News & Announcements

Performing Arts

Mark your May calendars because you don’t want to miss any of these upcoming musical events!

Join Music Director Lauren Gibson as she hosts two concerts:

  • Tuesday, May 10 at 7pm in the AHS Performing Arts Center. Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble are performing. Admission is free, $5 donation suggested for adults.
  • Thursday, May 12 at 7pm in the AHS Performing Arts Center. Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, and Jazz Band are performing. Admission is free, $5 donation suggested for adults.

Concert at the Res (Lafayette Reservoir) Saturday, May 14 from 11am to 12:30pm at Lafayette Reservoir, Outdoor Stage. Lafayette Rotarians are hosting an afternoon of wonderful music featuring local bands including Acalanes High School Wind Ensemble, Stanley Middle School, Bentley School and the Rossmoor Big Band.This annual concert helps to raise money to supply Lamorinda and Bay Area Schools with new instruments for their music programs. Live entertainment and food and drinks for purchase. Free admission.

Jazz Cafe 2022 Friday, May 20 from 5:30 to 9pm in Stanley Middle School, Multi-Use Room. Always a popular community event, this year’s Jazz Cafe will feature talented Jazz Bands from Acalanes, Stanley Middle School, Campolindo and more. All will be coming together for an evening of music and to honor Mr. Bob Athayde after 35 years of inspirational service to the Lamorinda Community.
 
The APAB Board is seeking New Board Members. Are you interested in volunteering for a role that can make a difference in Acalanes’ performing arts? Acalanes Performing ArtsBoosters (APAB) is looking to fill open roles for next year. This is a great opportunity to get involved and connected to our performing arts community!
Open 2022-23 APAB roles:

  • President
  • Secretary
  • Treasurer
  • Publicity & Communications   

In addition, Instrumental Music has the following board openings for the coming year (must have a student enrolled in Instrumental Music):

  • Secretary
  • Treasurer
  • Reception Committee

Please contact Paulie Proffett or Mary Beth Towery for more information.

 
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LPIE

Please join us for Project LPIE Awards Ceremony May 3, 3:30 pm. Project LPIE Winners will be announced and celebrated at the Acalanes Performing Arts Center. All are welcome in a public reception featuring the creative entries as we announce the winners of the 2022 Project LPIE Awards. This annual event showcases and acknowledges Acalanes High School students for their project-based learning. This year LPIE received 82 student project submissions in 13 categories that recognize students’ skills both within and outside the curriculum. We look forward to seeing you there!

Jennifer Palmer and Michele Colaco, Acalanes LPIE School Chairs
www.lpie.org, Follow us on Instagram

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Sports

This week’s can’t miss events:

Boys golf
Monday, May 2 DAL Championships at Diablo Creek GC.
 
Softball
Monday, May 2 Varsity at Campolindo HS at 4:30 pm.
Tuesday, May 3 Las Lomas HS at 4:30 pm. Varsity is away and JV is home.
Thursday, May 5 Varsity at Mt. Diablo HS at 4:30 pm.
 
Baseball
Tuesday, May 3 Benicia HS at 4pm. Varsity is home and JV is away.
Thursday, May 5 Benicia HS at 4pm. Varsity is away and JV is home.
 
Boys volleyball
Tuesday, May 3 NCS First Round Playoffs.
Thursday, May 5 NCS Quarterfinals.
 
Boys lacrosse
Tuesday, May 3 NCS First Round Playoffs.
Thursday, May 5 NCS Quarterfinals.
 
Girls lacrosse
Tuesday, May 3 NCS First Round Playoffs.
Thursday, May 5 NCS Quarterfinals.
 
Boys tennis
Friday, May 6 and Saturday, May 7 NCS Singles and Doubles Championships.
 
Swimming
Friday, May 6 NCS Trials at Concord Community Pool at 10:30 am.
Saturday, May 7 NCS Finals at Concord Community Pool at 10:30 am.
 
Track & field
Saturday, May 7 NCS Trials at Campolindo HS.

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APC in Action

Campus Clean-Up now Saturday, Apr 30 from 11am to 2pm
This is a new date for the Acalanes Spring Campus Clean Up! Please join for this great opportunity to connect as a community and show that we are ACA Strong, all while beautifying our campus! Everyone is welcome – students, parents, teachers, staff, and community members. Click here to sign up. Email Denise Cain with questions or for more information.

Thank you to the 2022 Nominating Committee for your hard work and dedication to filling our APC Executive Board positions. We are proud to announce our slate of nominees for the 2022-2023 school year. The formal vote by the general Parents Club membership will take place at the Friday, May 13 Dons Dialogue and APC General Meeting.

2022-2023 Parents Club Executive Board Nominees
President: Veronique Kuhner
VP Communications: Michele Colaco
VP Community Partners: Natasha Acuna
VP Fundraising: Lori MacLeod
VP Services: Raina Foster
VP Special Projects: Kelly Daggs
Co-Head Liaison & ACA Liaisons: Jen Dodge and Heidi Hambidge
Secretary: Nicole Long
Treasurer: Katharine Wallace
Assistant Treasurer: Eng Young
Auditor: Nina Ruebner
Past President/Parliamentarian: Kristen Labrosse

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APC Membership & Fundraising

Buy a Brick, Leave a Legacy! There’s no better way to honor a Don than with a customized 2022 Legacy Brick on our Dons Legacy Wall. Prominently displayed in the Main Quad, our Dons Legacy Wall provides families a lasting way to recognize their special student, teacher, coach, team, performance group, club, and more. Purchase your brick through the Acalanes Web Store for $250. Contact Legacy Brick Coordinator Leanne Zimmerman with any questions.

