• College & Career

    September 25, 2022

    Testing Update: Acalanes has canceled all weekend SAT exams and will only be holding school day SAT exams. We will be hosting a Senior only SAT school day on Oct 27 and a Junior only SAT school day in March. Information regarding test dates and registration will go out in the Daily Don so please keep an eye out for it. The College Board should notify and refund any students signed up for weekend SAT exams that were originally scheduled at Acalanes. Thank you for your understanding in regards to this change.
     
    SENIORS
    Financial Aid 101: In coordination with the three other high schools in the district, we are inviting Senior parents ONLY to a Financial Aid 101 webinar led by a representative from the California Student Aid Commission:

    • Monday, Oct 3 from 6:30-7:30pm
    • Register in advance for this webinar
    • After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

    Essay Workshops: Essay writing will continue for all Levy academy sessions.
    College Visits This Week in the CCC Office: Sign up on the Naviance home page or email to register at least 24 hours in advance. Have your students speak with their teachers to get permission. Follow the CCC instagram @ahs_college_career for timing each week.

    • Monday, Sept 26: Saint Mary’s College, Savannah College of Art & Design, Miami University of Ohio, Vanderbilt, Southeastern
    • Tuesday, Sept. 27: Southern Methodist University, Colorado State, Hawaii Pacific University
    • Wednesday, Sept 28: DigiPen Institute of Technology, Western Washington University, St. John’s College
    • Thursday, Sept. 29: University of Rochester, Lehigh University
    • Friday, Sept 30: Santa Clara University, San Diego State, University of Nevada-Reno

    College Application Support: Your student can click here to make an appointment to work on essays or get help with the entire process.

    JUNIORS
    Internship available: Recycle Smart has student internship opportunities available now for those interested in sustainability. They are seeking Acalanes students!
    Volunteer Opportunity: Encourage your child to check out these great places to give back!

    SOPHOMORES/FROSH
    Volunteer Opportunity: This is also a good site to search for teen volunteer work.
     
    Please visit our College & Career Counseling website any time for additional information and support.  

  • Counseling

    September 25, 2022

    Counselor assignments are by last name.
    A-Em Anne Schonauer  
    En-Kr Christine Todd  
    Ku-Rog Marissa Meadows 
    Roh-Z Susan Martin

    Schedule Changes
    Counselors will still process requests to drop classes through the end of the first quarter, Friday, Oct 7.
     
    Individual Student Appointments
    Now that the first grading period is over, counselors are trying to check in with students with multiple D’s and F’s. They have also been meeting individually with Seniors to discuss post-high school plans. For those applying to 4-year colleges, we will be walking through the process of requesting required documents for their applications. Individual Frosh appointments will happen after Seniors, likely starting in October.  
     
    CSF Applications are Open! 
    The deadline to apply is Sept 30. CSF is the only honor society at Acalanes. Students need to apply each semester. Application forms are available in the counseling office or on the website. Read the form for more details about membership requirements. Seniors who qualify are recognized with gold stoles to wear at graduation.
     
    AP Exam Registration Opens Oct 1
    Sign up for AP Exams between Oct 1 and Nov 6. Late registration options are available, but will incur a late registration fee. Please see here for more details.
     
    Weekend SAT Exams Canceled
    Acalanes has canceled all weekend SAT exams and will only be holding school day SAT exams. We will be hosting a Senior only school day SAT in October and a Junior only school day SAT in the Spring. Information regarding test dates and registration will go out in the Daily Don so please keep an eye out for it. The College Board should notify and refund any students signed up for weekend SAT exams that were originally scheduled at Acalanes. Thank you for your understanding in regard to this change.

  • School Nurse

    September 25, 2022

    One Shot In Each Arm!  Protect yourself against illness and missing school (and protect your community as well)! You can get your flu shot and your next Covid booster (now giving new bivalent version effective against variants!). Make your appointments now!
     
    If you have just had Covid, THIS is helpful information.
     
    COVID: Please call in your student’s absence to the Attendance Recorder and continue to follow the district’s Covid guidance. The school is not notifying teachers, so students should access Canvas as much as possible and stay in contact with their teachers to communicate their remote progress in their classes. Here is a  California COVID-19 Isolation & Quarantine Calculator. And here is additional information about staying up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.
     
    One Pill Can Kill LA Times article
     
    Please see my website for more information on medications, health issues, forms, etc.
     
    I was still at home at the beginning of this week with Covid (yes, it’s true). I took the opportunity to get rid of some expired items in my pantry. I found some of the ingredients (unexpired!) for a pumpkin bread from the Forks Over Knives magazine (see below) to make. Good healthy snack or breakfast.
     
    Nutrition Tips for the week:  

    1. Use smoothies to include fruits and vegetables in your breakfast or snack. Stock up on frozen fruits and keep spinach and bananas on your regular market list.      I love including a Dragon Fruit smoothie pack in mine - nutritious and gorgeous pink color.
    2. Pick up the new copy of Forks Over Knives magazine at your local supermarket.  Great ideas for fall recipes and it’s just a wonderful collection of food photos.

     
    Portable Yoga:  LOL! All yoga is portable!  Try this Subtle Yoga practice (you do need a connected digital device to access a browser).

    Dvora Citron, RN, MS
    dcitron@auhsdschools.org
    925-280-2970 x7128
    IG:  acalanesschoolnurse

  • Wellness Center

    September 25, 2022

    When it comes to mental health and overall wellness, locus of control is a key factor in how your student relates to the world. In psychology, locus of control is related to the extent to which an individual believes that they are in control of facets that impact their lives. To have an external locus of control, an individual believes that life happens to them. In other words, there are external influences driving the events that occur in one’s life. Opposite to this is an internal locus of control, when an individual believes that they have control over what happens in their life. An example of this would be a student understanding the fact that they do have the choice of whether or not they will attend a class.
     
    While we are well aware that there are plenty of things that happen in life that are entirely out of our control (a pandemic for example), locus of control becomes relevant when considering what to do in the face of said thing. Research has proven time and again that people with a higher internal locus of control are happier and more mentally healthy. When interacting with your student, consider the role you play in fostering an internal locus of control. As a caregiver it is easy to want to rescue your student in a time of need, however, what might be more beneficial is teaching them the value in advocating for themselves. With that being said, it is equally important to be a soft place for them to land if things don’t work out how they would have hoped.
     
    Kiara Thomas-Wellness Intake Specialist

  • Performing Arts

    September 25, 2022

     

  • LPIE

    September 25, 2022

    The 25th annual Lafayette Art, Wine & Musical Festival was a great success! Thank you to everyone who showed up in support of our local businesses and a very special thank you to all the volunteers. LPIE continues to be the largest beneficiary of this amazing event, and we are very grateful to the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce for supporting our local schools. Also, huge congratulations to Rookie Volunteer of the year and LPIE’s Diamond Business Partner, Paddy Kehoe, for once again stepping up to support our schools and local community.
     
    Questions? Please contact Andrea Hilsabeck or Michele Colaco
    www.lpie.org, Follow us on Instagram