• Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

    March 13, 2021

    ACA Back to School “March Madness”
    Whether your student is returning in-person or is remaining in distance learning, let’s ALL show our ACA spirit as we move into this new phase of our school year this week. Here are some ways to do so:

    • Fly your ACA flag!! Don’t have one? Stop by Sideboard to pick one up and grab a coffee or meal while you’re there.
    • Decorate your Student’s Mailbox! Decoration kits were distributed to all students during student campus orientation last week. Tape an Acalanes “A” & blue balloons to your mailbox!
    • Encourage Students to Wear ACA STRONG Shirts on March 16 and 17
    • Senior & Junior Car Painting March 14 from 1-2:30 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.

    Sunday, March 21 from 12-3pm - Spring Campus Clean Up
    Let's reconnect, share school spirit, and spruce up our school! All are welcome - students, parents, teachers, staff and community members. This is a great opportunity for friends, family members, clubs and teams to work together in socially-distanced zones. Participation hours count towards the Acalanes Volunteer Service Award. Click here to sign up. Questions? Email aca@acalanesparentsclub.com

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

  • 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: