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October
14
No School - Staff Development Day
18 Dons Dialogue
29
Parent Education: Risks of Vaping and Tobacco Use
November
11
No School - Veterans Day
15 Dons Dialogue
25-29
No School - Thanksgiving Break
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Just a reminder that Monday,
October 14
, is a Staff Development Day so there will be no school tomorrow.
It's hard to believe the first quarter of the school year has already come and gone. There is a tremendous amount of activity on campus this month with fall sports and performing arts' events in full swing. We anticipate a tremendous amount of excitement next week too, as Acalanes welcomes the highly-regarded United States Marine Band for a concert on Wednesday. Finally, don't forget to wear lavender to Friday night's football game against Campo. Go Dons!
We are looking forward to the upcoming APC Dons Dialogue with Principal Bell on Friday. The agenda is jam-packed with some terrific information so it's one you won't want to miss. You'll find more details in our APC in Action section below. Hope to see you on Friday.
Dawn Brightbill & Sarah Cusumano
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Dons Dialogue: Friday, October 18, 8:45-10am
APC is hosting another can't miss Dons Dialogue this Friday morning in the Collaboration Center. Dons Dialogue agenda items to include:
As always, parking will be reserved in the parking lot south of the Main Gym. Coffee and treats will be served. See you there!
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Juniors, Sophomores and Freshman need help and are asking parents to please take a fundraising concession shift at the home football game versus Campolindo on
October 18
. Please see your class section below to sign up.
In addition to football, our water polo and tennis teams play cross town rivals Campolindo this week too (see sports section below). Show your spirit and enjoy the action. Go teams!
Looking for more ways to support your fellow Dons? Check out Acalanes' new Dons Show Up October calendar referenced in the Student Activities section below!
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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!
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Senior Yearbook Ads
A favorite yearbook tradition is the submission of baby ads for senior students. You can submit them right to the publisher
here
(AHS code is 7610). The deadline is
November 15
so don't miss out!
Grad Night 2020!
Grad night 2020
is
May 29, 2020
immediately following Graduation Ceremony.
Remember that ticket prices are now $200 but increase on
November 30
. For more information, including scholarships or how to check to see if you've already purchased a ticket, or go to the Senior's APC
Web Page
.
Follow your class on social media: Instagram
: @acalanes_2020
Class of 2020 Liaisons:
Tori Heffelfinger
Kathy Hemmenway
Kat O'Donnell
Ellen Seiler
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Snack Shack Volunteers Needed - October 18 against Campolindo!
Please check your calendars AGAIN and if you are free, PLEASE consider working in the Snack Shack on
Oct 18
for our home football game against Campolindo! We could use volunteers for the shifts between 3:15 and 6:15pm especially. Sign up
here
.
November 7
Save the Date! Junior Parent College Night in the PAC. More details to come.
Follow your class on social media: Instagram
: @acalanes_2021
Mary Caprio
Sierra Higgins
Darci Olson
Millie Tooker
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Hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend!
Please remind your student that there will be hot chocolate and lemonade for sale in the quad at lunch on Thursday,
October 17
for $1 - just a little fundraiser for the class!
Also, one last plea for Snack Shack volunteers at the Campolindo game THIS FRIDAY,
October 18
. We'd love to have some more sophomore parent help so please sign up
here
if you're available.
As always, we appreciate 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: [email protected]
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October 24 -
Save the Date! No need to cook - Freshmen are serving up pizza and drinks at their
fundraiser event
during the Freshman Football game vs. Miramonte.
(Stadium Entrance @5pm) #DonsShowUp!
And, there's still a few spots left for
Football Concessions
. We NEED you!
Please, click on a date and sign up:
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
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The best way for your student to stay up to date on all student activities including club meetings, sporting events, on campus happenings & information is to follow @ahs_dons on
Instagram
.
6th Man Jersey.
Order deadline extended to gather a few more last minute orders
!
Order
a personalized 6th Man jersey by Wednesday October 16 to wear to any athletic event including basketball! Jerseys can be customized with last name and graduation year on the back. Check them out-they are awesome! Jerseys take 4-5 weeks in production.
DONS SHOW UP in October.
