General Announcements

Acalanes Back to School Night (BTSN) is Thursday, August 28 from 5:15-8pm! Please plan to join at 5:15pm in the front quad for a Parent and Staff Reception hosted by the Acalanes Parents Club (APC). Principal Shawn will share some remarks around 5:30pm and classroom visits start at 6pm.
 
This evening is for us, the parents/caregivers, to experience what our students experience each and every school day – you don’t want to miss it!
 
A full program, including details about classroom sessions will be available in the APC newsletter next weekend.

See the APC in Action section below for more important dates.

Join us for the Dons Dialogue Friday, Aug 22 at 8:45am!
Acalanes Parents Club is pleased to invite you to our first Dons Dialogue of the 2025-2026 school year! Dons Dialogues are the best way to find out what’s going on at Acalanes!

These monthly forums provide parents with the opportunity to hear directly from Principal Eric Shawn and other AHS faculty regarding academics, student activities, department information, hot topics on campus, plus open Q&A. APC will provide coffee and treats. All parents/caregivers welcome. This month’s topics include:

• Welcome & New Admin Team
• ACA Strong Values
• Student Expectations Review
  • Cellphone & AI Expectations
  • New Email Protocols & Safety (Move to Personal Email)
  • Academic Honesty & Cheating
  • Academy Expectations
  • Campus Expectations
• Athletic PE Update
• BTSN Reminders
• Leadership Activities Update

Please reach out to APC here with any questions.
 
Thank you Dons Day Volunteers!
It was wonderful to see everyone at Dons Day this past Monday!  We want to give a HUGE thank you to our amazing Dons Day Planning Team: Amber Harley, Ashley Matter, Jess Phillips, Jill Sammons and Ali Krick for making it such an incredible day!!  And THANK YOU to all the parents and students who volunteered that day!  We could not have done it without all of you!  Go Dons!!
 

 
Thank you APC Staff Appreciation Team!
APC welcomed AHS staff back to school with coffee and bagels – with all the toppings – to kick off the school year. A huge shout out to Stacey Hastings and Dominique Mickelson, our Staff Appreciation Coordinators, for organizing such a great event for our staff! We also want to thank Jocelyn Werner for bringing in homemade muffins! There will be many more staff appreciation events throughout the year so look for ways you can help donate or bake. It is YOUR donations to APC that help make these staff appreciation events possible. Thank you!!!


 
Please Consider Volunteering!
If you are looking for fun, easy ways to support our Dons, APC has a wide variety of events throughout the calendar year. The snack shack during football games, community support at the Lafayette Food & Wine Fest and ResRun, passing out snacks during finals weeks, and new volunteer events geared for Dons Dads only are just a few APC volunteer opportunities. Please check out our full list and sign up today – and don’t forget to invite your friends to join you!
 
Stay Connected:  Follow the Acalanes Parents Club on Instagram to keep up to date on what’s happening at Acalanes and reminders for important dates. Please reach out to APC here with any questions.

First Week of School Schedule
We have an adjusted bell schedule for the first week of school. Please share with your students. Tuesday and Wednesday are Anchor Days (aka “see all days”), Thursday and Friday will follow the regular block schedule.

Student Parking Permits
The Acalanes Parking Pass is $85.00 per student for our 25-26 school year.  Payment is at checkout on the web store with your registration. permits are ONLY for current 11th & 12th grade students with a valid driver’s license. 

To Pick Up Your Pass At Dons Day:

1. Prior to Dons Day, please complete the Acalanes Parking Permit Google Form indicating you have read and agreed to AHS Parking Expectations.  Pay for your permit through the web store.
2. On Dons Day YOU MUST bring and show your  CURRENT AND VALID DRIVERS LICENSE.

See the APC in Action section below for more important dates.

Important reminders from APC to help make back to school time a success.

