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Calendar of Upcoming Events
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April Dates:
10
Parent Ed Event - Dr Ben Bernstein, author of Stressed Out! for Parents
22 Introduction to Courageous Conversations about Race
26 Dons Dialogue
May Dates:
27 No School - Memorial Day
31
Dons Dialogue
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Associate Principals' Message
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Happy Spring Dons!
We hope you and your families are enjoying a restful spring break. Hard to believe when we return we have exactly two months left in the school year.
There is a reason they call it "March Madness" as this last month has been one of the busiest of the school year. What a better way to start March than with a 3x3 staff and student basketball tournament, we have to say our staff can play some ball. The Dons were honored to host all three of the Warriors championship trophies at the end of the week for our staff and students to take pictures with. The spring musical Cinderella was truly magical with impressive singing and dancing. We kicked off our first annual senior dodgeball tournament this year with seniors and staff members playing against each other. It was wonderful to see our community of Dons playing and having fun together.
One focus this month by our students was trash and recycling. Dons volunteered their time at brunch and lunch to help encourage students to keep our campus clean, while also standing at our compost and recycling bins to educate our students on the correct receptacle to throw away their trash.
Spring sports have been off to a great start to the season and we are looking forward to seeing more in the coming months. Just before spring break we hosted World Week and our Cultural Night with opportunities for our stud
ents to participate in various cultural activities and events. And last but not least, our students and staff showed off their various talents in our talent show.
We are excited to head back to school next week to start off our fourth quarter and to see our new Acalanes electronic sign at the front of the school! We are so fortunate for our Acalanes Parents Club and all the work that has been done to make this beautiful contribution to our school.
Let's make this an amazing 4th Quarter! Go Dons!
Your Associate Principals,
Andrea Powers and Mike Plant
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Parent Education Event: Dr. Ben Bernstein Stressed Out! For Parents, April 10
Don't miss out on our fantastic Parent Ed event, Stressed Out! for Parents
this Wednesday
,
April 10
! Dr. Ben Bernstein, educator and performance psychologist, offers proven ways for people to be their best in the face of the stress and anxiety of everyday life. Read more about this free event, including how to register, in the Parent Education section below.
Last Call!! Community Service Awards: Forms Due This Week
Acalanes recognizes students with qualifying volunteer hours for their service to our community and others. To earn either the Acalanes Community Service Award or the President's Volunteer Service Award, students need to fill out the 2018-2019
verification form
and collect needed signatures for completed work. For details, check out the
Volunteer Service Award Information Sheet
. All forms are due this week,
April 8-12,
to the Counseling Office. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
Acalanes Athletics & Activities Night for Incoming Freshman Families
Wednesday,
May 1
, 6-7pm, Acalanes Main Quad
This is a "don't miss" new event geared at new freshmen and their families to help them find out how to get involved at Acalanes. Incoming freshmen and their parents can meet coaches and athletes from all the 22 Acalanes sports, connect with student leaders, and check out the numerous clubs on campus.
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Dons Legacy Wall
Don't miss your chance to add a legacy brick to the walls of Acalanes High School! Honor your graduating senior, your favorite coach or anyone who has contributed to your student's time at AHS. See our Dons Legacy Wall page on the APC website for more information. Deadline is May 1.
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Senior, Junior, Sophomore, Freshman
Class Updates
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Senior-Junior-Sophomore-Freshman Class Updates
Just a Reminder: Dons Families can click on each
Class Heading
to link through to our Webpage to find lots of great information and useful contacts. Be sure to keep up to date as lots of fun things are on the horizon!
April 11
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Senior Parent Meeting, 7pm PAC
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May 4
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Junior & Senior Prom, Academy of Sciences
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| May 20 |
Senior Symposium and Picnic,
at Acalanes
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June 2
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Time of Reflection, 3pm Lafayette Orinda Presbyterian Church
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June 3 - 6
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Finals Week
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June 7
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Graduation Rehearsal, 9-11am Mandatory Attendance! (Complementary breakfast served)
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Graduation, 6pm
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Grad Night, 8pm busses leave for Umigo
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Senior Parent Meeting April 11, 7 pm, Acalanes PAC
Don't miss this information-packed evening focusing on all senior events: Senior Prom, Senior Symposium, Time of Reflection, Senior Picnic, Memory Frames, Graduation Rehearsal and Breakfast, Graduation, Grad Night and more. Senior class officers will be present as well as those chairing each of the events. In addition, we will have samples of Memory Frames and Grad Night permission slips. If you have already printed and filled out your permission slips, please bring them to the meeting. We will see you there!
