Principal's Message
AP Exams are nearing completion, student body and class elections for 09/10 are completed, and Open House (5/21) and Class of 2009 celebrations rapidly approach. It is an exciting time as we close this wonderful year. But challenges remain: Swine flu scare, a rash of theft on campus, a closed theater, and, most troubling, a budget that remains restrictive and is expected to get worse.
We remain cognizant and cautious in respect to the H1N1 virus. Please continue to encourage your student to practice proper "sneeze and cough etiquette." Also, please keep your student at home and seek medical attention if your student experiences any flu-like symptoms. While no student at Acalanes has come down with the virus, and the County will not be closing any more schools per CDC recommendation, we will continue to monitor the situation closely.
We want to alert our parent community regarding a rash of theft that has occurred recently in the locker room area. Wallets, keys, electronic devices have been stolen from PE/athletics facility areas. While we are using video surveillance, increased supervision and thorough investigation to try to catch the thieves, the best deterrent is for students to lock up valuables. Better yet, avoid bringing valuables to school when possible.
Our theater remains closed due to the problems with the ventilation system. At this point, we are not planning any events in the theater for the remainder of the year. Planned events will be at alternative venues. We are confident the theater system will be fixed this summer and open for the next school year.
Some good news!
Do not miss out on this great event! The Acalanes Save Our School Club is organizing a benefit concert to help save program at Acalanes during these difficult budgetary times. It is a "can't miss" Lafayette event. If you are free, join us at 7pm on May 15th at Lafayette Orinda Presbyterian Church for a concert that will feature classical and world music and an incredible art show. For ticket information, go to Benefit Concert Tickets
http://acalaneshs.revtrak.net/tek9.asp
Principal John Nickerson
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President's Message
Friday Forum May 8th @ 8:30am - Mark your calendar for next Friday to attend one of the last Friday Forums of the year. Speakers will include Social Studies, Librarian and Special Ed. As always we will wrap up with an update and open discussion with Principal John Nickerson.
Student Directory for 2009-2010 - All returning families, now is the time to sign up to be in the student directory for next year. Go to www.acalanesparents.org and click on the Student Directory link. You must sign up and give your authorization each year to be in the directory. The directory is distributed at Dons Days with a paid membership to Acalanes Parents Club.
Joni Avery, APC President
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Student Activities
Upcoming: Important MessageAcalanes High School students are mobilizing to cushion the blow of expected education budget cuts to their high school, spearheaded by the Save Our School Club. We are planning an entirely student run event, including a professional-level benefit concert with a silent auction, phone banking to sign up parents for the Acalanes eScrip Program, voter registration drives targeted at local youth, and a variety of student focused fundraisers. All proceeds will go to the Acalanes Parents Club to ensure that faculty positions, leadership, library programs, and other crucial student resources can be maintained. Any money made for this cause would undoubtedly benefit the area as a whole in the long run. The highlight of the student agenda, the Benefit Concert, is scheduled for 7:00 PM on May 15th at the Lafayette Orinda Presbyterian Church, with a Pasta Feed starting at 6:00 PM. The concert will feature classical and world music performed by students and professional musicians, including a finale with Gold Coast Chamber Players featuring Jeremy Cohen. Tickets ($20) and a complete meal (pasta, bread, salad, and dessert) will be sold before the show for $7. Tickets for the concert and food can also be bought online at http://acalaneshs.revtrak.net. A silent auction featuring amateur and professional art will be held in the lobby. Guests are welcome to bid before the show and during the intermission, with winners announced after the show. Works include oil paintings, photography, Chinese calligraphy, and watercolor. |
Counseling Notes
Progress Reports The fourth quarter progress reports will be mailed home Friday, May 15th.
Course Choices for 2009-2010 All students have submitted their course requests for next year. As we begin the scheduling process certain realities are worth remembering. 240 credits are required for graduation. A student must take 6 classes per year and may request 7 classes if they wish, however, 7 classes are not guaranteed. A full schedule is composed of at least 6 classes (not including study hall). Seniors may elect to take 5 classes if they have enough credits.
Final Transcripts All colleges (public, private, and community college) require a final transcript. Final transcript request forms will be distributed to seniors in their Government/Economics classes in May. Additional forms are available in the Counseling Office. There is a $3.00 fee for all final official transcripts. An unofficial transcript will be mailed home with the student's diploma. Final transcripts will be processed and mailed in the order that the requests are received. All requests must be made no later than June 20th. Diplomas will be mailed home by June 30th. Please contact Mrs. Wagner in the Counseling Office if you have a change of address or want your diploma mailed to a different address.
