From the Activities Director

Welcome back to the 2024-2025 school year! And to new families, welcome to the Acalanes community! We are so glad you are here. A few announcements and reminders as we start the year:
 
ASB Stickers: Thank you to all who have purchased the ASB sticker via the webstore! There is still time to purchase and this money drives student activities at Acalanes. ASB costs $110 and the sticker gets printed on the ID Card. Perks include:

• Free spirit shirt
• Discounts at local businesses
• Free admission to home athletic events
• Discounts to on campus dances

Acalanes summer spiritwear – store is open until Friday!
Looking for new student designed spiritwear? You can buy now through Aug 16 and proceeds benefit the classes of 2025, 2026, 2027 & 2028.
 
Dons Day: Encourage your student to check out their class table tomorrow morning, along with our clubs, who will also have tables. It is a great way to get connected!
 
Frosh Orientation is tomorrow from 12-1:30pm and is all student led. Students can check in at the PAC. The Transfer Student Orientation is from 11:30am-12:30pm and students will meet in front of the flagpole.
 
Homecoming informational meetings will be held Monday, Aug 19. These are a great chance for your student to learn more, get involved and experience an incredible tradition at Acalanes High School. Homecoming week runs from Sept 15-21.
 
New and Returning Club Applications: Anyone can start a club at Acalanes and we encourage students to do so. Club applications will be available for any new or returning club on Monday, Aug 19 and due on Thursday, Aug 29. There is a mandatory meeting at lunch on Wednesday, Aug 23 in room 314 for anyone interested in starting or renewing a club.
 
Class Shirts: Friday, Aug 16 is the last chance to order your class shirt via the webstore. Students typically wear their class shirts to rallies and other on campus events and this is a great fundraiser for each class. Shirts will be distributed in mid Sept during lunch – more details coming soon!
 
A few additional important dates:
Sep. 15-21 Homecoming 2024
Apr 19: Junior & Senior Prom
 
My goal is that every student at Acalanes is connected to one activity outside of class. I am always happy to meet with students and/or parents about on campus programming and opportunities. If I can help, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
 
Looking to stay informed? Follow us on Instagram for the latest on student activities and class happenings.
 
Katherine Walton, Activities Director

ACALANES SUMMER SPIRITWEAR – store is open!
Looking for new student designed spiritwear? You can buy now through Aug 16 and proceeds benefit the classes of 2025, 2026, 2027 & 2028.
 
IMPORTANT DATES FOR ’24-’25:

• July 19: 2024 Homecoming theme reveal via ahs_dons on Instagram
• August 12: Orientation
• August 16 at 7pm: Frosh social
• September 15-21: Homecoming 2024
• April 19, 2025: Junior & Senior Prom

We cannot wait to meet again in August. Until then, have an awesome summer!

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

With one week left, it is hard to put into words what the 2023-2024 school year represents. Overall, it was a wonderful year with so many moments and events that will move into long term memories. One thing is for sure – a successful school year does not happen without the support and volunteerism of many. Here are just a few:

• Thank you to our entire community for all the times you OPTED IN – whether that was volunteering in the snack shack, at homecoming or in bringing items for class specific events. THANK YOU!
• Thank you to our entire community for all the times you SHOWED UP – whether that was in athletics, performing arts, our clubs or in our community. THANK YOU!
• Thank you to our team of parent liaisons – you are a powerhouse team of 20 who spend countless hours fundraising  and planning with our class officers. I am lucky to spend time with you, learn from you, and work with you.
• Thank you to APC & LPIE for your support of all things Acalanes! Specifically, thank you to Kelly Daggs, the communications team, the community service team, the DEIB team and all of the chairs of specific events. It takes us all to make great things happen!
• Thank you to our club advisors – they open their classrooms during lunch and allow our students to pursue areas of interest and passion and are giving of their own time.
• Lastly, thank you to our amazing students! You are a big reason why our community is simply incredible. A special thank you to the 86 in leadership this year – you make my role here a dream come true and you have worked endlessly hard to make the hundreds of events happen. THANK YOU!

