| Principal's Message
Dear Acalanes High School Community,
As we start the month of February we are faced with many
challenges that the current budget situation brings us. Due to the budget crisis
in Sacramento, AUHSD finds itself in a similar situation as most other
districts surrounding us. The fiscal situation is bleak and the district faces
a $4.8 million dollar shortfall for the upcoming school year. It is unfortunate
as this will have an impact on all programs offered at our high schools. I encourage
all parents and students to stay informed on issues related to the budget
crisis and its effects on our schools. Please visit the district website where
you can find documents and press releases relating to the current budget
updates. I also encourage you to attend the Friday Forum and the School Board
meetings to stay informed and educated.
Last week Acalanes counselors visited all classrooms and
presented students with a planning guide for the 2010-11 schedule. Due to the
proposed reductions in staff and the budget shortfall, we are currently
limiting students to a six period day. All students are asked to select six
classes they would like to take next year. In addition, they can choose a 7th
period option in case there are changes in the budget and we can add that
option to the master schedule. Students are asked to put two alternates for
their electives in case they cannot get the class they requested as their first
choice. I encourage you to have a conversation with your son/daughter and help
guide them in the classes they are selecting. If you have any questions with
regards to the course selection, please contact your child's counselor.
Our sophomores are currently taking the California High
School Exit Exam. This is a required two-part exam that all students in the
state of California are asked to take. We wish all our sophomores the best of
luck.
Last weekend, our Jazz Ensemble competed at the Folsom Jazz
Festival. Our musicians, under the direction of Norm Dea, were awarded a 2nd
place trophy and a unanimous Superior Rating. Way to go!
Our winter sports are nearing the end of their season. If
you haven't had a chance to come and support our teams, we still have few home
games left. Our boys and girls basketball will take on Campolindo HS on Tuesday
February 9th. Boys' soccer will face Miramonte High School and honor
our seniors on Wednesday February 10th. Girls Soccer faces
Campolindo tonight, Wednesday February 3rd. Wrestling will not
compete at home for the remainder of their season.
Our spring athletes are gearing up for the start of their
season on Monday. February 8th. If your son/daughter plans on participating
on a spring team, please make to turn in all the necessary paperwork to our
Athletic Director, Randy Takahashi. For all deadlines and athletic schedules
please visit our Booster website.
Aida Glimme
Principal
|
President's Message
We are staring right into the eye of the storm. Massive cuts and
layoffs unlike anything we have seen before. Acalanes Unified School
District is going to be eviscerated! Dramatic? You bet! As Principal
Glimme noted in her message, all programs will be
impacted by this. Stay informed by attending meetings. Get involved by
offering to help. We need your support more than ever. The Governing
Board has voted to proceed with an Emergency Parcel Tax Campaign. We
are in need of volunteers to help win this campaign. Please contact me
if you are willing to help: AstridaLalor@sbcglobal.net Please attend: Governing Board meetings - tonight 7:30 pm @ District Office Wednesday, February 3 6:30 PM Closed Session 7:30 PM Open Session Board Room, AUHSD
District Office, Lafayette Items of interest to the public include: Audit Report for the 2008-2009 fiscal year
Measure E Update
Closure of Del Oro High School
2010-2011 Certificated Layoffs (link to agenda item)The agenda and supporting documents will
be available online three days before the meeting. Note: agenda and
supporting documents are best viewed using Mozilla Firefox. Superintendents Meeting this Thurs 7:00 pm in Acalanes small
theater
Advocacy Day - Feb 17th
Friday Forum is this Friday, Feb. 5th at 8:30am
in the Faculty Dining Room. Aida Glimme will give an update on the
School Goals she presented at our first Friday Forum of this school
year. We will also hear from Lynn Millar from Counseling.
It's a busy week, let's make it a productive one as well! Thank you for your support. Go Dons!
Astrida Lalor
|
Legislative News
Is
the budget crisis starting to feel real?
By now you have seen the
direct result of the State's budget on your student's ability
to register for seven periods next year.
Notice the title of the upcoming
Superintendents Forum:
"Addressing
Our Education Crisis and Its Impact on Our Community,"
Hear a panel discussion with
our six neighboring superintendents, including LAFSD superintendent, Fred Brill
and Acalanes Union High School District superintendent, John Stockton.
This Thursday, Feb. 4
at 7 p.m. at Acalanes High School Small Theater, 1200 Pleasant Hill Road,
Lafayette.
FRUSTRATED
WITH SACRAMENTO AND THE GOVERNORS BUDGET?