Senior Awards Night The Senior Awards Night is scheduled for Thursday, June 4th at 7:00pm. If your senior son or daughter receives an award or scholarship based on academics, leadership, or service, please encourage them to contact Mrs. Karr in the College and Career Center. Invitations to Senior Awards Night are Emailed to participants and their parents only.
Opening of School Dons Days will take place on August 19th and August 20th. Students will receive a tentative course schedule at Dons Days. Please note that school begins on Wednesday, August 25th.
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College and Career Center
Career Day will be on Tuesday May 19. Kim Fisher and Elizabeth Gough, with help from Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, have worked hard to offer our 9, 10, and 11 grade students a wide variety of choices. Each student will be assigned one presentation of their choice that day. Our seniors will gather for a specialized presentation.
We would like to know if your senior has received scholarships from their school or other sources so that we may recognize them at the annual Senior Awards Night. Please let me know by May 15th. jkarr@acalanes.k12.ca.us
SAT/SAT Subject Tests: ACT:
Jun 6 June 13
Register for SAT's online at www.collegeboard.com or for ACT at www.actstudent.org
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Fundraising & eScrip
Fundraising News: MUSIC BENEFIT ~ Friday, May 15th at 7:00pm, LOPC
The Acalanes Save our School Club members are mobilizing to cushion the blow of expected education budget cuts to the District by planning a Benefit Concert scheduled for 7:00pm on Friday, May 15th at the Lafayette Orinda Presbyterian Church. Planned activities will be entirely student run and will feature classical and world music performed by students and professional musicians, including a finale with Gold Coast Chamber Players featuring Jeremy Cohen. A silent auction featuring amateur and professional art will be held in the lobby, with winners announced after the show!
Get your tickets now! Tickets will be sold for $20, and a pasta buffet dinner is being offered for $7. Advanced show and dinner tickets are available for purchase on the school Web Store at http://acalaneshs.revtrak.net.
The Acalanes Parents Club is providing the food. If you are able to donate any prepared pasta, salad, garlic bread, drinks or dessert and/or help volunteer the night of the event, please email Anne Bone at campbone@comcast.net. Please help!
All proceeds will go to the Acalanes Parents' Club to ensure that faculty positions, leadership, library programs, and other crucial student resources can be maintained. Please support our school and our dedicated students by attending this student run event!
Wall of Bricks!
The bricks will be engraved on May 16th - get your orders in now and you will be remembered forever here at Acalanes High School. Contact Gwenly Carrel at bcarrel@comcast.net for further information.
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Boosters Bash
ACALANES PARENT PARTY!!!! HEY DONS! It's back, it's cool and of course..., it's BLUE, Come join your fellow Dons at this years Acalanes Sports Bash.
The Bash is the single largest fundraising event for all Acalanes
school sports combined. Everyone is invited. Your ticket helps
support our programs and your presence makes this the Parent event of
the year. Once again, we've received fabulous auction donations and
its your chance to get a neat getaway, tickets to a ballgame, fine
wine or even a puppy dog all while helping support our sports
programs. Have your Bidding number in one hand and your "Don Blue"
Marg in the other. Last year was a sell out so hustle! Date: 5-9-09 6PM - 10:30PM Place: Temple Isaiah Cost: $60 per adult Checks made out to: Acalanes HS Boosters Club; Mail checks to: 1200 Pleasant Hill Road, Lafayette, CA 94549
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Class of 2012
Fundraising 101
When it seems everyone is trying to balance budgets and asking your help to do so, we thought you might want a little refresher course on our fundraising efforts...
1. Our class is responsible for the funding of many milestone events for our students such as the Junior Prom, Senior Ball, Senior Breakfast and the Senior Time of Reflection (previously known as the Baccalaureate - nobody could spell it - we had to change it). In an effort to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to attend these events, we raise money to offset prices and help ensure everyone's attendance should they want to go.
2. Our goal is to raise approximately $5000.00 a year. We are well on our way because of our parent's great response to the fundraisers we have had so far. These fundraisers include football concessions, basketball concessions, and the sale of freshman homecoming t-shirts.
3. We are absolutely sympathetic with the state of the economy these days, which is why we have limited our fundraisers this year. We have tried to make sure that they are not a burden on our families. Between giving an hour or two to run a concession stand, donating $12.00 for a pizza or a case of water to sell at concessions, or purchasing a hand-designed homecoming shirt, we hope that we have given people numerous, rather painless ways to give.
4. Our last fundraiser is approaching quickly. For those who have purchased tickets to our "Fun Fest" already, we thank you. If you can't attend this year, we understand. Look for more information on this event in our next newsletter.
As always, we, your liaisons for the class of 2012, thank you for making our job so easy.
