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Albany High School

Inspiring & Preparing Young Adults To Be Productive Members Of A Diverse Global Society

November 2025 Counseling Newsletter

Posted Date: 11/20/25 (02:55 PM)



November 2025

Hello Students and Families:


We hope that everyone enjoyed Homecoming! It was great to see so many students participating. Before you go on Thanksgiving Break,  check out this newsletter to learn more about what’s going on at AHS!


General Information


AHS Website Although the new AHS website has been launched, please do not rely on the information posted, as much of it is incorrect or outdated and still needs to be updated. We apologize for any confusion or frustration during this time.


College Access Coordinator We are thrilled to announce that Myra Bautista has been hired as our College Access Coordinator. This is a new position funded by SchoolCARE that will be focused on connecting first-generation and underrepresented students with college opportunities. Thankfully, Myra had already been working as an intern with our Counseling department, so is already familiar with AHS.


Fall Progress Report Grades Fall Progress Report grades are available to view in Aeries. To view grades, login to the Aeries Parent portal. Once in the portal, select Grades from the menu on the left side of the screen, and then Grades from the options available. Please note that Progress Report grades may be different from the gradebook grades that show on the dashboard when you access the portal. 


If you have questions about your student’s grades, please contact your child’s teacher. Students can email their teachers from their AUSD Gmail account; the teacher’s name should automatically pop up when they type in the last name of the teacher. Parents and caregivers can find teachers’ email addresses by logging into their Aeries account and going to the ‘Classes’ tab. 


Students can also get help from their teachers during Advisory on Wednesdays and Fridays. Use Google Classroom or Canvas to find information about assignments and due dates. Progress Report grades are a good indicator of how you are progressing in your classes. There is still time to raise your grade before the end of the semester (December 19th). 




Academic Support Available to All Students 

Math Hour Come get math support from math teachers and peers!

  • Mondays, 4:00-5:00 p.m., Room A-313

  • Tuesdays, 4:10-5:10 p.m., Room A-313


World Language Hours Come get extra help in your world language class from your teachers after school:

  • French: Wednesdays, 4:30-5:30 p.m., Room A-210

  • Mandarin: Thursdays, 4:00-5:00 p.m., Room A-212

  • Spanish: Thursdays, 4:00-5:00 p.m., Room A-213

English Hour Listen to the Bulletin for information about the next English hour, an opportunity to get help from your English teachers after school.




Counseling Your counselor is a good resource for you to help connect you with academic and/or personal-social support. You may email your counselor to set up an appointment. Please remember that your counselor is based on your last name. Counselors’ current breakdown is listed at the bottom of the newsletter.


The Counseling Office is open for drop-ins during passing periods, at Break, Lunch and after school. For general questions, students are also welcome to drop in to Ask A Counselor every Wednesday and Friday during advisory. At least one counselor will be on hand to help. Simply come directly to the Atrium at the beginning of Advisory and we will send students back to class with a pass.


For urgent situations, students may see Ms. Brice in the attendance office (with a pass). If you would like to set up an appointment with your counselor, please email your counselor (contact information below). 


Please know that counselors do their best to respond to emails within 48 hours. However, we do not respond to emails in the evenings or on the weekends. Sending multiple emails does not decrease response time. Thank you for your understanding.




Finals It’s hard to believe it but Finals are right around the corner!  Finals will be held the week of December 15th. Here is the Finals Week schedule:


    

AHS/Mac Fall 2025 Finals Week

Regular Monday Schedule

Periods 1, 5 & 7

Periods 2 & 4

Period 3 & 6

Minimum Day

Monday 

12/15

Tuesday 12/16

Wednesday 12/17

Thursday 12/18

Friday

 12/19


8:30 - 10:30

8:30 - 10:30

8:30 - 10:30

12:40 dismissal


Break

Break

Break



10:50 - 12:50

10:50 - 12:50

10:50 - 12:50 



Lunch





1:40 - 3:40






Finals Week Tips:

1. Get the most sleep you can

2. Eat a big breakfast

3. During finals week, make sure to study during the periods when you don’t have finals or after school, 

4. Create a study group with some friends and help keep each other accountable for studying


Dream Schools Redefined The College Guidance Network is hosting a webinar called “Dream Schools Redefined on Monday, December 8th at 4:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m. EST).  What if your ‘dream school’ isn’t the one everyone tells you it should be? Join CGN for a live Q&A on prestige, fit, affordability, and real-world value in making a college decision that’s right for you and your family. Register here.


