Weekly News & Announcements

Finals Prep

FINALS SCHEDULE: May 23 - 26
Parents take note of this week’s finals schedule. Tomorrow is a regular, see-all Monday and Finals start Tuesday. A great way to help support our students during finals is to help out with Finals Fuel (see below).


During Finals, Peer Tutoring will be open Tuesday-Thursday from 12:50-2:50pm. The Library will be open from 7:30am to 3:00pm Tuesday & Thursday and from 7:30am to 1:00pm Wednesday & Friday. 
 
IMPORTANT INFO FOR ALL SENIOR FAMILIES
Here is all the information senior families need to know to close out the year.

1. Senior Wrap-Up & To-Do List - print this off and use the to-do list as you wrap up senior year.
2. Senior Graduation Information - anything and everything senior families need to know for graduation and all leading up to it.
3. Graduation field map for families - please share this with your family and friends that will be attending graduation. Remind your students to let all family members know which side of the stadium they will be sitting in (they find out at rehearsal) so you can have a better view of  your senior walking the stage.
4. AHS Senior Survey - seniors need to take a few minutes to fill out your final AHS survey.

Congratulations Class of 2023!

General Administration Announcements

Mission and Vision Poster Design Contest
Calling all creative minds! AHS is proud to announce a student competition to design our newly adopted mission and vision classroom posters, sponsored by Project LPIE.

Check out past designs and poster requirement here: Poster Design Contest Details
 
Competition Winners: A committee of students, staff and LPIE Board Members will review all submissions. Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 designs and the top design will be printed and displayed in every classroom and in the office at AHS.
 
Students should submit their design to Principal Shawn at eshawn@auhsdschools.org or drop physical designs at the main office. Deadline for Submissions: January 27, 2023
Parents, please encourage your students to participate (after exams)!

AP Exam Proctors Needed - Great Volunteer Opportunity
Our AP Students need YOUR help! We are searching for parents to help with proctoring AP Exams the first two weeks of May 2023. Exam dates are May 1-5 and May 8-12.
 
Exams start everyday at either 8am or 12pm. Students know to show up 30 minutes prior to start time for check in. Proctors for morning exams would be needed starting at 7:15am and afternoon exams starting at 11:15am. Exams can range from 2-4 hours and we ask that you please plan to stay for the longest amount of time possible. Restrictions: Parents, you are NOT allowed to proctor an exam that your own child is taking.
 
If you are interested in learning more about proctoring AP exams, please contact the Acalanes Testing Coordinator, Nicole Singleterry at nsingleterry@auhsdschools.org

Parents Club Pro-Tip

This Pro-Tip comes from AHS Student Leaders. Parents may want to encourage your student to visit the RogerHub website to utilize their Final Grade Calculator. Some students find it helpful to calculate what score they need to achieve on their final exam in order to get the semester grade they desire in the class.

APC in Action

Finals Fuel - This Week!
Thank you to all the families that have made donations!
If you haven't already, you can still make a Costco Run donation through this evening (you can do so via venmo to @sheryl-platt-1 or paypal to sheryl@slpdesigns.net) . We use the funds to purchase the fun snacks for all our students to refuel between exam periods.
 
Thank you to our volunteers who have signed up to pass out snacks!  There are still a few spots available Thursday and Friday. 
 
Please sign up here if you are interested in donating and/or working a shift.

APC Membership & Fundraising

Remember to keep ACA in mind for your holiday shopping! Every time you shop on Amazon, you could also be contributing to Acalanes - it’s never been so easy!
 
Click this link to shop smile.amazon.com and designate Acalanes Parents Club as your charity of choice!
 
And, since most of us also shop Amazon on our phones, don’t forget to add Smile to your Amazon app too. It’s super easy and you only have to do it once:

1. After you’ve clicked the link above and joined Amazon Smile via your desktop or laptop, open the Amazon app on your phone
2. Open settings within the app
3. Tap AmazonSmile
4. Tap the button for “turn on AmazonSmile”

Happy ACA shopping…and THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

AHS Garden Restoration Update
Work is well underway to restore the AHS Garden. Many thanks to the students, staff and community members who have come out to help or donated cardboard, seeds and more to the effort. We have updated the wish list in case anyone has extra winter crop seeds or bulbs on the list you want to donate.
 
If you haven't had a chance, take a look at the farm - it is a completely different place with the mulch (and no cardboard showing). 
 
Read more about the AHS Garden Restoration Updates HERE
Lori Tewksbury (Living Earth and AP Biology Teacher)

Parent Education

Be sure to bookmark the AUHSD Parent Education website for all the information you need for AUHSD Parent Education events. And great news - there are recordings of the past events in case you missed them!

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)

The month of December is a time set aside by many to celebrate a variety of traditionsand enjoy time with family, friends and community. We wish you peace and happiness throughout the holiday season.

Be well and we will see you in the new year!

Student Activities

Does your student want to start a club but didn't get the chance to in the fall? They can create one now! The work done within a club is so important and we want to support that. Please fill out this google form in its entirety by this Friday, Dec 16. Spring Club Day is Friday, Jan 13 at lunch.
 
Need a way to destress? Come to stress busters tomorrow at lunch in the front quad. There will be therapy dogs, snacks, stress ball making and resources provided by the wellness center. It will be a great way to take a break and recenter before finals!
 
Adopt-a-Family this Holiday Season!
Thank you for all of your support with adopt-a-family this year. We were able to support 62 families and dropped off the gifts this past Friday. Our community is incredible - thank you for all of the support!.
 
We wish you a restful, healthy and happy holiday break! See you back on Jan 4 for the new semester!
 
Katherine Walton, Leadership Teacher

College & Career

SENIORS
 
Acalanes College and Career Center Scholarship link: https://www.acalanes.k12.ca.us/Page/2549
 
Diablo Valley Assistance League, Rossmoor Scholarship Foundation, and AAUW are also available- Large scholarships for students with financial limitations.
 
FAFSA: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is available. The state is asking all seniors to fill out the FAFSA or to opt-out.
 
Common App Support: Your student can click here to make an appointment to work on essays or get help with the entire process.
 
JUNIORS
 
ACT/SAT Practice Tests: Revolution Prep is offering a practice SAT and ACT: Practice ACT: Saturday, Jan 21, 9am-1pm
Practice SAT: Saturday, Jan 28, 9am-1pm
Live Online! Register here:  Acalanes HS partner landing page
 
1:1 appointments: If you’d like your child to start exploring career interests and begin looking at Naviance, please have them schedule an appointment here.
 
SOPHOMORES/FROSH
 
Volunteer Ideas: Have your student come by the CCC so I can learn about their interests. Check out this website for ideas too! It’s best to set a search filter for teens.
 
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 / Christina Castillo-Gallardo during Spring 2023
Ku-Rog Marissa Meadows 
Roh-Z Susan Martin
 
Late Sign Up for AP Exams: Late registration options are still available, but will incur a late fee. Please see here for more details.
 
Good Luck with Finals this week! Finish strong! Enjoy your well-deserved winter break!
 
Welcome to Christina Castillo-Gallardo, our Counselor Sub, standing in for Christine Todd while she is on maternity leave during the Spring of 2023. Christina can be reached at ccastillo-gallardo@auhsdschools.org.
 
Frosh/Soph Parent Meeting Thursday, Jan 12 at 6pm in the AHS Library
Come hear our Counselor Marissa Meadows, College and Career Advisor Debbie Levy, and Counselor Sub Christina Castillo-Gallardo talk about course selection and preliminary college planning for rising 10th and 11th grade students (current 9th and 10th grade students).