• LPIE

    March 13, 2021

    We Need Your Participation!
    Just 50% of the parent community has supported our students with a donation to LPIE this year. Participation is key to fund school-based mental health which is essential to educate and help the whole child. This year, Lafayette schools have pivoted to ensure access to students and parents so they have a place to turn to for support. Your LPIE donation will fund the Wellness Center at Acalanes, a vital student service on our campus. Will you take 60 seconds to hear why Lulu and Scott Braunstein value wellness in our schools?  It’s up to all of us to give students a soft place to land when things get difficult. Participate and make 2x the impact with a matched donation today!

    Treat yourself to a wonderful podcast with LPIE Diamond Business Partners and frequent school volunteers, Julie Del Santo and Tina Frechman of Dudum Real Estate Group. 
    Julie and Tina give the listeners insight into what makes this community so attractive to families, and why kids who grew up in Lafayette keep coming back to raise their own families here. Julie and Tina also discuss with Adam why it’s so important to donate to LPIE, and the variety of ways to support LPIE as a business, parent and/or community member. If you are looking for some affirmation why you made the right choice to live in Lafayette, this is the podcast to check out!     Click here to listen.

    Laura-Kate Rurka & Jennifer Palmer
    Acalanes LPIE School Chairs

    www.lpie.org

    Follow us on Instagram

  • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)

    March 13, 2021

    In March, we continue to celebrate Women’s History Month (WHM) and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. 

    Monday, Mar 22 from 1pm - AUHSD Asian Student and Staff Gathering
    We acknowledge the rise in anti-Asian sentiment covered in the news over the past several weeks. Wellness Coordinators from Acalanes and Miramonte, Allen and Andie, will host a drop-in space for any Asian-identifying student or staff person who wants to process these experiences and tackle topics such as the model minority myth. Zoom information is available via Canvas, or contact the Wellness Center.

    Thursday, Mar 25 from 6-7:30pm - Final AUHSD Book Club of the Year hosted by Las Lomas High School.
    The book selection is “Becoming” by Michelle Obama (adapted for young readers). RSVP     here. Las Lomas is encouraging purchase from Marcus Books in Oakland to support a local black business.

    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! Several subcommittees are looking for help, including the Communications team. If you believe in the need for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and enjoy writing, are a social media wizard or a webmaster, come join us!  

  • From the Activities Director

    March 13, 2021

    March Madness Activities - Return to Campus!

    • Decorate your student’s home mailbox for the first day of Hybrid Learning
    • Get your students ready to wear ACA STRONG shirts on Hybrid Day 1, March 16 and March 17. 
    • TODAY from 1-2:30pm Senior & Junior Car Painting - Meet us in the Acalanes parking lot. We will provide the paint!
    • Join the fun & buy an ACA Parent/Sibling Strong Shirt. This is a grey version of the student/staff ACA Strong shirt.  You can purchase now via the Acalanes webstore for $10 and pick up from Acalanes after you receive your confirmation email. 

    March is Women’s History Month!
    Opt in to the various learning opportunities, dialogues & celebration.

    • Check out Canvas for the daily spotlight of excellent women. It will run through the end of the month.
    • Thursday, March 18 at 7pm Women in Leadership Series with our associate superintendent Aida Glimme. Aida Glimme is the Associate Superintendent of Educational Services and oversees all items related to curriculum development and instructional practices in the Acalanes Union High School District. This year, she has overseen the implementation of schedule and program changes due to the COVID pandemic, including the shift to distance learning and now to hybrid. Aida was a Principal of Acalanes High School and is a former science teacher. She is a war refugee and immigrated to the United States with some of her family members as a result of a civil war in former Yugoslavia. She started high school in San Mateo not speaking English and fought to learn English and the "American way." Aida currently resides in Danville, where she lives with her husband, daughter, and their 4-legged child, a Boxer named Cash. Register here to attend.

