Like us on Facebook View on Instagram Follow us on Twitter
APC Calendar
November
7             APC Mindfulness & Meditation Workshop
11          No School - Veterans Day
15          Dons Dialogue
25-29      No School - Thanksgiving Break

December
17-20      Finals Week
23-31     Winter Break

Co-Presidents' Message
What a week! We are hopeful that the worst of the black-outs and fires are behind us for now, and that this newsletter finds your family safe and sound. The plan is to reschedule the APC Parent Education Make Vaping History Event that was cancelled last week. We will let you know when it's back on the calendar. We could all probably use the tools that will be shared at APC's Mindfulness & Meditation Workshop put on by AHS Wellness staff this Thursday (see details in the Parent Ed section below).
Be sure to check our new APC website created by APC webmaster Brian Flint with guidance from Kristen Labrosse who runs the APC communications team. Their hard work has really paid off in creating an attractive, user-friendly, informative site that contains content relevant to our parent community. Our website has a link to the AHS calendars which include events for almost every activity on campus. We'd love your feedback!
Just a reminder that there is no school on the 11th as our country's veterans are honored.
Dawn Brightbill & Sarah Cusumano
APC In Action
Peer Tutoring Help!   Has your student been to peer tutoring yet? This invaluable resource is available to all Dons every day during lunch, 7th period, Academy and after school until 4pm.  APC funds the entire program including two professional staffers who manage the selection and training of peer tutors. Their expertise is second to none. Now, with plenty of time before finals, is the perfect time for your student to get some extra help in a tricky subject or just use the study space to get some homework done before heading home. They don't have to use a tutor if they don't need help, but there is always a tutor on hand if they do!  (Bonus: They have candy!) 
APC Fall Grants Awarded!
Thanks to your generous donations to APC, we are able to fund the entire program! Our Special Ed department is now able to purchase much needed items for their life skills program. Our school psychologist will be able to further support our students utilizing updated social, emotional learning curriculum. Additionally, our campus will be ordering another water filtration system and we will be purchasing additional tables around the campus to accommodate our students during lunch/brunch times.  APC thanks you for your continued support!
Dons Show Up
Many of our talented athletes will be competing in NCS playoff match-ups this week. Check the sports schedule below and come out to support a friend. Good luck teams!
Enjoy an acai bowl AND raise funds for the class of 2021 !  On Wednesday, Nov 6 from 3pm to closing, Vitality Bowl will donate a portion of all sales to the Junior Class. Mention you're with Acalanes when you place your order. 
 
Cap off your food week by dining at Panda Express to help the class of 2022 . On Friday, Nov 8 a portion of all proceeds from dining in (or taking out) all day will come back to the sophomore class. Remember to mention you're with Acalanes when you place your order.
Don't forget to look at AHS's November Dons Show Up calendar!  You'll find a link to the calendar on the home page of Acalanes High School's website.

Senior, Junior, Sophomore, Freshman 
Class Updates
Senior-Junior-Sophomore-Freshman Class Updates
Just a Reminder:  Dons Families can click on each Class Heading to link through to the school web page for your class where you will find lots of great information and useful contacts. Be sure to keep up to date as lots of fun things are on the horizon!

Yearbook Ads  Only 2 weeks left to submit a baby photo of your senior for the yearbook!  The deadline is November 15! Submit your photo directly to the publisher here (AHS code is 7610).   
Senior Portraits Studio One will take Senior Portraits on campus in January.  If you want to have them taken sooner, please call Studio One at 925-361-0430 to schedule an appointment.  There is no charge to have the photos taken. 
Visit our APC webpage to get the latest Grad Night and Graduation info!
Follow your class on social media: Instagram : @acalanes_2020

Class of 2020 Liaisons:
Tori Heffelfinger
Kathy Hemmenway
Kat O'Donnell
Ellen Seiler

Questions? Email us: class2020@acalanesparentsclub.com
Nov 6 Junior Class Fundraiser at Vitality Bowl
Enjoy an acai bowl AND raise funds for the class of 2021!  From 3pm to closing, Vitality Bowl will donate a portion of all sales to the junior class.  This is an easy one!
 
