General Announcements

ACALANES TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK
Acalanes Teacher Appreciation Week is coming up! We are providing lunch for our teachers on Friday, May 10. Please sign up here to bring something to make their lunch extra special, if you can! Contact Staff Appreciation Co-Chairs, Stacey Hastings or Dominique Mickelson with questions
 
FINALS FUEL – For Exam Week
Finals are just around the corner…..and that means FINALS FUEL is back! During finals week we provide 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 Tuesday, May 28 – Friday, May 31

You can also sign up here for shifts and food drop off:  Sign Up Genius and Amazon Wish List 
Reach out with any questions: reganscovic@gmail.com or stephquinn@hotmail.com  Thank you in advance for your support!

AP EXAM PROCTORS NEEDED – Great Volunteer Opportunity
Our AP Students need YOUR help! We are searching for parents to help with proctoring AP Exams the first two weeks of May 2024. Exam dates are May 6-10 and May 13-17.
 
Exams start everyday at either 8am or 12pm. Students know to show up 30 minutes prior to start time for check in. Proctors for morning exams would be needed starting at 7:15am and afternoon exams starting at 11:15am. Exams can range from 2-4 hours and we ask that you please plan to stay for the longest amount of time possible. 

Restrictions: Parents, you are NOT allowed to proctor an exam that your own child is taking.
 
If you are interested in learning more about proctoring AP exams, please contact the Acalanes Testing Coordinator, Nicole Singleterry at nsingleterry@auhsdschools.org

Proctor Shifts to Fill!
Week 1

• Wednesday May 8: 7am-12pm or 11am-4pm — 2 proctors needed per shift
• Thursday May 9: 7am-12pm — 1 proctor needed
• Friday May 10th: 7am-12pm — 2 Proctors needed

Week 2

• Monday May 13: 7am-12pm or 11am-4pm — 1 proctor per shift
• Tuesday May 14: 7am-12pm— 1 proctor needed
• Wednesday May 15: 11am-4pm — 2 proctors needed
• Friday May 17: 7am-12pm or 11am-4pm — 2 proctors needed per shift

REMINDER: PLEASE COMPLETE ONLINE SURVEY – California’s School Meals for All (SMFA) Program
If you haven’t already taken the Online Survey  we encourage you to participate. Please share your experiences and perceptions of SMFA and its impacts on your student and family.

All parents/guardians, regardless of participation in the survey, are eligible to enter a raffle to win one of four electronic gift cards valued at $50 each.

To take the survey and/or enter the raffle, click on this link: Parent Online Survey

APC DONS DIALOGUE – Friday, Apr 26 at 8:45am in the Collaboration Center
Join us for our second to last Dons Dialogue of this school year. Come for the coffee and treats and stay to hear department highlights, student activities plus an open Q&A with Principal Shawn. We hope to see you there!
 
2024-2025 ACALANES PARENTS CLUB BOARD SLATE
We are proud to announce our slate of nominees for the 2024-25 APC Board of Directors. A big thank you to this year’s Nominating Committee for their time and dedication in placing these amazing volunteers. The APC general membership will vote to approve the slate at the spring general meeting, immediately preceding Dons Dialogue on Friday morning, May 17. If you have any questions, please contact APC Parliamentarian, Veronique Kuhner.
 
2024-2025 Parents Club Board Nominees
Co-Presidents: Andrea Hilsabeck & Michele Colaco
VP Special Projects: Raina Foster
VP Communications: Kendra Uffelman
VP Community Partners: Nicole Long
VP Fundraising: Carrie Daughters
VP Services: Ali Krick
Co-Head Liaisons: Sarah Cusumano & Heidi Keely
Secretary: Kim Hamill
Treasurer: Lee Huskins
Assistant Treasurer: Jocelyn Birrell
Auditor: Sierra Culbertson
Past President/Parliamentarian: Sarah Cusumano

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Acalanes is very excited to host Special Olympics this Friday. There will be buses and many visitors coming to campus so we expect parking may be challenging. Please encourage your students to carpool on Friday!

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AP EXAM PROCTORS NEEDED – Great Volunteer Opportunity
Our AP Students need YOUR help! We are searching for parents to help with proctoring AP Exams the first two weeks of May 2024. Exam dates are May 6-10 and May 13-17.
 
