From the Activities Director

What a full week we had this past week, with athletics (including senior nights), the cultural fair with 40+ student created booths, our annual talent show and the Special Olympics. Our students continue to SHINE in so many ways!
 
Two Big Events This Week!
It is Acalanes Earth Week (Apr 22 – Apr 26) and our theme is reusing old materials to create something new! All activities will take place in room 314. Encourage your student to opt in!

• On Monday Apr 22 during lunch, there will be a Jeopardy about how to sort items. Donuts and snacks will be served.
• On Tuesday Apr 23 during lunch, there will be a Recycled Flower Pot Painting. Afterwards, students will receive a  flower to place in their containers.
• On Wednesday Apr 24 during academy (Walton), there is an Environmental Council with guest speakers Nancy Deming and Amanda Halte from RecycleSmart, who will discuss Organics in Schools. Donuts and Izzi’s will be served.
• On Thursday Apr 25 during lunch, there will be Paper Mache Making when students can make anything of their choosing!
• On Friday Apr 26 during academy (Walton), there will be another Environmental Council to discuss sustainable agriculture. Donuts and Izzi’s will be served.

Prom
We have over 630 students attending prom this year at the San Francisco Exploratorium. Encourage your student to check their school email Wednesday for final reminders and the final bus assignments. Students should be at Acalanes no later than 5:30pm on Saturday and will return to Acalanes no later than 11pm. We are looking forward to a great night!

April Calendar of Events:

• 10-12 and 15-19: Prom bus sign-ups during lunch
• 17: Cultural Fair at lunch
• 18: Talent show at 6:30pm
• 19: Special Olympics
• 21-26: Earth Week
• 27: Prom

We hope your student will plan to celebrate diversity and promote cross-cultural understanding at the Cultural Fair on Wednesday, Apr 17 during lunch! Students can showcase the richness of their heritage by signing up for a booth at the Cultural Fair. They will have the opportunity to represent a country and be responsible for bringing and serving food from their chosen country and educating others about the cultures and traditions of their country. This can be done by sharing interesting facts, displaying flags and objects of cultural importance, or creating a poster board filled with relevant information. The event will be held throughout campus and participants will receive an email regarding their booth location closer to the date. Students can sign up here.

The Acalanes Annual Talent Show is happening on Thursday, Apr 18 at 6:30pm and it is a FULL show hosted by a couple of incredible seniors and features acts of all kinds. We are raising money for the SAGE club & the Community Improvement club. Come on out!
 
The Special Olympics are on Friday, Apr 19 beginning at 10am. Is your student volunteering? If so, there is a mandatory meeting on Apr 10 and Apr 12 (during academy) to train volunteers. Volunteers will get a reminder slip.
 
The 2024 Junior & Senior Prom is Saturday, Apr 27 at the San Francisco Exploratorium. Prom tickets are on sale now through Apr 19 via Go Fan. Click HERE for the printable permission slips. In order to get a bus assignment, students need a ticket and a signed permission form. Bus sign ups happen during lunch from Apr 10-12 and Apr 15-19.
 
We still have 2028 frosh spirit packs available for purchase. Spirit packs feature a limited edition 2028 hoodie, string backpack and lanyard. The last day to order these is Thursday, Apr 18 and items will be available for pick-up beginning Wednesday, May 1. All proceeds benefit the class of 2028.

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

April Calendar of Events:

• 10-12 and 15-19: Prom bus sign-ups during lunch
• 17: Cultural Fair at lunch
• 18: Talent show at 6:30pm
• 19: Special Olympics
• 21-26: Earth Week
• 27: Prom

We hope your student will plan to celebrate diversity and promote cross-cultural understanding at the Cultural Fair on Wednesday, Apr 17 during lunch! Students can showcase the richness of their heritage by signing up for a booth at the Cultural Fair. They will have the opportunity to represent a country and be responsible for bringing and serving food from their chosen country and educating others about the cultures and traditions of their country. This can be done by sharing interesting facts, displaying flags and objects of cultural importance, or creating a poster board filled with relevant information. The event will be held throughout campus and participants will receive an email regarding their booth location closer to the date. Students can sign up here.