Attend The 30th
Annual PTA
Advocacy Day,
Wednesday, Feb. 17
Information
flier, itinerary and sign up online http://www.signmeup.com/67766.
|
| Student Activities
Thursday there is an Open Forum in Room 105 (Study Hall) during lunch.
Ms. Glimme will be there to answer any questions about the school and
next year's changes due to the budget deficit. Next week, Monday
through Wednesday, Valentine's Day Grams will be sold for students to
spread some love and fun gifts. International
Week is coming up the week of March 15-19. We could really use your
help with international decorations, ethnic food and clothing, and any
information about performers we can use. Any help you can contribute
will be appreciated and all borrowed items (decorations and clothing)
will be safely and promptly returned. If you are interested in helping
us out with International Week, please contact us at ahsdiversityboard@gmail.com. Thanks and we hope to hear from you soon!! |
Art and Music
Great job by the Acalanes Jazz Ensemble today at the Folsom Jazz Festival. The students earned a Unanimous Superior Rating and a 2nd Place Trophy in the High School AA Division! The total points from the 3 adjudicators (out of 1,000 each) were 945/941/948 totaling 2,834 points! Festival recognition by the adjudicators and special kudos for outstanding performances to:
Erin Grant
Joe Barton
Alec Michels
Trevor Mooney
Tommy Holmes
Will Prinzi
Delaney McGuire
Ben Zucker
Many thanks to the many Acalanes parents that accompanied the students up to Folsom today. It was a wonderful day of musical making and sharing. We have a relatively young band meaning that the future is bright and the sky's the limit!
Sincerely,
Norman Dea
Director of Instrumental Music
http://acalanesmusic.com/
|
Counseling Notes
Report Cards: The first semester report cards were mailed home on Friday,
January 29th.
Summer School: Summer School registration information
is available on the district website http://www.acalanes.k12.ca.us/summerschool/.
Summer school registration will begin on February 16th. The Summer School Program will be
offered on 2 campuses this year:
- Acalanes High School will host students
needing to improve F grades. (Session I: June 21 - July 9; Session
II: July 12 - July 29).
- Center for Independent
Study will
host students wishing to improve D grades. (Sessions I
& II: June 21 - July 9).
Signing up for next year's classes has begun! The counselors have made presentations to
freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. In two weeks we will return to the classrooms to answer
further questions and collect the students' course requests forms.
Due to the impending cuts in funding
students will need to make careful choices in their course requests. Students may request 7 courses however
it is very likely that they will be limited to 6. It is also very important for students to give multiple
alternates for each elective including academic elective courses as these
classes will be impacted.
Course descriptions are in the catalog available
on the district website http://www.acalanes.k12.ca.us/curriculum/distcoursecat/DistCourseCat.pdf
. Course
request forms may be downloaded from the counseling office blackboard site if
your student misplaces his or her form.
This year we are again distributed a Time
Management Activity Form to help students recognize how much time they will spend on
the different aspects of their lives. The Homework Estimator tells students the
approximate amount and type of homework for each class. If you would like to download these two
forms they are also available on the Counseling Office Blackboard site and on
the Parents Club site.
During February and early March, counselors will
meet individually with all of the juniors to review course choices for next
year, graduation status, and post high school plans. Final decisions on course requests must be made by the end of
March.
Transcripts: Most private colleges request that students send Mid-Year Reports.
Mid-year reports and accompanying transcripts (printed after semester
grades are posted) can also be ordered now. Please order the transcripts through Naviance. The fee for transcripts is $3.00 each.
|
College and Career Center
The College and Career Center and
the Counseling Department will host the Sophomore/Junior Parent Night on
Tuesday, February 9 at 7:00 in the PAC. Our presentation will focus
on the college application process, testing requirements, and the admissions
landscape followed by a question and answer period. We hope you will join us.
Our second annual Career Day is
March 25th. All 9th,
10th, and 11th graders will attend one presentation of
their choice. We have a wide array of presenters, thanks to the response of the
parent community.
Joan Karr
College and Career Advisor
|
Fundraising and eScrip
eScrip
DriversEd.com offers an all online
course that you can take anytime and anywhere you want! DriversEd.com will donate
5% of your DriversEd.com tuition to Acalanes High School through
eScrip.
The course gives you everything
you need to prepare for your learners permit and drivers license exams.