• Dons Day is tomorrow, Monday, Aug 11 from 7:30-11:30am! Please complete your annual online registration in Aeries before coming to Dons Day. As a part of registration, please visit the Acalanes Web Store and check out how to support all Acalanes partners, such as APC. You can also purchase yearbooks, class activity funds, ASB card, apparel and more!
• If you are a 9th or 10th grade family and still need residency verification, please come to the collaboration center starting at 7:30am. Please bring all of thenecessary proof of residency documentation listed here. We recommend bringing copies to expedite the process.
• Frosh Orientation will be held from 12-1:30pm and meets in the Performing Arts Center (PAC).
• New Parent Orientation meets in the library from 12-1pm.
• Transfer students are invited to meet near the flagpole at 11:30am for an orientation and tour.
• Please remember there is an adjusted bell schedule for the first week of school. Tuesday and Wednesday are anchor days (aka “see all” days”). Thursday and Friday follow the regular block schedule.
• Volunteer opportunities: In case you missed it in the registration process, please complete this volunteer form so we know what you’re interested in helping with this year. There are plenty of parent volunteer opportunities, starting with Homecoming this fall!
• Hungry for fun this Dons Day? Swing by Ofie’s Kitchen between 9:30am and 1:00pm this Monday, Aug 11, and fuel your fun with their flavor-packed food truck! Treat yourself to delicious eats that are sure to hit the spot! 

Join us for the Dons Dialogue Friday, Aug 22 at 8:45am in the Collaboration Center:
Acalanes Parents Club is pleased to invite you to our first Dons Dialogue of the 2025-2026 school year! Dons Dialogues are the best way to find out what’s going on at Acalanes! These monthly forums provide parents with the opportunity to hear directly from Principal Eric Shawn and other AHS faculty regarding academics, student activities, department information, hot topics on campus, plus open Q&A. APC will provide coffee and treats. All parents/caregivers welcome. 

Please reach out to APC here with any questions.

Finals Schedule: May 27 – 30
Reminder that there is NO SCHOOL tomorrow, Monday, May 26, for Memorial Day. The finals schedule begins on Tuesday, May 27.


During finals, Peer Tutoring will be open Tuesday-Thursday from 12:55-3pm. The library will be open from 7:30am-3pm Tuesday and Thursday and from 7:30am-1pm Wednesday & Friday.

Our Inaugural Acalanes Senior Rally in the Park Was a Huge Success!
Over 700 seniors and their families gathered in downtown Lafayette to celebrate after the beloved Senior Memory Walks through our Lafayette elementary schools. The event was filled with joy, pride, and a lot of community spirit!
 
A heartfelt thank you to the City of Lafayette, Lafayette Police Department, and the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce for their tremendous support. We’re also incredibly grateful to Ford Andrews and his amazing team at Sideboard for providing fantastic food and drinks. We were thrilled to have live music by Acalanes junior Everett Shore and his band Andromeda—they brought incredible energy to the celebration. Huge thanks as well to Acalanes alumna Eden Hall for providing many of the fun and festive games that added to the lively atmosphere.
 
Special appreciation goes to Student Activities Director, Katherine Walton and APC Co-Head Liaisons, Sarah Cusumano and Heidi Keely, for bringing this memorable event to life. Also a big thank you to junior parent Tricia Copeland, along with all the dedicated parent and student volunteers, who helped decorate and clean up- your efforts made everything look amazing.
 
And finally, a big thank you to Raina Foster for her leadership in coordinating the Senior Memory Walks- a meaningful tradition that set the tone for a truly unforgettable day.
 
What a way to celebrate the Class of 2025!



AHS Community Service & Presidential Service Awards Pick-up
If your student received a service award but wasn’t able to pick it up yesterday, please have them stop by the College and Career Center and pick up their certificate from Ms. Levy before the end of the school year. Congratulations again to our award recipients – we are thankful for their service to our AHS and broader communities!!

Fall 2025 – 2026 School Photos Next Week
Attention current 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students! We will take fall 2025 – 2026 school photos next week on Wednesday, May 21 and Thursday, May 22 in students’ PE 9, HSD/Ethnic Studies and US History classes. These photos will be taken now as we do not do school photos during Dons Day. Please note: If students are absent next week, we will have make-up photos available during the first week of school in the fall.
 
Finals Schedule: May 27 – 30
Parents, please take note of the spring finals schedule. Monday, May 26 is a non school day for Memorial Day. The finals schedule begins on Tuesday, May 27. A great way to help support our students during finals is to help out with Finals Fuel (see below).