Junior/Senior Prom Saturday, May 4
We need volunteers
to help make this special night a success. Take a look at the following sign-ups and consider volunteering!
Prom Bus Sign-ups
Come at lunch to help collect tickets and organize bus sign-ups (1-hour shifts)
Prom Help Needed
Pre-prom bus check-in (1-hour shifts) & night-of event help at Academy of Sciences
Graduation Leis
It is time to purchase leis for your graduating seniors! These beautiful White Orchid Leis will be shipped directly from Hawaii and may be picked up by graduating seniors before the graduation ceremony on
June 7
. Leis are $25 each and may be purchased
here
. Leis will not be sold on graduation day. The last day to order leis is
May 22
.
Grad Night Information
Acalanes High School parents have a proud tradition of offering a safe, alcohol and drug-free event for our graduating students.
Grad Night is held
Friday
, June 7
immediately following the Graduation Ceremony at Acalanes and includes transportation to and from
Umigo
, dinner, snacks, drinks, games, dancing and lots of entertainment options for grads to spend the last moments as Acalanes Dons together.
Tickets
Now
:
Purchase your 2019 Grad Night Ticket on the
Webstore
.
May 10
: No refunds after this date.
May 24
: Webstore tickets closed. Payment via
check only.
Permission Slips
Two
permission slips are required to attend Grad Night. They can be found
here
and
here
. Return permission slips one of the following ways
:
-
Mail to Angela Ketcham, 7 Greene Place, Lafayette, CA 94549
-
Drop off in the Grad Night basket in the Counseling Office, OR
-
Bring them to the Senior Parent Meeting on
April 11.
Note
: Grad night scholarships are available so
all
seniors can attend. School Counselors can provide information regarding scholarships.
Grad Night Fundraiser
Get wonderful Mother's Day, Father's Day and Graduation gifts while raising funds for the Class of 2019 Grad Night. Check out Boon Supply via this link
Acalanes High School - Grad Night
.
50% of the proceeds sold go to the Class of 2019 Grad Night
and everything is shipped directly to your home
.
Started by the founder of Serena & Lily, Boon Supply has amazing selection of practical and affordable home, tech, kitchen, lifestyle and outdoor items. Most items are under $25!
Important Parent Ed Events for Senior Parents!
P
arent Ed has two upcoming workshops designed specifically for parents of seniors. Read more in the Parent Education section below about these two great events:
- This Tuesday, April 9 Decide for Yourself This workshop is designed to give you tools to help your child with decisions about their life after high school
- April 30, Coping with Family Transitions Workshop: When Your Child Leaves Home
Welcome back from Spring Break!
Only 39 school days before second semester finals. Wow this year is flying by!
20$20 Fundraiser
The class of 2020 is kicking off the annual 20 days of Giving Junior Class Fundraiser. Whether you donate $20, or $20 a day for all 20 (school) days - just donate whatever amount you are able to give. All contributions go towards funding the class of 2020. Donate
here
April 8
through
May 3.
Junior/Senior Prom, May 4
The Acalanes Junior/Senior Prom at Academy of Sciences is coming up in less than a month on
May 4
. There are only a COUPLE of shifts left to help volunteer for this BIG event so sign up now before they are all filled!
-
Sign up for a 1-hour shift at lunch to organize bus sign-ups
here.
-
Sign up for a shift on May 4 to either help with bus check-in and/or to volunteer at the Prom event
here.
3rd Annual AHS Color Run
Buy your tickets for the 3
rd
annual AHS Color Run
here
. The run will take place the morning of Sunday
April 28
. Tickets are $25 per participant (fee includes a t-shirt). This is a fun event for the whole family! Proceeds from the event benefit the classes of 2020 & 2021.
Questions?
Tori Heffelfinger
Kathy Hemmenway
Kat O'Donnell
Ellen Seiler
The 3rd Annual Acalanes Color Run Is Coming!
Do NOT miss out on good clean family fun,
April 28
, at Acalanes High School. Hundreds of kids, parents, teams and clubs will run 1.5 miles through the halls and fields of Acalanes High School, crossing the finish line covered in a rainbow of bright colors. Register online at the Acalanes Webstore
here
! Organized by the classes of 2020 and 2021, the cost
is $25 per participant (fee includes a CLEAN WHITE t-shirt!)
