Weekly News & Announcements

School Nurse

Staying Vigilant About Staying Healthy
Even before we get the opportunity to physically return to school, we need to make “staying vigilant about staying healthy” part of our normal routine. There are a few new video resources on my google site. 

Covid Symptom Checklist
Staying vigilant about staying healthy in this new Covid-19 world means we all have to keep the symptom checklist in mind. If you have any symptoms or are at risk, it’s especially important to stay home and avoid in-person contact with others. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. 

School Immunization Requirements are still in place.
Please check in with your local pediatrician’s office, Primary Care Provider, or our County Health Department (call 925-313-6767 for additional hours through September).

Flu Vaccine
Beginning in October, please have everyone in your family get a Flu vaccine. We all want to stay as healthy as possible, individually and collectively as a community. Reduced illness from flu will also ease the burden of illness from Covid in our hospital facilities.

Medical Forms and Medications at School
Please turn in any relevant medical forms your student might need for the 2020-21 school year. Those forms should be dated no earlier than June 2020. You can access forms here.

Still on Quarantine! Transitioning Back to School Routine After Summer Break

Here’s a great article on How To Be Stronger Co-Parents During The Pandemic

Please get in touch with me with any questions, concerns, and/or requests. I look forward to being in touch and connected!

Dvora Citron, RN, MS
Acalanes School Nurse Google Site
dcitron@auhsdschools.org
IG:  acalanesschoolnurse

Legislative News

The November 2020 election will include two state ballot measures affecting education.  Prop 15 in particular is being hotly contested.  Stay tuned for more info. 

Proposition 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, raising as much as $11.5 billion in additional funding for schools and other local governments. It protects all homeowners and renters by maintaining tax protections for ALL residential property. This money would be allocated to schools (40%) and other local governments (60%).

Proposition 16: Repeal Proposition 209 – Restore Affirmative Action
This constitutional amendment, placed on the ballot by the legislature, asks the voters of California to vote on permitting the use of race, gender, and ethnic diversity as factors (but not decisive factors) in education including college admissions, government hiring, and government contracting.  California ballot measure to lift ban on affirmative action widely opposed by surveyed voters

LPIE

Did you know that LPIE has a new podcast? Subscribe now so you don’t miss one episode! 

• Episode 1: LPIE Podcast features BVE Parent and LPIE Treasurer, Paul Chopra. Paul talks about the LPIE budget, donations, programs and so much more! Help support your community volunteers by taking a few minutes to listen by clicking here.

Laura-Kate Rurka & Jennifer Palmer
Acalanes LPIE School Chairs

www.lpie.org

General Announcements

Canvas Support for Parents
The Acalanes School District is offering ways for parents to receive additional Canvas help and information:

• Tuesday, Sept 15 from 5-6pm “Canvas 101” Session for Parents
  Click this Zoom link to attend. 
• Canvas Support website to help with login, setup and other support items.

Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

There was a lot of ACA spirit on campus this past week with the pick-up of yearbooks, class t-shirts and Acalanes flags. Students were greeted in the drive-by pick up line by leadership students and class liaisons smiling widely under their masks. Some fun music and floating bubbles helped to add life to campus for our students. The ACA team is eager to share campus clean-up details once there is a reduction in smoke. The goal is to get teams of students and parents socially-distanced in zones to help spruce up campus so it will be ready to shine when a hybrid schedule goes into effect. Finally, the plans for our AHS Alums are starting to take shape. Know any “famous” alums (or ones with a great redemption story) who would be willing to share it? Let Dawn Brightbill or Sarah Cusumano know at aca@acalanesparentsclub.com if any of these efforts fire up your ACA spirit! 

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)

21 Week Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge
Thank you for joining us for week 4 as we build habits supporting racial equity. Each week, we will suggest one article or activity which will help you become more educated and thoughtful in this area. 

Week 4 of 21:  ‘On Witness and Respair: A Personal Tragedy Followed by Pandemic’ Vanity Fair article by acclaimed novelist Jesmyn Ward

Tuesday, Sept 22 from 7-8:30pm Teacher-moderated Book Club: How To Be An Antiracist by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi
The book, a NYTimes Bestseller, brings a "groundbreaking" approach to understanding and uprooting racism and inequality in our society -- and in ourselves. The book is available at Orinda Books, and a portion of each sale will be donated to the Center for Antiracism Research. Spread the word, bring a friend! It’s perfectly fine to join even if you have not had a chance to finish the book. Book club registration here. 

And for extra credit prior to book club, listen to Brene Brown talking with author Dr. Ibram X. Kendi about his book.

New Bias Incident Reporting Tool!
Please let your student/s know that Acalanes has developed a tool to assist students in reporting racism or bias incidents. Please note that anyone can report can be made anonymously. More about this tool here. 

Thursday, Oct 1 Evening Discussion with Dr. Lori Watson
Mark your calendars for a parent education Zoom with racial equity consultant Dr. Lori Watson. Details to follow.

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