News & Announcements

Counseling

Counselor assignments are by last name:
A-Em AnneSchonauer
En-Kr Erika Vasquez
Ku-Rog MarissaMeadows
Roh-Z SusanMartin

Progress Reports for the first grading period were available in Aeries as of Friday, Sep 22. The next grading period will be quarter grades the week of Oct 16. Athletic eligibility will be renewed with the quarter grades.
 
Dropping Classes: Students may still drop a class until the end of the first quarter, Friday, Oct 13. If the class is in the middle of the day, a student may add a TA period. TA is the only class a student can still add to their schedule.   
 
Letters of Recommendation: Counselors are busy writing letters of recommendation for seniors applying by Nov 1. If your senior is still making adjustments to their college list, and they need a letter of rec, please have them come see us!

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School Nurse

Happy Fall!
It’s a great time to have you and your family get flu shots. If you have a college student, encourage them to go to the Student Health Center on campus to get their flu shot and see what resources are available.

Here’s a great Autumn recipe to try: RedLentil & PumpkinSoup

Always Your School Nurse,
DvoraCitron, RN, MS
dcitron@auhsdschools.org, 925-280-2970 x7128,
IG: acalanesschoolnurseSchoolNurseWebsite

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Wellness Center

Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE) has developed a new online guide titled, “Substance Use, Mental Health, & Teens: A Guide for Parents & Other Caring Adults,” which focuses on information and resources to protect and care for teens facing substance use and mental health crises. Created by the agency’s Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE) program, in collaboration with community partners, the resource was inspired by CCCOE Education Champion April Rovero, Founder/Director of National Coalition Against Prescription Drug Abuse (NCAPDA). The guide is intended to equip adults with the knowledge and resources they need to support young people in their lives to make pro-health decisions.

The Parent Guide is available to view and download in English and Spanish: www.cocoschools.org/ParentGuideSUMH

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LPIE

 

26th Annual Lafayette Art & Wine Festival
THANK YOU to the 63 people that volunteered to work the Ticket Booth at the Art & Wine Festival! Thank you also to Miela Hsu for creating an Instrument Petting Zoo for attendees to explore! Our booth was filled with budding musicians eager to check out these instruments. Thank you to Lamorinda Music for providing the instruments and to Miela’s fellow Acalanes students Lauren Anderson, Maor Ziskind, and Mimi Tantameng for showing them off to all who visited our booth. Your efforts not only made the weekend a success, but also helped raise money for all of our Lafayette schools!

Save the date for the 3rd Annual LPIE Poker Tournament on Friday, Dec 1! Choose your tablemates and play with friends! Click here for the event overview and/or check your Oct 5 email for the “Can we DEAL you in for LPIE Poker” email. Don’t miss your opportunity to go “All In For Our Kids“!

Jaime Roder and Jocelyn Werner, Acalanes LPIE School Chairs
www.lpie.org, Follow us on Instagram

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Sports

This week’s can’t miss events:

Girls Golf
Monday, Oct 2 Campolindo HS & Miramonte HS at Contra Costa CC at 3:30 pm.

Girls Volleyball
Tuesday, Oct 3 host Benicia HS.  Freshmen at 4:30 pm, JV at 5:30 pm and Varsity at 6:30 pm.
Thursday, Oct 5 at Northgate HS.  Freshmen at 4:30 pm, JV at 5:30 pm and Varsity at 6:30 pm.

Girls Tennis
Tuesday, Oct 3 College Park HS at 4:00 pm.  Varsity is away and jv is home.
Thursday, Oct 5 Campolindo HS at 4:00 pm.  Varsity is home and jv is away.

Boys Water Polo
Wednesday, Oct 4 at Campolindo HS.  Varsity at 6:00 pm and JV at 7:00 pm.
Friday, Oct 6 and Saturday, Oct 7 Jesuit Classic at American River College.

Girls Water Polo
Wednesday, Oct 4 at Campolindo HS.  JV at 4:00 pm and Varsity at 5:00 pm.

Flag Football
Wednesday, Oct 4 Berean Christian HS at 3:00 pm, Alhambra HS at 5:00 pm at Berean Christian HS.

Football
Thursday, Oct 5 Freshmen at Napa HS at 5:30 pm.
Friday, Oct 6 host Northgate HS.  JV at 4:30 pm and Varsity at 7:00 pm.

Cross Country
Saturday, Oct 7 Crystal Springs Invitational.

You may view the 2023-2024 Athletic Update by clicking HERE.

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General Administration Announcements

Acalanes is hosting two important events on campus this week. Please see below for detailed information and RSVP links.

INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE FAIR 

Acalanes College and Career Services is hosting an International College Fair in the library on Thursday, Sep 27 from 6:30-8pm. 15+ universities will share information on applying to schools abroad. Please sign up here.

*Did you know that APC helps fund College and Career Services at Acalanes? Thanks to your generous support of the Acalanes Parents Club, we are able to support valuable College Counseling services and events like this.

PARENT ED: SONG FOR CHARLIE FENTANYL DISCUSSION

AHS Hosts A Community Parent Education Night THIS Thursday, Sep 28: What Everyone Needs to Know About the Drug Landscape Today
in the Acalanes Performing Arts Center (PAC). This will be presented by Song For Charlie, local law enforcement agencies, and the Acalanes administration.


