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Peer Tutoring is available during Finals Week!
Monday: lunch, 7th Period and after school until 4pm.
Tuesday - Thursday: 12:30 - 2:30pm. -
Wellness Center
We’ve been having great conversations in wellness about stress-- the pros and cons; how to manage it; and what the physiology of stress is. Sometimes students are overwhelmed by their stress and other times, we see them keeping it in perspective and using it as a tool to propel them to the finish line. In the center, we’re really busy triaging stress in ways that parents can use at home. Letting students vent about their stress and unplug from it in healthy ways is key!
One of the concepts that has really resonated is “rest and digest” learning. Cramming for hours on end and pulling all-nighters don’t work-- they actually keep our nervous systems in fight-flight mode. Learning embeds when it rests so a good night’s sleep as well as appropriately-timed and managed breaks from studying will help the learning sink in. Wellness will be open for drop-ins before and in-between finals. We’ll provide friendly support, guided awareness of breath meditations, and stress-relieving activities. Use the parenting opportunity to be the cheerleader your student needs-- they got this!
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Wellness Center
Beware of “anxiety avalanche”! With finals coming, many students are experiencing “catastrophic thinking.” When we’re overwhelmed with work, the worrying mind takes over and gets in the way of productivity, mood, and overall wellness. Recognize the spiral, and then intervene. Start by asking your kids if they can identify the root problem which is the source of the cascade. Maybe it’s a particular class, grade, or friend problem. Or maybe it’s a destructive self-judgment thought, like “I’m not good at school.” Once they name the root, you can encourage them to apply logic. Can they prove their thought is true? You can also encourage mindfulness practices-- switch from thinking mode to SENSING mode; recognize needs and resulting emotions; practice self-kindness. For more on catastrophic thinking, click here. Finally, and probably most importantly, know that top-reported student needs are space, understanding, and no additional pressure!
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Transcript requests
The counseling office is closed during winter break and the Registrar is off-duty. If you need transcripts sent to colleges before Jan 1, please request them before winter break. Transcripts will not be updated with first semester grades until Jan 10.
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PSAT Scores
For those who participated in the PSAT/NMSQT in October, online score access will begin being emailed by the College Board on Mon, Dec 9. Emails will be sent to the address students listed on the answer document on the day of the exam. Please see Mrs. Welling in the Counseling Office with questions or hwelling@auhsdschools.org after Dec 9.
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Week of 12/9 Update
College 101
A reminder that many topics related to college planning are covered on the AHS website. Check out this link!Scholarship Opportunity
<Scholarships will be posted on the board in the CCC so please stop by and check for new information. Students with a minimum of a 3.3 GPA and maximum EFC of $20,000 can apply for the Rossmore Scholarship, a $3000 award. Applications due by Feb 4. Info available on the Rossmoor Scholarship Foundation Home Page.Seniors
Please update Naviance as you begin to hear results from your college applications. This data is crucial for an accurate scattergram. Stop by the CCC to share your successes and add a marble to the jar for each accepted application.Wed, Dec 11 College Application Party during Academy
Come celebrate the completion of application season. All seniors welcome! Parents, we appreciate your help donating food and supplies. Sign Up HereJuniors
Sign up for academy after winter break to learn how to research colleges and start personal assessments. You must attend one academy before setting up a 1:1 appointment.Naviance Parent Workshops
Early morning and evening sessions available starting in January. Dates announced soon. Stay tuned!Job Opportunity
Attention animal lovers! Part-time kennel technician Mon and Fri from 4p-6p at Mt. Diablo Veterinary. $12/hr, duties include mopping floors, cleaning countertops, cleaning cages, restocking supplies and walking patients. Must be 16+ years old. Contact Marilyn @ mtdiablo@nva.com or 925.284.1350. -
Co-Associate Principals’ Message
It’s hard to believe we started school on August 13th and the Fall Semester is now coming to a close. As you know, finals are around the corner and then our students are off for what we hope is an enjoyable and relaxing Winter Break. We hope you’ll encourage your students to take advantage of all the finals resources at Acalanes including the upcoming Exam Jam on Wednesday, December 11, from 3-5pm, in the Cafeteria. It provides a terrific way for students to get extra academic support in preparation for finals. We will have teacher representation from each of our departments.
We would like to extend a special thanks to APC’s Teacher Appreciation Chair Emma Bishopp and her team who once again went above and beyond to provide a delicious staff lunch last week. Our teachers and staff feel well taken care of by our wonderful Dons parent community and we look forward to the APC Cookie Exchange next week.
We are proud of all our fall sports teams. Check out an overview of their collective success in the Sports section below. We wish all our students good luck in closing out the semester and look forward to connecting with all of you after break in 2020!
Andrea Powers and Mike Plant
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Gift of Presence: Managing Finals and Holiday Stress
Wednesday, Dec 11 from 7:00-8:00pm in the Acalanes Library
Join us for a real gift and hear from Allen Choi of Acalanes Wellness and Dr. Brittany Friedrich of Las Lomas Wellness. Learn what they hear from students about what stress they have, and how parents can effectively help them. Join us for this workshop in the Acalanes Library. Parents and students welcome.
Contacts:
Kelly Daggs, VP Community Partners
Mary Kuhn, Parent Education Chair -
Finals Fuel
Calling all parents! During the breaks between exams, volunteers are on campus during finals week handing out encouragement and healthy snacks, and we need your help to make it happen! Please use this Amazon link to donate pre-selected items. No need to drop anything at school. You buy, we deliver. Let’s work together and make finals week a little brighter for our hard working students!
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