In an effort to better communicate with students and the community on the big events each month, we have created a
Dons Show Up in October
calendar (on the Acalanes home page). This week come out to the pool on Wednesday beginning at 4 pm to watch girls and boys water polo. Pep band will be present! It is a big night for our water polo community.
On
Friday, October 18
there is a meeting during academy for any student interested in auditioning for the musical. Check out the Performing and Visual Arts section below for details.
Lamorinda Tackles Cancer on October 18 Come out to the home football game wearing lavender (universal color for cancer) and support our community as we do our part to tackle cancer. Together with Campolindo, we will have a tailgate before the game, and posters that people can decorate honoring someone who has had cancer (these will be hung around the stadium). Acalanes & Campo have teamed up to design a long sleeve shirt with "Lamorinda Tackles Cancer." It is on sale at lunch for $20.
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We'd like to dive in a little deeper on the subject we covered last week on active listening. A specific technique we use in wellness to help students feel heard and to encourage open communication is Reflective Listening. Simply reflect back the content of what your student said in order to show you listened and that you care. Typically, when we respond with reflective listening, the speaker will continue to talk, oftentimes discovering new feelings and ideas as they "unpack" what's bothering them. Reflective listening isn't complicated, it's just hard because we tend to want to provide advice and to problem solve. Not to mention that we're experiencing our own emotions when we listen! Our rule in wellness, which is a good rule for most relationships, is to offer advice only when it's asked for. We hope you find an opportunity this week to practice the strategy and then add it to your parenting toolkit.
Allen Choi, Wellness Coordinator (ext. 7150)
Casey Sasner, Intake Specialist (ext. 7136)
Follow us on Instagram (acalaneswellness) and Twitter (@acalaneswellness)
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College and Career Center
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| Oct 15 |
AUHSD Military Career Night @AHS Gym 6:30pm-8pm
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Oct 19
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PSAT (registration is now closed)
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| Oct 23 |
SAT/ACT Info Night @AHS 6:30pm-7:30pm
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| Oct 28 |
SFSU Tour |
SFSU Campus Tour for Seniors
The College & Career Center (CCC) is offering a tour of SFSU for Seniors on Monday,
October 28
, 7:30am - 2:00pm. To register, print out a permission slip from the
website
and return it by Friday,
October 21
along with a check (to pay for bus) for $10 made payable to "Acalanes High School". We are partnering with Campolindo High School so space is limited.
College Rep Visits Coming This Week
Oct 15
James Madison University, NYU, Penn State, Trinity College, Bucknell, Brandeis University
Oct 16
Muhlenberg College, Marymount Manhattan College, Fordham University, U of Strathclyde, Seattle University
Oct 17
Providence College, St. Lawrence University, Dickinson College, University College Dublin, University of Montana, UCSB
Oct 18 University of Hawaii, USF, Knox College, Cal Lutheran University, Maryville University
For times and sign up visit
Naviance
. These visits are for junior and senior students. Please pick up passes before school, during brunch or lunch. Make sure to sign in during the visit to clear the attendance office.
As always, email me with any questions!
Wendy Reicher
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AP Exam Registration New reg process & timing this year! AP Exam Registration is open now through
Nov. 1. Beginning this year, students register in two places, on
CollegeBoard.org (with a "Join Code" from AP Teacher) and on the Acalanes
Web Store. Detailed information, including step by step instructions, is available on the Web Store and will be discussed in AP Classes. Please contact
Hannah Welling, Testing Coordinator in the Counseling Office if you have questions or concerns.
Seniors A reminder to pay for official transcripts for your college apps on the
Web Store. Registrar Mrs. Finn will make sure they get sent right away or let your counselor know that transcripts are ready to send along with other documents.
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APC Parent Education Speaker Series event presents along with AUHSD:
Make Vaping History: Students and Parents Learn About Risks of Vaping and Tobacco Use
Tuesday,
October 29
from 7:00 to 8:30pm
Acalanes High School Performing Arts Center
Learn up-to-date information on e-cigarette/vape pen products, adolescent use rates, impact on young people, prevention strategies, how to support current users, and more. Stay tuned for registration info.
Acalanes Unified High School District (AUHSD) is sponsoring the following event for parents. Sign up below and mark your calendar to attend.
