• LPIE

    October 23, 2020

    Thanks to your LPIE donations, Acalanes students have A Soft Place To Land

    Our students have been receiving critical support services from the Acalanes Wellness Center for the past three years, funded by LPIE donations from our community. Learn more about the history and benefits the Wellness Center provides in this interview with Wellness Coordinator Allen Choi and Intake Specialist Casey Sasner.

    Laura-Kate Rurka & Jennifer Palmer
    Acalanes LPIE School Chairs

    www.lpie.org

  • Sports

    October 23, 2020

    Monday, Oct 26 Acalanes Sport Camps New Session
    The next three week sport camps begin tomorrow. Offerings include football, boys and girls volleyball, boys and girls basketball, girls and boys lacrosse, girls and boys water polo, girls soccer, softball, baseball and cheerleading. Each sport camp may have a non-mandatory contribution. Baseball and girls and boys tennis offer paid clinics. To learn more and sign up, contact AHS Athletic Director Randy Takahashi.

    acalanesboosters.com

  • APC in Action

    October 16, 2020

    ACA 101 How To Stay Connected During Distance Learning
    This guide provides a wealth of Dons resources for students and families. 

    2020-21 Acalanes & President's Volunteer Service Awards Program
    The 2020-21 program year continues to be challenging for identifying volunteer opportunities. It is very important that students looking for opportunities to volunteer in our local community follow safety guidelines in order to keep yourself, families and neighbors safe. This year we are reducing the volunteer service hour minimum to 20 hours and adding in flexibility to volunteer requirements. This reduction applies only to the Acalanes Volunteer Service Award. The President's Volunteer Service award is a federal program and we cannot modify their program requirements. We encourage students to be creative with ideas that can turn into volunteer opportunities. Ideas to consider (verification of hours is still necessary):

    • Grocery shopping or running errands for senior, disabled or at-risk neighbors
    • AHS Stege Elementary pen-pal program
    • AHS Clubs focused on service such as Key Club, Children's Hospital, Equip for Equality, Environmental, Asian Student Union, SAGE, Protect Animals Worldwide

    If you have a great idea about a way to be of service in your community and want to see if it qualifies under the AHS program, email us!

  • Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

    October 16, 2020

    Wednesday, Oct 28 at 7pm - ACA Night at the Drive-In Movies, Solano Drive In
    Mark your calendars for the final celebration of ACAtober! Join your friends & family (socially distanced) for a fun movie night under the stars! The theater will announce which movie will be played on Wednesday, October 21. Stay tuned for more details!

    ACA E-Thanks to Acalanes Teachers & Staff
    The first quarter is over and November will focus on gratitude and giving back. Let’s let our awesome teachers and staff know NOW how much we all appreciate what they do for our students. This week, please email at least one - if not all! - of your student’s teachers with a brief note of thanks. Not sure what to write? It can be as simple as: “Thank you for all you’re doing to help support my student during Distance Learning. Your efforts are thoroughly appreciated.” Emails to Acalanes administrators and staff are encouraged too!

    Did you know the ASB Spirit Card Just Got Even Better?
    Four more local businesses have joined the program! ASB Spirit Card Holders can receive a special discount at 360 Burrito, Pancoast Pizza, R&R Barber Salon and Zoonies. Here's the link to participating businesses.

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

  • Parent Cohort Preview from AHS Admin

    October 16, 2020

    Tomorrow’s Monday Cohort focuses on the idea of temporary vs. permanent along with systems of support at Acalanes.

    “How do we know what is temporary in our lives?  Once you figure out what is permanent in your life, you will know what is temporary.”

    Here are two ways to follow-up with your student:

    1. Students were encouraged to write a list of the things in their life that are frustrating, upsetting, or causing anxiety. Then ask themselves, "Are these things permanent or temporary?"
    2. For those that are temporary, what percentage of time and energy do you give to those things. Do you spend too much time on these things?

