• Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

    September 18, 2020

    The ACA Campus Clean-Up is scheduled for the first weekend of October. It will be terrific to get teams of students and parents socially-distanced in zones to help spruce up campus. While more details will follow, we are looking for zone captains to help out. Team ACA is also working on the creation of an Acalanes Alumni Network. As part of the effort, we are looking for “famous” alums (or ones with a great redemption story). Email Dawn Brightbill and Sarah Cusumano to let us know at aca@acalanesparentsclub.com.

  • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)

    September 18, 2020

    Continue to Build Habits Supporting Racial Equity
    Each week, we suggest you explore something that will help you become more educated and thoughtful in this area. September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month during which we recognize the invaluable histories, cultures and contributions of community members whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America. For Week Five: Learn about Puerto Rican civil rights pioneer Felicitas Gómez Martínez de Mendez and how she helped pave the way for Brown v. Board of Education. 

    Tuesday, Sept 22 from 7-8:30pm Register to Attend Book Club!
    Join us online for a teacher-moderated discussion about the book How to Be An Antiracist by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi. Register for the event here. Don’t miss this important discussion, even if you haven’t had a chance to finish the book! Click here for the ‘Shortform’ book summary. Let’s meet online on Tuesday! 

    Thursday, Oct 1 from 6:30-8pm Parent Racial Equity Seminar
    The first in a series of six seminars with Dr. Lori Watson will allow parents to intimately explore issues of race and identity. Dr. Watson will respond to parent questions that have come up since her last parent forum. She will also address the teacher-moderated racial equity workshops our children have attended. Let’s continue to listen and learn! Register in advance for this meeting here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. 

    Interested in joining our committee? Have questions? Email us.

  • From the Activities Director

    September 18, 2020

    2020-2021 Clubs Kick Off This Week!
    Get excited! Clubs are the best way to connect students to campus right now. Please watch this quick video from Katherine Walton where she details everything you need to know about clubs this year. Encourage your student to check out the module in Canvas tomorrow to see the 43 clubs on campus and find out more about them. Club meetings will begin on Wednesday and students will receive a spreadsheet in their Canvas inbox this week with times, days and Zoom links.

    Sunday (TODAY!) at 5 pm - Acalanes Game Night
    Join us for game night! We will have three different games running simultaneously in breakout rooms. This is a great chance for your student to decompress, connect with peers, and have some friendly competition. Students were sent the Zoom link through Canvas, and it can also be found on Instagram - @ahs_dons - link in bio.

    Monday, Sept 21 (TOMORROW!) from 7:30 to 9am or 1:30 to 3pm - Yearbook/APC Flags/Spiritwear/Class Shirt Late Pick-up
    Come to Room 314 to get your items. 

    Friday, Sept 25 from 9 to 10am During Academy - Student Equity Council Meeting
    Encourage your student to join this open group, hosted by Katherine Walton, that dialogues about issues of equity on the Acalanes campus. On Friday, the group will discuss the racial equity lessons, plan programming, and hear more from Acalanes administration about the equity site plan. 

    September Student Equity Newsletter

    Applications Due Friday, Sept 25 - Pen Pal Program with Stege Elementary
    Acalanes High School students and Stege Elementary School students can join in a pen pal program! We will match a student from each school to one another based on common interests. There will be weekly letters or emails to your buddy with different themes each week. Once you fill out the google form, there will be an expectations meeting at lunch via Zoom Wednesday, Sept 23. Interested students MUST be at the expectations meeting to participate unless you specify ahead of time that you cannot attend.

    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

    September 18, 2020

    We thought we’d provide an overview for parents of Wellness operations during distance learning. During lunch, we offer various activities, like journaling, games, mindfulness practice, and more. We are still doing intakes and zoom or phone therapy. Students can access the Wellness Center during regular school hours but we do not pull students from synchronous classes. We can use Academy where a student does not need extra help or has not been tagged. We also meet with students after school. We do not typically meet with students during the early morning hours so as not to take away from sleep. However, for students who are early risers, we will meet with them at their request. Finally, please note that on 9/29 at 5:30 pm, Contra Costa County’s Tobacco Prevention group will present “Vape Pens and Teens: What Our Community Needs to Know”. You can register here.

    Allen Choi, Wellness Coordinator
    Casey Sasner, Intake Specialist

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

  • College & Career

    September 18, 2020

    All senior students should set up at least one appointment to discuss post AHS plans.  Students can book an individual meeting with Ms. Reicher here. 

    Tuesday, Sept 29 at 7pm - Financial Aid Night
    Join Tim Lenahan for an online presentation about college costs. The meeting link is     here, and you can review this helpful handout for details. Learn more about presenter Tim Lenahan.

    Mark your calendars for Senior events:

    • Wednesdays and Fridays Senior Academy - Academy is available on Wednesdays and Fridays for all Seniors working on college applications. Students have been emailed the Zoom link. Please have students check their AUHSD gmail accounts for all communications from the CCC. 
    • Tuesday, Oct 13 at 7pm FAFSA Night - The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form allows students to request federal grants, work-study, and loans all in one application. Join us online to learn more. 

    For Juniors: Tuesday, Oct 6 at 7pm - Class of 2022 Parent/Student Presentation
    Lots of great college planning information. Hear from your Class Liaisons, as well as Wendy Reicher and Counselor Susan Martin. Watch your email for the Zoom link!

    Check out the Fall CCC Newsletter for updates!

    ICYMI
    If you weren’t able to attend our webinar on “Navigating the College Admissions & Testing Landscape”, watch the replay here.

    Freshman College Planning
    Sophomore College Planning
    Junior College Planning
    Senior Checklist

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

    Wendy Reicher

  • Counseling

    September 18, 2020

    Progress Reports
    Grades were updated in Canvas this past week. Parents should make sure they have observer status to see updates. Please encourage your students to use Peer Tutoring and use Academy time to check in with a teacher or counselor. 

    Transcripts
    For Seniors ordering transcripts, have your list of colleges updated on Naviance and pay the $5 fee for official transcripts on the webstore. Mrs. Finn, the registrar, will process requests. Please contact Mrs. Finn with questions. Students can review unofficial transcripts in Aeries.

    CSF
    California Scholarship Federation (CSF) is an honor society. The application period this semester will be Sept 15-30. Payment of $7 must be made on the webstore. All grades of “CR” last semester will count toward eligibility for the September application period. The application form is online. Students need to be logged in with their school account to fill out the form. 

    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. 

    Counselor Assignments Student last names:
    A- Ed  Anne Schonauer
    Ee-Kr  Christine Todd
    Ku-Ros  Marissa Meadows
    Rot-Z  Susan Martin