This is an opportunity for our parent community to come together to learn the facts about fentanyl and take empowered action to protect yourself and your loved ones. 

  • 5:30-6:30pm: Community Programming with Wellness, Counselors, AHS Admin and Lafayette Community Responders
  • 6:30-8pm: Fentanyl Presentation by Song for Charlie
  • RSVP here

We will host a student presentation from this content for our juniors and seniors on Friday, Sep 29 during Academy.

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APC in Action

PEER TUTORING: Off to a Great Start this year!
Our first seminar, Note-Taking 101, was at full capacity on Wednesday. The presentation, given by one of our highly organized and exceptional Peer Tutors, offered insights into the different methods of note-taking, how and why those methods work for different learning styles, and how to use those notes to study. Stay tuned for future great programming offered by Peer Tutoring!

With 25 talented tutors staffing shifts at lunch, Academy, 7th Period, and after school, academic help is always available to Acalanes students. Peer Tutoring is open on a drop-in basis and always completely free. Acalanes is uniquely able to offer Peer Tutoring at such a high level solely because of funding from the Acalanes Parents Club. Your donations to APC allow us to offer more programming and services to your students. Thank you!

Kristen Labrosse & Angela Ketcham, Co-Directors, AHS Peer Tutoring

 
APC FALL GRANT APPLICATION WINDOW IS NOW OPEN!
We invite all AHS teachers, staff, students, and parents to submit a grant application for programming, materials or projects that enhance the educational experience for our school community; all ideas are welcome. Click here for criteria and application.  The deadline is Friday, Oct 6! Completed proposals and questions can be submitted to Nicole Sanders or delivered to the APC Box in the front office.

Follow the Acalanes Parents Club on Instagram to keep up to date on what’s happening at Acalanes and reminders for important dates.
 

SEPTEMBER DONS DIALOGUE – Listen to the Recording!
Thank you to all who attended our APC General Meeting and September  Dons Dialogue on Friday, Sep 22. If you were not able to attend, here are the recording or slides from the discussion.
This month’s topics included;

  • End of Grading Period Tips
  • Peer Tutoring Update – A Growing Program
  • Song for Charlie (Fentanyl education) Community Education Events
  • Student Activities Report
  • Open Q&A w/ APC Board

Thanks as always to Mia Heglie and Monica Stassi for providing the welcoming coffee and treats at every Dons Dialogue!

If you were not able to attend the APC General meeting and would like to view the APC budget, please email APC President, Kelly Daggs to request access.

Please reach out to APC here with any questions.

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Parents Club Pro-Tip

GRADING WINDOWS AND REMINDERS
Parents/guardians should have received an email Friday morning from Parent Square with a Progress Report for your student(s). Note, the Progress Report shows just a snapshot of the grading status on Friday, Sep 15 and may already show something different in Canvas now.
1st Semester Grading Window:

  • Q1 Progress Report: Sep 15
  • Q1 Ends: Oct 13
  • Q2 Progress Report: Nov 9
  • Semester 1 Ends: Dec 22

The best way to support our students academically is not necessarily through these report cards but more so by being an “Observer” in Canvas and encouraging and assisting our students with self advocacy.
 
The Acalanes educational philosophy reinforces the learning over the points. When reviewing Canvas with your students please help your students keep this in mind.
 
For more detailed information on grading please refer to the Dons Dialogue slides or recording from Friday. Many parents found the discussion very helpful

 

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Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

LAFAYETTE RESERVOIR RUN: Sunday, Oct 22
The Race Before the Race Continues – Register NOW
Lafayette’s public schools are beneficiaries of this event, with 15% percent of each registration going back to Acalanes – so be sure to choose Acalanes during the registration process! The school who most increases their number of runners compared to last year will receive an additional $500 beneficiary check! (We’ve got this Dons!)

Run/walk downtown Lafayette in the 2-mile fun run/walk or 5k, or strive for your best 10k time, which includes going around the Lafayette Reservoir on race day, Sunday, Oct 22. There is also a virtual option around the paved trail of the reservoir from Oct 12-21.
Thank you for supporting our schools!

Go Dons!

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Parent Education

Community Parent Education Night: What Everyone Needs to Know About the Drug Landscape Today
Presented by Song For Charlie, local law enforcement agencies, and the Acalanes administration

Thursday, Sep 28 • Acalanes Performing Arts Center (PAC)

  • 5:30-6:30pm: Community Programming with Wellness, Counselors, AHS Admin and Lafayette Community Responders
  • 6:30-8pm: Fentanyl Presentation by Song for Charlie
  • RSVP here

See General Administration Announcements above for more details.

Campus and Gun Safety,

Tuesday, Oct 3 from 7-8pm, Acalanes Performing Arts Center (PAC)
Lafayette parents with students in grades K-12 can join us for a presentation and panel discussion on the important topic of campus and gun safety. Speakers include:

  • City of Lafayette Mayor Carl Anduri
  • Police Chief Ben Alldritt
  • Lafayette School District Superintendent Dr. Brent Stephens
  • Acalanes Unified High School District Superintendent Dr. John Nickerson
  • Acalanes High School Principal Eric Shawn

We will hear about our city’s work to keep students and families safe from gun violence, and parents will learn how they can stay informed and do their part to keep our community safe.

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