    Encourage your student to continue the dialogue at lunch on Wednesday with Keith. It will be facilitated by our Wellness staff. 

  • Legislative News

    October 16, 2020

    Our ballots are here! The presidential race is on our minds but there are lots of other important items on the ballot as well. Several state propositions and local elections will directly affect our schools and students, so be sure to fill out your entire ballot!  

    Prop 15: California Schools and Local Communities Funding Act
    This initiative would require commercial and industrial real estate property worth $3 million or more be taxed on current market value. This money would be allocated to schools (40%) and other local governments (60%). It is estimated to result in $11.5 billion in additional funding statewide, and between $1.9 million and $3.4 million for AUHSD. How Prop. 15 would increase K-12 districts’ funding. For an even-handed discussion of the pros and cons, see here: Quick Guide: Proposition 15, the proposed ’split-roll’ tax on commercial property.   

    Prop 16: Repeal Proposition 209 – Restore Affirmative Action
    This constitutional amendment would permit the use of race, gender, and ethnic diversity as factors (but not decisive factors) in education including college admissions, government hiring, and government contracting.  CSU Trustees endorse repeal of affirmative action ban  For more information, see: Proposition 16 — Allow Public Agencies to Consider Diversity.  

    You can also find impartial analysis of Prop 15 (Proposition 15 — Taxes on Commercial Property) and other measures at https://votersedge.org/ca. 

  • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)

    October 16, 2020

    Week NINE in the Challenge to Build Habits Supporting Racial Equity
    We often hear the term “White Privilege.” What does that term really mean? What does it not mean? Why are white people often defensive around this term? Here is a link to an interesting perspective by NFL football player Emmanuel Acho: “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man” (9-minute YouTube video)

    October is National LGBT History Month!
    When police raided the Stonewall Inn, a popular gay bar in the Greenwich Village section of New York City on June 28, 1969, the street erupted into violent protests that lasted for the next six days. Read more here about the event that marked a major turning point in the modern gay civil rights movement in the U.S. and around the world. 

    We are still celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month!
    For a rich selection of stories that highlight the voices and contributions of Hispanic and LATINX Americans, click here. 

    The Black Student Union just finished a new video with production help from the tech board within the leadership class. Watch and listen to their voices here! BSU meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon. All students are welcome and encouraged to participate. 

    Tuesday, Nov 10 from 7-8:30pm - AUHSD DEI Book Club
    There is still time to read and join the book club discussion! The book selection is “Across that Bridge: Life Lessons and a Vision for Change” by late Congressman John Lewis. Sign up here. Please consider purchasing the book from Orinda Books.

    The amazing racial equity workshop series with Dr. Watson will continue with a second session on November 16th. This is a series with each seminar building upon the one before, and there are still a few spots available! (After the second session, registration will close, so be sure to sign up soon.) For details, program dates, and registration click here. 

    We are social! Follow us @acalanesdei on Instagram! 

  • From the Activities Director

    October 16, 2020

    Wednesday, Oct 21 at Lunch - Keith Hawkins Live
    Encourage your student to continue the dialogue from Monday Cohorts with Keith Hawkins at lunch on Wednesday. Zoom link will be sent out via Canvas. 

    Last call! Looking for CARE Leaders
    Acalanes is continuing our education around issues of equity. One of the ways we will do this is through CARE Week & CARE Workshops, which are student-led. We are looking for 55 students to lead a workshop in Monday cohort about on-campus discrimination, bias, and lived student experience at Acalanes and in our community. We are looking for students who are well-versed in the protocol (Compass and Agreements) as well as students who can be comfortable leading uncomfortable conversations. Apply here.

    Thursday, Oct 22 at 7:30pm - ACA Women in Leadership Series: An evening with Kelly Galuska
    Kelly is a writer and executive producer on Netflix. She has worked on the shows BoJack Horseman, Big Mouth, and is currently producing Human Resources with Nick Kroll. Come hear about her story, her experience as a female in Hollywood, and engage in dialogue. 

