Weekly News & Announcements

Counseling

Senior Transcripts
Seniors who need official transcripts for college apps due Jan 1 should order them on the webstore before winter break. Documents will be sent electronically through Naviance whenever possible. Please contact Mrs. Finn with questions. Students can review unofficial transcripts in Aeries.

Friday, Dec 18 End of First Semester
Official transcripts will not be updated until after the winter break. Mid-year reports (transcripts) with first semester grades will be available the second week of January.

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. We are trying to reserve the limited slots outside of class time for students. Parents can schedule a time when students are in class. 

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

Legislative News

While our school district moves ahead with comprehensive plans for a return to in-person instruction using a hybrid learning model, other districts around the state have not been able to agree to do so. Now a group of state legislators, including Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, D-Orinda, have proposed a bill requiring every school district to physically return to school in stages once that district has returned to the red tier. The bill is particularly focused on the huge numbers of English learners and low-income, foster, and homeless students who have fallen behind during distance learning. California Assembly leaders press for all districts to resume in-school teaching in the spring

Parent Education

Jan 12 at 7 pm - Challenge Success presents “A Healthy Approach to College Admissions”
The college admissions process can be a source of stress and anxiety for students and parents alike. This research-based workshop addresses many of the important questions we hear from families. What do college rankings really measure? Are students who attend more selective colleges better off later in life? What is “fit” and why does it matter? Participants will learn practical strategies to help reduce unnecessary pressure around the college admissions process and ways to support their student’s overall well-being and readiness for life in college and beyond. Stay tuned for more information and registration details.

School Nurse

PTG (Posttraumatic Growth): Using Challenge To Cultivate Resilience
During this pandemic, we are ALL experiencing trauma, grief, and loss, individually and collectively, and that cannot and should not be minimized in any way. This, undoubtedly, is going to be the hardest holiday season that most of us have ever experienced. But I want to encourage everyone to look for opportunities for growth and resilience. We can set an intention to practice anchoring ourselves in core values that support health and wellness, including gratitude, self-care, and generosity (to name a few). Try visualizing those values as “eyeglasses” that you put on (ex: now I am putting on my gratitude glasses. What does my perspective look like from here?).

In anticipation of the opportunity to return to our school sites to some degree in January, I implore you and your families to be vigilant about staying healthy and taking whatever precautions you can to prevent the spread of Covid in your households and families, and in our community. Our school district is working hard to create a protocol to promote safety and health on our school sites and in our school community. We need to be cohesive partners in working together to promote health and safety in our community.  Thank you for your commitment!

Updated Medical Forms
Parents, please make sure you turn in any pertinent medical forms for your students for this school year, especially if your students will be in the Hybrid Model. See this page on my website and let me know if you have any questions.

Be Covid Proactive!
See update on my google site. Stay healthy by keeping this symptom checklist in mind.

Improve Mental Health
Cook meals together as a family! It doesn’t have to be complicated; it can be as easy as arranging a fruit platter or putting a salad together.

This is a perfect opportunity with the upcoming holidays and our plans to STAY HOME. There are so many benefits - more to come!

Happy Healthy Holidays to all!

Dvora Citron, RN, MS
Acalanes School Nurse Google Site
dcitron@auhsdschools.org
IG:  acalanesschoolnurse

Performing & Visual Arts

Performing Arts has as NEW website!!! Check out our event details and more at ahsperformingarts.org

WINTER PERFORMANCE EVENTS

Tuesday, Dec 15 at 7pm-  2020 Choral Music Virtual Winter Concert, “Together, from a Distance”
This streamed concert will feature music from the Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque and Classical eras, as well as some solo acts. Look for the YouTube link on the Acalanes Performing Arts website on the day of the concert.

Thursday, Dec 17 at 7pm - AHS Instrumental Virtual Winter Concert
Enjoy the amazing musical talents of the Acalanes Instrumental Bands. Instrumental Music Director Ms. Lauren Gibson will be showcasing performances by each ensemble (Jazz Ensemble, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, and Orchestra) as well as chamber music. Best of all, you can hear all this beautiful music safely from the comfort of your home via this Zoom live webinar link. Look for more details at acalanesinstrumentalmusic.com or on our website.

