Weekly News & Announcements

Peer Tutoring is Up and Running

2020-21 APC Executive Board Slate

• Co-Presidents: Kristen Labrosse & Angela Ketcham
• Co-VP Communications: Heidi Hambidge & Lisa Spiegler
• VP Community Partners: Denise Cain
• VP Fundraising: Kelly Daggs
• VP Services: Veronique Kuhner
• Head Liaison: Gayle Burleigh
• Secretary: Raina Foster
• Treasurer: Julie Koo
• Asst. Treasurer: Katharine Wallace
• Auditor: Melanie Brinkman
• Past Pres/Parliamentarians: Dawn Brightbill & Sarah Cusumano

Wellness Center

We learned a lot this week from a state-wide wellness webinar about what students most need right now. To put it simply, they need the four R’s: Reassurance (this is temporary and everything will be okay); Routine (loss of structure is destabilizing--human beings need it); Regulation (in times of stress, we must practice self-care to calm the central nervous system response to a steady diet of uncertainty, complexity, and volatility) and most importantly, Relationships (ones that offer love without condition, safety, and understanding.) We also got to hear from grief experts about the very unique type of loss students are suffering. Worthy of your time, here is an excellent article on helping your kids with grief and loss from the Greater Good Science Center. This coming week, we continue to offer programming that leans toward “fun and games” as students have expressed a need for that. We’re also offering something cool and different on Tuesday at 5pm as we interview a class of ‘18 Don, now Tiktok celebrity, about how he’s prioritizing wellbeing and sharing it with others. Be well and stay in touch! (CS 4/24 @3:20)

Helping Teens Deal with Grief & Loss During COVID-19. Tuesday, April 28, 2020 from 6:30-7:30pm

At John Muir Health Behavioral Health Services, we understand life can be challenging while adjusting to a new pace during this time of uncertainty. We are here to support our community now and into the future. This discussion is meant for parents, although teenagers are welcome to join. Learn to identify signs of teen grief and loss, including coping strategies to help your teen during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Live Streamed to your own home via Zoom. RSVP Required. Register here.

Co-Presidents’ Message

The first APC Dons Dialogue Webinar was held this past Friday with almost 100 participants. Principal Bell shared some valuable information and the AHS admin team was on hand to answer questions live throughout the forum. If you were unable to attend, click here for a forum video. Feedback was tremendously positive and the next Dons Dialogue has been scheduled for Friday, May 8. More details to follow.

We have received parent inquiries regarding how to give back to members of our community who may be struggling as a result of Covid19. This week’s Community Can’t be Canceled Campaign focuses on how to do so with a few options below:

• AUHSD’s Food Bank Drive Acalanes will have donation bins to support the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Counties placed at the front of the Main Quad where urgently needed donations of canned and dry goods can be dropped off. Monetary donations can be made here.
• Lafayette Community Foundation’s (LCF) COVID-19 Community Matching Campaign LCF has joined the Community Can't be Canceled effort with a commitment to increase grants to local nonprofits addressing immediate community needs. Now through April 30, LCF will match up to $25K. You can learn more and donate here.

Be sure to check out new and ongoing distance learning programming in the Wellness Center and College & Career Center below. There are numerous options for both students and parents to engage. This week’s highlight:

• Wendy’s C&CC Weekly Parent Check-In Informal forum with Acalanes College & Career Advisor Wendy Reicher will provide parents a chance to ask any questions via zoom meeting related to the college admissions process, volunteer and internship opportunities, Naviance training, summer program options and more.

We hope your families remain safe and healthy.
Dawn Brightbill and Sarah Cusumano

AUHSD Food Drive Better When Joined Together!

Acalanes has partnered with Campolindo, Miramonte and Los Lomas to support our neighbors in need. Starting Monday, April 20, Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Counties will place bins at all AUHSD campuses to collect canned food and nonperishable items. Please follow county Shelter in Place guidelines should you choose to contribute. They are also in urgent need of monetary donations which you can do online here. 

General Announcements

• More Students Needed for Zoom Babysitting. We could use a few more students (or parents!) to help babysit our teachers’ little Dons so we don’t have to turn parent teachers away. Encourage your student to earn volunteer hours and make a young kid’s day! Sign up here.
• Student Video Library Students can also make 15 to 60-minute videos highlighting any skill they’d like to share with little Dons. Visit our APC web page to learn more. Let’s do this!

Due Friday, May 1: AHS & President’s Volunteer Service Awards Applications

The goal of the program is to recognize students for their efforts in giving back. Get ideas on how you can give back during Shelter in Place and see our AHS program qualification changes here including a reduction of required hours from 30 hours to 20 hours.

Learn more about these efforts and more:

• Subscribe to Blueprint online so you can keep up with all the current news and views from our student community. They’ve been busy.
• If you’re not already following Acalanes leadership on Instagram @ahs_dons, now is the time. Their creative content reminds us why it’s good to be a Don.
• Check out the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce’s website for more information on how you can support local businesses and restaurants. They are one of the key community partners collaborating on this campaign.

General Announcements

We invite everyone to write letters to seniors wishing them well as they get ready to graduate. See the Seniors section for details on how you can participate.

Sports

All incoming freshmen (current 8th graders) are invited to attend the webinar which will provide an overview of how new students can get involved at Acalanes. Incoming students will have a chance to connect with coaches from all fall, winter and spring sports, and learn about campus clubs and more. A letter from Principal Bell to incoming freshmen with details will go out next week. 

Monday, May 4 Blueprint Launches Next Issue

Visit acalanesblueprint.com to access Blueprint’s latest issue via PDF. Enjoy well researched stories with a local angle thanks to Acalanes’ talented student journalists. Additionally, Blueprint will launch a new literary magazine, The Azure, on May 8 featuring entries from Project LPIE and our school community.

Distance Learning Student Communications

Families: please remind your student to check both School Loop and their AUHSD gmail accounts for communications from their teachers. Teachers are finding that students who only look at the assignments portion of School Loop may be missing out on critical information.