From the Activities Director

Last week to go! We hope you & your family have a great Thanksgiving break.
 
TODAY is the last day to purchase spiritwear from our winter store.
Looking for the perfect holiday gift? Look no further than some new Acalanes spiritwear. Orders close Nov 16 and will be in hand Dec 16 for pick-up. Proceeds benefit the classes of ‘26, ‘27, ‘28 & 29!
 
As we enter the holiday season, we have a few opportunities for our community to give back:
 
ADOPT-A-FAMILY: Last chance to sign-up this week!
As the holiday season approaches, the Acalanes Community Outreach board is kicking off Adopt-A-Family. This is a tradition at Acalanes and together we were able to support 70 families last year. We partner with Pacific Clinics in Concord. There are two ways to participate:

1. If you would like to adopt an individual along with their wishlist of gifts to buy, please fill out the signup genius link.
2. If you wish to adopt a family, please fill out the google form and we will get back in touch with you once we have received the families request.

All wrapped gifts will be collected on Dec 12 in the morning at the front of the school. As this date approaches, we will be in touch with more details! If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out to Anna Motes at (annakmotes@gmail.com) or Katherine Walton at (kwalton@auhsdschools.org)!

ACALANES FOOD DRIVE
We are running a food drive for our very own Acalanes community. We are putting together food bags for anyone who may be impacted by the delay of SNAP benefits.
Collection bins are in front of the attendance office. We are collecting specific items in order to offer grab-n-go meals.  Items we are collecting:

• Canned chicken
• Canned mixed vegetables & canned corn
• Dried rice
• Canned cream of chicken soup
• Canned white beans
• Chicken broth
• Chili seasoning
• Instant mashed potatoes
• Dried stuffing mix
• Shelf-stable milk
• Cereal

If other items are brought, we will make those available. Ultimately, anything not used will be donated to our local food banks.
 
Peek at the Week:
Tuesday @ lunch: Frosh piesgiving
Wednesday @ academy: Clay making in room 314 + a sports mental health panel in the library
Wednesday @ lunch: Senior Friendsgiving
Thursday @ 7:00pm: Fall Jazz Concert
Friday @ academy: Enviro hosts Flower planting & pot decorating in room 314
 
Shop joyfully while giving generously! We are back in the holiday season and this is a perfect time to raise funds for our beloved Acalanes! Minted is offering parents 20% off our purchases AND is giving 10% of the net sales back to our fabulous school! Please use promo code FUNDRAISEACALANES upon checkout to support the Dons!

Two more weeks to go until a well deserved break!
 
As we enter the holiday season, we have a few opportunities for our community to give back:
 
ACALANES FOOD DRIVE
We are running a food drive for our very own Acalanes community. We are putting together food bags for anyone who may be impacted by the delay of SNAP benefits.
Collection bins are in front of the attendance office. We are collecting specific items in order to offer grab-n-go meals.  Items we are collecting:

• Canned chicken
• Canned mixed vegetables & canned corn
• Dried rice
• Canned cream of chicken soup
• Canned white beans
• Chicken broth
• Chili seasoning
• Instant mashed potatoes
• Dried stuffing mix
• Shelf-stable milk
• Cereal

If other items are brought, we will make those available. Ultimately, anything not used will be donated to our local food banks.

ADOPT-A-FAMILY: Sign up today!
As the holiday season approaches, the Acalanes Community Outreach board is kicking off Adopt-A-Family. This is a tradition at Acalanes and together we were able to support 70 families last year. We partner with Pacific Clinics in Concord. There are two ways to participate:

1. If you would like to adopt an individual along with their wishlist of gifts to buy, please fill out the signup genius link.
2. If you wish to adopt a family, please fill out the google form and we will get back in touch with you once we have received the families request.

All wrapped gifts will be collected on Dec 12 in the morning at the front of the school. As this date approaches, we will be in touch with more details! If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out to Anna Motes at (annakmotes@gmail.com) or Katherine Walton at (kwalton@auhsdschools.org)!
 
Peek at the Week:
Monday: 1,2,3,7 block day
Tuesday: Happy Veteran’s Day! Thank you to everyone who has served.
Wednesday: 🙂
Thursday: 9th grade movie during lunch in room 314
Friday:
Academy: Native American Heritage Month speaker: Marge Grow Eppard
Lunch: Aca Buddies!
 
Native American Heritage Month speaker: Marge Grow–Eppard
Friday, Nov 14 during academy in the library
Marge is a Bay Miwok Tribe Elder, a women’s spiritual leader, President of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & People of California. She is an amazing speaker. Please attend!