Nov 7 Junior Parent & Student College Night, 6:30-8:30pm, Acalanes PAC
Parents and students, join us for a very special night devoted to helping juniors and their families understand the dynamics of completing their high school career and the path to prepare for the college application process. See the College and Career section below to learn more and RSVP. 
 
Nov 15 Snack Shack Volunteers Needed! Post Season Playoff Football Game 
Acalanes is heading to post season play and we are hosting the 11/15 playoff game!  We'd love your help in the Snack Shack. It's going to be an exciting night! Please sign up here.
*This date may change to Saturday, Nov 16, so please watch for communication closer to the game date.


Follow your class on social media: Instagram : @acalanes_2021
Class of 2021 Liaisons:
     Mary Caprio
     Sierra Higgins
     Darci Olson
     Millie Tooker

Nov 8 Dine out at Panda Express in Lafayette. A portion of all proceeds from dining in (or taking out) all day will come back to the sophomore class. Please make sure you mention that you're with Acalanes when you place your order.
Nov 15* Snack Shack Volunteers Needed! Acalanes is heading to post season play and we are hosting the 11/15 playoff game!  We'd love any and all help in the Snack Shack so please sign up here if you're available.
*This date may change to Saturday, Nov 16 , so please watch for communication closer to the game date. 
As always, thanks for your support!
Follow your class on social media: Instagram : @acalanes_2022
 
Class of 2022 Liaisons:
Jen Fish
Kristin McPhail
Judy Sandberg
Candy Stryker
Questions? Email us: class2022@acalanesparentsclub.com  

Nov 15*Snack Shack Volunteers Needed! Acalanes is heading to post season play and we are hosting the 11/15 playoff game!  We'd love any and all help in the Snack Shack so please sign up here if you're available.
*This date may change to Saturday, Nov 16, so please watch for communication closer to the game date.


Follow your class on social media:  Instagram : @acalanes_2023
Looking forward to a great year!

Class of 2023 Liaisons:
Catherine Burns
Charlene Condy
Jen Dodge
Daniele Upp
Questions?  Email us:  class2023@acalanesparentsclub.com
Student Activities
This week we are hosting our annual CARE Week. Every student at Acalanes will have a workshop in their 4th period class on equity (Wed or Fri during academy). Workshops are all student led and a powerful jumping off point for continued dialogue. There are events each day at lunch (see below). Ask your student to share some of their thoughts following the workshop. 
Here is the CARE Week lunchtime schedule:
Monday           QSA hosts "How to be a good ally to the LGBTQ+ community"

Tuesday          Student dialogue on racial bias

Wednesday     Friendly faces meets with our special education students

Thursday         BSU & the Feminism Club hosts "Women of Color"

Friday              Asian American Club hosts a paper crane making activity for
                         kids in detention camps. 

DONS SHOW UP calendar. In an effort to better communicate with students and the community on the big events each month, we have created a Dons Show Up calendar (on the homepage of the Acalanes website). With the beginning of fall sports playoffs, this is a big week for our athletes! 
It's a great week to be a Don!
From the Acalanes Wellness Center
On Thursday, November 7, Wellness will be providing the first of two community education events scheduled so far. We're grateful for the opportunity to support all those who care for students. The Mindfulness and Meditation for Stress Management is designed for parents but accessible for students as well and will take place in the library led by Casey Sasner. We'll review the evidence-based research that supports mindfulness-based interventions for stress and many other disorders, and we'll experiment with some practices. The format is interactive so please come ready to engage and dress for comfort as meditation is about, among other things, finding ease! If you're not able to make it due to College Night for the junior class, email csasner@auhsdschools.org and we'll gauge the interest for a repeat of the workshop.