Exams start everyday at either 8am or 12pm. Students know to show up 30 minutes prior to start time for check in. Proctors for morning exams would be needed starting at 7:15am and afternoon exams starting at 11:15am. Exams can range from 2-4 hours and we ask that you please plan to stay for the longest amount of time possible. 

Restrictions: Parents, you are NOT allowed to proctor an exam that your own child is taking.
 
If you are interested in learning more about proctoring AP exams, please contact the Acalanes Testing Coordinator, Nicole Singleterry at nsingleterry@auhsdschools.org

ACALANES SERVICE AWARD DEADLINE: This FRIDAY!
Students who volunteer at least 30 hours by Apr 19, will get an Acalanes Service Award so please encourage your students to get those hours entered as that deadline is this Friday!

To qualify, all hours must be entered online into the Helper Helper app AND validated by the student’s supervisor by Apr 19 so please encourage your students to get their hours entered now!! To learn more and/or join the Helper Helper app, check out the volunteer website.

2024-2025 ACALANES PARENTS CLUB BOARD SLATE
We are proud to announce our slate of nominees for the 2024-25 APC Board of Directors. A big thank you to this year’s Nominating Committee for their time and dedication in placing these amazing volunteers. The APC general membership will vote to approve the slate at the spring general meeting, immediately preceding Dons Dialogue on Friday morning, May 17. If you have any questions, please contact APC Parliamentarian, Veronique Kuhner.
 
2024-2025 Parents Club Board Nominees
Co-Presidents: Andrea Hilsabeck & Michele Colaco
VP Special Projects: Raina Foster
VP Communications: Kendra Uffelman
VP Community Partners: Nicole Long
VP Fundraising: Carrie Daughters
VP Services: Ali Krick
Co-Head Liaisons: Sarah Cusumano & Heidi Keely
Secretary: Kim Hamill
Treasurer: Lee Huskins
Assistant Treasurer: Jocelyn Birrell
Auditor: Sierra Culbertson
Past President/Parliamentarian: Sarah Cusumano

AP EXAM PROCTORS NEEDED – Great Volunteer Opportunity
Our AP Students need YOUR help! We are searching for parents to help with proctoring AP Exams the first two weeks of May 2024. Exam dates are May 6-10 and May 13-17.
 
Exams start everyday at either 8am or 12pm. Students know to show up 30 minutes prior to start time for check in. Proctors for morning exams would be needed starting at 7:15am and afternoon exams starting at 11:15am. Exams can range from 2-4 hours and we ask that you please plan to stay for the longest amount of time possible. Restrictions: Parents, you are NOT allowed to proctor an exam that your own child is taking.
 
If you are interested in learning more about proctoring AP exams, please contact the Acalanes Testing Coordinator, Nicole Singleterry at nsingleterry@auhsdschools.org

APC GRANTS AWARDED FOR SPRING 2024
Thank you to the teachers, students and staff who submitted proposals for an APC spring grant. We had a large number of requests representing many different interests!  APC grants are funded through parents annual donations – so THANK YOU parents!  We are pleased to announce that five grants have been awarded this spring:

• Math clubs will receive a grant to help fund participation in AMC math competition and various other online competitions.
• Special Education classrooms will receive grant funds for classroom sensory items, including fidgets and calming tangibles, as well as plants for students to care for.
• The Social Science Department will receive a grant to fund student and school fees to attend the UC Davis Model UN Conference.
• A Math Department classroom will get enhancements to create a “Building Thinking Classroom” program for Algebra I.
• A Special Education classroom will receive funds to purchase 6 Hokki stools to provide “active seating”, allowing for subtle movement, but also helping students sit comfortably and focus on learning.

SPRING CAMPUS CLEAN UP:  Sunday, Apr 14, 11am – 2pm
Help us make our campus shine!  Earn volunteer service hours, connect with your Acalanes community, and share in our Dons pride!  All are welcome! Students can sign up on the Helper Helper app (click HERE for instructions) and adults can volunteer through the Sign Up Genius. Thanks for your help and GO DONS!

