Weekly News & Announcements

Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)

To Celebrate in May:

• Mental Health Awareness Month
• Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
• Jewish American Heritage Month

Mental Health Awareness Month: since its inception in 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month has been a cornerstone of addressing the challenges faced by millions of Americans living with mental health conditions. It’s important to measure how common mental illness is, so we can understand its physical, social and financial impact -  and so we can show that no one is alone. These numbers are also powerful tools for raising public awareness, stigma-busting and advocating for better health care. You can learn more about them here.

• 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year
• 1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness each year
• 1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year
• 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24
• Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-14

DEI Next Year
Our ‘24/25 planning is underway. Please share any thoughts or ideas you have with us here. This is a collaborative process; we encourage participation. It is important that a plethora of voices and ideas are heard. We are also looking for members of our community that would like to be more involved. Time commitment and involvement is up to you but the more you do, the bigger impact you will have on our Acalanes community.

Please check out the new AUHSD DEIB website for many great resources and events! And follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

Performing & Visual Arts

UPCOMING ACALANES CONCERTS!
Mark your calendars to attend two exciting Acalanes concerts happening in the next few weeks:
 
COLLAGE CONCERT
Featured Music Groups: Various Acalanes Chamber Music Ensembles
Date: Tuesday, Apr 30
Time: 6:30pm
Location: AHS Performing Arts Center
Admission: Free ($5 donation suggested)
 
SPRING CONCERT
Featured Music Groups: Jazz Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Orchestra and Wind Ensemble. Special guest: Daichi Nannen, AHS All-State clarinet player
Date: Thursday, May 2
Time: 6:30pm
Location: AHS Performing Arts Center
Admission: Free ($5 donation suggested)

CHORAL SPRING CONCERT
Date: Friday, May 10
Time: 7pm
Location: AHS Performing Arts Center
Admission: Free (but donation accepted)

In addition to the above Acalanes concerts, the much-anticipated, annual Jazz Café returns to Stanley Middle School! Lamorinda residents have long flocked to this popular “Jazz Café” event for a fun evening of jazz, coffee, and dessert. Taco El Rey’s truck will be on-site with delicious tacos as well.
 
Stanley Jazz Cafe
Date: Friday, May 10
Time: 5:45pm
Location: Multi-Use Room at Stanley Middle School
Admission: Free!
 
Stanley Middle School’s phenomenal music director, Todd Minson, will showcase the talents and enthusiasm of the Stanley Groove Merchants, Stanley Jazz Crusaders, Stanley Jazz Messengers, and Stanley Chorus. The evening also will feature the Campo Jazz Band, the Acalanes Jazz Band, and the Acalanes Jazz Combo.
 
For more information, contact the Stanley Jazz Café Co-Chairs, Dalia Nishimori and/or Nicole Friedenberg.

Student Activities

Thank you for all your support with prom! With over 640 students attending, it was a wonderful night celebrating our juniors & seniors at the Exploratorium!
SAVE THE DATE FOR 2025 PROM - Saturday, Apr 19.
 
Seniors! Donate your Acalanes merch to the bin outside the front office! We will sell it at the Athletics & Activities Night on May 1. All proceeds from sales will go to the Class of 2028!
 
Spring Club Re-Up
Does your student want to renew a current club? Then this is for them! Clubs are so important on the Acalanes campus! The work done within these clubs is so important and we want to support that. Students can fill out this club re-up google form in its entirety by Friday, May 3 if they want to continue. This will allow for a table at Dons Day  and to start meetings as soon as school begins in August.
 
May Calendar
May 1:  Seniors pick up caps & gowns
May 1:  Athletics & Activities Night for the Class of 2028
May 15: 1st academy - grad cap decorating
May 17:  2nd academy - grad cap decorating
May 20-24: Senior week & summer send-off

College & Career

SENIORS:
Senior Exit Survey is Mandatory: If your student has decided on their post high school plans, please have them log into Naviance and finish their Senior Survey. It is the only way final transcripts will be sent to colleges.
 
JUNIORS, SOPHOMORES, FROSH:
Support for LGBQTIA+ students: Please explore these links to learn more about schools that are more welcoming.
 
Please visit our College & Career Counseling website any time for additional information and support.

