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Wellness Center
While the five senses of sight, hearing, taste, touch and smell are common knowledge to most, there is a “sixth sense” that is often overlooked. Interoception is defined as the perception of sensations from inside the body and includes the perception of physical sensations related to internal organ function as well as the autonomic nervous system activity related to emotions. By definition, it is easy to understand how this sense of self can contribute to our mental and physical health. Scientists suggest that disruption in interoception is reported in many mental health conditions.
Talk with your student about the importance of tuning into their own bodies and minds. With practice, someone can receive messages that may be below the conscious threshold of perception. Some ways to develop interoception skills:- a mindfulness practice
- noticing and labeling body language or sensations
- thinking about how these physical sensations relate to our emotions
Here is a link to a short video explaining how interoception works.
(source: sciencealert.com) -
College & Career
Seniors
- Wednesday, Feb 9 DVC Registration- Please have your senior sign up for Levy’s Academy in the library. A DVC admissions officers will be walking students through the registration process and answer any questions.
- Scholarship Tips- Send your child to the CCC soon to not miss deadlines.
Juniors
- Tuesday, Feb 1 from 6 to 7pm Acalanes Bookclub Meeting will be on Zoom.Join other Junior parents to discuss Who Gets in and Why by Jeffrey Selingo.
- Black College Expo- Mark your calendars and register for 2/26 from 10am-3pm
- CalPoly Humboldt- Read about California’s newest Polytech school.
- College Timeline- Check out these informative tips!
- DVC Summer Academies- Earn 1 college unit and get hands-on experience!
- Jobs available- Orchard Nursery is looking for weekend cashier support/carry out. There are many other jobs available. Send students to the CCC.
- Out of State College Fair- March 23 from 6:30-8:30pm outside at Campolindo. More details to come!
Sophomores/Freshmen
- College Timeline- Here are fun ideas and a timeline by one of my favorite resources- The College Essay Guy.
- NCAA Eligibility- Watch this video to understand NCAA requirements if your student is a strong athlete.
- SAT goes fully Digital in Spring 2024: Click here to read more!
- Resume Development- Have your child reach out to work on creating a resume!
- Volunteer Here are some volunteer options to get you started. Check out the newforms for tracking volunteer service hours for recognized service awards.
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Counseling
Counselor assignments are by last name.
A-Dr Anne Schonauer
Du-Kr Christine Todd
Ku-Rog Marissa Meadows
Roh-Z Susan Martin
Monday, Jan 31 to Thursday, Feb 3 Course Requests Due to Counselors
Your student has an appointment scheduled with their counselor this week to turn in their course selection form and review classes in Aeries. This appointment is on the white label on their course selection sheet. This is a five-minute appointment. Please make sure your student remembers this appointment, and meets with their counselor in the Library.
Tuesday, Feb. 1 California Scholarship Federation (CSF)
CSF applications open. Sophomores, juniors and seniors should apply. CSF is an honors society that recognizes strong academic performance. Students who have been members for at least 4 semesters receive special recognition. Please see the application for full membership policies. Applications are also available in the Counseling Office from Feb 1 through Feb 28. Turn in forms to the counseling office and email Anne Schonauer (aschonauer@auhdscshools.org) with any questions. -
School Nurse
Thank you to Acalanes families for reporting COVID+ cases to us (especially Attendance), keeping your students home when they are ill, and making sure they have well-fitting masks that they wear correctly.
COVID Vaccine Most students are now eligible to get boosters - PLEASE DO!!! Despite the burden of COVID virus, our community is working hard to stay healthy and the high vaccination rate and observance of health department guidelines makes a significant difference and helps keep students in school learning. If you haven’t yet, please submit your students’ COVID vaccine records.
COVID Isolation, Quarantines and Test Kits The current guidelines for return to school after COVID illness require a negative COVID test (if returning before 10 days). If your student is testing in the School Nurse Office, please make sure they register with Primary Health. School sites do NOT have more test kits to distribute. Please see Principal Shawn’s COVID FAQ’s for more details.
Make sure you always have your proof of vaccination! Try this site- https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov/ iPhone users- you can now put your vaccinationrecord in your Apple Health app (and Apple Wallet).
This week’s recipe: NiceCream! Blend together in a small food processor- 2 sliced frozen bananas, one heaping teaspoon of cocoa powder, ½ tsp vanilla extract, splash of oat milk (and add tsp of peanut butter for creaminess). Yummy and healthy!
Please be in touch with me to discuss any medical, health, or wellness concerns.
