Weekly News & Announcements

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)

Encourage your student to participate in these additional events commemorating Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month:

• Tuesday, May 11 at 12pm Anti-Asian Racism Dialogue Information will be sent via Canvas
• Wednesday, May 12 at 6pm Evening with Shaan Dasani Los Angeles based actor, performer & speaker Shaan Dasani brings his rap poetry storytelling piece I GOT A STORY TO TELL YA to Acalanes High School, to deliver a powerful message about growing up, self-acceptance and rising above hate. Register for this event here.

Thank you to all who have participated in DEI events this school year! To those of you who are curious but were not able to join us, we invite you to join an event next year! We are constantly working on ideas for book clubs, special guest appearances, workshops and more. Have some great ideas? Consider joining one of our meetings, or email us! 

Volunteer opportunities for Acalanes DEI - get involved! We are looking for new people to join our efforts and get in on the highly relevant work of DEI. Email us! If you believe in the need for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and enjoy writing, are a social media wizard or interested in web content creation, come join us!

Membership & Fundraising

Buy a Brick, Leave a Legacy
Honor a graduating Senior or favorite teacher, or write a special memory on a brick on the Dons Legacy Wall! On sale now on the Acalanes webstore, or print a mail-in form. Mail-in forms may also be picked up in the AHS Main Office.

Acalanes Flags
The perfect gift for incoming students, graduating students and students in between, who are enjoying their highschool journey -- Acalanes Flags! Flags are available in two sizes on the Acalanes webstore. They can be enjoyed indoors (think bedroom wall!) as well as outside. Get yours today and share your school spirit. Go Dons!

From the Activities Director

Three weeks to go! Let’s make the most of our time together Acalanes. 

Mark your calendar!
Friday, May 21st at 5pm is the Senior Car Rally through downtown Lafayette. Let’s turn this town BLUE!

Speaker Series
Each May, we intentionally bring in speakers to speak to our Seniors but open it up to all. We host Jill Schwartz, Executive Vice Chairman of Global Corporate and Investment Banking at Bank Of America tomorrow at 1pm to talk all things finance for high school students & college. Register here.

Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month
There are opportunities to learn, engage in dialogue and celebrate. We are encouraging students to opt in to at least one event. Take a peek at the calendar of events, with a spotlight on:

• Wednesday, May 12 at 6pm AAPI Speaker Shaan Dasani - Register here to attend! Los Angeles based actor, performer & speaker Shaan Dasani brings his rap poetry storytelling piece I GOT A STORY TO TELL YA to Acalanes High School to deliver a powerful message about growing up, self-acceptance and rising above hate. As a South-Asian transgender man, Shaan works to blaze trails in the entertainment industry. After the performance, there will be opportunity for questions, conversations and thoughts.

2020-2021 Clubs
Club meetings continue. Check out our 49 clubs! Clubs continue to be one of the best ways for students to connect as we enter the fourth quarter.

If I can ever do anything to help you or your student, don’t hesitate to reach out!

Katherine Walton, Student Activities Director

Wellness Center

This week, we have a message from some students who were hanging out in wellness on an off period. We asked them what they think parents should know about this point in time. Here’s what they had to say: “The end of the year is always the hardest part. There’s something about the end being in sight yet you still have to keep running to get there even though you’re tired. Remind us to take breaks! When we’re not being positive, be positive for us (but without invalidating us.) Remind us that this is NOT a normal school year and it’s okay to feel out of place, weird, or uncomfortable.” We hope this is as helpful for you to hear as it was to us!

Allen Choi, Wellness Coordinator
Casey Sasner, Intake Specialist

For updates, tips and advice, follow Wellness on Social Media: Instagram @acalaneswellness

College & Career

Seniors

• MANDATORY Update Naviance with College Decisions/Exit Survey  - Please 1) log into Naviance 2) Click on About Me 3) Choose Surveys from Your School 4) Click Senior Exit Survey to update the decisions. PARENTS: Your student MUST fill out their survey in order for colleges to receive final scripts!
• Tuesday & Wednesday, May 18-19 at Lunch “2021 & Beyond Senior Celebration” - All seniors are invited to celebrate their post-high school path. Have your senior drop by for fun activities and a sweet treat! 
• Thursday, May 20 at 6pm Senior Awards Night - This will be live-streamed, as space will be limited to recipients and presenters only.

Juniors

• Job Alert - Diablo Country Club has a summer program and is actively looking for counselors. Click here to apply.
• Stay in the Loop - Please follow the CCC instagram to keep up-to-date with college timeline details.@ahs_college_career.  
• Resume Support - Please let your student know that Mrs. Levy enjoys helping students build their resumes. 

Sophomores/Freshman

• Activity Building - Drop by the CCC to learn how to add activities into Naviance.

Resources:

• CCC Website 
• How to request a transcript
• College 101
• Internships and Volunteering Ideas
• Scholarships

Counseling

AP Exams
From our testing coordinator: It is EXTREMELY important that students check their College Board AP Classroom account to verify their AP Exam dates/times as some have been changed by the College Board due to schedule conflicts or non payment of exams. Students are either taking Admin 1, Admin 2, or Admin 3. It is the responsibility of each individual student to check their AP Exam dates/times and be prepared for their exam day. Each exam administration has very specific instructions, all students need to review the details of their exams entirely. Exam specific details can be found on the AHS TESTING HOMEPAGE. All exam formats are final.