Counseling

Counselor assignments are by last name:
A-Em Anne Schonauer  
En-Kr Erika Vasquez
Ku-Rog Marissa Meadows 
Roh-Z Susan Martin

Summer School
Counselors are signing students up for summer school - it’s at Acalanes High School this year! If your student has a D or F in a required course, please send them to see their counselor to sign up!  Please see HERE for more information.

School Nurse

PERTUSSIS ( Whooping Cough)

Please review the notification sent to the Acalanes Community from Principal Eric Shawn on Apr 16.
 
Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is a very contagious bacterial infection that can spread through close contact when people with the disease cough. Symptoms can appear 5 to 21 days after infection. It usually starts like a common cold (e.g., sneezing, runny nose, etc.), followed by a cough that worsens over one to two weeks. People with whooping cough may have coughing spells in which they can’t catch their breath between coughs. Some may loudly gasp (“whoop”) and vomit or feel like they’re choking.  There is usually no fever with whooping cough.
 
In general, the whooping cough vaccines are very effective in either preventing disease or decreasing its severity soon after receiving the vaccine series or booster dose. However, immunity from vaccination wanes quickly over time, so even children who have been fully vaccinated can get whooping cough. A booster vaccine (Tdap) is recommended in middle school at ages 11-12 years and is required for 7th-grade entry in California. It is also recommended for adults, especially pregnant women (with each pregnancy) and caregivers of young infants. The Tdap vaccine is widely available at doctor’s offices, some pharmacies, and local health departments and is generally covered by most insurance plans.
 
If you are a parent with a child or are in contact with a child:  If your child, or a child you are in contact with, has cold symptoms and is coughing, please contact your doctor. Tell the doctor that several confirmed cases of whooping cough have been reported at Acalanes. If your child has been seen by their doctor and whooping cough was diagnosed, please keep your child at home until the child has completed 5 days of the prescribed antibiotic treatment. The most accurate test for diagnosing whooping cough is collected using a nasal swab.
Pertussis Fact Sheet

See my website for more information.
 
Always Your School Nurse,
Dvora Citron, RN, MS
dcitron@auhsdschools.org, 925-280-2970 x7128
IG: acalanesschoolnurse, ​School Nurse Website

Wellness Center

Are you or someone you know interested in quitting tobacco use? Kick It California is a free program that helps Californians kick smoking, vaping and smokeless tobacco with the help of proven, science-based strategies. Clinically proven, culturally sensitive and trusted, Kick It California (formerly the California Smokers’ Helpline) opened in 1992 as the first publicly funded statewide quitline. They now offer individual telephone counseling, a texting program, online chat, a smart phone app, Alexa Skill for quit smoking tips, and self-help materials. Take the first step toward quitting by visiting https://kickitca.org/. In Contra Costa County, you can also call 2-1-1 for a direct referral to Kick It California. 

LPIE

THANK YOU ACALANES!
LPIE would love to extend a huge THANK YOU to our wonderful families for their incredible support throughout the 23-24 school year. This year, 53% of Acalanes families contributed to the Annual Giving Campaign. Your generosity and commitment have made it possible for us to continue providing essential support to every student in Lafayette's public schools. Together, we've ensured a successful year of learning and growth. Your contributions truly make a difference in the lives of our students. Thank you!

Jocelyn Werner and Jaime Roder, Acalanes LPIE School Chairs
www.lpie.org, Follow us on Instagram

Sports

You may view the full 2023-2024 Athletic Schedule by clicking HERE.

*The game schedule below reflects dates and times as of last Friday. Games may change for several reasons, including weather. If you have questions or comments, please contact Acalanes Sports Boosters.
 
This week’s can’t miss events:
 
Boys Golf
Monday, Apr 29 DAL Championship at Paradise Valley GC in Fairfield.
 
Softball
Monday, Apr 29 Pinole Valley HS at 4:30pm. Varsity is away and JV is home.
Tuesday, Apr 30 host Miramonte HS at 4:30pm.
Thursday, May 2 at Berean Christian HS at 4:30pm.
 
Baseball
Tuesday, Apr 30 Clayton Valley Charter HS at 4pm. Varsity is away and JV is home.
Thursday, May 2 Clayton Valley Charter HS at 4pm. Varsity is home and JV is away.
Thursday, May 2 Frosh at Northgate HS at 4pm.
 