Stay healthy and be well,
Dvora Citron, RN, MS
dcitron@auhsdschools.org
925-280-2970 x7128
Acalanes School Nurse Google Site
IG: acalanesschoolnurse -
LPIE
LAFAYETTE PARTNERS IN EDUCATION IS RECRUITING FOR THE 2022-2023 BOARD For 40 years, serving on the LPIE board has been an excellent way to gain knowledge of what's happening in the schools and to help preserve LPIE's mission to support and enrich the education of every TK through 12th grade child in Lafayette public schools. Please contact LPIE's Vice President at Anita Embleton or 925-413-2358 with any questions or to submit your interest.
Jennifer Palmer and Michele Colaco, Acalanes LPIE School Chairs
www.lpie.org, Follow us on Instagram -
Sports
This week’s can’t miss events
Girls basketball
Monday, Jan 31 host Las Lomas HS. JV at 5:30 pm and Varsity at 7:00 pm.
Tuesday, Feb 1 host Campolindo HS. JV at 5:30 pm and Varsity at 7:00 pm.
Friday, Feb 4 at Campolindo HS. JV at 5:30 pm and Varsity at 7:00 pm.
Saturday, Feb 5 at Las Lomas HS. JV at 1:30 pm and Varsity at 3:00 pm.
Boys basketball
Tuesday, Feb 1 at Arroyo HS. Freshman at 4:00 pm, JV at 5:30 pm and Varsity at 7:00 pm.
Friday, Feb 4 host Campolindo HS. Freshman at 4:00 pm, JV at 5:30 pm and Varsity at 7:00 pm.
Boys soccer
Tuesday, Feb 1 Host Northgate HS. Freshman at 3:30 pm, JV at 5:00 pm and Varsity at 7:00 pm.
Thursday, Feb 3 at Clayton Valley Charter HS. JV at 5:00 pm and Varsity at 7:00 pm.
Saturday, Feb 5 host Bishop O’Dowd HS. Freshmen at 10:00 pm, JV at 12:00 pm and Varsity at 2:00 pm.
Girls soccer
Tuesday, Feb 1 at Concord HS. JV at 5:00 pm and Varsity at 7:00 pm.
Thursday, Feb 3 at Las Lomas HS. JV at 5:00 pm and Varsity at 7:00 pm.
Friday, Feb 5 at Miramonte HS. JV at 2:00 pm and Varsity at 4:00 pm.
Wrestling
Wednesday, Feb 2 host Berean Christian HS at 6:00 pm.
Saturday, Feb 5 NCS Dual Meet Championships.
Luck of the Dons 2022 Booster Bash!
Saturday, Mar 19 at 6pm
Contra Costa Country Club (810 Golf Club Road, Pleasant Hill) -- $100 per person includes dinner, dancing, and one drink ticket
- Attire: Country Club Attire–wear Dons Blue or something that makes you feel lucky!
- PLEASE NOTE: Attendees will be required to show either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test result within 72 hours of the event. Proof of vaccination can be submitted in advance of the party here.
The Booster Bash is back! This year’s Bash will feature silent and live auctions, fun contests, and most importantly, the opportunity to celebrate in person with the Acalanes Dons community. Proceeds from the event will go to support all 27 Acalanes sports and hundreds of Dons athletes. Buy your tickets today!
The Acalanes Boosters Club is a non-profit, fundraising organization composed of Acalanes High School parents and school administrators who work closely with the school’s coaches to ensure the safety and well-being of Acalanes student athletes by providing significant, supplemental funding to all twenty-seven sports programs.
Have a fantastic item to donate for the auction? We are still looking for vacation homes, sporting event tickets, and sign-up parties (or any other item or experience that you want to contribute). Please contact your team’s Booster Representative or email bash@acalanesboosters.org. Proceeds for items that are donated on behalf of your student’s team(s) are split 50/50: the team(s) receive 50% of the proceeds and the Boosters general fund (allocated to all sports) receives 50%.
What does Boosters fund? Visit the site to read about all of the ways that Boosters supports the Acalanes athletes. Join the Daily Sports Report email list, and follow us on Twitter @AcalanesBooster!
Click here for the full Winter Sports Schedule (subject to change) -
APC in Action
ICYMI Missed Friday’s Dons Dialogue? You can watch a replay here!
Are you free for lunch? If so, we continue to support our Cafe Staff this semester on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. We need 4 parents from 12:45 to 1:15pm to help serve lunch and provide line management so that our staff and administration can focus where needed. Please sign up here if you are able to lend a hand.
AHS Volunteer Service Awards Reminder: Encourage your student to participate!
It’s not too late for students to give back to their community now and be recognized for their efforts by applying for the AHS Volunteer Service Award this spring. Details regarding the program and related forms can be accessed here. Students should log their hours on the application forms as they volunteer. To learn more about the program or where they can volunteer, students can drop by the College & Career Center or contact APC program liaison Amy Norstad with questions or for more information. -
Acalanes Community Always (ACA)
Saturday, Feb 5 from 11am to 2pm Second Annual ACA STRONG Light Display Set-Up Help
Join the fun in hanging lights for this upcoming ACA event! Sign up to help support your class in making this event a memorable one. All students and their families are welcome. Students will earn volunteer service hours for the event. More details regarding the AHS Volunteer Service award can be found here.
