding the first day of the year) to the Lantern Festival, held on the 15th day of the year. It is one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture.

If you’d like to help with any celebrations or join in our cultural discussions please contact the Campus Culture Committee here.

Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook to keep up to date with what the students are doing to celebrate all of these wonderful cultures and special dates.

Student Activities

February 2, 2025

SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK

Monday 4-9pm: Grab dinner from Chipotle & mention you are from Acalanes!
Tuesday: Leadership applications due (current AHS students)
Wednesday @ lunch: Black Excellence kick-off event in room 314
Thursday @ 7pm: Big 10 event – boys soccer vs. Campolindo
Friday @ lunch: ACA Buddies

2025-2026 Leadership
Leadership applications for the 2025-2026 school year are now available for current 9th, 10th and 11th graders and due this coming Tuesday. Leadership is open to all grades and drives student programming on campus. There are 16 different committees and an interest for everyone. Current 8th graders at Stanley have an informational meeting at lunch on Monday in Ms. Shegoian’s room and apps are due Feb 20.

BIG 10 in January
Students have designed the BIG 10 as a way for our community to SHOW UP & SHOW OUT to these 10 events that take place across campus. THIS WEEK: Thursday, Feb 6 at 7pm, boys soccer vs. Campolindo.

Introducing the 2nd Annual Contra Costa Shark Tank Youth Competition
Win $2,000 to launch or grow your business! No idea is too small! This competition is a fun way to promote youth entrepreneurship among K-12 students in Contra Costa County. When young people succeed as entrepreneurs, they improve their own lives while also contributing to the economic development of their local communities. Visit www.contracostasharktank.org to learn more and apply. Finalists will be selected by the Campolindo High School Entrepreneurship Club, and winners selected by a panel of judges on May 1 at the Lafayette Library. Deadline to apply is Mar 15!

Acalanes Gives Back
Acalanes is collecting shampoo, soap, and conditioner starting Monday, Feb 3 through Thursday, Feb 13 in front of the main office. Your donations will support local families in need, including newly arrived refugees and unhoused individuals.

Maya Smith, a Lafayette resident and community leader, has relaunched the Lamorinda Care Collective (LCC), a local resource providing essential items free of charge. All donations stay within our community, directly helping those in need. Please consider contributing and making a difference!

February is Black Excellence Month
As a community, we will celebrate Black Excellence throughout the month of February.
Potluck + Movie Night
In honor of Black Excellence Month, BSU will be hosting a potluck before a showing of Hidden Figures in the front quad. The potluck will be on Feb 21 at 5pm and the movie will start at 5:30pm. Please sign up to bring food.

One event to put in your calendar is the Quad City Dance on Feb 28 at 7:30pm at Las Lomas. It is a district wide dance open to all and is $10 on Go Fan.

The annual 3v3 basketball sign ups are now open and we cannot wait to see you on the court. Sign up with another friend and your favorite staff person to battle it out and see who will win the championship. Last year Mr. Buchel won so let’s see who will be the 2025 reigning champion! Basketball will run through February/early March.
Support the Garden Club and buy Acalanes grown succulents! Plants are purchased through the Acalanes webstore for $5.25. Once purchased, you will receive an email with pick up instructions. Thanks for your support!

KEY 2ND SEMESTER DATES:
Mar 13: 1st ever community rally
Mar 16: Color Run
Mar 18: Talent show
Apr 18: Special Olympics
Apr 19: Junior & senior prom
Apr 23-26: School musical

Looking to stay informed? Follow us on Instagram for the latest on student activities and class happenings.

Katherine Walton, Activities Director

College & Career

February 2, 2025

Senior Scholarships

AAUW Scholarship for a female senior with significant community service – applications are due Feb 12.
Seniors- Please update your admissions’ updates on MaiaLearning. This is important!
DVC will be visiting to discuss admissions during Academy on February 19 in the College and Career Center

Juniors: During the following academy sessions, juniors will be called into the library by last name to learn how to use our college planning tool, MaiaLearning. Feb 21(Rh-Z) , Feb 26 (G-Ka), Feb 28 (Ke-Re) , and March 7 (A-F).

Counseling

February 2, 2025

Counselor assignments are by student last name:
A-F Anne Schonauer
G-Ka Erika Vasquez
Ke-Re Marissa Meadows
Rh-Z Susan Martin

Individual Appointments with Counselors Feb 3-11: Students will be assigned an appointment time with their counselor to turn in their course selection form and review their course selections for next year. This appointment time will be on a label on the front of their course selection sheet. Students may leave class prior to their appointment time and return to class after they have met with their counselor.

School Nurse

February 2, 2025

Focusing on the Positive! Modeling a positive mindset contributes to our students’ health and well-being, as well as their academic success. Try using the practice of affirmations with your kids to focus on the positive. An affirmation is a positive statement you say to yourself about a positive characteristic you embody (I know, I’m using the word positive a lot!). The VIA Classification of 24 Character Strengths is a great tool to use for this practice. Try it and let me know how it goes!

Please reach out to me for any support your students or family might need.

My office hours are:
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and some* Thursdays
Tuesdays & Thursdays: 8am – 3:50pm
Wednesdays: 7:30am – 3:20pm

Always Your School Nurse,
Dvora Citron, RN, MS
dcitron @auhsdschools .org, 925-280-2970 x7128
IG: acalanesschoolnurse, School Nurse Website

Wellness Center

February 2, 2025

Mindfulness and meditation are both invaluable skills to develop during a mental health journey. Mindfulness based interventions have been shown to reduce anxiety and depression. There’s also evidence that mindfulness can lower blood pressure and improve sleep. It may even help people cope with physical pain.

The Wellness Center is now hosting Tranquil Tuesdays every week during lunch to practice meditation and mindfulness as well as encourage students to prioritize their self-care. Encourage your AHS student to drop by the Wellness Center to learn more about mindfulness and reap the benefits that mindfulness can offer.

Source: NIH.gov

LPIE

February 2, 2025

7th Annual
LPIE SPRING GALA
Saturday, Mar 22, 2025
The Palace Hotel
San Francisco

LAST CALL FOR TICKETS!
Please visit our gala webpage to purchase the final VIP table or the last few individual tickets. The evening will feature silent and live auctions, a delicious dinner, dancing and live music from Mustache Harbor.

All proceeds will support programs and experiences in our schools, funding the teachers, instructors and supplies that make them possible.

General Administration Announcements

APC in Action

Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

Campus Culture Committee

Student Activities

College & Career

Counseling

School Nurse

Wellness Center

LPIE

Acalanes Parents Club

About Us

Support Organizations

Social Media

LPIE