Class Fundraiser at ROAM Burger
Mark your calendar for
April 16
when ROAM Burger will donate a portion of all sales to the Class of 2021. More reminders to come!
Welcome Back!
We hope everyone had a nice, relaxing spring break!
Thursday, April 16
The Freshman class will be hosting a
carnival over lunch
with lots of great games and fun snacks. Make sure your student knows, as it will be a good time for all to hang out!
Grad Night Chairs Needed
If you can believe it, we are already starting to plan for the Class of 2022's grad night and are looking for two chairs to help with this important and fun event. Please email us at
[email protected]
if you might be interested.
As always, thanks for your support!
Jen Fish
Kristin McPhail
Judy Sandberg
Candy Stryker
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April Dates:
15-26 Prom Bus Assignments
16 Freshmen Carnival at lunch
16
Open Mic Night at Sideboard
17-18
Powder Puff at Lunch
22-26
Earth Week
22
Leadership Applications due for incoming 9th graders
23 Special Olympics
25
Acalanes Rally at Springhill Elementary
26
Film submissions due for the film festival
27
Campus beautification community service event
28
Color Run
30 New Crew Leader Applications Due
Leadership 2019-2020
Leadership applications for incoming 9th graders are now available on the Acalanes home page and in the Stanley office. They are due
April 22
to the main office at Acalanes or by email to
[email protected].
There is an informational meeting at Stanley on
April 10
at lunch.
Junior/Senior Prom - May 4
Prom invitations go out in English classes on Monday,
April 8
. Students can purchase a prom ticket via the webstore or by cash or check. Tickets are $85 until
April 19
and then increase to $110. Non-Acalanes students are $110. Every student needs to fill out a permission form (on the Acalanes home page) and turn it in when getting a bus assignment. Bus assignments will run from
April 15-26
.
Bringing a guest? Just purchase a ticket and then fill out the guest information on the permission form and bring it with you to the bus assignment table. Questions? Email
[email protected].
Open Mic Night
We will hold the spring open mic night at Sideboard on
April 16
. Come and eat dinner while enjoying student talent. Encourage your student to participate! They just need to fill out this
google form
.
Special Olympics
The Special Olympics will be back at Acalanes on
April 23
. Consider adding this date to your calendar and coming out to support the 500 athletes from around our county who will compete.
Film Festival: Seeking Submissions
The Acalanes Tech Board is rolling out its annual film festival. The film festival will include all four high schools and we would love for any and all students to submit. Any and all films are accepted as long as they are school appropriate and do not exceed 15 minutes. Submit by completing
this link
. Remember, the more videos the more fun!
We have just a few spirit items left for the 2018-2019 school year! Consider ordering something from the webstore for an end of year gift!
Questions? Email Katherine Walton, the leadership teacher, Room 314.
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From the Acalanes Wellness Center
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Can we take a critical look at procrastination? Because we hear a lot of talk about "procrastination" as if it was a characteristic rather than a habit-- and a little understood one at that. Procrastinating is a particularly confounding action because it's done in direct opposition to our better judgment! The first thing we can do to disrupt procrastination comes from the field of (surprise, surprise) mindfulness which you'll remember from prior posts can be defined most simply as intentionally NOTICING in the present moment. We can begin by noticing the emotions that are in play when we procrastinate. Are we confused, unmotivated, insecure, doubting ourselves? When we acknowledge our feelings, we can take action to address the emotion. We can ask for help if we're confused; create motivation by rewarding ourselves for getting a chunk of our task done; practice self-compassion and tell ourselves we've got what it takes succeed because we've done it before. For more great advice on procrastination, see here.
Eryn Reeder, Wellness Coordinator (ext. 7150)
Casey Sasner, Intake Specialist (ext. 7136)
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College and Career Center
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SENIOR INFORMATION
Updating Naviance
It is crucial for students to update admissions decisions in Naviance (this is how Scattergrams gets updated). It is super easy; your student received an email with all the steps. Send your student in to see me if they have questions.
Waitlists
This can be a very confusing time for seniors, and to add to the confusion, some colleges use waitlists. Here is a great article about it.
Troubles Deciding on which college to choose?