Acalanes teachers and staff enjoyed a fabulous lunch hosted by APC last week!
We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the families who contributed salads, desserts, and beverages, and to our amazing Staff Appreciation Co-Chairs, Dominique Mickelson and Stacey Hastings, for organizing such an incredible meal for our teachers and staff. We are so grateful for all of you and your help in making the lunch a success!


 
AHS AND PRESIDENTIAL SERVICE AWARDS CELEBRATION – MAY 21
Congratulations to those students who have been awarded AHS and Presidential Service Awards! Acalanes students volunteered a total of 16,580 community service hours this past year for over 480 different organizations! We thank your students for making a difference to those individuals and organizations in need in our community and we hope they’ll continue their community service in the future. 
 
Please note that all community service award recipients have been notified via email. If your student has received a service award, please remind them to come to the front quad at lunchtime on Wednesday, May 21 to pick up their service award certificate and enjoy a celebratory treat! 
 
FINALS FUEL – VOLUNTEERS & SNACKS
Finals are just around the corner…..and that means FINALS FUEL is back! During finals week, APC provides snacks for the students during brunch period.  You can help refuel and recharge our Dons in several ways:

• Purchase snacks prior to finals week and deliver to a private residence near AHS
• Purchase snacks from the Amazon wish list and items will be sent directly to a residence for transport to AHS
• Donate money and we’ll shop for you: Venmo @Stephanie-Asadorian (any amount is welcome and appreciated)
• Volunteer to hand out snacks on campus (Wednesday, May 28  – Friday, May 30)

Sign up here for shifts and food drop off: SignUpGenius and Amazon Wish List.
Please reach out with any questions: reganscovic@gmail.com or stephquinn@hotmail.com. 
 
Thank you in advance for your support!

Finals Schedule: May 27 – 30
Parents, please take note of the spring finals schedule. Monday, May 26 is a non school day for Memorial Day. The finals schedule begins on Tuesday, May 27. A great way to help support our students during finals is to help out with Finals Fuel (see below).

MAY DONS DIALOGUE – Friday, May 16 at 8:45am
Please join us for our final Dons Dialogue of this school year. We will start at 8:45am with a brief general meeting to vote on our 2025-26 Board of Directors slate (see below) and then we’ll proceed with the Dons Dialogue discussion. Grab a friend and join us for another informative forum – coffee and treats will be served!
 
2024-2025 Parents Club Board Nominees
Presidents: Jocelyn Birrell
VP Special Projects: Jennie Dobies
VP Communications: Kendra Uffelman
VP Community Partners: Lynna McPhatter-Harris
VP Fundraising: Jen Ruhl
VP Services: Ali Krick
Co-Head Liaisons: Sarah Cusumano & Amy Lewis
Secretary: Kimberly Grover
Treasurer: Rick Phillips
Assistant Treasurer: Sierra Culbertson
Auditor: Courtney Griffin
Past President/Parliamentarian: Michele Colaco & Andrea Hilsabeck
 
If you have any questions, please contact APC Parliamentarian, Sarah Cusumano.
 
AHS AND PRESIDENTIAL SERVICE AWARDS CELEBRATION – MAY 21
Congratulations to those students who have been awarded AHS and Presidential Service Awards! Acalanes students volunteered a total of 16,580 community service hours this past year for over 480 different organizations! We thank your students for making a difference to those individuals and organizations in need in our community and we hope they’ll continue their community service in the future. 
 
Please note that all community service award recipients have been notified via email. If your student has received a service award, please remind them to come to the front quad at lunchtime on May 21 to pick up their service award certificate and enjoy a celebratory treat! 
 
FINALS FUEL – VOLUNTEERS & SNACKS
Finals are just around the corner…..and that means FINALS FUEL is back! During finals week, APC provides snacks for the students during brunch period.  You can help refuel and recharge our Dons in several ways:

• Purchase snacks prior to finals week and deliver to a private residence near AHS
• Purchase snacks from the Amazon wish list and items will be sent directly to a residence for transport to AHS
• Donate money and we’ll shop for you: Venmo @Stephanie-Asadorian (any amount is welcome and appreciated)
• Volunteer to hand out snacks on campus (Wednesday, May 28  – Friday, May 30)

Sign up here for shifts and food drop off: SignUpGenius and Amazon Wish List. Please reach out with any questions: reganscovic@gmail.com or stephquinn@hotmail.com. Thank you in advance for your support!