Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

Acalanes Gives Back
Acalanes is collecting shampoo, soap, and conditioner starting Monday, Feb 3 through Thursday, Feb 13 in front of the main office. Your donations will support local families in need, including newly arrived refugees and unhoused individuals.
Maya Smith, a Lafayette resident and community leader, has relaunched the Lamorinda Care Collective (LCC), a local resource providing essential items free of charge. All donations stay within our community, directly helping those in need. Please consider contributing and making a difference!

Support the Garden Club and buy Acalanes-grown succulents! Plants can be purchased through the Acalanes webstore for $5.25. They will be delivered to your student during 3rd period, or you can pick them up at the main office at Acalanes. Thanks for your support!

Support the Garden Club and buy Acalanes-grown succulents! Plants can be purchased through the Acalanes webstore for $5.25. They will be delivered to your student during 3rd period, or you can pick them up at the main office at Acalanes. Thanks for your support!

Attention High School Students Interested in Travel
Erin Barth, Tina Gullberg, and ACIS are hosting a trip to Japan from Jun 8-16! Any Lamorinda high school student is welcome to join.

Some of the sites and activities you will experience are:

• Tokyo Tour with Guide
• Meiji Shrine
• Lake Ashi Boat Ride
• Hakone Komagatake Ropeway
• Mount Fuji Kawaguchiko 5th Station
• Toyota Motor Company Kaikan Museum
• Atsuta Jingu Shrine
• Kiyomizu-dera Temple
• Japanese Tea Ceremony
• Kinkakuji Temple
• Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
• Nara Park
• Todaiji Temple
• Osaka Castle
• CupNoodles Museum Osaka Ikeda

The deadline to sign up is rapidly approaching, so be sure to take advantage of this incredible opportunity! Please click here for more information and to sign up.
 
Calling all AHS and Miramonte students who have completed Spanish 3 (or higher): Spanish Immersion Trip to Spain: Jun 7-19, 2025*
Facilitated by Edu-Culture Immersion and led by AHS Spanish teacher Señora Holland and Miramonte High School teacher Señora Frank

• See link for flyer
• Contact Maya Ramdihal at Edu-Culture Immersion Study Abroad Programs for more information: maya@educulture.com (reference Acalanes-Miramonte trip to Spain) or see QR code on flyer

*Please note that this is a private tour and not affiliated with AUHSD

Attention High School Students Interested in Travel
Erin Barth, Tina Gullberg, and ACIS are hosting a trip to Japan from Jun 8-16! Any Lamorinda high school student is welcome to join.

Some of the sites and activities you will experience are:

• Tokyo Tour with Guide
• Meiji Shrine
• Lake Ashi Boat Ride
• Hakone Komagatake Ropeway
• Mount Fuji Kawaguchiko 5th Station
• Toyota Motor Company Kaikan Museum
• Atsuta Jingu Shrine
• Kiyomizu-dera Temple
• Japanese Tea Ceremony
• Kinkakuji Temple
• Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
• Nara Park
• Todaiji Temple
• Osaka Castle
• CupNoodles Museum Osaka Ikeda

The deadline to sign up is rapidly approaching, so be sure to take advantage of this incredible opportunity! Please click here for more information and to sign up.
 
Calling all AHS and Miramonte students who have completed Spanish 3 (or higher): Spanish Immersion Trip to Spain: Jun 7-19, 2025*
Facilitated by Edu-Culture Immersion and led by AHS Spanish teacher Señora Holland and Miramonte High School teacher Señora Frank

• See link for flyer
• Contact Maya Ramdihal at Edu-Culture Immersion Study Abroad Programs for more information: maya@educulture.com (reference Acalanes-Miramonte trip to Spain) or see QR code on flyer

*Please note that this is a private tour and not affiliated with AUHSD

Book Drive
The Acalanes Class of 2025 National Charity League is collecting new and gently used books for ages toddler through early high school students. The books will be donated and utilized as part of their “Sweet Dreams” senior class project supporting Hope Solutions. Hope Solutions provides emergency support for unhoused individuals and families in Contra Costa County. Beginning Tuesday, Nov 5, through Friday, Nov 22, donations can be dropped off outside of the Acalanes main office in an orange bin labeled “Hope Solutions Book Drive.” Feel free to email lucy.thomas25@auhsdschools.org if you have any questions.

