| Principal's Message
Dear Acalanes High School Community,
With only few days left in the third quarter and the Spring
Break upon us, there is palpable excitement at Acalanes High School. I continue
to be impressed with the quality of instruction and the engagement of our
students. Students are working hard on completing their assignments and taking
exams this week as they prepare for a well deserved break. We will also hold
our annual Talent Show on Thursday, April 1st and have had many
students practicing and rehearsing to showcase their talents.
April and May will be packed
with various state and college board exams. All 9th, 10th
and 11th graders will be taking STAR exams starting April 20th.
By focusing on state standards throughout their curriculum, our teachers have
been preparing our students for the upcoming exams. The results of the STAR
exam are used as a tool for continuous improvement practices at the school.
STAR results also determine our API (Academic Performance Indicator). API is
used by the state of California to rank schools and districts. Letters are
being mailed to all parents and guardians with detailed information and class
schedules for the week of STAR testing. Please look for it in the mail. I will
also email additional follow up information.
Many students will be taking
Advanced Placement exams in May. Students should speak to their specific AP
teachers or Mrs. Humann in the Counseling Office to obtain additional information
regarding AP Exams.
I would like to congratulate
our Boys Basketball team for being awarded the North Coast Section Scholastic
Award. 168 schools are part of our region and only three have gotten the award.
We are very proud of our team's accomplishments in excelling on the court and
in the classroom. The boys have earned an impressive average team GPA of 3.24.
Acalanes High School recently
hosted our annual Career Day. We had over 80 guest speakers talk to our
students about their professions. Our students had the opportunity to chose the
workshops and hear about their interests. Our speakers represented various
professions including; FBI agents, District Attorneys, NASA Astrophysicist,
beauticians, educators, plumbers, sports figures, professional surfers and many
more. We would like to thank all our wonderful speakers for participating in
this very valuable program.
With the spring weather and
more sunshine in our days, we have noticed an increase in the violations of our
dress code policy. Please remind your students to adhere to the dress code policy
as stated on page nine of the Student Handbook. Specifically I would like to
point out that it is a violation of the dress code to wear strapless, off the
shoulder or low-cut tops, and bare midriffs. We truly appreciate your help with
this matter.
Thank you for reading and I
hope you enjoy your Spring Break
Aida Glimme
Principal
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President's Message
Vote Yes on Measure A! Ballots arrive next week-mail back immediately! Scroll down or contact Ellen Whittom ewhittom@comcast.net, or visit www.AboutMeasureA.org for more information.
Friday Forum is this Friday, April 2nd at 8:30. Immediately following Friday Forum will be our Parent Club General Meeting.
Our
speakers for Friday Forum will be: Liz Pagano - English, Jay Chugh -
Science, Karin Kauzer - Special Education, followed by Principal Aida
Glimme. Please come join us in the Faculty Dining Room.
Proposed Slate of Officers
for Acalanes High School Parent Club 2010-2011 Executive Board:
President - Laura Reilling
1st VP - Wendy Poling
2nd VP Fundraising - Ann Baer
Treasurer - Victoria Bjerke
Asst Treasurer - Lisa Anderson
Recording Secretary - Sheree Bauer
Corresponding Secretary - Kim Stewart
Parliamentarian - Astrida Lalor
Auditor - Joni Avery
Astrida Lalor
Acalanes Parents Club President
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| Vote Yes On Measure A
Vote Yes on Measure A!
Ballots arrive next week-mail yours back immediately
Measure
A is required to raise the necessary funds to prevent drastic changes
to core educational programs, making it impossible to maintain a
competitive quality of education at Acalanes High School.
· Measure A is only part of the solution.
District management positions have already been reduced by 20%.
Additional cuts include: the loss of 12 office personnel (3 per high
school)
· a reduction in custodial services to every other day
· severe cuts to building maintenance and grounds keeping
Furthermore,
· teachers
and certificated staff recently approved a reduction in salary and
benefits (5 unpaid furlough days and cuts in health and retirement
benefits)
· class sizes will again increase
· district administration agreed to 5 unpaid furlough days and a reduction in benefits
· parent
groups and foundations have increased support, but no amount of
fundraising can match deep and continuous cuts in state funding
Community support of Measure A
is the last component of a multi-pronged approach to preserve over 50
important teaching positions and programs to maintain the quality we
expect from our schools. 100%
of Measure A funds go directly to save classes and programs, as well as
support services for students such as librarians and counselors.
Did You Know?
Measure A enables us to maintain programs at a fraction of the cost of similar quality schools. Piedmont,
a K-12 district with comparable scores and situation, has an annual
parcel tax of $2,500. Private high schools in the area (Head Royce,
Athenian, etc.) have annual tuitions of $25,000 or more, yet our
children's performance is comparable.
Be Part of the Solution
· Immediately mail back ballot - make your Vote count!
· Register to Vote (if you haven't already) by April 19th at www.cocovote.us
· Make sure your kids and neighbors 18 and older register to Vote
· Encourage your friends to Vote Yes on Measure A
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Legislative News
Spring Break
homework : Check the Mail for Your Measure A Ballot!
Ballots for Measure A, the Acalanes Union High School District
$112 emergency parcel tax, will be mailed April
5th to every registered voter. This election is by
mail-in ballot only: don't
let your ballot get lost in your Spring Break mail pile! As
soon as you receive it, vote
"yes," sign it, and mail it. Ballots not
received in the election office by May 4 will not be counted.
Measure A would raise the local funds needed to avoid severe cuts to core
academic programs, including science and mathematics, at our four local high
schools.
For more information on Measure A, go to www.AboutMeasureA.org.
Note: the Voter Registration deadline for this election is April
19th. To register to vote, click here.
Measure A is endorsed by
the Las Trampas Creek Council of PTAs.
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| Student Activities
Come to the 2010 Acalanes Talent Show! This year's performances are
spectacular and you will not want to miss the display of talent. The
show kicks off Thursday (April 1st) at 6:00 followed by an 8:00 show
packed with Seniors. Get ready for some original music pieces, comedy
and a lot of great surprises! What are you doing for April Fool's Day?
Don't kid yourself, come to the Talent Show. $7 for one show, $10 for both
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Fundraising
A look at your dollars at work! DIGITAL DESIGN! Acalanes Parent's Club donations are hard at work in our Digital Design classroom! YOU
are helping to provide current industry software and meaningful
projects that are "real world" and that are interesting to students and
promote fun learning. This would simply not be possible without the
financial support of the community. Several times during last year's
budget cuts the entire program was threatened, only to be "rescued" by
the generosity of the Parents Club. In today's job market, and in the
rapidly evolving world of Internet commerce, knowledge of design is
extremely beneficial to any career. Students
are not only learning design skills and visual communication, but also
powerful life skills and trouble solving strategies such as planning
and researching projects, organizing the information, making decisions,
solving problems creatively, using resources wisely, working in teams,
learning marketable technical and design skills, record keeping skills,
and strengthening self-esteem and setting goals for improvement. The huge and generous support form the Parent Club is absolutely integral to the success of Digital Design! |
Community Service
Community Service Hours Are Due Wednesday, April 14th
Please check the AHS website for verification forms, guidelines and plenty of service opportunities sponsored by the AHS Leadership class as well as the Volunteer Center of Contra Costa County. Service projects range from the Special Olympics and the Pleasant Hill Library to Walnut Creek Open Space and the Bay Area Rescue Mission. No forms will be accepted beyond the April 14th deadline. Please email ahscommunityservice@acalanes.k12.ca.us with any questions. |
Counseling Notes
Report Cards The third
quarter grade reports will be mailed home on Friday, April 16th.
Course Choices for 2010-2011
All students have submitted their course requests for next year. The principal
mailed home a copy of the course requests for you and your student to check for
accuracy. Given the budgetary
constraints on our master schedule, our priority this year will be to give
students courses to meet their basic graduation requirements. The complex
process of designing the master schedule has already begun. This process is
based on student requests. From
this point on, it may not be possible to change the requested course schedule. Please contact your student's counselor
if you have questions or concerns.
STAR
Testing:
STAR testing will take
place Tuesday, April 20th through Friday, April 23rd.
All 9th, 10th and 11th graders will be tested in their 3rd period
class groups. The testing will take place during the morning each day.
These comprehensive tests cover the areas of reading, language, math, science
and social studies. STAR tests are important because they give you a chance to
see your child's individual performance as compared to other students in the
state and nation.
In the past,
Acalanes students have well exceeded the state performance expectations.
Since the state mandates that all students be tested, make-up testing will be
held for students who miss any test days. Make-up testing will take place
during the week that follows the regular testing schedule.
Note: Schools
are penalized for students who do not test, so please help us continue our fine
record by making sure that during the days of testing, your son or daughter
gets to school on time and "tests his or her best". On
Wednesday, April 21st students will begin school at 8:00 am instead
of our normal late start. The State does not test seniors. Seniors
should arrive at school daily following the testing block.
Senior Awards Night The Awards Night for seniors is
scheduled for Thursday evening, June 3rd. If your senior son or daughter receives an award or
scholarship based on academics, leadership, or service, please encourage them
to inform Joan Karr in the College and Career Center. Invitations to the Awards Night are emailed to participants and
their parents only.
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College and Career Center
East Bay
College Connection College Fair at Saint Mary's College, Moraga, 1pm -4:30pm on
Saturday, May 8. This is a
fabulous resource with around 150 universities and colleges from around the
country, plus information sessions on the application process, financial aid,
student athletes, historically black colleges and universities, college
opportunities for students with disabilities, and more. Mark your calendars.
Joan Karr
College and Career Advisor
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Class of 2013
Did you know that our students can take summer school this summer?
With all the budget issues, we thought it would be helpful to know the following: 2010 Summer School Program, 1963 Tice Valley Blvd, Walnut Creek 925-280-3949 The Acalanes Union High School District offers students the chance to take review classes during the Summer. Incoming 10-12th grade students wishing to improve grades can repeat courses in Biology, History, Math, English, and Spanish. Students may also take courses to prepare for the CAHSEE exam, and non-graduating Seniors are able to retake key Senior courses in order to graduate. 2010 Summer School registration materials, including an on-line application, are now available below. The Summer School Program will be offered on 2 campuses -- Acalanes High School (Session I: June 21 - July 9; Session II: July 12 - July 29) will host students needing to improve F grades, while Center for Independent Study (Sessions I & II: June 21 - July 9) will host students wishing to improve D grades. Be sure to keep a close eye on application due dates to ensure your student submits his/her application on time. For up-to-date information about the 2010 Summer School program, please click on any of the following: · Summer School Application Instructions · Summer School Application · Summer School Registration Information · Summer School Transportation · Summer School FAQs · Summer School Updates If you have questions about our program after reviewing these materials, please email the Summer School Office. Please note: due to our District's ongoing budget deliberations, changes may be made to our Summer School program. |
| Class of 2012
Thank you all who supported and attended
our very successful Wine Thieves fundraiser this past weekend.
Enjoy your spring break. May your travels
bring you back safely.
_________________________________________________________ Questions? Contact your Class of 2012 Liaisons: |
Class of 2011
Jr. Prom!
Donation opportunities
continue for Junior Prom!!
Hi...A number of
you continue to inquire how you can help out! Thank you!
1) Would you consider sending a check... for
$5.00 or $10.00 to
help us purchase "instant win" Casino prizes? Every $ helps. Checks should be
made payable to: AHS Class 2011 and
sent to: Darci Chan, 4 Joplin Ct., Lafayette.
2)
If you would like to do a litte
more, contact Darci Chan at
dlynnchan@yahoo.com for a list of $20.00 gift cards she is collecting for the Casino "End of the Night" winners. Thank you so much to those who have
already responded!!
*Poker table top has been donated! Thank
you!
Selix Formalware will donate $10.00 back to
Acalanes High School for every tuxedo rented for the Junior Prom. The $10 will
go towards the Class of 2011's Grad Night!!