Healthy Tech for Teens, Managing Social Media
Wednesday,
October 23
from 7:00 - 8:30
pm
Campolindo High School
Learn more and register to attend
here
.
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Apps For Your Health!
UCLA Center for Mindful Awareness has a new version of their app, now called
UCLA Mindful
. It's basic, very accessible, and FREE.
October is Breast Health Month
Another reminder that October is Breast Health Month! Screening is crucial to early diagnosis and effective treatment. For many different reasons, it is less common for teenage girls to be learning and practicing BSE (Breast Self Exam), but it's an essential skill young women need to learn and integrate into their regular self-care routine.
Daisy Wheel
is an app that's easy to use and very instructive on how to regularly perform this important self-care function. For more information about Breast Cancer Awareness Month, go to the
National Breast Cancer Foundation's
website.
Nutrition and Healthy Eating
Last week I attended an excellent nutrition conference for healthcare providers on plant-based nutrition. Many times throughout the conferences they highlighted the documentary
The Game Changers
. It's available on iTunes beginning
October 1
, 2019.
Dvora Citron, RN, MS
Tuesdays & Wednesdays 7:30am - 3:20pm, Friday 7:30 -11:30am
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Performing and Visual Arts
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Drama Dons In Action! The LARAMIE PROJECT October 23-26 at 7pm in the Acalanes Little Theater Don't miss the Drama Dons production of The Laramie Project, the true story of Matthew Shephard who was savagely beaten and left to die in Laramie, Wyoming. Shephard's name quickly became a grim rallying cry for those speaking out against hate crimes committed against gays. The Laramie Project explores the depths to which humanity can sink and the heights of compassion of which we are capable. A more detailed synopsis of the play as well as information on tickets can be found here. Ready to be onstage? Beginning this year, all students are welcome to participate in the school musical! There will be an informational meeting in the Drama Room during Academy on October 18. Information about audition sign ups as well as rehearsal information will be communicated at this meeting.
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A BIG thank you to LPIE business partners for supplying the swag for the LPIE spinning wheel at the 2019 Lafayette Art & Wine Festival: Martin Homes, Cobain Orthodontics, Julie Del Santo and Tina Frechman from the Dudum Real Estate Group, Dana Green from the Dana Green Team, and the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce.
Be sure to stop by the LPIE booth-generously sponsored by Lewis Asset Management-after the
Reservoir Run
on Sunday,
October 20
, to learn more about LPIE and to decorate pumpkins.
If you own or work at a local business and would like to learn more about LPIE, we are proud to host the Lafayette
Chamber of Commerce Mixer
on Wednesday,
October 23
from 5:30-7pm. Please contact us with any questions at [email protected] or 925-299-1644 or if you would like to know more about our LPIE Business Program for parents and local businesses.
With gratitude,
Laura-Kate Rurka & Rachel Berkowitz
Acalanes LPIE School Chairs
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This week's can't miss events
Girls golf
Monday,
October 14
DAL Championships at Diablo Creek GC at 9:00 am.
Girls volleyball
Tuesday,
October 15
at Alhambra HS. Freshmen at 4:00 pm, JV at 5:00 pm and Varsity at 6:30 pm.
Wednesday,
October 17
host Las Lomas HS. Freshmen at 4:00 pm, JV at 5:00 pm and Varsity at 6:30 pm.
Girls tennis
Tuesday,
October 15
Las Lomas HS at 3:30 pm. Varsity is home and JV is away.
Thursday,
October 17
Campolindo HS at 3:30 pm. Varsity is away and JV is home.
Girls water polo
Wednesday,
October 16
host Campolindo HS. Varsity at 4:00 pm and JV at 5:00 pm.
Boys water polo
Wednesday,
October 16
host Campolindo HS. Varsity at 6:00 pm and JV at 7:00 pm.
Unified soccer
Wednesday,
October 16
at Freedom HS at 12:00 pm.
Football
Friday,
October 18
host Campolindo HS. JV at 4:30 pm and Varsity at 7:00 pm.
Cross country
Friday,
October 18
Roughrider Invitational at Woodward Park in Clovis.
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