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Student Activities
November has a lot of wonderful programming for students - please encourage yours to opt in!
Halloween is tomorrow - let’s celebrate together! We will have a carnival in the frosh quad and in between the gyms, as well as pumpkin carving on the senior deck and trick-or-treating around campus for those who dress up. Let’s have a spooky time!
Please donate to the Coat and Sock Drive!! Bring your new or gently used coats and new socks to the front office from Monday, Oct 31 through Friday, Nov 10. Everything collected will be donated to a homeless shelter in Martinez.
CARE (Compassion Acceptance Respect Equity) Week begins tomorrow through Friday. CARE Week is student created/led and has a lunchtime dialogue everyday, along with an academy equity lesson facilitated by juniors and seniors.- Monday QSA Kahoot and discussion about reclaiming homophobic/transphobic language in room 303.
- Tuesday Latinos Unidos having a Kahoot on the intersectionality between Latinos and LGBTQ in room 507.
- Wednesday JSU and Middle Eastern Student Union having a discussion on Israel and UC Berkeley in room 314.
- Thursday Feminism Club discussion on eurocentric/patriarchal beauty standards between genders in room 209.
- Friday BSU presentation on blackness and sexuality in room 507.
Garden Clean Up - Come Help!
You can sign up here to help clean up our garden. Work days are Sunday, Nov 6 and Sunday, Nov 13 and hours can count toward volunteer awards.
Buy your Gratitude Grams now! These are a great way for students to appreciate classmates, friends, staff members and teachers by sending them a little goodie bag filled with love and appreciation. Each gram is $5 and they are available for purchase on the webstore.
As always, if there is anything we can do for you or your student, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Thank you and go Dons!
Katherine Walton, Leadership Teacher -
College & Career
SENIORS
California State Applications: Every day during the month of November, the CCC is open to help with the Cal State application. It takes less than an hour.
UC Applications: Have your student come by any day to work on the UC applications due on Nov 30.
FAFSA: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid opened Oct 1. The state is asking all seniors to fill out the FAFSA or to opt-out.
UC/Common App Support: Your student can click here to make an appointment to work on essays or get help with the entire process.
College Visits This Week in the CCC Office: Follow the CCC instagram @ahs_college_career for timing each week.- Monday, Oct 31: Landmark College
- Wednesday, Nov 2: Rollins College, Saint Edward’s University
JUNIORS
Parent Night: Counselor Susan Martin and College and Career Center Advisor Debbie Levy will discuss post-high school options on Wednesday, Nov 9 in the PAC from 6:30-7:30pm.
Out of State College Fair: Meet college admission counselors from more than 20 colleges in the Acalanes library on Wednesday, Nov 30 from 6:30-8:30pm. Learn about the benefits of out of state schools, scholarship opportunities, financial aid and costs, and how to find your “match” school.
Volunteer Opportunities: Encourage your child to check out these great places to give back!
SOPHOMORES/FROSH
Out of State College Fair: Start learning a bit about colleges early! Meet college admission counselors from more than 20 colleges in the Acalanes library on Wednesday, Nov 30 from 6:30-8:30pm. Learn about the benefits of out of state schools, scholarship opportunities, financial aid and costs, and how to find your “match” school.
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
Letters of Recommendation - Counselors are working hard to finish all EA/ED letters of recommendation by the big Nov 1 deadline!
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.
Junior Parent Night Wednesday, Nov 9, 6:30pm in the PAC -
We are hoping that many junior parents can come to the PAC on Wednesday, Nov 9 for a presentation by Debbie Levy, our College and Career Advisor, and Susan Martin, one of our counselors. We will be speaking about post-high school options for your students and things to think about now. -
School Nurse
Happy Halloween! Parents, please use this weekend’s Halloween celebrations as an opportunity to have a dialogue with your students about having fun and staying safe. Adults modeling safe, responsible and healthy behavior is powerful!
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.
Please see my website for more information on medications, health issues, forms, etc. Does your child have an EPIPEN? Hopefully you have let me know. HERE is some interesting information about Benadryl vs. Epinephrine.
Weekly Health Tip: Ways to Help Your Teen Get More Sleep. Help your students create a good window (# of hours of sleep) by supporting a healthy schedule in which they have a balance of exercise, down time, nourishing food and happy connection.