They are located
at
SELIX FORMALWARE
951 Contra Costa Blvd.
Pleasant Hill, Ca
94623
(925)
798-2214
Dear Junior Parents,Now that the Prom theme has been revealed, and the invitations
delivered, all our students are abuzz with Prom details. Boy I bet
they are getting thirsty already!! Did you know that we are collecting
cases of Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Diet Sprite and Root Beer for the
evening's festivities so the Juniors can readily quench their thirst
and continue to party-on??
If you would like to donate a case of soda, please email Pais Barton at paisabar@gmail.com
to let her know what you'll be contributing. I will respond to the
email, and keep a record so that as we get closer to April 24th, I will
remind everyone of their donation and give directions where the sodas
can be dropped off in the AHS office.
Thank you to everyone who is helping with soda donations!! Pais Barton
_______________________________________________________________________________
Questions? Contact your Class of 2011 Liaisons:
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Class of 2010
ATTENTION SENIORS/PARENTS: We've changed the Grad Night authorization form in two important ways so EVERYONE needs to sign a new one. Grad Night runs till 4am (not the time initially listed) plus we've added great games and activities, and our new form reflects these important changes. Even if you've already completed the form, you MUST do it again (really). No one can be admitted without the form on file, signed by the student and both parents. Here's the form, ready to download. You can also find a copy in the main office at school or on the parents club or grad night websites.
You may return the signed form to the main office in the box marked "Grad Night," or you may bring it with you to the All Senior Parent Meeting for Grad Night on April 21st at 7pm in the Acalanes Cafeteria.
As an alternative you may mail it to:
Lori Franzke
3972 S Peardale Dr
Lafayette
______________________________________________________________________________
GRAD NIGHT COMMITTEES NEED HELP NOW
The following committees are
looking for volunteers who are willing to get started right away and
help plan our fabulous Senior Grad Night: ARTS and CRAFTS CONSTRUCTION DECORATION PHOTOGRAPHY Time commitments vary. Please contact Ardice Hartry at ardicehartry@yahoo.com for more information ______________________________________________________________________________ Please make sure you have the following important dates marked on your calendars: Senior Ball -- Saturday, May 22nd from 7:00 -11:30pm at the Bentley Reserve in San Francisco. Time of Reflection -- Saturday, June 5th at 3:00pm at Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church Graduation -- Friday, June 11th at 5:00pm at Acalanes Grad Night -- immediately following Graduation until early a.m. on Saturday, June 12th ______________________________________________________________________________
Questions? Contact your Class of 2010 Liaisons:
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|
LASF
LASF
Donation Day is April 16 - Avoid the Phonathon Call!
We
are launching our spring fundraising campaign to raise money for the 2010-2011
school year. And yes, once again our LASF volunteers will be calling all
Acalanes, Stanley, Burton Valley, Lafayette, Happy Valley and Springhill
parents to ask for your support. However, you can save our time and yours by
making your contribution in advance. Donate online at www.lasf.org,
mail in the remittance envelope in your soon-to-be-delivered copy of the LASF
annual report or drop off your pledge or gift at your student's school on Donation
Day!!!
Where
does the money go? Who decides? What percentage of parents donate?
LASF
is often asked these questions. And given that the world of education budgets
and school fundraising is fast-changing, the answers change, too. To help you
understand exactly what LASF does, where your donation dollars go, etc. -
please take a look at our Spring 2010 Fundraising FAQs online. http://lasf.org/documents/SpringFundraisingFAQsv2.pdf
If
you can't find the answer in our FAQs, contact our office (925.299.1644) or
your school site LASF Head Rep. Chris McCann ( cmccann@ci.danville.ca.us)
Last
Chance to Sign Up for Brass Clinic with Mic Gillette & Tommy Davidson -
Sunday April 11 Any student playing the trumpet, trombone, tuba or French horn, grades 4-12, whether beginner or advanced, can take advantage of this rare opportunity. Participate in a brass music clinic with professional musicians and educators, Mic Gillette, leader of the world-renowned Tower of Power horn section, and LASF instructor Tommy Davidson. Join us for a spectacular learning experience with these musical greats. Every student will walk away from this music clinic with invaluable lessons learned, smiles and inspiration to last a lifetime.