Begin the course for free to see if it's right for you!* Once
you pass the final test, you'll receive a Certificate of Completion The Premium Course Includes
- 50
FREE online DMV practice permit tests
- Fast
shipment of a Certicate of Completion
- 24/7 multi-lingual customer support
- Everything
you need to pass your learner's
permit written test
Did you know that the Duck Club at the Lafayette Park
Hotel donates a portion of your dinner bill to Acalanes? Did you know that Mountain
Mike's Pizza and Extreme also give contribute a portion of your bill back to
our school. Going into Berkeley to catch a Cal basketball game. Blake on
Telegraph or Pyramid Alehouse are two more that help out the cause.
Make sure
your debit or credit card in registered and up to date with eScrip. It is as
simple as that. For a list of all bay area restaurants to to www.eScrip.com
Bon Appetit
And, don't forget Susan Foord on Wednesdays!
Susan will donate a portion of your Wednesday purchase back to the Acalanes
Parents Club.
Please educate yourselves on the budget issues we are
all facing. It is critical that we all stay involved and look for ways to
continue to support our students. If you have any creative fundraising
ideas, please contact Anne Bone at campbone@comcast.net or Ann Baer at annkathrynbaer@yahoo.com. Link to Fundraising...
|
Class of 2013
Freshman fundraising update:
To
date our class has raised about $6,500 through t-shirt sales, and concession
sales for football and basketball. Thanks for all your help and
support! We hope to raise another $2,000 this school year.
Please email us with your ideas. Remember the funds will raise over the four
years will be used to help support Junior Prom, Senior Ball, Senior Breakfast,
A Time of Reflection, and Graduation.
Don't
forget these important dates...
TONIGHT
Wednesday,
February 3rd: Drugs, Alcohol and the Brain Presentation- For 9th grade parents only
7:00
- 9:00 p.m. - AHS Cafeteria- Presentation by Ralph Cantor, Educator and
Counselor
All students in the 9th grade PE/Health Classes will participate in a
presentation by Mr. Cantor regarding the physiology of addiction, including
alcohol, tobacco and drug use. In the evening, the parents will
have an opportunity to hear the same presentation to enable you to have a
dialogue with your student.
TOMORROW
Thursday,
Feb. 4th: A Superintendents Forum
7
pm, Acalanes High School Small Theatre
All
six local school superintendents will discuss the budget crisis and its effect
on our School Districts.
Wednesday,
February 17th: Advocacy Day
Frustrated with Sacramento and the Governor's Budget? Hop
on a chartered bus to Sacramento for a one day crash course on how the budget
works (and doesn't), who our legislators are and what they are trying to do for
education, and what parents can do. The more of us that go, the bigger impact
it has on Sacramento. Registration and information available online at www.signmeup.com/67766.
|
Class of 2012
Thank you all who donated and helped out
at last night's basketball concessions. As you may know, the
proceeds benefit our class. If you didn't get a chance to help this
round, stay tuned. We are running one more concession in several
weeks. Please contact Meg McNiece if you would like to help out and she
can tell you what our needs are. Hope to see you there!
_________________________________________________________
Questions? Contact your Class of 2012 Liaisons:
Dawn Lynn Lanier dllanier@comcast.net
Kim Figone kimfigone@ebsan.com
Meg McNiece mmcniece@gmail.com
Richard Whitmore richard.whitmore@gmail.com
Link to Class of 2012... |
Class of 2011
Dear Junior Class Parents, Soon our students will be celebrating a
wonderful evening at the Junior Prom. This year we are only soliciting
donations of soda for the event. If you will be contributing cases of
soda, please contact Pais Barton at paisabar@gmail.com
or 935-2481. We are looking for donations of Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite,
Diet Sprite and Root Beer for the festivities. Thank you very much for
your support!!
_______________________________________________________________________________ Questions? Contact your Class of 2011 Liaisons:
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Class of 2010
Due tomorrow Feb 4th:
Every year the yearbook has a section for parents to give their seniors a special goodbye or words of encouragement as they complete an important phase of their life. This will be a wonderful surprise at the finale of your son or daughter's senior year in June, because these messages are kept a secret until yearbook distribution. To ensure that your message is included in the yearbook, but a surprise for your senior, please mail or deliver this form in a sealed envelope with a check for the appropriate amount made out to Acalanes High School, to:
Aklan, Room 208
Acalanes High School
1200 Pleasant Hill Road
Lafayette, CA 94549
You may request additional forms for grandparents or other relatives. Feel free to email Sherry Disher sdisher@acalanes.k12.ca.us with any questions.
Please go to class of 2010 Web page to download your form.