    Deadline TODAY! Purchase Acalanes Spirit Wear
    We have spirit wear available for the last time this school year! We added a couple new items including a tribute t-shirt to Mr. Huber with proceeds donated to the Parkinson’s Foundation in his name. Check out our spiritwear on the Acalanes webstore. Items can be either picked up at Acalanes or delivered to your home beginning April 6. 

    Wednesday, March 24 - Equity Curriculum Site Meeting
    Is your student interested in hearing updates and engaging in dialogue about Social Science and English curriculum with an equity focus? Encourage them to attend this lunchtime roundtable. More information will be sent via Canvas.

    Monday, April 5 - Acalanes Leadership Applications Available
    Is your 8th grader interested in joining student government at Acalanes? Applications will be available electronically beginning April 5th. If you have any questions don't hesitate to reach out to Katherine Walton.

    Sunday, April 18 - Deadline To Order Frosh Spirit Packs!
    Know an 8th grader? Frosh spirit packs are a great promotion gift and kick off to a career at Acalanes! Each pack is $53 and features a hooded sweatshirt, car magnet & cinch backpack. Proceeds go to the Class of 2025. Order deadline is April 18 and packs will be delivered to your house beginning May 7. Order here.

    Homecoming 2021 is happening at the end of April! Although it will look a bit different, we are excited to celebrate different decades with skits and hallway decorations; encourage your student to get involved. Skit information will go out through Canvas!

    2020-2021 Clubs
    Club meetings continue. Check out our 49 clubs! Clubs continue to be one of the best ways for students to connect. We will be pushing out more information about clubs at the end of the week. Please encourage your student to check out Canvas to learn more.

    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

    March 13, 2021

    On Monday, we will be providing a workshop for teachers on creating an anxiety toolkit to benefit students as they transition to whatever learning module they are will be in for the remainder of the year. Please be sure to talk to your students about the transition ahead. It will take the community time and patience to adjust. 

    And don’t forget: Alcohol, Cannabis & Prescription Drug Expert Panel, is scheduled for Tuesday, March 30 at 5:30 pm. This live webinar will focus on a panel of local adult and youth experts to discuss the impact of alcohol, cannabis, and prescription drugs on young people in our communities and share resources for youth and adults. You may register here. This will be simultaneously interpreted in Spanish. 

    Allen Choi, Wellness Coordinator
    Casey Sasner, Intake Specialist

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

  • College & Career

    March 13, 2021

    Seniors

    • DVC Registration (for graduating students only) Enrollment presentations sign up
    • This is a busy time for admissions decisions to roll out. Remember to check ALL emails from schools to make sure you don’t miss anything. If you have any questions about an admission decision or financial aid reach out directly to the university. 
    • Congratulations to all seniors who have heard from schools already!!! These are such exciting times. It is very helpful for everyone to log into Naviance and update the decisions. 

    Juniors

    • Sunday, March 14 Virtual College Fair - St. Mary’s usually hosts a huge fair with over 100 colleges; this year it is virtual. This is a great time to connect with schools you want to get more information about and a great way to connect with admissions reps. 

    Resources:

     

    Resources:

  • Counseling

    March 13, 2021

    Friday, March 12 - Third Quarter Ended
    Teachers have most of next week to update grades. The 3rd quarter progress report will be officially available in Aeries by Tuesday, March 23.  

    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.  Counselors will still be doing most of our appointments via Zoom when hybrid instruction begins. (Remember how small the offices are!)  

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

  • Legislative News

    March 13, 2021

    Our school district has an agreement in place to re-open, but other school districts, especially the largest ones in the state, have not been able to achieve this. Now Governor Newsom and state legislators have reached a deal which should accelerate the process by providing hefty incentives to reopen and removing some of the obstacles about which school districts had complained. Meanwhile, the federal government has confirmed that standardized testing must resume this year, meaning students still in remote learning in California would be asked to take standardized tests at home. The state is applying for a waiver to give California some flexibility on how and when the tests are administered within the 2020-2021 school year.

    Questions? Email our APC Legislative Representative.

