Jennifer Hoover – Page 7 – Acalanes Parents Club

APC in Action

March 10, 2025

DON’T MISS THE COLOR RUN!
Acalanes High School is having its Annual Color Run on Sunday, Mar 16 at 9 am. This is a super fun 1 or 2 mile run around the Acalanes campus with stations of different colored powders scattered throughout the course.

This event is inspired by the traditions of Holi, the Hindu Festival of Color. Holi celebrates the arrival of spring and its beautiful harvests and colors with festivals involving colored powder.

The Color Run is a community wide event and we want to encourage you to run or walk! You can purchase your registration on Go Fan which includes a t-shirt, raffle and more!.

We encourage people of all ages to come run! Hope to see you there!

Acalanes Student Community Service Awards: Deadline Friday, Apr 18
The Acalanes community service awards program year is in full swing so please make sure your students are logging those hours! It’s a great opportunity for students to give back AND be recognized for their service. Students who volunteer at least 30 qualifying hours by Apr 18 will get an Acalanes Service Award and there is an opportunity to receive a Presidential Service Award with additional levels of service hours. For more information on how to create a Helper Helper account, what qualifies as community service, and the additional requirements for a Presidential Service Award, please check out our volunteer website or email communityservice@acalanesparentsclub.com with any questions. Please remember that your student’s hours must be entered AND validated by their supervisor by the deadline.

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

Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

March 10, 2025

Summer 2026 Travel
Does your student love to travel? Consider a trip to Spain and Morocco! Sign ups are already happening for summer 2026. Sign up by Apr 1 and receive a $400 discount. Set up a direct debit plan to avoid putting down a deposit and lock in a low monthly payment. Students from any grade and any of the four district high schools can attend! The only requirement is an interest in travel! This trip has a little bit of everything — ancient/historical sites, awe-inspiring locations, amazing food, and a once-in-a-lifetime bonding experience with your Lamorinda peers. Send your student on the trip of a lifetime where they become a global citizen who values travel and exploration.

For anyone interested in going on the trip to Europe NEXT summer (2026), please click here to preview the trip and to register.

And check out our Instagram page to see photos from the last two summers!

If you have any questions please reach out to Erin Barth or Tina Gullberg. This is not a school-sponsored trip.

Campus Culture Committee

March 10, 2025

Upcoming Important Dates:

Women’s History Month (March)
Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (March)
Gender Equality Month (March)
Feb 28 – Mar 29 Ramadan
Mar 5 – Apr 17 Ash Wednesday and Lent
Mar 9 Mongolian New Years Concert 5:30pm PAC
Mar 14 Holi Celebrated
Mar 16 Annual ACA Color Run/Holi Celebration! Go Dons! Register
Mar 20 Nowruz- Persian New Year
Mar 31 Trans Day of Visibility

Did you know Women’s History Month began as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California?? It began as a week surrounding International Women’s Day (Mar 8 this year) to “celebrate the achievements, leadership, courage, strength and love of the women who built America” (President Jimmy Carter). Find out more here.

One special woman to highlight this week is Tammy Duckworth. She is a disabled female combat veteran who is now a Senator from Illinois. Duckworth is the first Thai American woman elected to Congress, the first person born in Thailand elected to Congress, the first woman with a disability elected to Congress, the first female double amputee in the Senate, and the first senator to give birth while in office. She is the second Asian American woman to serve in the Senate, after Mazie Hirono.

Holi has immense religious significance for Hindus and is one of the most popular Hindu festivals celebrated with much enthusiasm and fanfare across India. Also known as The Festival of Color, in West Bengal, Assam and Tripura, it is also known as the ‘Dol jatra’ or ‘Basanta Utsav’. Traditionally celebrated in late February or early March in the Gregorian calendar, Holi marks the arrival of spring and the end of winter, coinciding with the full moon or Purnima on the evening of the Hindu month of Phalguna. It’s a time for people to come together, put aside their differences and celebrate life’s brighter moments.

ALL ARE WELCOME HERE t-shirts are for sale! For just $20 you can support the Campus Culture Committee of APC while wearing a stylish black tee that lets everyone know what the Dons are all about. Reach out here for payment information and how to get your shirt. Available in M and L only at this time.

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

March 10, 2025

SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK:

Monday: Students should wear BLUE for autism awareness + Unified Basketball at lunch + wellness fair at lunch
- New Crew leader applications are also available – see the Daily Don.
Wednesday academy: Job/Career/Volunteer Fair in the front quad.
Wednesday lunch: New Crew Leader informational meeting in room 415
Thursday at 3pm: Spring 10- boys tennis vs. Miramonte
Friday @ lunch: ACA Buddies
- Spring flag football tournament entries due
Sunday @ 9 AM: Annual Color Run + Holi Celebration
- Open to all in our community – get your ticket on Go FAN today!