Allen Choi, Wellness Coordinator (ext. 7150)
Casey Sasner, Intake Specialist (ext. 7136)
Follow us on Instagram (acalaneswellness) and Twitter (@acalaneswellness)

College and Career Center
College Night for Acalanes Juniors & Families
November 7 from 6:30-8:30pm in the Acalanes Performing Arts Center (PAC)
Join AHS College & Career and Counseling for a night devoted to helping Juniors and their families understand the dynamics of completing their high school career and the path to prepare for the college application process.
Susan Martin, Academic Counselor and Wendy Reicher, College & Career Advisor will cover:
  • Senior course selection
  • SAT/ACT testing
  • Admissions deadlines
  • Summer programs
  • College visits
  • Alternative pathways
Evening's schedule as follows:
6:30pm     APC-Hosted Meet & Greet Reception
7-8pm       Presentation
8-8:30pm  Q&A

Please RSVP here.


Counseling
Counselors are busily writing letters of recommendation and filling out school reports  to meet early action deadlines for seniors applying to college. We are also starting to meet individually with 9th graders. 
Find of the week:  I like this video about helping those with ADHD.  There are lots of great videos in the series that are great for parents or students.

Parent Education
APC Parent Workshop
Mindfulness for Stress Management
Thursday, November 7 from 7:00-8:30pm.
Acalanes Library
Join us for our first APC Parent Workshop on Mindfulness for Stress Management, presented by the AHS Wellness Center.  Please dress comfortably and feel free to bring a small blanket or mat for mindfulness practices. If you're not able to make it due to College Night for the junior class, email csasner@auhsdschools.org and we'll gauge the interest for a repeat of the workshop.

Contact: Kelly Daggs, VP Community Partners
Mary Kuhn, Parent Education Chair  
Performing and Visual Arts
Acalanes Jazz Ensemble Fall Concert
Acalanes High School's Jazz Ensemble will be performing in the Acalanes Performing Arts Center (PAC) on November 14 at 7pm.  Attendance is free so come by to enjoy some swingin' tunes from our renowned musicians!
Legislative News
You may have heard recently that Governor Newsom signed a bill mandating later start times for middle school and high school students.  One key thing to know about this new law is that it will not take effect until the 2022-2023 school year.  Once the law goes into effect, high schools will not be able to begin classes before 8:30 AM, although earlier zero periods will still be allowed.  Middle schools will not be allowed to start classes before 8:00 AM. Read more here.
LPIE
LPIE is looking for its next Executive Director...is that you or someone you know? After serving 20 years as LPIE's Executive Director, our beloved Myrna Kimmelman plans to retire at the end of June 2020. That means our search for her replacement is in full swing. Click here for the job description. Please spread the word to any interested candidates you may know.
Calling All Writing Tutors The LPIE Writing Tutor Program at Acalanes is hiring tutors to provide written feedback on essays, and meet one-on-one with Social Studies and English students during the school day. 15-20 hours a week. Training provided. Tutors must be available Tuesday-Friday, 8 am - 3:05 pm, January-May, with a training period in November. Applicants preferably should have professional writing and/or teaching experience. A humanities degree is recommended. Please email your resume to program coordinator Christina Engelbrecht, christina.engelbrecht@gmail.com.
Save the Date   Giving Tuesday is Dec 3. Look for more information coming soon.

Thank you to Martin Homes for supporting LPIE as our Diamond Partner!

With gratitude,
Laura-Kate Rurka & Rachel Berkowitz
Acalanes LPIE School Chairs
Dons Sports
This week's can't miss events :
Girls volleyball
Wednesday, November 6 NCS Semifinals at 7:00 pm.
Saturday, November 9 NCS Championships.
Boys & Girls water polo
Wednesday, November 6 NCS playoffs, first round.
Saturday, November 9 NCS Quarterfinals.
Football
Friday, November 15*  host NCS playoffs, first round at 7:00 pm.
*This date may change to Saturday, November 16, so please watch for communication closer to the game date. 
Cross country
Saturday, November 9 DAL Championships at Hidden Valley Park at 1:00 pm.

  Quick Links
email: editor@acalanesparentsclub.com