Weekly News & Announcements

Freshman Class of 2023 Update

Hope you’re all enjoying the long weekend! We have lots of opportunities for you to get involved in the coming weeks, so please check out the below. And a few words about: 

Clubs   We had lots of questions about this topic at BTSN.  Please know that there are no active clubs running at this time. Every club restarts at the beginning of each school year.  Applications are due September 4 and approved clubs will be notified shortly after.  Club Day will be September 13 during Academy.

School Loop  Teachers and staff often use School Loop to communicate vital information to parents, so if you haven’t registered yet, please do so here!

Football Concessions   As we mentioned at BTSN, there are plenty of opportunities for you to get involved and help out the Freshman class. Your time and effort will pay big dividends as these are all fundraisers that contribute toward important events down the road. Shifts are easy and FUN!  

Sept 5 Food Trucks: No concession sign ups but check out the info above and come support your class!

Sept 27      Homecoming Football Game Concessions:   sign up here
Oct 18        Home Football Game vs. Campolindo:        sign up here
Nov 1         Home Football Game vs. Alhambra:            sign up here

Sept 10 Freshman Parent Social at Metro (6:30-8pm). 

Let’s all gather and get to know one another!

Sign up on the Web Store

Sophomore Class 2022 Update

There is a lot going on in the coming weeks, with many opportunities to get involved, especially as we get closer to Homecoming. Speaking of which, if you haven’t already heard, this year’s Homecoming theme is Battle of the Bands and the class of 2022 has AC/DC. The kids are working hard on plans for their skit as well as hallway decorations. Decorating will take place on Sunday, September 22.  We’d love to have some parent help at this so please sign up here if you’re able to assist.

We’re also working football concessions during the following games - click on the date to sign up if you’re able to help: 

September 13 

September 27 (Homecoming!) 

October 18 (Campolindo) 

Our class is also responsible for helping with this year’s Art & Wine Festival. We will receive a portion of the money raised. We need some help at the ticket booths on Saturday, September 21 so please consider signing up here. 

Lastly, please make sure you’ve marked your calendar for our September 10 Dine Out with Chipotle. All proceeds from this will come back to our class.

School Nurse

I wanted to share a few resources on upcoming programs online that I think are pertinent for many students and families:

Sept 17, 5-6:30pm Mindfulness and ADHD

Sept 25, 7pm Recognizing and Managing Teen Anxiety

If you go to these programs, please let me know what you think!

Wellness Center

While it may not be the first stress-reducing strategy to come to mind, connecting with others is easily one of the most effective and available. This is one of the reasons why students set their devices aside when they’re in the center and believe it or not, they’re happy they did. Time and time again, we see students who are overwhelmed connect with us and then turn around and connect with a peer in need. It feels good to talk it out; to learn that many of our experiences are universal; and to both give and receive words of compassion. Next time you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed, do a scan of your emotions and notice where you feel them in your body. After you connect with a compassionate listener who you can count on to be supportive, scan again with close attention to your experience. If you can identify the feeling of a lowered stress response, share that with your kids and see if together, you can create a new habit!  (CS 8/29)

College & Career

Academies have started with a bang and the students had a fun kick off with a Chick Fil A and Naviance workshop.  Make sure to have your student sign up in advance, space is limited to 20 students. A big thank you to Acalanes Parents Club for making it possible to create these wonderful opportunities for our students.

COMING UP!

Oct  19 PSAT - register on the Web Store. Open to Juniors and interested Sophomores.

Seniors and Juniors please sign up in Naviance for College Rep Visits:

Sept  3 University of Pacific 12:25pm

Sept  3 Savannah College of Art and Design 1:35pm

Sept  4 Lynn University 11:25pm

Sept  4 Vanderbilt 12:25pm

Just a reminder, students need to pick up a pass in College & Career the morning of a college rep visit. Be sure they get permission from their teacher the Monday before the visit. Students may not miss a test for a rep visit. 

Performing Arts students can find their college fit at the San Francisco Bay Area Performing and Visual Arts Fair on September 19, at the Santa Clara Convention Center. Visit the official San Francisco Performing and Visual Arts Fair site for more details.  Students meet face-to-face with representatives from hundreds of colleges—all in one place—and get their questions answered about majors, degree programs, auditions, campus visits, internships, scholarships, financial aid, and much more.

One last thing!  The the College &  Career Center is creating a “Dons in the Workforce” bulletin board. Please bring me a picture of you (or your student!) at work!

As always, email me with any questions!

Wendy 

wreicher@auhsdschools.org

Co-Presidents’ Message

We hope you were able to join us at Back to School Night last Thursday! It was a wonderful opportunity to mingle with other Dons parents, meet our teachers, and get a peek into what’s ahead for our students this year. 