SEED Friendship Circle: Nov 20 at LOPC
Please volunteer at SEED Friendship Circle on Nov 20 at 4:30pm. It is hanging out and socializing with youth with special needs. Please let Susan know you plan to attend by emailing her at susan@lopc.org

Shop joyfully while giving generously! We are back in the holiday season and this is a perfect time to raise funds for our beloved Acalanes! Minted is offering parents 20% off our purchases AND is giving 10% of the net sales back to our fabulous school! Please use promo code FUNDRAISEACALANES upon checkout to support the Dons!

Lots of great lunchtime activities this coming week-check them out!
 
Peek at the Week:
 
Monday Lunch: Class Cup Volleyball
Wednesday Academy: Enviro council on pollution in Walton’s academy
Wednesday Lunch:
Class Cup Volleyball continues
Native American Heritage Month Jeopardy in 314
Thursday Lunch: Note taking 101 for Freshmen in room 314
Friday lunch:
Fall Movie in room 314 (food provided)
Class Cup Volleyball
 
Class Cup Volleyball
Come out and support your classmates on Nov 3, 5, and 7 for this year’s Class Cup Volleyball Tournament! Games will take place in the Big Gym at lunch and will feature a single set of 6v6 indoor volleyball. Show out to cheer your grade on and watch the action!
 
Come to Jeopardy for Native American Heritage month! This event is in room 314 during lunch on Nov 5 and is a great opportunity to learn more about indigenous culture and fun facts. Prizes are offered to the winners!
 
Looking ahead….

• Student volunteer opportunities at Winter Nights at LOPC & Glide Memorial
• Native American Heritage Month Speaker: Marge Grow Eppard (Nov 14 @ academy)
• Adopt-a-Family sign-ups coming
• Puppy yoga!
• Senior Friendsgiving
• Senior Dodgeball

Unified Soccer – Monday @ lunch
Please encourage your student to go to the stadium at lunch on Monday to watch Unified Soccer. We want to pack the stadium as we cheer on & support our Unified Soccer team in the same way that we show up to Friday Night Lights.

BIG 10 this week: Flag Football & Girls Water Polo

Flag football begins their playoff run Tuesday evening & we are inviting you out to watch! Bring a blanket, bring your spirit, & let’s root on our team.
Did you know that our girls waterpolo team is ranked #3 in the COUNTRY? They begin their playoff run on Thursday at 5:00pm at home. Come watch this INCREDIBLE team!

Blood Drive – Oct 29
Acalanes is hosting a blood drive with the American Red Cross and we have appointment times from 8:00am-1:45pm. Give blood and treat yourself! In addition to donating (and there is a critical need right now), donors will receive a $10 e-gift card to a merchant of choice. Sign up here!
 
Friday is Halloween! We’ll kick off the day with our last morning rally followed by Trunk-or-Treat at lunch! Thanks to Zoonies for their donation of 5,000 pieces of candy!
 
In the evening, we have Friday Night Lights. Come out dressed in black or a costume for Senior Night, followed by the football game vs. Clayton Valley.
 
Class Cup Volleyball
Come out and support your classmates on Nov 3, 5, and 7 for this year’s Class Cup Volleyball Tournament! Games will take place in the Big Gym at lunch and will feature a single set of 6v6 indoor volleyball. Show out to cheer your grade on and watch the action!
 
If you want to sign up to help your grade take home the dub- fill out this form!

Fall Play (Wednesday, Oct 22-Saturday, Oct 25)
Don’t miss DramaDons production of On the Razzle this week at 7:00pm in the small theatre.
Homecoming skits video. Re-live our Homecoming rally & class skits! Look out for the Homecoming recap video Monday featuring moments from the whole week.
Encourage your student to sign up to play Staff/Student Pickleball
Staff/Student pickleball is coming up at lunch. You can sign up to play with a teacher and a team of two other students! Sign up here. It begins Oct 22.
Blood Drive – Oct 29
Acalanes is hosting a blood drive with the American Red Cross and we have appointment times from 8:00am-1:45pm. Give blood and treat yourself! In addition to donating (and there is a critical need right now), donors will receive a $10 e-gift card to a merchant of choice. Sign up here!
 
Spiritwear
If you ordered spiritwear via Gryco over the summer, please have your student stop by room 314 to pick up.

Looking to stay informed? Follow us on Instagram for the latest on student activities and class happenings.

PEEK AT THE WEEK:
Wednesday @ Academy: Special Education training
Wednesday @ lunch: Staff/Student Pickleball + Unified Soccer
Thursday @ 3:30pm: BIG 10 – Girls Tennis
Thursday @ 6:30pm: BIG 10 – Girls Volleyball (Pink Out!)
Friday @ Academy: Finance Club speaker in room 314
Friday @ lunch: Staff/Student pickleball
Friday @ 7:00pm: Friday Night Lights against Campolindo. Wear BLUE!