The Acalanes Annual Talent Show is happening on Thursday, Apr 18 at 6:30pm and it is a FULL show hosted by a couple of incredible seniors and features acts of all kinds. We are raising money for the SAGE club & the Community Improvement club. Come on out!
 
The Special Olympics are on Friday, Apr 19 beginning at 10am. Is your student volunteering? If so, there is a mandatory meeting on Apr 10 and Apr 12 (during academy) to train volunteers. Volunteers will get a reminder slip.
 
The 2024 Junior & Senior Prom is Saturday, Apr 27 at the San Francisco Exploratorium. Prom tickets are on sale now through Apr 19 via Go Fan. Click HERE for the printable permission slips. In order to get a bus assignment, students need a ticket and a signed permission form. Bus sign ups happen during lunch from Apr 10-12 and Apr 15-19.
 
We still have 2028 frosh spirit packs available for purchase. Spirit packs feature a limited edition 2028 hoodie, string backpack and lanyard. The last day to order these is Thursday, Apr 18 and items will be available for pick-up beginning Wednesday, May 1. All proceeds benefit the class of 2028.

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

The first annual Sophomore Field Day is this Wednesday, Mar 27 during lunch and period 6! We’re going big for our sophomores with this day-o-fun that includes lunch, games, a raffle and music. Look for a parent waiver for the bungee course that students will be getting from Chemistry class: Parent help is needed to make this event a success and you can sign up here.

The Acalanes Annual Talent Show is happening on Thursday, Apr 18 and hosts and acts are needed! If your student is interested in being a senior host or performing at the event, please encourage them to fill out the following forms below by Wednesday, Mar 27:

• Acts: https://forms.gle/62tZWkLhE5tYQDAKA
• Senior hosts: https://forms.gle/5M6A3cvysTWDynEG7

Sophomores and juniors can apply for the 2024-2025 New Crew Leader program! New Crew leaders are essential to mentoring our incoming class and building relationships with them. It is a great leadership opportunity at Acalanes and the deadline to apply is Mar 29. Students can access the application here.
 
The Special Olympics is just around the corner. Acalanes is hosting this all day event on Friday, Apr 19 and we are still in need of volunteers to make this happen. Please encourage your student to grab a permission form in room 314 and sign up for a spot. The forms need to be completed and turned in this week, before we go on spring break. Adults are also welcome to help as parking monitors and you can sign up here if you’re interested.
 
The 2024 Junior & Senior Prom is Saturday, Apr 27 at the San Francisco Exploratorium. Prom tickets are on sale now through Apr 19 via Go Fan.
 
Ticket prices increase by $20 as of this Saturday, Mar 30 so your student should consider buying one this week!
Tier 1 pricing: Mar 11-29 – $95
Tier 2 pricing: Mar 30-Apr 19 – $115
Guests/Other Grades: $140
Click HERE for the printable permission slips!
 
We hope your student will plan to celebrate diversity and promote cross-cultural understanding at the Cultural Fair on Wednesday, Apr 17 during lunch! Students can showcase the richness of their heritage by signing up for a booth at the Cultural Fair. They will have the opportunity to represent a country and be responsible for bringing and serving food from their chosen country and educating others about the cultures and traditions of their country. This can be done by sharing interesting facts, displaying flags and objects of cultural importance, or creating a poster board filled with relevant information. The event will be held throughout campus and participants will receive an email regarding their booth location closer to the date. Students can sign up here.
We still have 2028 frosh spirit packs available for purchase. Spirit packs feature a limited edition 2028 hoodie, string backpack and lanyard. The last day to order these is Thursday, Apr 18 and items will be available for pick-up beginning Wednesday, May 1. All proceeds benefit the class of 2028.

Is your student looking for something new to do? Check out the thriving Acalanes club communities and the club promotional videos on the Acalanes You Tube channel here!
 
March is Disability Awareness Month and on Thursday, Mar 21 we are asking the student body to wear crazy socks in recognition of World Down Syndrome Day.
 