Kaiser Summer Internships Through KP LAUNCH, Kaiser Permanente is offering variety of paid internship opportunities in their headquarters, hospitals and medical offices across Northern California. Interns get the opportunity to work for an industry leader on projects that matter. For more information go to: https://kplaunch.kaiserpermanente.org/.


AC Transit Pass Program Albany High School has been added to the Alameda County Transportation Commission's Student Transit Pass Program! The Student Transit Pass Program provides students with Free Youth Clipper Cards to eligible students. Use this link to apply.


Social Emotional With Thanksgiving break right around the corner, Wil Cason in S3 has some suggestions for taking the time to reset your mind & body during your time off.


Resetting your mind and body can boost your overall health

 

Our lives are in frequent contact with the demands of school, relationships, work, and social activities. Often, the feelings of fatigue and unraveling could be present at the end of the year. Have you noticed any changes in your thinking, mood, or energy level? How do you respond when your brain power is low?


During our upcoming break, it's a good time to reflect on areas of life that could use a boost. What are the activities you enjoy, how do you engage in those activities, and are there any barriers preventing you from maintaining them consistently?


Reset your mind: quiet time reading, brain-stimulating games, and affirmations are good to boost dopamine. Dopamine is a chemical in our brain that increases our good mood. Meditate throughout the day (morning, afternoon, and before sleep) for 5 minutes; sit quietly and notice the things around you. Be aware of your breathing and heartbeat.


Reset your body: Physical activity is excellent for boosting energy and promoting overall good health—another key factor in reducing depression and anxiety. Also, healthy foods and hydration are good ways to boost brain power and overall wellness.


5 minutes for 5-day challenge 

Try these simple brain and body boosting activities:

5 minutes of meditation

5 minutes of listening to classical music

5 minutes of speaking positive words about yourself

5 minutes of writing about what brings you joy

5 minutes walking in nature and expressing gratitude 


The body and brain activities also increase your mood and reduce stress. The 5-day reflection journal challenge! For 5 days after completing your brain and body reset activities, could you write about your experience? 


Prompt questions:

What were your feelings before?

What was your energy level?

What was your mood during the activity?

How did you feel after?

When is your next reset activity?

Share your experience and reflection with a family member or friend.


Grade-specific Information



9th Grade

Ask a Counselor!  Do you have questions? We have answers! We want students and families to be aware that counselors are available on a drop in basis for all students during Advisory on Wednesdays and Fridays. Simply come directly to our table in the Atrium and we will send you back to your Advisory with a pass. See you soon!


10th Grade

10th Grade Counselor Meetings Looking ahead to the 2nd semester, families should be aware that from late January to mid-February, Counselors will be offering meetings with 10th graders and their parents/guardians. These sessions focus on course selection for the junior year and drafting a plan for courses to take in the senior year as well as post-graduation options. Details about how to sign up for 10th Grade Counselor Meetings will be emailed to families closer to the time.


PSAT Scores PSAT scores were handed out last week. Students can also view their PSAT scores online when they sign in to their CollegeBoard account. 

PSAT Information Sophomores who signed up for the PSAT in October should refer to the instructions below (under 11th Grade)



11th Grade

PSAT Scores PSAT scores were handed out last week. Students can also view their scores online when they sign in to their CollegeBoard account. 


12th Grade


Counselor College Application help!  We encourage all seniors to drop in with college application questions and review applications with your counselor before submitting them. Counselors are available at break and lunch in the Counseling Office and during Advisory in the atrium. Please bring your chromebook/computer!


Please be aware that counselors will not be available during Thanksgiving Break to answer college application questions. Please come see us between now and Friday, November 21st if you need help.