Dvora Citron, RN, MS
dcitron@auhsdschools.org
925-280-2970 x7128
IG: acalanesschoolnurse -
Wellness Center
Did you know there is a difference between regular listening and active listening? Active listeners differ from passive listeners, in that they are intentionally going out of their 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 and intending to respond, try listening 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 employing your skills with your student not only models good listening behavior, but also supports the idea that you are a safe and trustworthy person for them to confide in.
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LPIE
SAVE THE DATE for the LPIE Spring Gala on Saturday, Mar 25, 2023 at Roundhiill Country Club. Tickets go on sale Monday, Nov 7 at 9am. Please visit our gala webpage for additional details.
LPIE's Read-a-thon starts Nov 1! Students can pick up a flyer in the Acalanes library for more information. In order to participate:- Start by creating your Read-a-thon pledge page here.
- You can log minutes as you go or track minutes in the packet and then enter them at the end of each week.
- Log all pledges by Nov 17.
Read-a-thon prizes include Warriors tickets, Six Flags tickets, Air Pods, gift cards and more!
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 31 NCS Championships at Foxtail GC in Rohnert Park
Girls Volleyball
Wednesday, Nov 2 NCS Semifinals at 7pm
Saturday, Nov 5 NCS Championships at 7pm
Girls Water Polo
Thursday, Nov 3 NCS Quarterfinals
Football
Friday, Nov 4 at Northgate HS. JV at 4:30pm, Varsity at 7pm
Cross Country
Saturday, Nov 5 DAL Championship at Hidden Valley Park at 1pm
The fall sport schedules are available on the AHS website. Click here.
If you have any questions, please contact Randy Takahashi at rtakahashi@auhsdschools.org or Haley Walsh at hwalsh@auhsdschools.org. -
APC in Action
Dons Dialogue
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our first evening Dons Dialogue. Principal Shawn led the discussion with an exciting review of Acalanes’ academic success with recent data on AP test scores. We heard more about the inspiring Breaking Down the Walls program and recent parent feedback through our WASC school accreditation process.
If you were not able to attend, you can view slides here or listen to the recording here.
Volunteer Service Awards
The 2022-23 volunteer program year has kicked off for the Acalanes and President’s Service Awards so please make sure your student is logging those hours! It’s a great opportunity for students to give back AND be recognized for their service. Visit the ServiceAward page under Get Informed on the APC website to learn more and find the forms. You can also email communityservice@acalanesparentsclub.com with any questions.
Six APC Fall Grants Have Been Awarded
Thank you to the parents and staff who submitted proposals for an APC Grant this fall. We had a healthy number of submissions and are pleased to announce that four grants have been awarded through APC and two additional grants will be supported through our partnership with LPIE. Please click here for more information on awarded grants.
Pizza with Dr. Z! How to Study Math
Peer Tutoring will host “Pizza With Dr. Z,” on Thursday, Oct 28 at lunch. Acalanes Math Department Head, Vicki Zalewski, will lead students in a discussion on best practices for staying on top of math concepts and will also give tips on how to study for assessments. Pizza will be provided to the first 40 students who attend!
Peer tutoring aims to better the educational, social and emotional well-being of all Acalanes High School students and gives students the skills necessary to succeed in academics and life post high school. Peer Tutoring is off to a great start this year, with over 1000 student visits to date! Thank you to the Acalanes Parents Club, who fully funds this important student program.
Peer tutoring is located in Room 107. Hours are: Academy, 7th period, lunch and every day 1 hour after school.
Follow Acalanes Parents Club on Instagram. Contact APC here with any questions. -
Acalanes Community Always (ACA)
Campus Clean Up - Saturday Nov 5, 11am-2pm
Let’s spruce up our campus this fall! Earn service hours, connect with our Acalanes community, and share in Dons’ pride. Students and parents alike are welcome and needed! Click here to sign up. Questions? Email denisecain4@icloud.com -
Parent Education
The Power of Parents: Navigating Substance Use and the Fentanyl Epidemic
Thursday, Oct 26
6-7pm on Zoom
The AUHSD Wellness Centers are hosting an important Parent Education program this week on the topic of substance abuse and Fentanyl. See Superintendent Nickerson’s important message on this topic here. Register for the Zoom event here.
AHS and APC Present Internet Safety Night
Thursday, Nov 3
6:30pm in the PAC
Hear directly from District Attorney, Paul Graves and Senior Inspector, Daryl Holcombe with the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s office on internet safety for your teenager. From online trolling to social media, learn more about what parents need to know for their new high schoolers, as well as those getting ready to graduate, and what happens in college and in the postgraduate world. View the full flyer here.
Free for all AUHSD parents/guardians.
Social Media