You thought the hard work was over, but choosing which college to attend can be very daunting! On
April 10
during Academy, You Decide will be here to share their formula of how to tackle big decisions. Please have your student mark their calendar for this Academy event. See the Parent Ed section below for information on You Decide's parent workshop at Acalanes on April 9.
ALL GRADES
Career Talks
(formerly known as Career Day)
Final two weeks of Career Talks during Academy, April 12 and April 19. The lineup of speakers is posted on the Acalanes Website under College & Career. Students sign up in Teach More. Search for the Career Visits Tab.
April 12 Scheduled Career Talks:
- Collaboration Center - What Your Parents Never Told You About Tech Careers. Come hear from Lisa Schreiber who currently works for Oracle with a degree in Computer Science.
- C&CC - Come hear from Lauren Masi, a Physical Therapist & Athletic Trainer.
- Rm. 207 - Do you have an interest in joining the Armed Services or ROTC? Come hear from multiple branches of the military.
Practice ACT at Campo, April 27 from 9-1pm
The cost is $20 via the Campo webstore - register here. Questions? Email Cassie Brown or phone (415) 994-7614.
Upcoming College Fairs
April 24 Out of State College Fair, Acalanes Gym
Mark your calendars for the upcoming Out of State College Fair. Come meet with reps from many out of state colleges. Here a quick presentation from all reps as well as get information about each of the colleges. This is a great way to Demonstrate Interest.
May 4 Saint Mary's College Fair
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Summer School
Summer school for remediation is happening at Las Lomas this year. Counselors have more information and will be distributing sign-up forms. For more information check here.
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APC Presents: Dr. Ben Bernstein, Ph.D., April 10, 7-8:30pm, Acalanes PAC
Dr. Bernstein is an educator and performance psychologist. Dr. Bernstein is a highly praised keynote speaker and workshop leader and is returning to Acalanes to discuss his recent book, Stressed Out! for Parents. Dr. B teaches how to be calm, confident and focused.
Join us for this
free event. Seating is limited so please
register here to reserve seating.
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AUHSD and APC Presents: Courageous Conversations about Race, April 22, 6-7:30pm, Acalanes Library
An Introduction to Courageous Conversation About Race™: A Protocol to Engage with Students and Families around Race, with Dr. Lori Watson, Equity Transformation Specialist. Why examine and address race? Race matters - in society and in our schools. It is critical for educators to address racial issues in order to uncover personal and institutional biases that prevent all students, and especially students of color, from reaching their fullest potential. COURAGEOUS CONVERSATION™ serves as the essential strategy for school systems, organizations, students, parents and community leaders to address racial disparities through safe, authentic and effective cross-racial dialogue. Register here to reserve seating.
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Senior Parent Workshops
Decide for Yourself, April 9, 7-8:30pm, Acalanes Library
With the upcoming
May 1
College Decision Day, your students may be struggling with which school may be the best fit. Join a workshop led by KeriAnne Hohener and Maria Carson Breber of Decide for Yourself as they return to give parents an inside look at their You Decide program. Their model is especially useful as teens and families make decisions about life after high school. The workshop will give you tips on helping your students with big decisions. The
event is free, but seating is limited. Register
here
. Encourage your senior to sign up for the student version of this workshop in Academy on
April 10
.
Coping with Family Transitions Workshop: When Your Child Leaves Home, April 30, 7-8:30pm, Acalanes Collaboration Center
Whether it's your first, middle or last child leaving, transition can be difficult for both you and your student. This interactive workshop with Joe Ianora focuses on the issues surrounding your child as they transition to the next phase of their life and how you can prepare for a successful transition. During this workshop, you will have an opportunity to learn, share, discuss, and prepare for this transition, which can include: loss of purpose, anxiety, sadness, and joy.
Joe Ianora is a licensed marriage and family therapist and has been an educational leader for more than 25 years.
This event is free but seating is limited so
please register to reserve seating
.
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How much sleep does your teen need? Do the math!
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends 8-10 hours per night. Most students need to wake up by 7am to arrive at school on time. (Leave time for breakfast!) That means they should be going to sleep on average by 10 p.m. Sleep Hygiene recommends creating a relaxing bedtime routine before going to sleep. Help guide your teen to maintain a balanced schedule that allows for pacing (homework, studying, extracurriculars, family time, etc,), resting and unexpected bumps in the road.
Best wishes,
Dvora Citron, R.N., M.S.