The Acalanes Annual Talent Show is happening on Thursday, Apr 18 and hosts and acts are needed! If your student is interested in being a senior host or performing at the event, please encourage them to fill out the following forms below by Wednesday, Mar 27:

• Acts: https://forms.gle/62tZWkLhE5tYQDAKA
• Senior hosts: https://forms.gle/5M6A3cvysTWDynEG7

We hope your student will plan to celebrate diversity and promote cross-cultural understanding at the Cultural Fair on Wednesday, Apr 17 during lunch! Students can showcase the richness of their heritage by signing up for a booth at the Cultural Fair. They will have the opportunity to represent a country and be responsible for bringing and serving food from their chosen country and educating others about the cultures and traditions of their country. This can be done by sharing interesting facts, displaying flags and objects of cultural importance, or creating a poster board filled with relevant information. The event will be held throughout campus and participants will receive an email regarding their booth location closer to the date. Students can sign up here.
The Special Olympics is just around the corner. Acalanes is hosting this all day event on Friday, Apr 19 and volunteer sign ups are available in room 314 if your student would like to help. A permission form also needs to be completed. Some of the volunteer opportunities include working as a torch runner, working at the ribbon station, handing out signs, helping with the parade, and helping with events such as the turbo-jav, the standing long jump, and much more. Adults are also welcome to help as parking monitors and you can sign up here if you’re interested.
 
We still have 2028 frosh spirit packs available for purchase. Spirit packs feature a limited edition 2028 hoodie, string backpack and lanyard. The last day to order these is Thursday, Apr 18 and items will be available for pick-up beginning Wednesday, May 1. All proceeds benefit the class of 2028.

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

TODAY, 130 student players and 20 student coaches will play in the Annual POWERpuff Tournament beginning at 3pm in the Acalanes stadium. Come out and watch! It will run until 7:30pm.
 
Join us on Tuesday, Mar 12 at 6:30pm in the library for our Feminism and Black Student Union collaboration speaker event! Listen to Regan Bradley-Brown talk about her experience and work as a Supervising Attorney at Children’s East Bay Law Office since 2019.
 
Brown Bag Lunch Day is on Sunday, Mar 17 at 12pm when volunteers will distribute packed lunch to the homeless in San Francisco. If your student is interested, they can drop off their permission form by Friday, Mar 15 in room 314. Students can click here to sign up and/or for more information! We will send permission forms to volunteers who signed up through email or they can pick one up in 314.
 
Acalanes’s Annual Talent Show is happening Thursday, Apr 18 and hosts and acts are needed! If your student is interested in being a senior host or performing at the event, please encourage them to fill out the following forms below by Wednesday, Mar 27!
Acts: https://forms.gle/62tZWkLhE5tYQDAKA
Senior hosts: https://forms.gle/5M6A3cvysTWDynEG7
 
Tree Planting Event
This month, Acalanes is hosting a sapling planting event. We are working with Tree-Plenish, a non-profit organization that works with high schools to help offset the amount of paper used during the school year by planting saplings. You can get more information and purchase your own sapling by clicking here. The deadline to purchase is Thursday, Mar 14 – each tree is the low price of $5, with a variety to choose from. Your contributions will go towards helping plant more trees to make communities greener.
 
The Special Olympics is just around the corner. Acalanes is hosting this all day event on Friday, Apr 19 and volunteer sign-ups are available in room 314 if your student would like to help. A permission form also needs to be completed. Some of the volunteer opportunities include working as a torch runner, working at the ribbon station, handing out signs, helping with the parade, and helping with events such as the turbo-jav, the standing long jump, and much more. Adults are also welcome to help as parking monitors and you can sign up here if you’re interested.
 
We still have 2028 frosh spirit packs available for purchase. Spirit packs feature a limited edition 2028 hoodie, string backpack and lanyard. The last day to order these is Thursday, Apr 18 and items will be available for pick-up beginning Wednesday, May 1. All proceeds benefit the class of 2028.

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

This week is ALL about our school musical! Don’t miss a chance to watch the incredible production from Mar 6-9.
 