Tuesday, Dec 22 at 7 pm - DramaDons Holiday Special
Happy Holidays from the DramaDons! The DramaDons have a present for you! The premiere of our Holiday Special will include selections of work that the DramaDons have created over this past semester. Pieces include original puppet stories, dialect monologues, an 8-minute Zoom movie adaptation, and an original children's theatre Zoom play. YouTube link to the Holiday Special will be available on the day of the performance on our website as well as on Instagram @ahs_dramadons.

Sports

The California Department of Public Health has postponed the issuance of its updated youth sports guidance. The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) does not expect the CDPH will issue any guidance allowing for schools to return to full practice and competition until after January 1, 2021, at the earliest. All full practice and competition start dates are officially on hold until updated guidance is issued. Read the full press release here.

APC in Action

Peer Tutoring
As students prepare for final exams, be sure to remind your Don to take advantage of Acalanes’ FREE Peer Tutoring program. Fellow students are ready to support their peers in any academic subject. Students can get help with test prep, essay writing guidance, lesson clarification, how to create a weekly work schedule, and much more. The tutors and directors connect personally with each student to provide an encouraging and engaging environment. Students can book peer tutors on TeachMore. 

Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

Shop Local For the Holidays
Help Lafayette business owners during this challenging economic time by shopping local! A bonus is that sales tax from your purchases will be funneled back into our local economy. Visit here for more ways to support Lafayette businesses.  

Questions, comments or feedback, email aca@acalanesparentsclub.com.

LPIE

Tell them LPIE sent you! Shop Honey Bear Trees across from Acalanes if you are in the market for a Christmas tree and holiday decor! Bring this flyer, and Honey Bear will donate 20% of your purchase price back to LPIE.

Thanks to the generosity of two anonymous families, there is a dollar-for-dollar $60,000 match for all donations made in December. LPIE recognizes the sacrifices families are facing, and knows that the ask to donate is a big one. Therefore, we hope this matching gift opportunity encourages you to support at the level that is meaningful to you. Participate here.

Laura-Kate Rurka & Jennifer Palmer
Acalanes LPIE School Chairs

www.lpie.org

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)

Week FIFTEEN in the Challenge to Build Habits Supporting Racial Equity
Winter is here and what is better than cozying up with a good read? This week’s challenge is to save the date for our next district-wide book discussion, Thursday, Feb 4 at 6:30pm! The groups are teacher-moderated and discussions are informative and interesting. This time, the book is the critically-acclaimed “Between the World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates. Order your copy from Orinda Books and receive it in time for holiday gift giving! And, HBO adapted the book into a movie and a podcast, available until Sunday Dec 27. 

• Sign up to attend here.

December 10-18 - Hanukkah is coming!
Also written as Chanukah, this is the Jewish eight-day, wintertime “festival of lights,” celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers, and foods. If you are so inclined, try this recipe for delicious latkes. 

Speaking of holidays, the DEI group at Acalanes would like to recognize all the cultures represented at our school. Please let us know any special events that we can learn about and honor throughout the year. For starters, how do you celebrate your winter holidays? Email us! 

Join the Grassroots Law Project (AUHSD) for Students and Parents
The group aims to bridge the gap between grassroots organizing and legal expertise in criminal justice reform. With over 75 student volunteers, backed by parent and teacher allies, GLP functions as a unit with members in each school. The group is not a club affiliated with individual schools, but a district-wide chapter powered by students and supported by parents and teachers. To get involved, fill out this Google Form. Check them out on Instagram too!

More information or questions?
Email us! Stay current by visiting our webpage, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. 

Membership & Fundraising

Acalanes Flags
‘Tis the season for giving - and receiving - the perfect gift: Acalanes Flags! Flags are available in two sizes on the Acalanes webstore. Get yours today and share your school spirit. Go Dons!

If you have any questions, please contact VP Fundraising Kelly Daggs.