Song for Charlie – Educational Presentation about the Dangers of Fentanyl
This is a district wide Parent Education Night on fentanyl awareness. Join us on Oct 8 from 6:30-8pm at Los Lomas High School Theatre to view a documentary produced by the nonprofit organization Song for Charlie followed by a Q & A panel.
Parent Education
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)

Important Dates
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- Sep 15-Oct 15 National Hispanic Heritage Month
- LGBTQ History Month
- Filipino American History Month
- Oct 10 LatinX Heritage Month Speaker: Anthony Rodriguez Yao
- Oct 10 World Mental Health Day
- Oct 11-12 Yom Kippur
- Oct 14 Indigenous Peoples’ Day
- Oct 31 Diwali
Latinos Unidos has a few more fun activities for students for the remainder of Hispanic Heritage month. Please check out our IG and the Daily Don to find dates and times.
LatinX Heritage Month Speaker: Anthony Rodriguez Yao. On Oct 10 at 5:30pm in the library, we are excited to welcome Anthony Rodriguez Yao as our featured speaker for LatinX Heritage Month. Anthony is an immigration attorney who will share his story and shed light on his experiences. There will also be an opportunity for questions, so come prepared! We look forward to seeing you there!
Oct 10 is World Mental Health Day. The overall objective of this day is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health.The day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide.
Oct 11 at sundown to Oct 12, Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. It is traditional to fast for the day to reflect on the year and end the holiday with a break fast meal after sun down. Students may be in services all day, fasting and spending the holidays with family. Please extend them grace during these days.
If you would like to get involved please email us at diversityandinclusion@acalanesparentsclub.com. All are welcome.
Legislative News
AUHSD Governing Board – Candidate Forum
Las Trampas Creek Council of PTA’s is co-sponsoring the candidate forum for the Acalanes Union High School Districts.
Thursday, Oct 17
6:30-9pm
Walnut Creek Library – Oak View room
Parents Club Pro-Tip
GRADING WINDOWS AND REMINDERS
Parents/guardians should have received an email last week 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 20 and may already show something different in Canvas now.
1st Semester Grading Window:
- Q1 Progress Report: Sep 20
- Q1 Ends: Oct 11
- Q2 Progress Report: Nov 8
- Semester 1 Ends: Dec 20
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.
If you have questions about grading or resources for students please attend our next Dons Dialogue (Oct 18) for open discussion on topics like this and more.
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)

Important September Dates
Important Dates
- Sep 15-Oct 15 National Hispanic Heritage Month
- Sep 30 Black Student Union (BSU) Summit
- LGBTQ History Month
- Filipino American History Month
- Oct 2-4 Rosh Hashanah
- Oct 10 World Mental Health Day
- Oct 11-12 Yom Kippur
- Oct 14 Indigenous Peoples’ Day
- Oct 31 Diwali
Latinos Unidos has a few more fun activities for students for the remainder of Hispanic Heritage month. Please check out our IG and the Daily Don to find dates and times.
Black Student Union Summit is tomorrow at St Mary’s College.
Rosh Hashanah is the New Year in Judaism. Rosh Hashanah begins ten days of penitence culminating in Yom Kippur, as well as beginning the cycle of autumnal religious festivals. You can learn more here.
If you would like to get involved please email us at diversityandinclusion@acalanesparentsclub.com. All are welcome.
Legislative News
AUHSD Governing Board – Candidate Forum
Las Trampas Creek Council of PTA’s is co-sponsoring the candidate forum for the Acalanes Union High School Districts.
Thursday, Oct 17
6:30-9pm
Walnut Creek Library – Oak View room
Parents Club Pro-Tip
MEET OUR OFFICE ATTENDANCE TEAM!
Tina Gullberg, Attendance & Health Clerk
Tina joined the Acalanes office team six 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 senior at Acalanes.
Anisa Stanton, Attendance Clerk
Anisa is new to Acalanes and just joined the team this summer. She’s lived in the Bay Area her whole life and started dancing at the age of 3! She did many productions, including the Nutcracker, and loved seeing the joy in her community! She started working in the school district in January 2020 with transition students at Del Valle as an instructional aide. She worked at Miramonte briefly in the Wellness Center and at Campolindo for the last 3 years in the Special Education program. She’s greatly enjoyed working with students and focusing on getting her BA in psychology as well. Be sure to stop by and give Anisa 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 become 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/sent an 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.
Parent Education
SEED High School Presents: Understanding and Supporting Teen Behavior with Peter J. Alter: A Guide for Parents. Tuesday, Sep 24 at 7pm in the Acalanes High School Library. This workshop provides an in-depth exploration of behavioral challenges faced by teenagers with disabilities, utilizing the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Tailored for parents and caregivers, the session focuses on practical strategies for understanding, assessing, and addressing various behavioral issues within this demographic. Click here to register!
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)

Important September Dates
Sep 15-Oct 15 National Hispanic Heritage Month
Sep 25 Door Decorations Due for Hispanic Heritage Month
Sep 27 California Native American Day
Sep 30 Black Student Union (BSU) Summit
Thank you to the families that helped to make the Latinos Unidos Potluck a success! Yummy food and the sharing of cultures was enjoyed by all who attended. But the celebrations don’t end there. The students in the Latinos Unidos Club invite us to help represent National Hispanic Heritage Month by decorating doors to celebrate the contributions of the Hispanic culture in America. Please sign up here to support our students.
Native American Day is a holiday observed in several US states in celebration of Native American culture. To learn more about activities here in California, please visit https://www.nativeamericanday.org/.
APC Membership & Fundraising
You can still donate to Acalanes Parents Club! Your donation goes directly to AHS and supports important programs that greatly benefit all Acalanes students and staff. These programs include:
- Peer Tutoring
- College & Career Services
- Campus Enhancements
- Parent Education
- Staff & Teacher Development
- Communications
- Grant Programs
- Volunteer Opportunities
- And more . . .
If you haven’t had a chance to donate, please consider doing so here. The suggested amount is $350 but any amount is welcome and greatly appreciated.
Every donor receives a new APC tote! If you didn’t have a chance to pick yours up at Back to School Night, please reach out to cdaughters@yahoo.com. All APC members will also receive access to the online AHS student/family directory in the next few weeks.
Another important source of funding is making your donations go twice as far with corporate matching. Please check if your company has a matching program and reach out to corpmatch@acalanesparentsclub.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