On Sunday, Mar 10, 130 student players and 20 student coaches will play in the annual POWERpuff tournament beginning at 3pm in the Acalanes stadium. Come out and watch!
 
Join us on Tuesday, Mar 12 at 6:30pm in the library for our Feminism and Black Student Union collaboration speaker event! Listen to Regan Bradley-Brown talk about her experience and work as a Supervising Attorney at Children’s East Bay Law Office since 2019.
 
Acalanes High School is having its annual Color Run on Sunday, Mar 24 at 9am. This is a super fun 1 or 2 mile walk or run around the Acalanes campus with stations of different colored powders scattered throughout the course. This event is inspired by the traditions of Holi, the Hindu Festival of Color. Holi celebrates the arrival of spring and its beautiful harvests and colors with festivals involving colored powder. The Color Run is a community wide event and we encourage you/your friends/family members to run or walk! You can register on Go Fan and payment includes a t-shirt, a gift from Zoonie’s and snacks at the end of the race.Hope to see you there!
 
We still have 2028 frosh spirit packs available for purchase. Spirit packs feature a limited edition 2028 hoodie, string backpack and lanyard. The last day to order these is Thursday, Apr 18 and items will be available for pick-up beginning Wednesday, May 1. All proceeds benefit the class of 2028.

ASB and class officer elections are this week! Encourage your student to vote beginning Wednesday, Feb 28 using their auhsdschools account.
 
Acalanes has a fun week this week! During lunch all week is 3 v 3 staff/student basketball. During academy on Friday is the March Madness Rally. Encourage your student to wear a jersey and be in the gym to watch a preview of the musical, Unified Basketball, a dunk contest, staff musical chairs and more.
 
Acalanes Spiritwear Available for Purchase
The spring webstore is open for one more day with new sweatshirts, shirts, sweatpants and a lanyard. The webstore closes tomorrow, Monday, Feb 26 and items will be available for pick-up in late March. All proceeds benefit the classes of 2025, 2026 and 2027.
 
We also have 2028 frosh spirit packs available for purchase. Spirit packs feature a limited edition 2028 hoodie, string backpack and lanyard. The last day to order these is Thursday, Apr 18 and items will be available for pick-up beginning Wednesday, May 1. All proceeds benefit the class of 2028.
 
It is the last week of the Dress Drive! Bring any kind/type of dress (all will be accepted) to AHS (outside the front office) or to the Lafayette Community Center. Donations will be going to the Princess Project in San Francisco.
 
Acalanes High School is having its annual Color Run on Sunday, Mar 24 at 9am. This is a super fun 1 or 2 mile run around the Acalanes campus with stations of different colored powders scattered throughout the course. This event is inspired by the traditions of Holi, the Hindu Festival of Color. Holi celebrates the arrival of spring and its beautiful harvests and colors with festivals involving colored powder. The Color Run is a community wide event and we encourage you to run or walk! You can register on Go Fan and payment includes a t-shirt, a gift from Zoonie’s and snacks at the end of the race. We encourage people of all ages to come run! Hope to see you there!

February is Black Excellence Month! There is a district wide Mardi Gras dance this Friday, Feb 23 from 7-9 pm at Miramonte High School! Along with dancing and an awesome DJ, there will be food, a 360 open-air video booth, a place to hang out with friends, and an airbrush tattoo artist! Tickets are $10 and available on GoFan. It is a fun evening – please encourage your student to attend!
 
Attend Open Mic Night this Wednesday, Feb 21 at Sideboard restaurant at 6:30pm. It is one of our favorite nights of the year as we watch student talent. Students will perform songs, poems, instruments, dances and more!
 
Student Government (Leadership) Applications – Incoming 9th Graders: If your student is an incoming 9th grader, applications can be found here and are due on Thursday, Feb 22. Any questions, please contact Katherine Walton.
 
Line Dancing this Friday @ Lunch!
Encourage your student to get their boot scootin’ boogie on at Line Dancing in the big gym this Friday, Feb 23 during lunch! We have a dance teacher coming to teach the Dons how to line dance – it is going to be so much fun!
 
