• From the Activities Director

    January 15, 2021

    2021!
    In cohort tomorrow, students will see a quote that really resonated with me as I begin to plan and dream for 2nd semester. I wanted to share it with the parent community as well:

    “Your school’s culture is the sum of its parts, yet one person, just one spark, one believer, armed with a relentless passion, can ignite a cultural revolution. Be that person. Be that spark. Be that believer.” -Dr. Phil Campbell

    Let’s do this together ACA. Let’s stay in it together as a community. 

    Thursday, Jan 28 ACA Day from 2:30-4:30pm
    Please mark your calendars and drive through Acalanes! We will have goodies on hand to pass out, staff to wave to & our community to connect with. We are also collecting two of the most needed items for Monument Crisis Center-peanut butter & cereal. Please consider donating!

    Post-Inauguration Dialogue
    At lunch on Thursday, students can join Acalanes staff for a discussion and support forum following the inauguration. Zoom link will be sent out via Canvas.

    Women in Leadership Series Tuesday, Jan 26 at 7pm
    Abby     VanMuijen is a Berkeley-based graphic recorder, illustrator and founder of RogueMark Studios. She has lived in the Bay Area her entire life. Her work is known for being handmade, rooted in deep study, and oriented in the direction of justice and dignity for all humans. She creates compelling visuals and visual narratives that challenge systems of oppression. We are looking forward to hosting her on the 26th!

    Due Friday, Jan 29: Senior Quotes/Activities
    Please encourage your senior to fill out the Senior quotes and activities. We want to hear from everybody!

    Mark Your Calendar! February is Black History Month
    There is a lot to celebrate, and a lot of dialogue in which to engage. Look for more information coming in the next couple of weeks and for the evening events, please consider attending, and encourage your student to attend as well. 

    2020-2021 Clubs
    Club meetings continue. Check out our 45 clubs! If your student wants to start a club for spring semester, they can! Have them email me and we can get the club up and running.

    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

    January 15, 2021

    There are so many reasons we are proud to be members of the Dons Community. This is an amazing collective of students and staff and we are inspired every day by the resilience, innovation, and authenticity that has come to define what it means to be a Don. These are difficult times with challenges and opportunities nearly everywhere we look! 

    One of the most pressing, and exciting, opportunities is to engage with one another on the issues of the day respectfully and with genuine curiosity. In addition to the abundant one-on-one meetings we facilitate, we are also extending our mindful communication skills to other spaces where students assemble online. This past week we joined students in a district-wide discussion on equity engagement. This coming Thursday, we will hold space for students to process and dialogue following the inauguration of the country’s new president. Students who are deeply interested in civic life will facilitate and participate. 

    We are always impressed by how respectfully students engage with one another at these events, regardless of their perspectives and passions. With that in mind, we share the following great resource on how to be a part of building and maintaining hate-free communities. 

    Allen Choi, Wellness Coordinator
    Casey Sasner, Intake Specialist

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

  • College & Career

    January 15, 2021

    How to Order Transcripts
    If you are applying for anything that requires a transcript, or simply want to have a copy, use this link for instructions.

    New!
    For those of you who missed our Challenge Success presentation Tuesday night, "A Healthy Approach to College Admissions", check out the Parent Ed section below for the recording.  Relevant information for all grade levels!

    New!
    Follow me on my new Facebook Page.

    New!
    Boys State applications available for Juniors who demonstrate leadership, character, scholarship, loyalty, and service in their school and community. Please have your student inquire for more information.

    Seniors
    Please update your college application results in Naviance.

    College Planning Info for Class of 2022
    Important information this week, be sure to read as it shares lots of details!

    Juniors: College Planning Academy Sessions
    Encourage your students to sign up and use Ms. Reicher’s     Zoom link to attend. 

    • Wednesday, Jan 20: About Me/Personal Assessments
    • Wednesday, Jan 27: Building Your College List

    Scholarships

    • Rossmoor Scholarship - $3000 award. Min. GPA 3.0 and max expected family contribution of $20k.
    • Taco Bell Foundation - Students who are passionate changemakers.  Submission is a two min video on how they plan to use their passion to change the world. Juniors can apply too and defer funds! Due by Jan 20, 2021.
    • Assistance League of Diablo Valley Scholarships - This philanthropic program of Assistance League Diablo Valley aids students with college expenses based upon their need, school/community activities, and grade point average. Applicants must be residents of Contra Costa County, California.
    • AAUW Scholarship - $2000 awarded to a Senior woman who demonstrates a sustained commitment to community service as well as a grade point average of at least 3.0. Apply now!
    • TZU Chi USA Scholars - $1500 awarded on the basis of financial need, academic achievement, and community involvement. Min GPA 3.0, Due 4/22.

    One-on-One Appointments
    All students grades 9-12 can book an individual meeting with Ms. Reicher here. 

    Helpful Links:

    Keep connected:

    Thank you for all your support!

    Wendy Reicher, College and Career Advisor: wreicher@auhsdschools.org

     

     

  • Counseling

    January 15, 2021

    End of First Semester Transcripts
    Transcripts are now updated with first semester grades and are visible in Aeries. Mid-year reports were sent to colleges this week.

    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

    January 15, 2021

    Last week Governor Newsom released the proposed state budget for next year.  The budget, which is typically revised and presented again in May, increases total funding for K-12 and community colleges to $89.2 billion. Gov. Newsom proposes $4.6 billion for summer school, more learning time in 2021-22 budget. It also includes a reduction of 2 percentage points in the districts’ share of pension payments, provides a cost-of-living adjustment, and pays off two-thirds of the deferrals (money owed by the state to the districts) which were used to balance last year’s budget.

  • Parent Education

    January 15, 2021

    Replay: Challenge Success presents “A Healthy Approach to College Admissions”
    Did you miss the chance to join this informative and engaging session? Watch the replay here. Additionally, here are several follow-up resources suggested by Challenge Success:

    Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be by Frank Bruni
    What Matters the Most by Paul Tough
    The Truth About College Admissions by Brennan Bernard
    Who Gets In and Why by Jeff Selingo

  • School Nurse

    January 15, 2021
    Medical Documentation for Students We still need updated medical documentation for your student, especially if they will be participating in the Hybrid Model. Does your student need medication available at school? Does your student have updated medical issues/health issues? Do they have a new immunization record? 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. “Bubbles” and “Pods” - consider the “stealth health” of yours. Dvora Citron, RN, MS Acalanes School Nurse Google Site dcitron@auhsdschools.org IG:  acalanesschoolnurse

  • Sports

    January 15, 2021

    A physical education and athletics update was shared in detail at Friday’s Dons Dialogue. Please refer to the APC in Action section to access the replay. 

  • General Announcements

    January 8, 2021

    School Calendar Update
    The District recently announced that February 12 and March 12, two dates previously noted as days off for students, are now regular instructional school days. Please update your family calendar and refer to the district website for further details.

    ICYMI:
    Here's a copy of Principal Bell's email to families on Friday, Jan 8. Topics include semester grades, in-person hybrid schedule group information, and details for this Friday's Dons Dialogue event.

  • APC in Action

    January 8, 2021

    Tuesday, Jan 12 from 7-8:30pm - “A Healthy Approach to College Admissions”
    Visit the Parent Ed section for details on next week’s event from Challenge Success. Hope to see you online. 

    Friday, Jan 15 from 10-11:30am - Dons Dialogue with Principal Bell
    Save the date and join us for the latest campus news. Watch your email next week for an event agenda and registration link.