The form is also in your Dons Days packet.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Welcome to 2nd Semester Senior Year. Please make sure you have the following important dates marked on your calendars:
Senior Ball -- Saturday, May 22, 2010 from 7:00 -11:30 p.m. at the Bentley Reserve in San Francisco.
Time of Reflection -- Saturday, June 5, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. at Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church
Graduation -- Friday, June 11, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. at Acalanes
Grad Night -- immediately following Graduation until early a.m. on Saturday, June 12, 2010
Planning is underway for all of these events and more details/information will be forthcoming.
If
you'd like to get involved and help out with Grad Night, there will be
an all parent meeting in April (date to be announced), and work parties
will take place on Saturdays beginning on the second Saturday of April,
2010. Construction week will take place from June 4-10, 2010.
If you have questions or want more information, contact one of the Class of 2010 Parent Liaisons. ______________________________________________________________________________
Seniors/Parents: No one will be admitted to grad night without a permission slip on file, signed by both parents and student. Please go to the website, download the form, and turn it into the main office in the box marked "grad night". Forms also available in box. Thanks!
Download Permission Form
______________________________________________________________________________ Questions? Contact your Class of 2010 Liaisons:
|
Acalanes Sports
Last week, the boys basketball team defeated three school,
Miramonte HS 61-57, Dougherty Valley HS 71-57, and Dublin HS 61-56 in overtime
to raise their DFAL record to 6-1. The girls basketball team played very
well, but fell to Miramonte HS, Dougherty Valley HS, and Dublin HS. The
boys soccer team defeated Northgate HS 3-0, tied San Ramon Valley HS 1-1, but
fell to Las Lomas HS 1-0, while boasting an overall record of 13-3-2. The
girls soccer team tied Las Lomas HS 1-1, but suffered in defeat to El Cerrito
HS.
This
week, the girls basketball team will host El Cerrito HS on Thursday, with the
JV at 5:30, and varsity at 7:00. The soccer teams play Campolindo HS on
Wednesday and Alhambra HS on Friday. Both days, the girls are home and
the boys are away, with JV at 4:15 and varsity at 6:15. The wrestling
team has a match Thursday at Dougherty Valley HS.
The
spring season begins Monday, February 8th. Complete your athletic
clearance now. Go to www.logiforms.com/formdata/user_forms/18563_4921855/72765/,
complete the entire online process, and submit the necessary forms to Coach
Takahashi. Students may submit the forms in room 207 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday,
and Friday from 7:30 to 7:50am, or Monday through Friday at brunch and lunch.
Special submission times will be Thursday, February 4; Monday, February 8; and
Tuesday, February 9 in front of the main office from 2:30 to 3:30 each of these
three days.
The Acalanes Booster Sports Bash will be Saturday, May 15th. All are
welcome. You do not need to be the parent of an Acalanes athlete to attend
and participate. This year promises to be as much fun if not more than
last year. Tickets are $65 per person. For tickets or more
information call Mike Bloom at 284-7625, or Susana Maron at 962-9566.
Randy Takahashi
Athletic Director |
From The School Nurse
It's still flu season!
H1N1 flu is still present in our community and everyone is urged to get
vaccinated. This is the best way to protect yourself, your loved ones and your
community. More than 389,000 doses of H1N1 flu vaccine have been delivered to
providers (including Kaiser, hospitals, Public Health, community clinics,
pediatricians, ob/gyns and family practice doctors) throughout Contra Costa.
Everyone is encouraged to check first with their health care providers to get
H1N1 AND seasonal flu vaccine. Vaccine is also available at some chain
pharmacies.
See the School Nurse Blackboard website for more info: http://tinyurl.com/5zena8
_____________________________________________
Acalanes 2010 Blood Drive
Thursday, February 25th
8:30am - 2:30pm
Small Gym
Parents needed to help with the Blood Drive. You can help in many ways:
- Help staff the event: please choose from the following shifts:
- 8:00am - 10:30am
- 10:15am - 12:45pm
- 12:30pm - 3:00pm
- Provide breakfast items for the Donor Breakfast in the morning and/or healthy snacks/baked goods/beverages for the canteen during the Blood Drive.
- Coordinate the Donor Breakfast
To sign up to DONATE BLOOD go to:
Dvora Citron
Acalanes School Nurse
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Parent Education
New Driver in the Family?
Acalanes Parents Club Parent Ed is sponsoring a spring class of Drive Smart, Stay Safe.