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Acalanes Sports
The last full week of March sports was good. The baseball
team gave Redwood Christian HS their first loss of the season with an 11-0
victory to improve their overall record to 6-2. The softball team dropped
a game to Benicia HS before shutting out Mt. Diablo HS 15-0 and Pittsburg HS 4-0. The boys and girls lacrosse
teams opened DFAL play with victories over Dublin HS and Las Lomas HS.
The boys golf team had a great week with four victories over Bentley HS,
Alhambra HS, Pittsburg HS, and Miramonte HS. The boys tennis team fell to
Miramonte HS.
This
is a busy week leading up to the Spring Break. The baseball and softball
teams play Las Lomas HS Thursday at 4:00, with varsity away and jv at home. The
boys lacrosse team has a tough week hosting Bellarmine HS on Wednesday, with jv
at 4:30 and varsity at 6:00, and hosting San Ramon Valley HS, with jv at 5:00
and varsity at 7:00, before the boys and girls teams play Campolindo HS on
Friday as the girls are home and boys away, with jv at 5:00 and varsity at 7:00.
The swim team has a meet at Dougherty Valley HS Thursday at 3:45, and the
diving team has a meet at Deer Valley HS Thursday at 4:30. The boys
volleyball team opens DFAL action hosting Campolindo HS Friday, with jv at 5:00
and varsity at 6:00. The boys tennis team hosts Las Lomas HS Thursday at
3:30. The boys golf team has a match against Dougherty Valley HS and
Dublin HS Friday at Rossmoor GC at 3:30. Acalanes Parents Our ANNUAL SPORTS BASH IS COMING SOON. DON'T GET LEFT OUT! Come and join other Acalanes parents for a fun filled night on Sunday May 15th @ Temple Isaiah Social Hall 6pm -11pm This Years Theme is DON'S SPORTS CAFE come dressed in your favorite teams jersey or your athlete's Acalanes Don's Jersey!
DO DONS! Randy Takahashi
Athletic Director
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Parent Education
Preparing Parents for the College Transition: Coping with the Many Decisions and
Emotions that Lie Ahead.
Monday,
April 19, 2010,7:00 to 9:00pm
Miramonte
High School Theatre
Maisha Beasley, Director of New Student
and Family Programs at St. Mary's College, will present a workshop for parents
of juniors and seniors (and, of course, interested parents of younger students)
who are preparing to send their students to college. Topics will include: 1)
communicating effectively with your budding college student; 2) understanding
the changing nature of the parent/child relationship during the senior year and
the first year of college; 3) helping your student become academically and
financially independent and responsible, and 4) getting the most out of new
student orientation programs. Don't miss this wonderful opportunity to ask your
questions and help your student on the road to success!
Maisha Beasley, M.A., in Higher
Education Administration, has worked in the field of new student and parent
programs for over ten years. She
serves on the Board of Directors for the National Orientation Directors Assoc.
of the US and Canada.
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"
Link to Parent Ed
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From The School Nurse
Prevent Toxic Drinking
Deaths
The Red Watch Band movement is designed to end
alcohol overdose deaths by teaching students how to handle alcohol emergencies
and summon professional help.
The Spring 2010 Acalanes Red Watch Band Training will take place on
Saturday, April 17, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. - 12 noon and Sunday, April 18, 2010,
from 10:30 am - 12:30 pm.
This program will be taught by Dvora Citron,
Acalanes School Nurse, and Chris Clark, Acalanes Athletic Trainer and ROP Sports
Medicine Teacher.
Students interested in participating in the Spring 2010 Red
Watch Band Training, please sign up at the following link:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dDV5amFvT2RCbXpfSzFPWTNzZ1o5Znc6MA
Students MUST sign up for both days. If you already
have current CPR certificiation, please speak to Dvora Citron first.
For more
information, please see the School Nurse Blackboard website.
