School Nurse

ALCOHOL:  Please take a look at this site. There is so much that is “normalized” about alcohol use, but I encourage you to send a strong message discouraging our underage students from using. Parents, please discuss with other parents how you can support creating opportunities for your kids to have fun without the dangers of alcohol use.
 
Visiting college campuses? Check out their Student Health & Wellness Centers. It’s a great idea to know where it is BEFORE your student may need it. These health centers are specialized in care for the college age population and have many expanded programs to support students and are especially helpful when being away from home and parents for the first time. I always recommend that students go there in the fall to get their flu shots. Can’t visit physically? Check out their websites!
 
A new nutrition infographic on my website: 5 Ways to Use Chickpeas

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

Wellness Center

We’re in the home stretch of the school year! As it wraps up, it is just as important now as in the beginning of the year to prioritize mental health. An easy way to boost mental health is to get outside! Encourage your students to spend some time in the sun soaking up some mood boosting vitamin D or moving their bodies in a way that works for them. Being outside, specifically around water and lush greenery, taps into our natural state and promotes quicker stress relief. Take advantage of our break from the rain by spending some time outdoors as a family!

Performing & Visual Arts

5th Annual AP Art and Independent Art Exhibition
Acalanes students, teachers and the community are cordially invited to the 5th Annual Acalanes Art Show exhibiting our AP Art and Independent Art students’ artwork!This show culminates 3-4 years of hard work and dedication.
 
Please celebrate the accomplishments of these young artists by joining us on Friday, Apr 28 from 6:30 - 8:30pm at the ArtRoom (91 Lafayette Cir, Lafayette). There will be live music and food/drink. Admission is free! We’d love your support!  It will be a great show of spectacular work and a lot of fun.
 
Robert Porter and the AP and Independent Art students

The First Ever DramaDons’ Short Play Festival  
The DramaDons are excited to announce our first ever DramaDons’ Short Play Festival! The 5th period DramaDon’s will be presenting four student directed short plays, two of which were written by Advanced Drama Honors students Natalie Costales and Anie Heffernan.

The DramaDons’ Short Play Festival runs on Thursday, Apr 27 and Saturday, Apr 29 at 7pm in the AHS Little Theatre. Admission is free!

LPIE

One Day Challenge Apr 24!
Our schools are amazing because of families, like yours, that give what they can to support our students. This year, LPIE committed to raise $4.1 million to support our Lafayette Schools. We have made great strides toward achieving this goal, but we aren’t there yet. We need your help!

Our challenge to you is to donate $100 to LPIE tomorrow, Apr 24. If every family who hasn't given yet, donates just $100, we will not only reach our 2022-23 fundraising goals, but we will also achieve something truly extraordinary — 100% participation from our enrolled families!
 
Donate Here or Venmo @lpiek12
 
We cannot do this without YOU!

CONGRATULATIONS to all the Project LPIE Winners! 
On Friday, we celebrated all of the 155 entries to Project LPIE. Winners were announced in each of the 14 categories. Please click here for the slide show of Project LPIE winners.

Sports

This week’s can’t miss events:
 
Track & field
Monday, Apr 24 host Las Lomas HS and Miramonte HS at 4pm.
Saturday, Apr 29 DAL Trials at Campolindo HS.
 
Boys golf
Monday, Apr 24 Transbay Invitational at Rossmoor GC.
Tuesday, Apr 25 Miramonte HS at Orinda CC at 3:30pm.
 
Softball
Monday, Apr 24 host St. Patrick’s HS at 4:30pm.
Tuesday, Apr 25 At San Leandro HS at 4:30pm.
Thursday, Apr 27 host Berean Christian HS at 4:30pm.
 
Baseball
Tuesday, Apr 25 Clayton Valley Charter HS at 4pm. Varsity is home and JV is away.
Thursday, Apr 27 Clayton Valley Charter HS at 4pm. Varsity is away and JV is home.
 