Wednesday during Academy our special education staff is offering a training for students to learn more about disabilities, communication strategies when working with our ESC students, and to provide a space to ask questions. ACA Buddies & Unified Partners will be in attendance but all students are welcome.

Homecoming skits & a Homecoming recap video are online. Links can be found in the Daily Don & on ahs_dons. Relive the awesome week!

NEXT WEEK:
Fall Play (Wednesday, Oct 22-Saturday, Oct 25)

Pink Dons Shirts
They will arrive this coming week and I will email once they arrive so your student can stop by room 314 and pick up!

Spiritwear
If you ordered spiritwear via Gryco over the summer, please have your student stop by room 314 to pick up.

Looking to stay informed? Follow us on Instagram for the latest on student activities and class happenings.

Now that was a Homecoming to remember! From the hallways to the lunchtime activities to dodgeball & volleyball to the skits, and of course, last night’s celebration at HOCO Night Out, there were lots of memories & Acalanes spirit to be had. I am so proud of our Acalanes community for what we created together and the donations we provided to the Food Bank. Our skits this year involved 510 students – pretty incredible! Proud to be a Don!

There are some people that have to be acknowledged for their weeks and weeks of work to make Homecoming come to life. Our campus would be VERY different without these incredible parent volunteers & student leaders. A GIANT thank you to:
-Our class parent liaisons for their guidance, support, creativity, love, & hard work alongside the class officers particularly with hallway decorating. Y’all are an incredible bunch!
– Our 17 class officers for their tireless work in the evening, on the weekends, and just about every lunchtime for the past month making hallways come to life & skits as amazing as they were.
-Our 6 ASB Officers who planned & executed all of homecoming week aside from hallway decorating & skits. I am very grateful & proud of you.

Look for the recording of skits on YouTube this week. The link to view will be in the Daily Don.

Now, let’s peek into October.
Monday, Oct 6 from 9:30-11:30am: Make-up Picture Day
Tuesday, Oct 7 at 7:30am: Equity Council in room 314
Wednesday, Oct 8 at 7:30pm: Flag Football takes on Las Lomas. A HUGE game for our girls team. Come out!
Thursday, Oct 9 at 6:30pm: BIG 10 Event: Pops Concert. Football, Cheer & Blue Crew will be there to support. Join us!
Friday, Oct 10 at Academy: LatinX potluck in room 314 (Sign up for Walton’s Academy)
Sunday, Oct 12: Car Show at Acalanes

Spiritwear
If you ordered spiritwear via Gryco over the summer, please have your student stop by room 314 to pick up.

Looking to stay informed? Follow us on Instagram for the latest on student activities and class happenings.

HOMECOMING 2025: ACALANES GOES TO THE MOVIES


Homecoming officially begins today & we are ready to have the best week yet! There are so many ways for students to be involved in the week – please talk to your student about the various activities!

Before we jump into the week’s activities, just a reminder that our canned food drive is underway and the competition is heating up. There are 2 ways to donate:

• In person at the flag pole from 8:00-8:30am.
• Online directly to the Contra Costa Food Bank: 
  • Seniors         
  • Juniors        
  • Sophs          
  • Frosh

TODAY is HALLWAY DECORATING from 10:00am-3:00pm. Your student can show up anytime & help their class transform the halls. You should come to our community walkthrough from 5:00-6:00pm and witness the magic! It is truly incredible what our students create.

MONDAY:
Dress-up: Let’s go to the movies: wear pajamas!
Lunch activity: Staff vs. student dodgeball – a not to miss event!
TUESDAY:
Dress-up: Minions (yellow top, blue bottoms/overalls)
Lunch activity: Carnival in the Frosh quad
WEDNESDAY:
Dress-up: Jerseys
Lunch: Innertube waterpolo
7:00pm: Student vs. Student dodgeball
Consistently named as a student favorite, send your student to play or watch. They MUST bring their student ID if they wish to play.
THURSDAY:
Dress-up: Men in black (white shirt, black bottoms, sunglasses)
Lunch: Cake Walk on the blacktop
6:30pm: Girls Volleyball vs. College Park
Wear your “Everyone Watches Women’s Sports” BLUE t-shirt (or blue) & let’s pack the gym!
FRIDAY:
Dress-up: Class shirts or colors (9: white, 10: blue, 11: grey, 12: black)
Academy: HOCO Rally & Class Skits (watch the hudl cam thanks to Boosters!)
Lunch: Plunge-palooza in the pool
5:30pm: Pre-Friday Night Lights tailgate
7:00pm: Friday Night Lights & halftime show

Come out to watch cheer, pep band, and football while enjoying activities at halftime including class skits! At halftime, there will be a powder toss in the student section. The color powder easily washes out of most fabrics, skin, and hair using only soap and water, but we still recommend students leave those fancy shoes and clothes at home.