College Application Information If you missed College Application Information Night last month, the slides and recordings (part 1 and part 2 - please forgive the blip during slides 15-17) were sent to all 12th grade students and families via ParentSquare on Friday, 9/12. Please review the presentation and slides before coming to your counselor with questions. As a reminder, counselors are available for college admissions questions during Break, Advisory, Lunch and after school.


Letters of Recommendation: The deadline to request a letter of recommendation has passed. If you have not already requested a letter of recommendation, please contact your counselor ASAP. Note that teacher and counselor recommendations will be processed through Xello, not directly through the Common App or any other application.


Character Evaluation Please be aware that any referral for Academic Dishonesty will be disclosed to students’ colleges & universities if counselors are asked to evaluate a student’s character.


Outside Transcripts If you have taken classes at an outside institution (for example, a community college or another high school), please note that you will need to report all college or high school classes and grades on your applications and send transcripts from all institutions attended.


College Search Attending college tours is a great way to learn about a college you may be interested in. Many CSU campuses are offering virtual campus tours. To find out more see this LINK.


To learn about UC admissions and the different UC campuses, check out their WEBSITE which is full of information about the admissions process as well as each individual campus.


Many private schools are hosting virtual tour events too, so be sure to check those out by going to individual schools’ websites or attending a virtual event HERE. You can also find more information about private schools HERE. Don’t forget to log in to Xello to find even more information about private colleges!


Scholarships Students interested in scholarships should complete their Scholarship Profile in Xello. To get started, log in to Xello, navigate to the College Planning tab, and select the Scholarships section. From there, complete your profile to receive personalized scholarship matches. You can view potential opportunities, save them to your list, and track your application progress all within the platform.

Additionally, please continue to listen to or read the Daily Bulletin for ongoing updates and announcements about scholarship opportunities.


FAFSA Opened October 1st! Be aware that the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) opened on October 1st. We recommend that every senior complete the FAFSA, even if you believe you are not eligible for aid. The FASA is the largest source of college financial aid, including federal grants (like Pell Grants), work-study, and federal loans. Many states and colleges also use FAFSA information to determine their own financial aid packages and merit scholarships. 


Cal Grant GPA Verification forms were submitted on September 8th. Counselors automatically submitted your CAL GRANT GPA Verification Form. If your name or address is Aeries does not match the information submitted to FAFSA please contact Mrs. Grogans with the correct information. To review this information you may go to Calgrant.org.


Upcoming Dates/Events

Upcoming Dates/Events


Thanksgiving Break, NO SCHOOL         November 24-28, 2025

AHS Choir Concert                                  December 4, 2025 7 p.m., Little Theater

Wellness Week                                         December 8-15, 2025

AHS Winter Orchestra Concert               December 10, 2025, 7 p.m., Little Theater

AHS Winter Band Concert                       December 11, 2025, 7 p.m., Little Theater

Finals Week                                               December 16-18, 2025

End of Fall Semester                                December 19, 2025 (Minimum Day)

Winter Break                                             December 22, 2025 - January 2, 2026

First day of Spring Semester                   January 5, 2026



Thank you all so much for taking the time to read through this important information. We hope that you have a relaxing break and are able to do things you enjoy.


Michelle Aselstine, A - Cho

maselstine@ausdk12.org 


Becca Burns, Chr - Kn 

bburns@ausdk12.org 


Tedra Grogans, Ko - Re 

tgrogans@ausdk12.org 


M.E. Durell, Rh - Z 

mdurell@ausdk12.org 


Diane Peterson, MacGregor students 

dpeterson@ausdk12.org 


Administration


Vivian Balderas, Main Office Secretary                              510-558-2500

Mr. McNally AHS Principal/MacGregor Principal               dmcnally@ausdk12.org

Ms. Lau-Seim AHS Assistant Principal, Grades 9th/11th    mlau-seim@ausdk12.org
Mr. Pierce, AHS Assistant Principal, Grades 10th/12th       jpierceii@ausdk12.org