    ACA Spirit Week: Wicked Week October 26-30
    Students have a very fun spirit week planned and there are multiple ways to get involved and engaged. The week will be a competition in cohorts. Cohorts will compete in daily challenges via goosechase (scavenger hunt), dress up days, and two lunchtime activities. In addition we have four evening activities planned:

    • Monday, Oct 26 from 6-8pm - A walk through Haunted House at Acalanes. Students MUST sign-up ahead of time via the sign-up genius. 
    • Wednesday, Oct 28 at 7pm - ACA Night at the Drive-in Movie
    • Thursday, Oct 29 - Jazz Band in Lafayette Plaza & Dinner at Sideboard (tentative, pending approval)
    • Friday, Oct 30 at 7pm - Virtual Rally recap

    Oct 16-30 Canned Food Drive for the Contra Costa Food Bank
    Bins are at the Acalanes flag pole. For a quick look at the need for our support, check out the Food Bank’s August report.

    Oct 12-23 Environmental Club Clothing Drive
    Acalanes Environmental Club is hosting a clothing drive. All clothes will be donated to Goodwill. The bin is by the flagpole. Find more details on our Instagram: acalanes_environmental_club.

    The tech board within leadership is creating an equity documentary series to highlight equity clubs & current issues in our nation, in our community and on our campus. The first video features our Black Student Union and students from the club. Please take 10 minutes to listen and reflect on the students' powerful narratives. Find the video here.

    Take a minute to read the October equity newsletter. 

    2020-2021 Clubs
    Club meetings continue this week. Encourage your student to attend even if they missed the first meeting last week. Check out our 45 clubs!

    Acalanes Community Always Fire Relief Fund
    Thank you for all of your support with the fire relief fund! We raised over $2000 dollars! Our community is amazing. Students also decorated our three firehouses in Lafayette which was met with much gratitude from our firefighters. See @ahs_dons for pictures!

    Save the Date: Equity Week Nov 16-20

    • Wednesday, Nov 18 at 7pm “ Be an upstander, not a bystander” Equity speaker Lori Hayes

    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

    October 16, 2020

    One of the things we’re prioritizing whenever we meet with students involves spending a few minutes checking in on our physical selves. It’s easy to get detached from practicing internal awareness when much of our time is spent online. We are bodies, hearts, and minds but sometimes parts of us get more attention. And as families, spending a lot of time together, we can get into the habit of taking things for granted and forgetting to process together what’s difficult about life right now. We’ve learned that where Covid is concerned, 66% of adolescents believe the anxiety that they currently have will never go away (CDC study). We have found this resource really helpful as we try to remember that we are whole people and not just Zoom attendees: Balancing All Parts of Ourselves

    Allen Choi, Wellness Coordinator
    Casey Sasner, Intake Specialist

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

  • College & Career

    October 16, 2020

    One-on-one Appointments
    Students can book an individual meeting with Ms. Reicher here. Please encourage your student to take advantage regardless of where they are in the process.

    Monday, Oct 19 - Admissions Virtual Reps Visits for Junior and Senior students via Naviance.
    Have your student sign up! Here are some of the schools this week: Duke, Humboldt State, Johns Hopkins, Oregon State, LMU and more! 

    Tuesday, Oct 27 at 7pm - Financial Aid Night (rescheduled)
    Join us for an online presentation about college costs. The meeting link is     here, and you can review this helpful handout for details. 

    Tuesday, Nov 17 at 7pm - Parent Naviance Workshop for Juniors.
    Zoom ID: 651 363 0875 Password: DONS2021.  Log in using your students AUHSD Zoom account.

    Helpful Links:

    Freshman College Planning
    Sophomore College Planning
    Junior College Planning
    Senior Checklist

    Keep up the good work! 
    Wendy Reicher/College and Career Advisor: wreicher@auhsdschools.org