2nd Annual ACA STRONG Light Display Monday, Feb 7 through Friday, Mar 4 from 5:30 to 9:30pm
Check out this year’s light display! All Acalanes families and the greater Lafayette community are invited to see ACA spirit on display. Enter campus via the main Acalanes entrance on Stanley Blvd. and exit on Pleasant Hill Road. This year a Photo Class Competition has been added!! Take a photo in front of your lighted class sign and DM via Instagram to ahs@dons. One photo per student or group of students please.The class with the most submitted photos will be invited to an ice cream sandwich social at lunch in March. -
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)
Oakland Museum is open! Starting January 29, your family can attend two special exhibitions, Mothership: Voyage into Afrofuturism and Edith Heath: A Life in Clay. Tickets for special exhibitions can be purchased here.
Looking for opportunities to volunteer or give? There are plenty of local charities looking for help, especially this time of the year. A few include: Grateful Gatherings and Food Bank of Contra Costa County.
Facts corner: January 27 is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. On this day in 1945, Soviet Red Army troops liberated Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration camp. -
Parent Education
Students get diplomas when they graduate from high school, but I think they should also get diplomas for simply surviving the teen years.
Melanie Willard
We hope you were able to join us for The Well-Balanced Student Presentation with Laura Easley and Douglas Tsoi from Challenge Success, hosted by the APC Parent Education committee. It was a great event, and we hope to obtain a recording of the talk for those who might have missed. And many thanks to Allen Choi and Andie Nishimi for being panelists to help support our parents/guardians/teens further.
If you’d like more reading, here are the Best Greater Good Articles chosen by Greater Good editors from 2021. It has a wide range of topics so there should be something for all!
Finally, if your teen is struggling with academics or feeling down or frustrated about school, don’t forget to connect with our Counselors, our Nurse, and our Wellness Center. Feel free to reach out and connect with us with ideas for future topics, shareable resources, or thoughts at parented@acalanesparentsclub.com. -
Student Activities
An Aca Leader is a role model that shows leadership and plays a big role throughout our school community. Each week, one student who stands out is chosen to be our week's Aca Leader. This week we are proud to have chosen 2 Aca Leaders, Taylor Mikalis, a frosh student on the Varsity Girls Soccer team and junior, Nikki McCarthy, on the Varsity Girls Basketball team! Our lady dons have both made such an impact on their teams and represent what an Aca Leader is! Congratulations!
Student Government applications for the 2022-2023 school year are available beginning tomorrow. All are welcome and encouraged to apply; applications can be found on canvas or the Acalanes leadership website and are due February 7th! Info meeting at lunch on February 1st in room 314. Students can opt in to run to be a class officer and represent their class or join one of 16 committees. Student Government/Leadership is a wonderful opportunity to serve campus & community while building “soft skills” that will be used in the future.
2021-2022 Clubs Anyone can still join a club and now is the perfect time to do so! Check out our 2021-2022 clubs (clubs highlighted in green are new as of this semester!)
Acalanes Spiritwear Looking for Acalanes gear or a welcome gift for the Class of 2026? Look no further! Spiritwear is available for purchase on the Acalanes webstore. You can purchase here and once purchased, you will receive an email with directions for pick-up.
Peek at the Week- Mon-Wed Frosh quad clean-up competition. Encourage your frosh student to pick up any and all trash in the quad at the end of lunch! We are tracking student participation for prizes.
- Wed @ lunch 2022 Vision Board Making in room 314
Save the Date:
February is Black History Month and
Saturday, Apr 30 Junior & Senior Prom at Lake Chalet in Oakland
Katherine Walton, Student Activities Director -
Wellness Center
With COVID cases back on the rise, there is no better time to quit a smoking or vaping habit than today. The lungs are at the forefront of your immune system. Inhaling irritants such as smoke and vapor can cause an even stronger immune response if exposed to COVID. Researchers at Johns Hopkins have found that not only are people that smoke and vape five to seven times more likely to test positive for COVID, but they are also more likely to develop serious complications if infected. Secondhand smoke from cigarettes and, even more so, from vaping poses an increased risk for anyone that may inhale infected droplets in the air. If you or your student has a smoking or vaping habit, check with your healthcare professional to discuss cessation options. Quitting smoking is not only beneficial to wellbeing during the Coronavirus pandemic but to long term health as well. (source: Coronavirus: Smoking, Vaping, Wildfire Smoke and Air Pollution | Johns HopkinsMedicine)
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