For all APC Donors, if you didn’t have a chance to pick up your complimentary copy of the 2019-20 Parent Handbook and Student Directory, please stop by the Registrar’s Office. We can’t thank new freshman parents Heidi Hambidge and Sharon Hunt enough for spending countless hours putting together the handbook/directory in record time.

A key role of APC is to help AHS parents find ways to get involved on campus. If you would like to volunteer, the best place to start is with your class liaisons (contact info in class sections below). Believe it or not, staffing the Snack Shack at home football games is a great way to connect with other parents while helping to raise money for your student’s class. Additionally, you can always reach out to our APC Volunteer Coordinator, Catherine Habas, for ongoing volunteer opportunities.

Dawn Brightbill & Sarah Cusumano

The Power of LPIE at Acalanes – Donate Today!

LPIE has committed $4.5 million directly to our students and their schools this academic year, with nearly $1 Million of that number to Acalanes alone. Consider what your donation funds for your child each and every day at Acalanes: 16 class sections; iPads and Chromebooks for the 1:1 device program; science, engineering, math and robotics; world languages; the expanded Writing Tutor Program; Wellness Counselors for the new Wellness Center and much, much more. You can find a full listing of what we fund here.

We can’t reach our fundraising goals without your help. Though we ask $1,000 per child, some families donate less, some donate more. Our hope is that ALL families participate in some way, and we value ALL donations.

Make a single payment, 10 monthly payments, or make a pledge. Click here to donate.

With gratitude,

Laura-Kate Rurka & Rachel Berkowitz
Acalanes LPIE School Chairs

Athletic PE: How It Works

Do you still have questions about the Athletic Physical Education program?  Following is the basic info, with more details on how the program works on the AHS Athletic PE web page.  (Freshman parents: while this information is helpful to know now, it isn’t necessary to act on anything until the Spring when course selections are made.)

Acalanes students are required to complete four semesters of Physical Education classes to graduate. All freshmen take two semesters of PE 9 and must complete a Physical Fitness Test (PFT) in the Spring of their Freshmen year.  

Students who pass their Physical Fitness Test may fulfill their final two semesters of PE by either taking two semesters of PE at some point during grades 10-12 or by participating in two Acalanes team sport seasons (Fall, Winter or Spring) during 10-11 grades. 

Keep in mind that your student is responsible for initiating and maintaining their Athletic PE contract (e.g., logging hours weekly) throughout the season of the sport they play.  You can help guide your student to meet the necessary program requirements.

College & Career

It’s been a great start to the year in the College and Career Center.  A lot is happening! Parents - make sure you are signed up for School Loop, as I have a lot of information coming through School Loop emails.

All Grades

Aug 26 "Next College Student Athlete” presentation for NCAA college bound athletes. AHS PAC @7pm

Aug 28 "Value Priced College Night"  Las Lomas Library @7-8pm
Come hear from a financial expert, Tim Lenahan, who has researched and compared costs of colleges across the nation.  Learn about the affordable in-state and out-of-state public colleges in the Western US. Tim is a CPA and Certified College Advisor and will share insights and top picks that costs as little as $16k to attend.

Sept 10 "Navigating the Financial Landscape"  Miramonte Library 7-9pm
Tim Lenahan is back, sharing strategies to find the best college for your student at the lowest cost.  Sign ups required as space is limited.

College Rep Visits 

Seniors and Juniors register (all grades welcome):

1. Register in Naviance
2. Get a pass the morning of the visit from C&CC.  Teachers must sign your pass to be excused from class.

Sept. 3 University of Pacific 12:25p
Sept. 3 Savannah College of Art and Design 1:35p
Sept. 4 Lynn University 11:25p
Sept. 4 Vanderbilt 12:25p

Oct 19 PSAT - registration open Aug 27 - Sept 17 on the webstore. Open to Juniors and interested Sophomores.

As always, email me with any questions!

Wendy

Parent Handbook/ Student Directory

If you would like a Parent Handbook and Student Directory but have not had a chance to donate to APC yet, it’s never too late and no amount is too big or too small.  Please go to the Acalanes Web Store to donate now.  Your donation is tax deductible and helps fund several programs and events which benefit all of our Dons.  

If you did not pick up our Directory at BTSN, please be sure to swing by the Registrar’s Office to get your complimentary copy.  And, THANK YOU for donating to Acalanes Parents Club this year!

Homecoming Theme: Battle of the Bands

This year’s Homecoming theme is Battle of the Bands and the class of 2020 has chosen QUEEN.  Hallway decorating will be on Sunday, Sept 22.  Thank you in advance to the parent volunteers for signing up to bring snacks here.  Let us know if you need to make any changes.  

Add Funds to Meal Account: It’s a cinch!

Go to family.titank12.com 

1. Create an account 
2. Link it to your student
3. Add funds

The site has daily menus as well.  Bon appetit!