June 7 through July 15 AUHSD Summer School
Summer school is for students who need to repeat a required course after earning a D or F grade. Email your counselor for an application.   

Counselor Appointments
We love talking to our students! Email is the best way to reach us. Counselors have appointment slots for students and will email them a link for signing up.  

A- Ed  Anne Schonauer
Ee-Kr  Christine Todd
Ku-Ros  Marissa Meadows
Rot-Z  Susan Martin

Legislative News

Did you attend Advocacy Day 2021? If you missed it, videos of all the panel discussions are on YouTube. This year the legislator panel featured State Senator Steve Glazer and State Assemblyperson Rebecca Bauer-Kahan rapidly running through a wide array of proposed bills, as well as providing a close-up view of how legislators actually got work done this year. The health and equity panels featured “Finding Balance During a Pandemic and Beyond” and “Building Competence for Equity”. Finally, the superintendent panel provided an opportunity for these busy leaders to discuss current education issues in depth.  

Advocacy Day takes a lot of planning and effort by dedicated parents in our community - many thanks to them for an excellent job!  

Questions? Email our APC Legislative Representative.

School Nurse

1.  Your student is exhibiting symptoms that fall within possible signs and symptoms of COVID (which is almost everything!).  
   1. Without COVID testing, your student can return to school after 10 days and after the symptoms have been resolved for at least 24 hours (without fever-reducing medication).
   2. With a negative COVID test result, your student can return to school after the symptoms have been resolved for at least 24 hours (without fever-reducing medication).
2. Your student has been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID.  In this case, your student must stay home for 10 days, even if without symptoms or even with a negative test result.

Performing & Visual Arts

Acalanes Instrumental Music Program is excited to present two Spring Concerts live in May, featuring our fabulous Acalanes Bands and Orchestra! Director Lauren Gibson will be showcasing the following groups:

• Monday, May 10 at 7pm Concert, Orchestra
• Wednesday, May 12 at 7pm Symphonic, Woodwinds, Jazz

Spring Concert Program

Both performances will be held at the Acalanes HS Stadium and will be live-streamed (link will be posted next week). Due to COVID-19 safety guidelines, only Instrumental Music families are invited to attend in person. We look forward to having you join us for our first live music concerts of the year!

Go to ahsperformingarts.org for more Performing & Visual Arts information!

Sports

This week’s can’t miss events:

Baseball

• Tuesday, May 11 v. Campolindo HS at 4pm. Varsity is away, JV is home.
• Thursday, May 13 v. Campolindo HS at 4pm. Varsity is home, JV is away.
• Friday, May 14 v. Campolindo HS at 4pm. Varsity is away, JV is home.

Girls soccer

• Tuesday, May 11 host Alhambra HS. JV at 5:30pm, Varsity at 7:30pm.
• Thursday, May 13 at Northgate HS.  JV at 5:30pm, Varsity at 7:30pm.

 Boys lacrosse

•  Tuesday, May 11 at Alhambra HS.  JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7:30pm.
• Thursday, May 13 host Northgate HS. JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7:30pm.
• Friday, May 14 at Piedmont HS. JV at 5pm and Varsity at 7pm.

Girls water polo

• Wednesday, May 12 host Campolindo HS. Varsity at 6:10pm and JV at 7:30pm. 

Boys water polo

• Wednesday, May 12 host Campolindo HS. JV at 3:30pm and Varsity at 4:50pm.

Boys basketball

• Wednesday, May 12 host College Park HS. Freshman at 4pm, JV at 5:15pm and Varsity at 8pm.
• Thursday, May 13 at Northgate HS. JV at 4pm, Freshman at 5:15pm and Varsity at 6:30pm.

Girls basketball

• Wednesday, May 12 Varsity host Alhambra HS at 6:30pm.
• Thursday, May 13 Varsity at Northgate HS at 8pm.

Boys volleyball

• Wednesday, May 12 Varsity at Alhambra HS. JV at 4pm, Varsity at 5pm.
• Thursday, May 13 host Northgate HS. JV at 6:30pm, Varsity at 7:30 pm.

Girls volleyball

• Wednesday, May 12 at Alhambra HS. JV at 6:30pm, Varsity at 7:30pm.
• Thursday, May 13 host Northgate HS. JV at 4pm, Varsity at 5pm.

Competitive sport cheer

• Friday, May 14 host Concord HS at 5pm.

Click this link to see a list of current sports and their full schedules.

APC in Action

The slate for the incoming members of the 2021-22 Acalanes Parents Club Board was approved by this year’s board. The next step is for APC General Membership to approve it on Friday, May 21, prior to the final Dons Dialogue of the school year. Contract APC Parliamentarians Dawn Brightbill & Sarah Cusumano at parliamentarian@acalanesparentsclub.com for more information. 

*proposed