3v3 March Madness Staff Student Basketball is coming up! It will be held from Feb 26 through Mar 1 during lunch in the big gym. Students can sign up with a friend and one staff member using THIS LINK.
 
Acalanes Spiritwear Available for Purchase!
Looking for Acalanes gear? The spring webstore is still open with new sweatshirts, shirts, sweatpants and a lanyard. The webstore closes on Monday, Feb 26 and items will be available for pick-up in late March. All proceeds benefit the classes of 2025, 2026 and 2027.
 
We also have 2028 frosh spirit packs available for purchase. Spirit packs feature a limited edition 2028 hoodie, string backpack and lanyard. The last day to order these is Thursday, Apr 18 and items will be available for pick-up beginning Wednesday, May 1. All proceeds benefit the class of 2028.
 
The Annual Acalanes blood drive is coming on Tuesday, Feb 27! Anyone 16+ years old can donate (adults encouraged). Appointments are available from 8am-1:45pm in the small gym at Acalanes. People can sign up to donate through this link or scan the QR codes located in all junior and senior and English classrooms. If a student is 16/17, a permission form is needed and is available in room 314. Donors will get a complimentary shirt, as well as a $20 Amazon gift card. Contact Katherine Walton If you have any questions!
 
A Dress Drive continues through Friday, Mar 1. Bring any kind/type of dress (all will be accepted) to AHS (outside the front office) or to the Lafayette Community Center. Donations will be going to the Princess Project in San Francisco.

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

Lunar New Year began Feb 10 and runs for the next 15 days. On Wednesday during lunch, students have planned a Lunar New Year festival in the front quad. Encourage your student to opt in! Read above in the DEI section for more information!
 
The last day to buy a Valentine’s Gram is tomorrow, Feb 12 via the webstore for $4. Students can also buy one in person during lunch tomorrow in the frosh and sophomore quads. Anyone can purchase, including teachers and parents. Gram recipients will receive them in their 5th period class on Wednesday, Feb 14. The grams include candy, a flower, an eraser, and a note. Happy Valentine’s Day!
 
Student Government (Leadership) Applications – Incoming 9th Graders: If your student is an incoming 9th grader, applications can be found here and are due on Thursday, Feb 22. Any questions, please contact Katherine Walton.
 
February is Black Excellence Month! There is also a district wide Mardi Gras dance on Friday, Feb 23 from 7-9 pm at Miramonte High School! Along with dancing and an awesome DJ, there will be food, a 360 open-air video booth, a place to hang out with friends, and an airbrush tattoo artist! Tickets are $10 and available on GoFan. It is a fun evening – please encourage your student to attend!
 
3v3 March Madness Staff Student Basketball is coming up! It will be held from Feb 26 through Mar 1 during lunch in the big gym. Students can sign up with a friend and one staff member using THIS LINK.
 
Acalanes Spiritwear Available for Purchase!
Looking for Acalanes gear? Our spring webstore is open with new sweatshirts, shirts, sweatpants and a lanyard. The webstore closes on Monday, Feb 26 and items will be available for pick-up in late March. All proceeds benefit the classes of 2025, 2026 and 2027.
 
We also have 2028 frosh spirit packs available for purchase. Spirit packs feature a limited edition 2028 hoodie, string backpack and lanyard. The last day to order these is Thursday, Apr 18 and items will be available for pick-up beginning Wednesday, May 1. All proceeds benefit the class of 2028.
 
The Annual Acalanes blood drive is coming soon on Tuesday, Feb 27! Anyone 16+ years old can donate (adults encouraged). Appointments are available from 8am-1:45pm in the small gym at Acalanes. People can sign up to donate through this link or scan the QR codes located in all junior and senior and English classrooms. If a student is 16/17, a permission form is needed and is available in room 314. Donors will get a complimentary shirt, as well as a $20 Amazon gift card. Contact Katherine Walton If you have any questions!
 
There is a Dress Drive happening through Friday, Mar 1. Bring any kind/type of dress (all will be accepted) to AHS (outside the front office) or to the Lafayette Community Center. Donations will be going to the Princess Project in San Francisco. See the ACA section above for more information!

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