The California Highway Patrol will offer this free class Wednesday, March 3rd , 5:45-8:00pm in the school cafeteria. This program, developed by the CHP, is for parents and teens to attend together. It is designed to reduce the number of teenage injuries and deaths resulting from motor vehicle collisions. You will learn about the dangers faced by young drivers, the driving restrictions placed on drivers under the age of 18, defensive driving, and strategies parents can use to reduce the chances of their child becoming involved in a collision.
Space is limited. To sign up for the class, please email LGSENDME@SBCGLOBAL.NET with "Drive Smart" written in subject line. Include parent and student names and grade. Please notify if canceling.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Living in the World of
Texting, Video Games, and Facebook:
Are They a Modern Means of Essential Connection or Tools of Addiction
and Exploitation?
Monday, February, 22, 2010 7:00 to 9:00pm
Miramonte HS Theatre
Steven Freemire, MFT, will discuss the many issues parents and teens face navigating the
exciting and ever-changing, yet potentially harmful world of communication
technologies. The session will:
1) provide guidelines for assessing the differences
between use, abuse and dependence; 2) offer practical ideas and tools to help parents manage
their children's use and potential overuse of technology; and 3) advise parents how to address the danger of
cyber bullying and online predators, and how to respond if their children have
been victimized.
Steven Freemire is the director of the Contra
Costa Men's Center. He has a private practice in Berkeley and Walnut Creek
where he provides psychotherapy and coaching for teens and their families,
adults, couples and groups. He is
an adjunct faculty member at John F. Kennedy University. He co-leads couples workshops with his
wife, and is also an organizational consultant. Steven is the proud father of
two high school-age girls.
For more information, contact Sherri Williams at: Jbswilliams27@yahoo.com.
For flyer see http://www.acalanes.k12.ca.us/parents/. Click on "High School
Information Nights."
|
Community Events
Race to Nowhere Documentary http://www.racetonowhere.com/
On Thursday, February 11 at 7 PM, we will be screening in the East Bay at the
Grand Lake Theater in Oakland http://www.renaissancerialto.com/. Tickets
may be purchased at the box office.
______________________________________________________________________________
Sweet Thursday at the Lafayette Library
On February 18 at 7:30, The Friends of the Lafayette Library present
The Friends of the Lafayette Library is proud
to present an evening with Mahbod Seraji, the author of Rooftops of Tehran.
This stunning literary debut paints a portrait of growing up, discovering love,
and awakening to the reality of life in a nation on the verge of revolution in
the 1970's. From the rooftop of his house in Iran's sprawling capital
city, the narrator watches his beautiful neighbor and secret love, Zari,
promised since birth to his friend and mentor, nicknamed Doctor-- a man adored
and respected by the entire neighborhood. It is from this perch that the
narrator witnesses the arrest of Doctor and the terrible repercussions brought
about by the brutal regime. Join us for this special event and enjoy coffee and dessert in the
Community Hall of the New Lafayette Library and Learning Center. For more
information, visit http://www.lafayettelib.com.
_______________________________________________________________________________
The Orinda Arts
Council
Is proud to announce
the 7th Annual
High School Visual
Arts Competition
Featuring 2D, 3D and
Photographic Art
Open to all High
School students who live or attend school in
Orinda, Lafayette or
Moraga
Register Online @ www.orindaartscouncil.org between Feb. 1-Feb. 18, 2010
Registration
Deadline: Midnight Thurs. Feb. 18
Deliver Art to Orinda
Library May Room Sun. Feb 28 1:00-4:00 pm
Awards Reception Wed.
March 10 4:30 - 6:00 pm
Exhibit Runs March
5-30
Art Pick-up Wed.
March 31 2:00 - 4:00 pm
Question? Contact ccklevan@comcast.net___________________________________________________________________
TEEN ADVENTURE
Sea Scouts is a non-profit youth maritime
organization. No experience is required. Teens learn how
to operate & maintain large ships as well as sailboats, kayaks, and
canoes. They also learn navigation, knots, compass, radio
communications, weather, first aid, water safety and leadership skills.
The S.S.S. (Sea Scout Ship) Sea Witch crew meets year
round Tuesdays 6:30pm - 8:30pm at the Sea Scout building, 225 N.
Court St. Waterfront Park, Martinez and Saturdays 9-3pm on the ship at the
Martinez marina. Only $15/yr to join. Questions? Contact
Communications Officer Mr. Rolf Lindenhayn at lindenhayn@sbcglobal.net
(925) 917-0573.
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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 Lucie Paladino at luciepaladino@sbcglobal.net 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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