News & Announcements

Wellness Center

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. In honor of Suicide Prevention Week this week, the Wellness Center has teamed up with Student Leadership to offer a ton of opportunities for students to foster awareness around suicide prevention and to get involved in supporting themselves and their peers. Some of our activities include Kahoot trivia games, a positive affirmation station, gratitude grams and a short suicide prevention documentary and discussion with the Wellness team. Please encourage your students to get involved!
 
Suicide is preventable and knowing the signs of someone that might be contemplating suicide is invaluable. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has shared this important information about what can lead to suicide, the risk factors and the protective factors to consider. Even though suicide is a taboo subject, if you think someone you know may be suicidal, it is best to discuss your concerns with them directly and encourage them to seek support.

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Performing & Visual Arts

The Acalanes High School Choir Vocal Groups will be singing at the Lafayette Art & Wine Festival, Saturday, Sep 23, 2:30-3pm on the Community Stage. Stroll on down to the stage and support our AHS singers.

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LPIE

Join us at the 26th Annual Lafayette Art & Wine Festival!
Sep 23, 10am-7pm & Sep 24, 10am-6pm
Did you know that the Art & Wine Festival is a fundraiser for the City of Lafayette and that LPIE is the largest beneficiary? Did you know that the people who work the ticket booth are volunteers? Come have some fun and help LPIE at the same time by staffing the Festival Ticket Booth and/or the LPIE Booth at this year’s festival! Children 12 and up are welcome to volunteer at the LPIE Booth, adults only for the ticket booth. Click HERE to show your support for our schools!

www.lpie.org, Follow us on Instagram 

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Sports

This week’s can’t miss events:

Girls golf
Monday, Sep 11 Las Lomas HS at Contra Costa CC at 3:30pm.

Girls volleyball
Tuesday, Sep 12 host Northgate HS. Frosh at 4:30pm, JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 6:30pm.
Thursday, Sep 14 at Las Lomas HS. Frosh at 4:30pm, JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 6:30pm.

Girls tennis
Tuesday, Sep 12 College Park HS at 3:30pm. Varsity is home and JV is away.
Thursday, Sep 14 Campolindo HS at 3:30pm. Varsity is away and JV is home.

Boys water polo
Tuesday, Sep 12 at Pioneer HS. Varsity at 5pm and JV at 6pm.
Thursday, Sep 14 host Castro Valley HS. JV at 5pm and Varsity at 6pm.
 
Football
Thursday, Sep 14 Frosh host Livermore HS at 5pm.
 
Girls water polo
Saturday, Sep 16 Varsity host Santa Cruz HS at 9am, JV host Soquel HS at 12pm and Varsity host Soquel HS at 2pm.

Cross country
Saturday, Sep 16 Farmer Invitational at Hayward HS.
 
You may view the 2023-2024 Athletic Update by clicking HERE.

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Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

Registration is NOW OPEN for the Lafayette Res Run for Education!
 
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. 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 first 100 students to register from each school will receive a voucher at packet pickup for 1/4 lb of bulk candy from Zoonie’s Candy Shop! Yes, even high school students!
  • The school who increases their number of runners most compared to last year will receive an additional $500 beneficiary check! 

Let’s go Dons!

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Parents Club Pro-Tip

MEET OUR ATTENDANCE CLERKS

Tina GullbergAttendance & Health Clerk

Tina joined the Acalanes office team five years ago. She moved to the Bay Area from Utah nine years ago with her husband Trig, their son Ethan and daughter Eliza. Ethan graduated from Acalanes in 2021 and Eliza is now a junior at Acalanes.

Marcus PaytonAttendance Clerk

Marcus is new to Acalanes and just  joined the Attendance team this summer. Be sure to stop by and give Marcus a warm Acalanes welcome.

ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES Q&A

How do I report absences or late arrivals?
Parents/Guardians need to report absences, late arrivals or early dismissals to the 24-hour attendance line (925-980-3973) or send an email to ahsattendance@auhsdschools.org. Absences not excused after 24 hours will be turned to cuts.
 
How do I excuse my student for an appointment or early release during the day?
Please report any early releases as soon as possible so the office can have your student’s pass ready to go. Call the 24-hour attendance line and leave a message or send an email. The messages are checked frequently. But if your student needs to leave right away, please call the office directly at 925-280-3970 ext. 7126. If your student does not know about the appointment please let us know so we can make arrangements to have the student sent to the office.
 
How does my student sign out once I have called the attendance line/email?
Your student needs to come to the attendance office before the class they are leaving early from to pick up an off-campus pass. This is their ticket to get out of class. Once they have their pass they can leave class at the designated time, come back to the attendance office to scan the QR code and sign out. If they return the same day, they will return to the attendance office to sign in and pick up a re-admit slip. Signing in/out from the office is mandatory for safety reasons.
 