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Questions? Contact your Class of 2012 Liaisons:
Dawn Lynn Lanier dllanier@comcast.net
Kim Figone kimfigone@ebsan.com
Cindy Reidy TQReidy@comcast.net
Meg McNiece mmcniece@gmail.com
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Class of 2010
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Questions? Contact your class liaisons:
Rhonda Andronico at rhondaandronico@yahoo.com
Kim Fowler at torch40@aol.com
Al Maggio at albert.maggio@kp.org
Ellen Whittom at ewhittom@comcast.net
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Class of 2009
Wall of Bricks
Wondering
what special and lasting gift to give your graduating senior? How
about inscribing their name permanently on the Wall of Bricks outside
of the school office? A special memento to last a lifetime! Contact
Gwenly Carrel at bcarrel@comcast.net if you are interested or have questions (forms are also in the office).
"CASABLANCA" SENIOR BALL 2009 Online ticket sales for Sr. Ball will begin on May 11th and run thru May 20th. Parents are encouraged to use this method for payment in order to expedite registration for the Seniors during lunch hours on May 19-21. Refer to your parent package that was mailed to your home for further information. This, and necessary forms, is available at the Sr. Ball website: http://SeniorBall09.homestead.com/ . Nancy Hughes @ nhughesnic@aol.com. Ticket Information- natalie12c@sbcglobal.net
RENT A TUX; BRING ACALANES SOME BUCKS!!
Rent a Tux - Raise funds for the Grad Night 09 Party!
Selix
will donate $10 to the Acalanes Grad Night Fund for every tuxedo rented
by an Acalanes student or date this spring. Just mention "Acalanes" and
Selix will do the rest. Questions? Call Cindy Towle Kephart 284-3815.
Tuxedos can be rented at any Bay Area Selix store. Our nearby location is:
SELIX
951 Contra Costa Boulevard(near See's Candies)
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
925.798.2214
M-F 10 to 7, Sat 8:30 to 5, Sun 12 to 4
GRAD NIGHT
Thank
you to all who are working on Grad Night 09! For those that want to
volunteer your time or donate on item from our wish list, please email
Grad Night Chair, Michele Poloka at camarofamily@comcast.net.
We
are hoping to collect a gift card ($10-$20) from each family. These
cards will be used for prizes at Grad Night. Our goal is to have one
gift card for each senior. Please send the gift cards to 3384 Rossi
Street/Lafayette attn: Erin McGlynn/Grad Night Prize Chair or call
925-283-7156 to arrange for pick-up.
Stay Tuned for more announcements and meeting dates to come as we get closer to June 12th!
TIME OF REFLECTION
Save the Date:
Senior Class "Time of Reflection"
Saturday, June 6
3:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church
Questions regarding "Time of Reflection" email or call Cindy Towle Kephart at 925.284.3815 or kephartc@pacbell.net
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Questions? Contact your class liaisons:
Karen Blodgett at karenb@blodgetts.com
Erin McGlynn at erinomcglynn@yahoo.com
Julie Neff at jneff52@msn.com
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Legislative News
LEGISLATION ACTION -- UPDATE ABOUT MAY 19th SPECIAL ELECTION
As you know, there's a statewide special election coming up on May 19th. If the May 19 propositions do not pass, there will likely be additional cuts to education in the coming state budget. While Acalanes High School has a Parents Club (and not a PTA organization), we'd like to share information with you about the positions that the California PTA organization has taken.
PTA SUPPORTS Propositions 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1E. Click here for more information.
Why? The outcome of the May 19 propositions will determine whether there is an additional $6 billion deficit in the state budget (in addition to the $8 billion dollar deficit previously announced by the CA Legislative Analyst). Since education is the largest portion of the state budget, one could expect that if there is an added amount to the state deficit, education would likely take another round of budget cuts. School districts across the state are already being told to brace for mid-year cuts. UGH.
From CA state PTA Website: "While we do not feel these measures (1A, 1B, 1C, 1E) adequately address the need for long-term budget reform in California, we recognize that most of the measures represent important and necessary steps to prevent deeper cuts to education and children's programs during the state's current economic crisis."
CA PTA has also taken a position to OPPOSE Proposition 1D, which would redirect money away from First 5, which funds "early childhood education, health care access, education for new parents and support for families in crisis.
For additional information, click on the Las Trampas Creek Council Leg Team webpage.
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Healthy Choices/SOS/Parent Ed
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FROM THE SCHOOL NURSE
Mark Your Calendars NOW:
Acalanes Senior Health Symposium
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
9:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
This is a special program planned just for students in the senior class.
The
Senior Health Symposium will address issues of physical and mental
health especially related to the transition to college and post-high
school life. Speakers include leaders in the field of young adult
health. Focus areas will include wellness, anxiety, depression, eating
disorders, sexuality, alcohol/substance use and personal safety. An
opportunity will be provided for questions and discussion.