Acalanes School Nurse
Tuesdays & Wednedays 7:30-3:20, Fridays 7:30-11:30
925.280.3970 x7128
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Performing and Visual Arts
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Due this Friday, April 12! Acalanes Performing Arts Booster Scholarship
The Acalanes Performing Arts Boosters are proud to announce its $1,000 scholarship available to a graduating senior who has demonstrated passion and commitment to the Performing Arts at AHS and who intends to pursue a major or minor college degree in the Performing Arts.
Applications are available for nowand must be submitted by this Friday, April 12. The winner will be announced at Senior Award Night. Applications including requirements for consideration and submission deadlines are available to download from the Acalanes Performing Arts Booster website.
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Acalanes DramaDons Present - Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery By Ken Ludwig
April 24, 25, 26, & 27, 2019
at 7:00pm in the Little Theater
Get your deerstalker cap on - the play's afoot! Comedic genius Ken Ludwig transforms Arthur Conan Doyle's classic The Hound of the Baskervilles into a murderously funny adventure. Sherlock Holmes is on the case. The male heirs of the Baskerville line are being dispatched one by one. To find their ingenious killer, Holmes and Watson must brave the desolate moors before a family curse dooms its newest heir. Watch as our intrepid investigators try to escape a dizzying web of clues, silly accents, disguises, and deceit as 13 actors deftly portray more than forty characters. Does a wild hellhound prowl the moors of Devonshire? Can our heroes discover the truth in time? Join the fun and see how far from elementary the truth can be. Tickets and Information at the Acalanes Performing Arts Booster website.
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This Friday, April 12: Advocacy Day 2019!
Advocacy Day for Education, a yearly advocacy and parent education event, will take place on
Friday,
April 12,
from 9-2pm at the San Ramon Community Center. The focus this year is on School Climate, Student Well-Being and the Role of Parents. There will be various speakers on this topic as well as a panel of local school superintendents discussing top concerns for school districts. Everyone is welcome!
Register here.
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Project LPIE - Projects are due on April 15 - that's just 8 days away!!! Follow the instructions on the email confirmation that you received after you registered. It's not too late to register a project. Please click the webpage for details. Project LPIE is a project-based competition that showcases the work of Acalanes students both within and outside the classroom.
Important Project LPIE Dates
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Last day to buy Blue-ster Bash tickets is
April 20
. No tickets will be sold at the door. Don't miss this great event at Moraga Country Club on
April 27
to support all of our athletes and sports programs at Acalanes. Events at the Bash include Silent Auction, Live Auction, Grab-n-Win, Wine-Toss, lots of great food, music and more!
Buy tickets
here
.
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Acalanes Athletics & Activities Night for Incoming Freshman Families
: Wednesday, May 1, 6-7pm, Acalanes Main Quad
This is a "don't miss" new event geared at connected new freshmen and their families to help them get involved at Acalanes. Meet coaches and athletes from all the 22 Acalanes sports, connect with student leaders, and check out the numerous clubs on campus.
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This week's can't miss events
Boys volleyball
Tuesday,
April 9
at Campolindo HS. JV at 5:00pm and Varsity at 6:00pm.
Thursday,
April 11
host College Park HS. JV at 5:00pm and Varsity at 6:00pm.
Softball
Tuesday,
April 9
Varsity hosts Miramonte HS at 4:00pm.
Thursday,
April 11
Las Lomas HS at 4:00pm. Varsity is away and JV is home.
Boys tennis
Tuesday,
April 9
Northgate HS at 3:30pm. Varsity is home and jv is away.
Thursday,
April 11
College Park HS at 3:30pm. Varsity is home and jv is away
Girls lacrosse
Tuesday,
April 9
at Marin Catholic HS. JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7:00pm.
Boys lacrosse
Tuesday,
April 9
at Bishop O'Dowd HS. JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7:00pm.
Friday,
April 12
hosts Northgate HS. JV at 5:30 pm and Varsity at 7:00pm.
Baseball
Wednesday,
April 9
Vacaville HS 4:00pm. Varsity is home, JV is away and Freshmen at Jepson Middle School.
Track & field
Wednesday,
April 10
At Miramonte HS at 3:30pm.
Competitive sport cheer
Friday,
April 12
Concord HS at 5:00pm and Ygnacio Valley HS at 6:00pm at Concord HS.
Swimming
Friday,
April 12
at Miramonte HS at 3:45pm.
Saturday,
April 13
College Park Invitational.
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