Boys tennis
Tuesday, Apr 25 Northgate HS at 3:30pm. Varsity is away and JV is home.
Thursday, Apr 27 DAL Championships at Northgate HS.
Friday, Apr 28 and Saturday, April 29 DAL Championships at Acalanes HS.
 
Boys volleyball
Tuesday, Apr 25 host Las Lomas HS. Frosh at 4pm, JV at 5pm and Varsity at 6:30pm.
Thursday, Apr 27 at Northgate HS. JV at 5pm and Varsity at 6:30pm.
 
Girls lacrosse
Tuesday, Apr 25 DAL Semifinals.
Friday, Apr 28 DAL Championships.
 
Boys lacrosse
Tuesday, Apr 25 DAL Semifinals.
Friday, Apr 28 DAL Championships.
 
Stunt
Tuesday, Apr 25 Alhambra HS at 6:30pm and Clayton Valley Charter HS at 7:30pm at Clayton Valley Charter HS.
 
Swimming
Thursday, Apr 27 DAL Trials at Campolindo HS.
Saturday, Apr 29 DAL Finals at Campolindo HS.
 
The spring sports schedules will be found on the AHS website by clicking here.
 
If you have any questions, please contact Randy Takahashi at rtakahashi@auhsdschools.org or Haley Walsh at hwalsh@auhsdschools.org.

General Administration Announcements

Acalanes Alumni Forum - Over the past several years, our school community has engaged in a discussion regarding our school’s history and our mascot, “The Don.” This topic is vital to our community and sparks strong feelings and diverse perspectives. The student body originally selected the Don Mascot in 1941, and it is within the ASB constitution, determined by our students, that the mascot is named. Our ASB leaders want to create a dialogue with our current student body and alumni to understand the differing perspectives. Our goal is to come to a common understanding of our values and what our mascot stands for to be inclusive of our Acalanes community.
 
On Tuesday, Apr 25, at 6:00 pm, the Acalanes High School administration and Associate Student Body officers would like to invite our alumni to join in an open Zoom forum to share perspectives, personal experiences, and memories of what it means to be a Don. 
 
Please click here to register.
 
We look forward to seeing you and hearing you share what it means to be a Don!

APC in Action

April Dons Dialogue - This Wednesday at 6pm!
Join us on Wednesday, Apr 19 for an evening Dons Dialogue in the Acalanes Library. 
This month’s topics include;

• Student activities update
• Mascot presentation with ASB Officers
• Department Chairs, Barth & Schottland, discuss ChatGPT
• End of year awards & celebrations update
• Q&A with Principal Shawn

Please grab a friend and join us!

APC Membership & Fundraising

Buy a Brick, Leave a Legacy…
There’s no better way to honor a Don than with a customized 2023 Legacy Brick on our Dons Legacy Wall! Prominently displayed in the Main Quad, our Dons Legacy Wall provides families a lasting way to recognize their special student, teacher, coach, team, performance group, club, and more. Purchase your brick through the Acalanes Web Store for $250. Contact Legacy Brick Coordinator Leanne Zimmerman with any questions.

Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

Parent Education

The Final AUHSD Wellness Parent Ed Event for this School Year is Tuesday
The Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office will present Keeping Your Child Safe on Social Media
When: Tuesday, Apr 18 from 6-7:30pm
Where: Zoom
RSVP: please register here if interested!
Please visit the AUHSD Parent Ed website for a full list of the Wellness Parent Ed events and valuable recordings from past events.

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)

A late shoutout to World Autism Awareness Day that took place on Apr 2! April is AutismAwareness Month honoring and recognizing our fellow community members on the autism spectrum, as well as their families.
 
Upcoming event recognizing Holocaust Remembrance Day: Life is Beautiful Film Screening with Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan
This event takes place on Wednesday, Apr 19 at 6:30pm at the Orinda Theater. The Assemblymember is issuing a special invite to our young people and our school’s community to this event in order to foster a conversation for Holocaust Remembrance. Prior to the screening, Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan will be talking about the work that is being done in California to respond to antisemitism and hate, as well as her work as a member of the Governor’s Council on Holocaust and Genocide Education. For more information and to RSVP, please click here.