Can tardies be excused? Yes, with a medical or dental note and a student sign in. Otherwise, parents cannot excuse tardiness.
 
For more detailed information, visit the District website attendance reporting here.

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General Administration Announcements

PICTURE DAY ORDERS AND MAKE-UPS

To order school photos visit Studio One Photos. Online Code = Your student’s ID number.
Picture retake and make-ups will be Wednesday, Sep 20 from 7:45am-11:30am in the PAC Lobby.

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APC in Action

ACALANES COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS
 
Welcome back Dons! The 2023-24 volunteer program year is in full swing for the Acalanes and President’s Service Awards so please make sure your students are logging those hours! It’s a great opportunity for students to give back AND be recognized for their service. THREE IMPORTANT CHANGES to note this year: 

  • We’ve transitioned to an app-based system, called Helper Helper, for reporting and validating hours. (That means no more paper forms and no more waiting until the end of the year to submit your hours. Yay!) 
  • The Acalanes Service Award now requires a minimum of 30 hours to qualify (back to the pre-COVID original hours requirement).
  • We have NEW instruction guidelines on what hours qualify as community service hours, which hopefully resolves a lot of past questions. 

Please check out https://www.acalanes.k12.ca.us/Page/2652 for instructions on how to get started in the app and to view the new instructions and guidelines. All applications are due by Friday, Apr 19, 2024 so please make sure your students are logging those hours in the Helper Helper app now!  Email communityservice@acalanesparentsclub.com with any questions.

And if your child hasn’t picked up their AHS or Presidential Service Award from last year, please have them do so at the Counseling Office as soon as possible.

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

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Parent Education

Navigating Teen Behaviors
Hosted by SEED High School
Monday, Sep 11 at 7pm
Acalanes Library

 

This workshop is designed for parents of teens with learning differences and/or disabilities, from your ADHD teen to your ASD teen and everything in between.

If you’d like to receive SEED High School invites, sign up at seedlagayette.org and select High School.

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Student Activities

Friday, Sep 8 is a BIG DAY at Acalanes! Three great opportunities to get involved and SHOW UP!

  • Fall Club Day is this Friday, Sep 8 during academy in the front quad. It is a great opportunity to connect with the 60+ clubs, join their communication system and get involved at Acalanes. Check out the daily bulletin for the spreadsheet of all 23-24 approved clubs.
  • Girls water polo plays this Friday at lunch to kick off their tournament. Encourage your student to show up on the pool deck and root our ladies to victory.
  • Football plays at home this Friday. It is a great community event so come out in your very best Red, White & Blue & let’s celebrate together as we root our football team and cheerleaders on.

The Acalanes Community Outreach Board is hosting a fundraiser through Sep 8 to support citizens of Maui in the wake of the recent fires that occurred. Cash can be donated in the morning by the flagpole and in jars in classes; those donations will go towards supplies for first responders and displaced families through the Maui Fund at the Hawaii Community Foundation. Donate online to the Maui Food Bank using this link. We’ve raised over $2000 so far – thank you for your support!
 
Encourage your student to come to the Enviro Council on Wednesday, Sep 6 during academy in room 314. We will be discussing the carbon footprint and the importance of reducing and reversing it! There will be donuts!
 
Celebrate LatinX Heritage Month!
Sign up to bring food to the potluck on Sep 20 before the girls volleyball team takes on Campolindo. We will do a potluck from 5-6:15pm in front of the big gym and celebrate community together. Looking forward to it!  Link to SignUp Genius.
 
Homecoming 2023: Acalanes celebrates music genres!
Homecoming week is Oct 9-14 and is one of the best weeks on campus with so many different ways for students to get involved. Please encourage your student to opt in!
Juniors have their informational meeting Wednesday @ lunch in room 314.
Sophomores have their informational meeting Thursday @ lunch in room 314.
 
ASB Stickers: Thank you to all who have purchased the ASB Sticker via the webstore! There is still time to purchase. This money drives student activities at Acalanes. ASB costs $100 and the sticker gets printed on the ID Card.
Perks include:

 Spirit Wear/Class Shirt Update:

  • If you ordered spirit wear via the Gryco webstore, it will be here mid September and you will receive an email from me with pick-up information.
  • If you ordered a class shirt, we will hand them out on Wednesday, Sep 13 at lunch.
  • If you purchased ASB and your student didn’t receive a white spirit shirt, please send your student to room 314.

Looking to stay informed? Follow us on Instagram for the latest on student activities and class happenings.
 
Katherine Walton, Activities Director

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