SATURDAY:
Make sure your student has purchased a ticket to HOCO Night Out! Last year we had 1135 students attend & we expect the same this year. There is something for everyone at the event. The event takes place in both gyms & in between the gyms. The dancing is outdoors on concrete so plan shoe attire accordingly. Most students go with their group of friends – no dates needed!
Attire for HOCO NIGHT OUT: khakis, collared shirts, and dresses. Students should come as they feel comfortable!

If you have any questions regarding ANYTHING Homecoming, don’t hesitate to reach out to Katherine Walton.

October is BREAST CANCER AWARENESS
Buy your 2025 Pink Out shirt for the month of October including the Volleyball games on Oct 9 & Oct 16 (vs. Campolindo). Let’s deck the gym out in PINK! $10 from every shirt sale will be donated to Fight for the Cure. The deadline to order is Oct 2.

HOMECOMING 2025: ACALANES GOES TO THE MOVIES

We are just 7 days away from HOCO 2025 and want to make sure that you (and your student) know the various ways to get involved in the week!

1. Don’t miss taking a few minutes to read the comprehensive HOCO Overview document.
2. Make sure you have purchased the HOCO 2025 T-shirt. Orders close tonight!
3. Our annual canned food drive begins tomorrow! There are 2 ways to donate:
   1. Online directly to the Contra Costa Food Bank
      1. Seniors
      2. Juniors
      3. Sophs
      4. Frosh
   2. In person at Acalanes – food or money
      1. Everyday at the flag pole from 8:05-8:30am
4. Three community events throughout the week:
   1. The community walkthrough of our homecoming hallways next Sunday, Sept 28, from 5:00-6:00pm. The hallways are incredible!
   2. The girls volleyball game on Thursday, Oct 2 at 6:30pm. Let’s pack the gym!
   3. Friday Night Lights on Friday, Oct 3, at 7:00pm. Let’s pack the stadium!
5. Make sure your student has purchased a ticket to HOCO Night Out! Last year we had 1135 students attend & we expect the same this year. There is something for everyone at the event.
6. Lastly, there are daily dress-ups, daily lunchtime activities, the HOCO rally with class skits, and student dodgeball on Wednesday, Oct 1, at 7:30pm (a not to miss night!)

Looking to stay informed? Follow us on Instagram for the latest on student activities and class happenings.

LatinX Heritage Month kicks off tomorrow and runs through Oct 15th! Latinos Unidos has some fun plans throughout the month. Events begin this week:
Staff and students are making door decs to celebrate LatinX Culture and they can be seen beginning today for the kick-off of LatinX Heritage Month.
On Wednesday, Sept 17, at lunch in room 408, Latinos Unidos is hosting a club meeting and invites all to attend to learn more about Latinos Unidos and the events planned for the month.

HOMECOMING 2025: ACALANES GOES TO THE MOVIES

Sept 28-Oct 4
It is hard to believe but Homecoming is just around the corner (14 days to be exact!) and the excitement is building on campus. Skit practices are in full force, hallway decorating parties are happening, and the week’s events are confirmed. This is a great week to purchase your student’s HOCO Night Out ticket!

Don’t miss taking a few minutes to read the HOCO Overview document. It has EVERYTHING you need to get informed about one of the best weeks at Acalanes.

Homecoming Blue Crew shirts-on sale NOW! Deadline to order is Sept 21.

HOCO NIGHT OUT: Oct 4 from 7:00-9:30pm

Tickets for HOCO Night Out are now on sale via Go Fan. HOCO Night Out has something for everyone-games, golf simulator, food truck, airbrush tattoo, caricaturist, blackjack/poker, and of course, a DJ. If your student would like to bring a guest who does not attend Acalanes, here is the guest pass (due by Oct 1).

We need Chaperones for HOCO Night Out. We are looking for 10 more chaperones for HOCO Night Out on Oct 4. With over 1100 students attending HOCO Night Out, we need caregivers to ensure a safe and fun night for all. Sign up today!
 
If your student did not pick up their class shirt, please encourage them to stop by room 314 ASAP.

Looking to stay informed? Follow us on Instagram for the latest on student activities and class happenings.