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Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

Mark your calendar for the AHS Senior Car Rally! Friday, May 20 at 5pm, Downtown Lafayette
Come one, come all! This community-wide celebration is a great way to cheer on Acalanes seniors and their families. Spectators will line Mt. Diablo Blvd. from Oakwood to the Lafayette Library. Groups (AHS teams, clubs, etc) can reserve an area on the route to watch the Car Rally together by emailing Car Rally Co-Chair Linda Choi. It’s a great night to stay and dine in Lafayette!

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Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)

Congratulations go to Alyssa Nakken! A coach for the San Francisco Giants, she made history last week becoming the first woman to take an on-field role in a Major League Baseball game.

The city of Oakland is helping to fund a $28 million grass-roots effort to help residents of East Oakland mitigate climate problems. With the help of Planting Justice, a nonprofit focusing on economic justice, local residents have started by planting fruit trees in the Sobrante Park neighborhood.

This month, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Deaf West Theater opened a “radical” and “extraordinary” new production of Beethoven’s Fidelio at Walt Disney Concert Hall conceived for both hearing and deaf opera goers.

Facts corner: A study published recently in the journal Proceedings of the NationalAcademy of Sciences offers new genomic evidence that the Muwekma Ohlone tribe’s presence in the Bay Area dates back 2,000 years or more.

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Parent Education

How many of you have been wondering about your teen’s well-being given the losses we have had in our communities recently? How many of you are anxious and fearful that the same could happen to your child? This is a natural thing to be feeling; you are not alone. 

If you have questions about how to help your teen with grieving and loss, here is a resource from the Center for Loss and another from the Center for Loss and Bereavement. If you are looking for specific language or tips on how to talk with your teen about their loss, consider this resource from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network. Make sure you validate your teen’s feelings and not dismiss them- this can be difficult to do especially when you feel sad yourself, but it demonstrates empathy.

Contrary to popular belief, talking about suicide with your teens and the reasons why people end their lives does not increase the likelihood that your teen will want to die by suicide. It can open the door for your teen to talk to you about their thoughts and obtain help. People with suicidal thoughts can suffer a range of emotions: sadness, despair, neglect, and anger. Some people who think of suicide may not display any signs. Some potential risk factors may include a break up, struggling with depression or stressful life events, perceived rejection and lack of affirming spaces (e.g. in the LGBTQ+ population), the presence of lethal means in the house, etc. Some possible warning signs for suicide:

  • Talking about death and/or suicide in a casual way
  • Saying they wish they hadn’t been born
  • Asking about death or how to commit violent acts
  • Talking about leaving or going away
  • Saying they won’t need things soon
  • Not wanting to be around people anymore
  • Seeming sad and remote instead of happy and social
  • Becoming more angry or edgy
  • Losing interest in hobbies or events
  • Having trouble focusing
  • Showing changes in normal routine, such as sleeping, eating, or grooming
  • Acting out in harmful ways, such as drinking, using drugs, or hurting themselves
  • Getting in trouble with the law

If you would like more resources on how to talk with your teen about your concerns, an authentic and caring conversation is usually enough. Here is a document from Kidshealth. If you would like to talk with other parents and guardians or need more support, ParentsAnonymous has online parenting support groups as well as a Parent and Youth Helpline: 855-427-2736. An additional resource for teens is from the JED Foundation and their Mental Health Resource Center.  The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is: 1-800-273-8255 or text GO to 741741 to speak to a crisis counselor 24/7.
 
Final thought: please do not forget to take care of yourselves. Just like on airplanes, make sure you put on your face mask first before you put the mask on your child.  Taking care of yourself IS taking care of your kids as your kids will need you as their homebase and touchpoint. Finally, if your teen is struggling with academics or feeling down or frustrated about school, don’t forget to connect with our Counselors, our Nurse, and our WellnessCenter.

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Student Activities

An Aca Leader is a role model that shows leadership and plays a big role throughout our school community. Each week, one student who stands out is chosen to be our week’s Aca Leader. This week we are proud to have chosen Liv Hoppe, a sophomore on Varsity Swim. Our Aca Leader has made such an impact on their team and represents what an Aca Leader is!
 
Thursday, Apr 28 from 6 to 7pm in the Front Quad is our Cultural Fair. There will be vendors and many tables showcasing different cultures and their foods. Please join us for this fun event and head to the Drama Dons spring play right after!
 
Thank you for your enthusiasm & support for student activities. Katherine Walton, the Student Activities Director, is out on maternity leave. For any student activity questions, please contact Kat Bautista.

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College & Career

Seniors

  • DVC Done-in-one-Day Registration Rocks May 7. Get everything done for DVC by registering for this event.
  • Acalanes Performing Arts Booster Scholarship will award one $1,000 scholarship to a Senior who participates in either Choral Music, Drama or Instrumental Music with an intent to major or minor in performing arts at a two or four-year college, university, or performing arts school. Applications are available now and must be submitted by Sunday, May 1. Click here for the scholarship instructions and application.

Juniors

  • Parent Night in the Library Wednesday, Apr 27 from 6 to 7pm. Come and meet Debbie Levy in person to learn Naviance tips/list making strategies, and ideas for summer activities.
  • Practice ACT and SAT exams – Click here to register for online practice tests on Saturday, Apr 30 with Revolution Prep
  • Community College Summer Classes Open: Enrollment for summer courses at California Community Colleges has begun. You can likely take them asynchronously at many schools. If you’d like to explore a subject you are passionate about, click here.  

Sophomores/Freshmen

  • Teen Volunteer Jobs – Here is a great website with teen volunteer opportunities.

Resources:

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