Dvora Citron
Acalanes School Nurse
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Events at The Lafayette Library
Sweet Thursdays
The Friends of the Lafayette Library is proud to present an evening of poetry with Amy Greacen and fellow poets Lisa Horner and Kerry Krouse. The featured poets live and write in the East Bay and are considered "emerging" voices. An accomplished and diverse trio, they demonstrate something of the breadth of style and mode and subject matter that characterizes the best of the current generation of younger poets. April is national Poetry Month. Come celebrate - poetry comes alive when it's read aloud. Thursday April 29th, at 7:30pm - Lafayette Library and Learning Center Community Hall. For more information, visit http://www.lafayettelib.com. ________________________________________ Oakland Museum of California
Thursday, April 1 | 7:00 - 9:00 pm | Community Hall
The de la Guerra Wedding: Intermarriage and the Family Economy of Mexican California
Power and Patriarchy in Mexican California...A model of how 19th
century marriages of European men and Californian women changed history.
Date: Thursday, April 1
Time: 7-8:30 PM
Located in the Community Hall at the LLLC
Teens and Adults: No fee
Sponsored by the Oakland Museum
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Community Events
ORINDA IDOL 2010 AUDITIONS MAY 15
Start
warming up your voices now and making your song selections....the
Orinda Arts Council invites K-12th graders to audition for a chance to
be a 2010 Orinda Idol Finalist!
All auditions will take place at Orinda Intermediate School (OIS). Auditions for soloists in grades 9-12 will be held on Saturday, May 15, from 11 am-12 pm and from 4-5 pm. Auditions for groups in all grades will take place on Saturday, May 15, from 2-4 pm.
The registration form and relevant documents will go live on April 1 on the Orinda Arts Council's website at http://www.orindaartscouncil.org/orindaidol.html. Registrants will be added on a first come, first served basis--so register early! Registration will close on April 21, 2010.
____________________________________________________________________
Lafayette Girl Scouts Celebrate start of the Centennial Celebration April 13th
Tuesday, April 13th every Girl Scout in Lafayette (girls and adults) is asked to "show her colors" by wearing green and something Girl Scout. This year is the first year of the three year celebration of the centennial anniversary of the start of Girl Scouting. The Lafayette Service Unit is recognizing this important time in Girl Scout history by showing its Girl Scout spirit. Lady Olave Baden-Powell founded Girl Guides in 1910 in the United Kingdom. She was the wife of Lord Baden-Powell who created the Boy Scouts in 1909. Two years later, on March 12, 1912 Juliette Gordon Low started the first Girl Scout group in Savannah Georgia with 18 girls. The Girls Scouts became a national organization, and was chartered by the U.S. Congress on March 16, 1950. Today, there are over 10 millions girls involved with Girl Scouts/Girl Guides worldwide. Interested in becoming a Girl Scout? Please check out our website at lafayettegirlscouts.org ____________________________________________________________________________
Town Hall Kids (Lafayette)School Partner Discount for summer 2010 classes: 10% off classes for Acalanes students from April 1st through April 15th! There is something for everyone this summer at Town Hall Theatre Kids! Classes expose children of all ages to theatre arts while developing confidence, leadership, team-building skills and acting techniques. Sessions vary in length from one week summer camps to three-week rehearsed presentational productions. Please see our class selection at www.townhallkids.com and select "SCHOOL PARTNER DISCOUNT" on Vendini when signing up for a class. __________________________________________________________________
JF
Kapnek 7th Annual 5K/1K Family Fun Run
April
25, 2010 at 9:00 am
Bring your
friends and family to celebrate our accomplishments in Zimbabwe with the
J.F. Kapnek Trust's 7th Annual 5K/1K Family Fun Run on April 25th
at Miramonte High School in Orinda. There will be races for children as well as
adults along with music of Zimbabwe, children's crafts and activities and a
delicious brunch. Proceeds from this event will go to the Trust's efforts to
diminish the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on the children and families of
Zimbabwe. Registration fee includes brunch and a T-shirt. Register online at www.active.com (keyword: Kapnek) or go to the
Trust's website at www.jfkapnektrust.org.
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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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