Acalanes Summer Spiritwear – Store is Open!
Looking for new student designed spiritwear? You can buy now through Aug 16 and proceeds benefit the classes of 2025, 2026, 2027 & 2028.
 
IMPORTANT FALL DATES:
Monday, Aug 12 at 12pm: Frosh orientation
Friday, Sep 6 at Academy: Club Day
Week of Sep. 15-21: Homecoming 2024
 
We cannot wait to meet again in August. Until then, have an awesome summer!

It’s our last full week and it’s a busy (and fun!) one!

Year End Spirit Week!

Monday:
Dress-up: ACA Gear
Lunch: Stressbusters in the frosh quad
Tuesday:     
          Dress-up: Flower power
          Lunch: Innertube waterpolo
          Lunch + 7th: Car painting for seniors
          7pm: Senior dodgeball
Wednesday:
          Dress-up: USA Day
          Academy: Senior grad cap decorating
          Lunch: Innertube waterpolo
          6pm: Senior Awards
          7:45pm: Senior Sunset
Thursday:
          Dress-up: Twin Thursday
          Lunch: Senior Athletic recognition
Friday:
          Dress-up: Beach Day
          Academy: End of year rally
          5pm: Senior Car Rally in downtown Lafayette
 
Seniors can donate their Acalanes merch to the bin outside the front office! All proceeds from sales will go to the Class of 2028 and items can be purchased at Dons Day in August!
 
Acalanes summer spiritwear – store is open!
Looking for new student designed spiritwear? You can buy now through Aug 16 and proceeds benefit the classes of 2025, 2026, 2027 & 2028.

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

Wednesday @ lunch: Summer Bash
Encourage your student to come out to the pumpkin patch for games, food, sno cones & more to celebrate the end of year and start to summer!
 
Wednesday/Friday academy: Senior Grad Cap Decorating in room 314
Friday @ lunch: Last ACA Buddies of the year
Friday @ lunch: Junior Sizzle into Summer event
Sunday @ 4pm: Time of Reflection
 
Seniors can donate their Acalanes merch to the bin outside the front office! All proceeds from sales will go to the Class of 2028 and items can be purchased at Dons Day in August!
 
Acalanes summer spiritwear-store is open!
Looking for new student designed spiritwear? You can buy now through August 16 and proceeds benefit the classes of 2025, 2026, 2027 & 2028.
 
It’s a quiet week on campus with the start of AP exams. Good luck to all the students!
 
Looking to stay informed? Follow us on Instagram for the latest on student activities and class happenings.
 
Katherine Walton, Activities Director

Thank you again for all your support with prom! With over 640 students attending, it was a wonderful night celebrating our juniors & seniors at the Exploratorium!

SAVE THE DATE FOR 2025 PROM – Saturday, Apr 19.
 
Seniors can donate their Acalanes merch to the bin outside the front office! All proceeds from sales will go to the Class of 2028 and items can be purchased at Dons Day in August!
 
It’s a quiet week on campus with the start of AP exams. Good luck to all the students!
 
Looking to stay informed? Follow us on Instagram for the latest on student activities and class happenings.
 
Katherine Walton, Activities Director

Thank you for all your support with prom! With over 640 students attending, it was a wonderful night celebrating our juniors & seniors at the Exploratorium!
SAVE THE DATE FOR 2025 PROM – Saturday, Apr 19.
 
Seniors! Donate your Acalanes merch to the bin outside the front office! We will sell it at the Athletics & Activities Night on May 1. All proceeds from sales will go to the Class of 2028!
 
Spring Club Re-Up
Does your student want to renew a current club? Then this is for them! Clubs are so important on the Acalanes campus! The work done within these clubs is so important and we want to support that. Students can fill out this club re-up google form in its entirety by Friday, May 3 if they want to continue. This will allow for a table at Dons Day  and to start meetings as soon as school begins in August.
 
May Calendar
May 1:  Seniors pick up caps & gowns
May 1:  Athletics & Activities Night for the Class of 2028
May 15: 1st academy – grad cap decorating
May 17:  2nd academy – grad cap decorating
May 20-24: Senior week & summer send-off

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