Girls Lacrosse
Tuesday, Apr 30 NCS First Round Playoff.
Thursday, May 2 NCS Quarterfinal.
 
Boys Volleyball
Tuesday, Apr 30 NCS First Round Playoff.
Thursday, May 2 NCS Quarterfinal.
 
Diving
Wednesday, May 1 NCS Championship at Concord Community Pool.
 
Beach Volleyball
Wednesday, May 1 Varsity Clayton Valley Charter HS at Heather Farms at 4pm.
Thursday, May 2 JV Clayton Valley Charter HS at Heather Farms at 4pm.
 
Boys Tennis
Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 4 NCS Singles & Doubles Championships at La Cantera Tennis Club.
 
Swimming
Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 4 NCS Championships at Concord Community Pool.
 
Track & Field
Saturday, May 4 DAL Finals at Campolindo HS.
 
You may view the full 2023-2024 Athletic Schedule by clicking HERE.
 

General Administration Announcements

AP EXAM PROCTORS NEEDED - Great Volunteer Opportunity
Our AP Students need YOUR help! We are searching for parents to help with proctoring AP Exams the first two weeks of May 2024. Exam dates are May 6-10 and May 13-17.
 
Exams start everyday at either 8am or 12pm. Students know to show up 30 minutes prior to start time for check in. Proctors for morning exams would be needed starting at 7:15am and afternoon exams starting at 11:15am. Exams can range from 2-4 hours and we ask that you please plan to stay for the longest amount of time possible. 

Restrictions: Parents, you are NOT allowed to proctor an exam that your own child is taking.
 
If you are interested in learning more about proctoring AP exams, please contact the Acalanes Testing Coordinator, Nicole Singleterry at nsingleterry@auhsdschools.org

Proctor Shifts to Fill!
Week 1

• Wednesday May 8: 7am-12pm or 11am-4pm --- 2 proctors needed per shift
• Thursday May 9: 7am-12pm --- 1 proctor needed
• Friday May 10th: 7am-12pm --- 2 Proctors needed

Week 2

• Monday May 13: 7am-12pm or 11am-4pm --- 1 proctor per shift
• Tuesday May 14: 7am-12pm--- 1 proctor needed
• Wednesday May 15: 11am-4pm --- 2 proctors needed
• Friday May 17: 7am-12pm or 11am-4pm --- 2 proctors needed per shift

REMINDER: PLEASE COMPLETE ONLINE SURVEY - California's School Meals for All (SMFA) Program
If you haven’t already taken the Online Survey  we encourage you to participate. Please share your experiences and perceptions of SMFA and its impacts on your student and family.

All parents/guardians, regardless of participation in the survey, are eligible to enter a raffle to win one of four electronic gift cards valued at $50 each.

To take the survey and/or enter the raffle, click on this link: Parent Online Survey

APC in Action

APC DONS DIALOGUE - Friday, Apr 26 at 8:45am in the Collaboration Center
Join us for our second to last Dons Dialogue of this school year. Come for the coffee and treats and stay to hear department highlights, student activities plus an open Q&A with Principal Shawn. We hope to see you there!
 
2024-2025 ACALANES PARENTS CLUB BOARD SLATE
We are proud to announce our slate of nominees for the 2024-25 APC Board of Directors. A big thank you to this year’s Nominating Committee for their time and dedication in placing these amazing volunteers. The APC general membership will vote to approve the slate at the spring general meeting, immediately preceding Dons Dialogue on Friday morning, May 17. If you have any questions, please contact APC Parliamentarian, Veronique Kuhner.
 
2024-2025 Parents Club Board Nominees
Co-Presidents: Andrea Hilsabeck & Michele Colaco
VP Special Projects: Raina Foster
VP Communications: Kendra Uffelman
VP Community Partners: Nicole Long
VP Fundraising: Carrie Daughters
VP Services: Ali Krick
Co-Head Liaisons: Sarah Cusumano & Heidi Keely
Secretary: Kim Hamill
Treasurer: Lee Huskins
Assistant Treasurer: Jocelyn Birrell
Auditor: Sierra Culbertson
Past President/Parliamentarian: Sarah Cusumano