UPCOMING:

Talent Show: Tuesday, Mar 18 at 7pm
- Hosted by Jake Colaco and Brady Quinn, and featuring 10 acts, it is a not to miss event in the PAC.
Junior & Senior Prom: Apr 19
- Get your ticket on Go Fan now before prices go up on Mar 28
- Bus assignments start Mar 26 at lunch
Special Olympics @ Acalanes: Apr 25
- Volunteer opportunities are now open in room 314! Please encourage your student to volunteer for this incredible day.

Students should plan to come to the Wellness Fair tomorrow during lunch in the front quad! Organizations and Acalanes clubs will provide mental health resources and activities.

Does your student have a small business? Would they be interested in selling used items? Do they want to make money? Then they should fill out this form for the Acalanes Makers Market in April (tentatively Apr 15) to show interest! This is a wonderful opportunity for clubs to fundraise and small businesses to expand their business.

The Enviro board is holding a prom dress drive this year through Mar 29. There are two locations with bins where people can drop off prom dresses and accessories: the Lafayette Community Center and in front of the Acalanes attendance office. The dresses will go to the San Francisco Princess Project which distributes the prom dresses to people who need them.

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!

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

Katherine Walton, Activities Director

College & Career

March 10, 2025

Free Practice Tests: Interested in having your student take a free online practice SAT or ACT? Sign up here for either exam on Apr 26 at 9am with our testing partner, Revolution Prep.

Junior Academies:

Mar 14 Building Your College List
Mar 21 Essay Brainstorming Workshop

Sign up for Levy academy for these junior-only sessions

Counseling

March 10, 2025

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

8th Grade Appointments: Counselors will be meeting with current 8th graders during the month of March to discuss transition to high school.

3rd Quarter ends this Friday, Mar 14: This is the last week left in the third quarter of the school year! Continued eligibility for spring sports will be determined by the quarter grades during the week of Mar 17.

School Nurse

March 10, 2025

Adolescents need between 8-10 hours of sleep per night. This supports optimal health, wellness, and academic success! I’ve included a few “sleep hygiene” tips below. Please let me know if I can give you information/support.

Tips for Better Teen Sleep

Set a Consistent Bedtime: Aim for a regular sleep-wake schedule.
- Parents: Help your student create a schedule that works for them.
Limit Screen Time: Switch off devices 30 minutes before bed.
- Parents: Offer to talk with your student about where they can recharge their devices overnight that is not within reach from their bed.
Watch Caffeine & Late-Night Snacks: Both can disrupt deep sleep.
- Parents: Schedule family dinner time to be finished by 7 pm so students can go to sleep by 10 pm. It’s ideal to have 3 hours between finishing dinner and going to sleep.
Create a Relaxing Wind-Down: Try reading, journaling, or light stretching before bed.
- Parents: Does your student have a yoga mat, Kindle and/or journal? What a nice way to encourage them to have down time.
Optimize the Bedroom: Keep it cool, dark, and quiet for solid rest.
- Parents: Help your student design a sleep-promoting room.

(some information borrowed from @thebraindocs)

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

March 10, 2025

Did you know there is a difference between regular listening and active listening? Active listening differs from passive listening in the fact that you are intentionally going out of your way to show the speaker that they are being heard. Mastering the art of active listening can greatly improve all of your relationships, especially your relationship with your student. Instead of listening to your child intending to respond, try to listen to your child intending to understand what, exactly, they are trying to convey. Here are a few tips that might help you improve your active listening skills:

Face the speaker and make eye contact while they are speaking.
Pay attention to body language as well as verbal language.
Listen without interrupting, judging or jumping to conclusions.
Ask questions if you need clarification.
Reflect back what is being said so the speaker knows you are understanding.
Stay focused and don’t multitask.
Don’t insert your opinions or solutions unless asked.

Most people, including your child, just want to be heard and supported. Taking the time to practice active listening and employ your skills with your student not only models good listening behaviors but supports the idea that you are a safe and trustworthy person for them to confide in.

Performing & Visual Arts

March 10, 2025

Announcing the Acalanes Performing Arts Boosters 2024-25 Senior Scholarship!
Seniors currently enrolled in an Acalanes performing arts class (Choral, Drama or Instrumental) are eligible to apply for this $1,000 scholarship. Additional requirements are:

Must have been enrolled in an Acalanes performing arts class for two or more years
Must have a minimum 3.0 GPA
Must have an intent to major or minor in a performing arts program (e.g., Theatre Tech, Drama, Musicology, Music Education, Performance, Composition, etc.) in a community college, 4-year college, university or performing arts school or conservatory.

Download the application here. They are due Monday, Mar 24.

LPIE

March 10, 2025

The online auction for this year’s LPIE Gala is now open! Click here to bid on an exciting array of lots. From wine tastings and event tickets to overnight stays and gift cards to local eateries, as well as academic opportunities and summer camps for kids, there’s something for everyone!

Come aboard and support our schools from the comfort of your home. Don’t miss your chance to win incredible items and make a difference—place your bids today!

APC in Action

Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

Campus Culture Committee

Student Activities

College & Career

Counseling

School Nurse

Wellness Center

Performing & Visual Arts

LPIE

Acalanes Parents Club

About Us

Support Organizations

Social Media

LPIE