  • School Nurse

    March 13, 2021
    Returning to School Information Tuesday, March 30 - TUPE FACE Webinar: Alcohol, Cannabis, & Prescription Drug Expert Panel See the Wellness section for additional details.  Thursday, April 8 at 7pm - Pandemic Parenting: Supporting Teen Mental Health Join Families for Depression Awareness for this free webinar.  Smile With Your Eyes! I am resharing face mask resources: one from our District and one from the CDC. It's really important that we're all consistent for health and safety reasons, and to build a culture of trust. 
    • Please note the types of masks that are NOT acceptable.
    • Make sure to wear a CLEAN mask every day.
    • Please wear your mask so that the top covers the bridge of your nose and the bottom goes under your chin. If you are constantly readjusting, it does not fit properly.
    Parents! Please report any COVID-related absences to the Attendance Recorder as soon as possible so I can do appropriate follow-up. COVID Resources and Protocols Available on the District website and on my site. Stay healthy and be well, Dvora Citron, RN, MS Acalanes School Nurse Google Site dcitron@auhsdschools.org IG:  acalanesschoolnurse

  • Sports

    March 13, 2021

    This week’s can’t miss events:

    Boys tennis

    • Tuesday,March 16 at Campolindo HS at 3:30pm.  Varsity is away, JV is home.
    • Thursday, March 18 Miramonte HS at 3:30pm.  Varsity is home, JV is away.

    Girls lacrosse

    • Tuesday, March 16 Varsity hosts Miramonte HS at 7:30pm and JV hosts Concord HS at 5:30pm.
    • Thursday, March 18 Varsity at Miramonte HS at 7:30pm and JV at Concord HS at 5:30pm.

    Softball

    • Tuesday, March 16 Varsity at Monte Vista HS at 4pm.
    • Thursday, March 18 v. San Ramon Valley HS at 4pm. Varsity is home, JV is away.

    Golf

    • Wednesday, March 17 Campolindo HS at Moraga CC 3:30pm.

    Football

    • Saturday, March 20 host Las Lomas HS. Freshmen at 1:30pm, JV at 4pm and Varsity at 7pm.

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

  • Return to Hybrid Update

    March 7, 2021

    This Week’s School Schedule
    As AHS prepares to open for hybrid instruction, the following calendar is in effect for March 8 through March 12

    • Monday, March 8: Non-school day for all students
    • Tuesday, March 9 through Friday, March 12:
      • In-person student orientation (see schedule below) 
      • Asynchronous schedule. Students must check in each day at 9am with their Cohort Academy teacher. 
      • On Tuesday & Wednesday, students will have required modules in Canvas regarding health and safety during hybrid learning. 
      • On Thursday and Friday, teachers will assign regular coursework.

    Tuesday through Friday from 10a to 12n Student Orientation
    Student orientation is required for all students attending in-person school; students not attending school in person are welcome but it is not mandatory. Orientation is approximately 40 minutes for grades 10 through 12; 60 minutes for 9th graders. Refer to this online document for event details and specific times by last name.

    • Tuesday, March 9 - Seniors
    • Wednesday, March 10 - Juniors
    • Thursday, March 11 - Sophomores
    • Friday, March 12 - Frosh

    Required Health Screening
    All students are required to complete a COVID-19 screening every day that they come to school, including next week’s orientation. Health screenings should be completed in the morning prior to arriving at school. AHS recommends that students use the cell/mobile set up as it allows for a daily text reminder. Email registration is also available. 

    Student Cohort Reminder
    All students have been assigned a group based on their selection of either in-person hybrid or fully-remote learning. Please log in to Aeries     PASS parent portal to confirm your student’s group. Refer to the district website for your student’s specific schedule as determined by their group.

    Additional Resources

    • ICYMI: Read Principal Bell’s email from March 2 detailing AHS projected return to hybrid guide and checklist
    • Visit this District online document for the latest details regarding the return to hybrid instruction including student schedules, FAQs, timelines and more. 
    • View Contra Costa County tier metrics here