Book Drive
The Acalanes Class of 2025 National Charity League is collecting new and gently used books for ages toddler through early high school students. The books will be donated and utilized as part of their “Sweet Dreams” senior class project supporting Hope Solutions. Hope Solutions provides emergency support for unhoused individuals and families in Contra Costa County. Beginning Tuesday, Nov 5, through Friday, Nov 22, donations can be dropped off outside of the Acalanes main office in an orange bin labeled “Hope Solutions Book Drive.” Feel free to email lucy.thomas25@auhsdschools.org if you have any questions.

Book Drive
The Acalanes Class of 2025 National Charity League is collecting new and gently used books for ages toddler through early high school students. The books will be donated and utilized as part of their “Sweet Dreams” senior class project supporting Hope Solutions. Hope Solutions provides emergency support for unhoused individuals and families in Contra Costa County. Beginning Tuesday, Nov 5, through Friday, Nov 22, donations can be dropped off outside of the Acalanes main office in an orange bin labeled “Hope Solutions Book Drive.” Feel free to email lucy.thomas25@auhsdschools.org if you have any questions.
 
AHS Garden Update
The garden club has been meeting weekly on Monday’s during lunch. We have planted seeds for our winter garden and have our next work party scheduled for TODAY, Sunday Nov 3 from 10am – 2pm (or until we finish, which is often earlier). We will be pulling out our summer garden, adding the rest of our soil to the beds, and planting our winter vegetables!  We can use all help, especially if you can bring a wheelbarrow or shovel. Please come help if you can!
 
We also received a small APC grant to buy new tools and supplies for planting our winter vegetables and are grateful for the support. And we are lucky that Meghan Thompson-Payne is on board to help with garden projects going forward. She wants to organize a small group of like minded parents to support the work of the garden club and the garden spaces at AHS. 
 
Please reach out if you have any questions: Lori (LTewksbury@auhsdschools.org) and Cathy (CChallacombe@auhsdschools.org)
 
Thanks again for your support!

AHS Garden Update
The garden club has been meeting weekly on Monday’s during lunch. We have planted seeds for our winter garden and have our next work party scheduled for Sunday Nov 3 from 10am – 2pm (or until we finish, which is often earlier). We will be pulling out our summer garden, adding the rest of our soil to the beds, and planting our winter vegetables!  We can use all help, especially if you can bring a wheelbarrow or shovel.  Please take a moment to sign up here if you can come help.
 
We also received a small APC grant to buy new tools and supplies for planting our winter vegetables and are grateful for the support. And we are lucky that Meghan Thompson-Payne is on board to help with garden projects going forward. She wants to organize a small group of like minded parents to support the work of the garden club and the garden spaces at AHS. 
 
Finally, this past Friday we enjoyed a “harvest party” lunch. While the food did not come directly from the garden (most of our harvest was actually during the summer), it was nice to share food and enjoy each other’s company.
 
Please reach out if you have any questions: Lori (LTewksbury@auhsdschools.org) and Cathy (CChallacombe@auhsdschools.org)
 
Thanks again for your support!

SUMMER JAPAN TRIP
Acalanes staff are taking students on a trip to Japan this summer. Students from any grade and any of the four high schools can attend! The only requirement is an interest in travel! This trip has a little bit of everything — ancient/historical sites, awe-inspiring locations, amazing food, and a once-in-a-lifetime bonding experience with your Lamorinda peers. Send your student on the trip of a lifetime where they become a global citizen who values travel and exploration.
 
For anyone interested in going on the trip to Japan this summer, please follow this link to preview the trip and to register:  June 2025 – Japan.
And check out our Instagram page to see photos from the last two summers! acalanes_travels

If you have any questions please reach out to Erin Barth or Tina Gullberg. This is not a school-sponsored trip.