Note: students need parent and teacher
permission to miss 3rd and 4th periods that day.
Parent volunteers are needed to help coordinate this
program.
Please email dcitron@acalanes.k12.ca.us
if you are available to help. Permission slips and more info available on Nurse's site (see below). Please turn in Permission Slips!
Dvora Citron, Acalanes School Nurse
280-3970 ext. 7128
Email: dcitron@acalanes.k12.ca.us
School Nurse Website
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Community Events
LASF
Do You Know... How LASF Spends Your Money?
LASF guidelines for what it funds can be viewed at http://lasf.org/scope.htm. Read for yourself what LASF funds first (e.g. science and arts programs); always funds (e.g. instructional, classroom-based expenses); conditionally funds (K5 classroom aides and library salaries) and never funds (sports.) Remember, the school districts determine what academic programs students will receive - LASF, in turn, works with the districts to prioritize how LASF funds will be distributed.
100% Participation: Every Donation Counts
There is still time to make your LASF 2009-10 donation - contribute any amount and you will help LASF reach its $1.5M goal and you will strengthen our donor community. You can donate $20 or you can donate $20 dollars each month for a year - there are many options for making a difference.
"Every child. Every classroom. Every dollar counts."
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ANNOUNCING ORINDA IDOL 2009 AUDITIONS!! The Orinda Arts Council invites K-12th Graders to sing for a chance to be an Orinda Idol Finalist! The categories open to all LAMORINDA students are SOLO HIGH SCHOOL (9th-12th) & GROUPS (K-5th & 6th-12th).
AUDITIONS are MAY 30th 10am-5pm at Orinda Intermediate School, 80 Ivy Drive, Orinda. RESERVATIONS OPEN APRIL 17th and CLOSE MAY 24th. Email Student(s) Name, Grade, School & Email Address to orindaidol@bluestar.com (Note that the SOLO ELEMENTARY & SOLO MIDDLE SCHOOL categories are open to Orinda students only.)
10 FINALISTS in each category will compete at the FINALS on SEPTEMBER 13th at the Orinda Theatre to be the next Orinda Idols! Cash Prizes for Winners: High School $750, Middle School $500,3rd-5th Grade $300, K-2nd Grade $200, Groups $300/$500
MORE INFORMATION:
http://www.orindaartscouncil.org/orindaidol.html
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Host Families Needed: Center for Cultural Interchange (CCI) is a non-profit international education exchange organization dedicated to the promotion of academic development, cultural understanding, environmental consciousness, and world peace. CCI has placed over 1,000 students annually for the last 24 years. If you have thought about hosting an exchange student in the past or know of someone who might be interested I would love to hear from you. Email me @ candace94549@yahoo.com
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Town Hall Theater
Support Lafayette's only Live Theatre. Come to the 2nd Annual Fundraising Gala on
Sat.
May 16, 2009. Tickets are $45 each - 2 for $80. Live entertainment,
auction, free drinks and an overall good time. Call the box office at
283-1557 to get tickets now or order online at www.thtc.org
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Girl Scouts
Senior Girl Scout Troop 32153 is hosting a Shred-a-thon
on Saturday May 9th at the Springhill Elementary
School parking lot from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The tickets are $10.00 and are
good for one box of shredding (1 box= 1 Banker's box 12x10x24 or equivalent to a bag
around 40lbs). All the proceeds of this fundraiser go to support the troop and
their support of the Girl Scout Our Cabana program in which they are hoping to
participate next summer. The Our Cabana program is an international facility maintained
by Girl Scouts where troops from around the world come and participate in local
service projects.
For more information or to purchase tickets
please contact Leslie Dumas at 925-283-7566.
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10th Annual Lafayette Kitchen Tour
Sat. May 16 -10am to 3pm. Benefiting Youth Homes Inc.
Tickets
are $35, gourmet box lunch, $12 extra. Buy tickets in advance through
a Lafayette Junior, in person at Douglah Designs, 3577 Mt. Diablo
Blvd. or Premier Kitchens, 3373 Mt. Diablo Blvd or online www.lafayettejuniors.com.
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Classified Ads
Tutors, College Advisors, carpoolers, sellers and renters advertise with APC The Classified page of the Acalanes Parents Club website is a great way to advertise not only for business but for personal use too. You can advertise to sell an item, rent a timeshare or cabin, look for carpools, kid sitters, pet sitters, etc. Please contact Ann Baer at annkathrynbaer@yahoo.com or 284-7713 to place your ad. The cost is 50 cents per word per month and all proceeds go to the Acalanes High School Parents Club. Thank you for your support.
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Quick Links
email: ahspc@hotmail.com
web: http://www.acalanesparents.org
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