ACALANES SERVICE AWARD DEADLINE: Friday, Apr 19!
Thanks to APC, the Acalanes and Presidential Service Awards have gone digital. New this year, APC funded the Helper Helper app where students can find and record volunteer hours and earn a community service award.  To qualify, all hours must be entered AND validated by the student’s supervisor by April 19, 2024 so please encourage your students to get their hours entered now!!
 
Since April, over 250 students have created Helper Helper accounts and logged over 6,900 volunteer service hours and we’re hoping that number will keep increasing! 
 
Students who volunteer at least 30 hours by April 19, 2024, will get an Acalanes Service Award so please encourage your students to get those hours entered as that deadline is quickly approaching!

To learn more and/or join the Helper Helper app, check out the volunteer website.

DONS DIALOGUE – Listen to the Recording!
Don’t miss the video or slides from our most recent Dons Dialogue on Friday, Mar 22.
The agenda included a great discussion of the following;

• Special Education Highlight with Claire and Erin*
• Special Olympics review from Walton
• English and Social Science Department Highlights from Barth and Schottland
• ASB Student Report with Zoya

*In case you missed it, please visit here to enjoy the recent National News Clip that highlights some of the amazing work happening in our SPED classrooms! Congratulations to Ms Hall and Mason!


SPRING CAMPUS CLEAN UP:  Sunday, Apr 14, 11am – 2pm
Help us make our campus shine!  Earn volunteer service hours, connect with your Acalanes community, and share in our Dons pride!  All are welcome. Students can sign up on the Helper Helper app (click HERE for instructions) and adults can volunteer through the Sign Up Genius. Thanks for your help and GO DONS!


DONS SHOWED UP FOR ROBERT PAYLOR
Our Lamorinda community really showed up last week for the inspirational talk with Robert Paylor. See below for some important takeaways from the talk.

If you were unable to attend and hear Robert’s story, “Paralyzed to Powerful”, we encourage you to read more about his story here.

APC is proud to bring important events like this to our Acalanes Community. Thank you to everyone who contributes to APC. Your support enables events like this.

     

ACALANES JOB FAIR – THIS WEDNESDAY, MAR 20 DURING ACADEMY
Acalanes is sponsoring a student Job Fair to bring local businesses and summer jobs onto campus to connect students with employment opportunities. Parents, please encourage your students to participate. We are encouraging students to do some research ahead of time on the organizations attending, come prepared to talk to employers, and bring copies of their resume.

Check out the list of confirmed employers for our Acalanes Job Fair!

DONS DIALOGUE THIS FRIDAY AT 8:45AM
Join us on Friday, Mar 22 in the Collaboration Center for coffee, treats, great company and dialogue!  This month we will hear department highlights from the English, History and Special Ed departments, plus our usual student activities update and open Q&A.
We hope to see you there! 

ANNUAL COLOR RUN: Sunday, Mar 24 – sign up now!
Acalanes 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 different colored powder stations 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 the ticket cost includes a t-shirt, a gift from Zoonie’s and snacks at the end of the race. This is a great event for all ages so please encourage others to come as well! Hope to see you there!

SPRING CAMPUS CLEAN UP:  Sunday, Apr 14, 11am – 2pm
Help us make our campus shine!  Earn volunteer service hours, connect with your Acalanes community, and share in our Dons pride!  All are welcome. Students can sign up on the Helper Helper app (click HERE for instructions) and adults can volunteer through the Sign Up Genius. Thanks for your help and GO DONS!
 
ACALANES SERVICE AWARDS DEADLINE APPROACHING: Friday, Apr 19
Thanks to APC, the Acalanes and Presidential Service Awards have gone digital. New this year, APC funded the Helper Helper app where students can find and record volunteer hours and earn a community service award. To qualify, all hours must be entered ANDvalidated by the student’s supervisor by Friday, Apr 19 so please encourage your students to get their hours entered now!!
 
Since April 2023, over 250 students have created Helper Helper accounts and logged over 6,900 volunteer service hours and we’re hoping that number will keep increasing! Students who volunteer at least 30 hours by Friday, Apr 19, will get an Acalanes Service Award so please encourage your students to get those hours entered, as that deadline is quickly approaching! To learn more and/or join the Helper Helper app, check out the volunteerwebsite.