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General Administration Announcements
Update from Principal Shawn
If you haven’t already had a chance to read it, please review Principal Shawn’s email from Thursday regarding alcohol and high school events. You can view it here in ParentSquare (once you log in). -
APC in Action
New Volunteer Opportunity - Parent Garden Chair!
Do you enjoy working in your garden and want to give back to the Acalanes community? This might be the perfect role for you!
Science teacher Lori Tewskbury is looking for a parent to join her in guiding the efforts of the Acalanes garden. This role would meet regularly with Ms. Tewksbury to plan next steps and needs for the garden, as well as help manage garden work parties.
If interested, please email Michele Colaco, APC Co-President, for more information.
Fall 2024 Grants Application Now Available!
Calling all teachers, parents and students in the Acalanes community! Acalanes Parents Club is looking to award grants that will enhance and enrich the educational experience of AHS students in new and innovative ways. Teachers, staff and students are encouraged to submit ideas for meaningful programs and educational equipment. Applications are due by Friday, Sep 27. Click here to read more! -
Parents Club Pro-Tip
ACADEMY WITH A PURPOSE
Our students attend academy on Wednesday and Friday mornings from 10:10-11:05am. Students use TeachMore (an online platform) to select where they would like to go for academy or teachers can also tag a student to attend their academy for test make-ups or targeted support.
Ask your student(s) where they are going for academy each week and encourage them to make a good selection. These periods are a great time to get homework completed, work on group projects or participate in enrichment activities. Peer Tutoring is always a valuable option during the academy periods as well. -
Acalanes Community Always (ACA)
Registration is NOW OPEN for the Lafayette Res Run for Education!
Run/walk downtown Lafayette in the 2-mile fun run/walk or 5k, or strive for your best 10k time, which includes going around the Lafayette Reservoir on race day, Sunday, Oct 20. There is also a virtual option around the paved trail of the reservoir from Oct 12-19.
Lafayette's public schools are beneficiaries of this event, with 15% percent of each registration going back to Acalanes - so be sure to choose Acalanes during the registration process!- The first 100 students to register from each school will receive a voucher at packet pickup for 1/4 lb of bulk candy from Zoonie’s Candy Shop! Yes, even high school students!
- The school who increases their number of runners most compared to last year will receive an additional $500 beneficiary check!
Let’s go Dons!
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Parent Education
Thriving, Engaged and Well-Balanced Students
Acalanes Adult Education provides comprehensive educational opportunities for adults aged eighteen and above. Situated at the Del Valle Education Center, adult learners have the privilege of enrolling in diverse courses, including Apple classes, Microsoft Excel, Creative Writing, English Language Learning (ESL), CPR Certification, Yoga, Money Management, History, Dreams and Nightmares, Estate Planning, Art, Crafting, Sewing, Fabric Collage, Crochet, World Languages (French, Italian, Russian, and Spanish) and many more. For further information, please visit auhsd.org/adulted. Additionally, you may access the Fall 2024 Course Catalog. To register online, visit https://tinyurl.com/
AAEFall24Registration. -
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)
Important September Dates
- Sep 16 6-7pm: DEIB Committee meeting
- Sep 15-Oct 15: National Hispanic Heritage Month
- Sep 19: Latinx Potluck (before the Campo/ACA volleyball game)
- Sep 27: National Native American Day
- Sep 30: Black Student Union (BSU) Summit
Our next APC DEIB Committee Meeting is Monday, Sep 16 in the Collaboration Center from 6-7pm. If you would like to get involved please email us at diversityandinclusion@
acalanesparentsclub.com. There are ways to help both big and small, on campus or from the comfort of your own couch.
We celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (Sep15 to Oct 15) to recognize the achievements and contributions of Hispanic American champions who have inspired others to achieve success. The observation began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period. It was enacted into law on Aug 17, 1988. The theme for 2024 is “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together.” At Acalanes, the students in the Latinos Unidos Club are celebrating and educating with door decorations, fun lunchtime games and activities and are also bringing in a speaker to learn more about the real life experience of an immigrant from Mexico. If you want to support our students in these efforts you can sign up here. -
Student Activities
Local Kitchens is donating 5% of ALL sales this week back to Acalanes! Enjoy a lunch or night out & support Acalanes student activities.
Homecoming 2024: Musicals Sep 15-21
Hallway decorating is in 1 week (Sep 15) and we can feel the excitement on campus!
Check out this homecoming overview document for everything you need to know about the week - it is shaping up to be a great one!
Our annual canned food drive begins tomorrow - over the last two years, our community has come together in HUGE ways for the Contra Costa Food Bank. Students can donate cans or money in person before school or via online links:
Class of 2028
Class of 2027
Class of 2026
Class of 2025
Here a few highlights to make sure are in the calendar:- Sep 15: Hallway decorating from 10am - 3pm. Students decorate with their grade and transform our halls. We have a HOCO Showcase for the community from 5-6pm so plan to stop by and see the magic!
- Sep 18: Student dodgeball at 7:30pm. A beloved student tradition and a very fun night. Make sure your student has their ID card. They can play or watch!
- Sep 19 at 5pm. Joint Latinx potluck with Campo & Acalanes before the girls volleyball game. Make a dish or just come and join!
- Sep 20 at 5:30pm. Pre-game tailgate prior to the Acalanes-College Park football game, along with a halftime show and powder toss.
Sep 21 is our HOCO Night Out from 7-9:30pm. It is a campus wide event (1,100+ attended last year) and is a beloved night not to miss. Tickets are on sale via GoFan and are:
$30 with ASB
$55 without ASB
$75 for an outside guest
Outside guests need to fill out and return a guest contract by Sep 18 to the main office. Stay tuned for confirmed vendors, food, games, activities, and entertainment.
In order to ensure that HOCO Night Out is safe for all, we need parent chaperones. Please consider volunteering as we expect over 1100 students that evening. We are in need of 17 more adults.
2024-2025 Clubs
Club meetings will begin this week after an awesome club day last week! Here are our 77 unique clubs on campus, from Archery Club to the Red Cross Club.
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 -
College & Career
Seniors: Please come by the College and Career Center during 6th, 7th, academy, lunch and/or brunch to work on your common application and UC application. Tips and strategies provided during all sessions. MaiaLearning tutorials are also provided at each visit. Great tips here!
Sports Recruiting Presentation: Acalanes is hosting a presentation for families of student athletes. This will be held on Monday, Sep 9 at 7pm in the PAC. Students and parents of all grades and sports are welcome to attend. For more information, click here.
Frosh students can join a free webinar led by Revolution Prep on 3 Essential Skills Your Student Needs to Kickstart their School Year on Sep 24 at 5pm. -
Counseling
Counselor assignments are by student last name:
A-F Anne Schonauer
G-Ka Erika Vasquez
Ke-Re Marissa Meadows
Rh-Z Susan MartinThe CSF application period is open! CSF (California Scholarship Federation) is an honor society. Current 11th and 12th graders are encouraged to apply. A complete CSF application has 2 parts - an application form and a payment on the webstore. Turn in forms to the counseling office. The deadline is Sep 30 for both the form and the payment! Students use the grades they earned in spring 2024 to fill out the form this month. Students who are members for at least 4 semesters, including during senior year, will get special stole to wear at graduation. Read the FAQ on the application form and contact Ms. Schonauer for any clarification.
CLASS SCHEDULES Students can now only drop a class, they can’t add any new classes. Students can drop a 1st or last class of the day for an Off Campus, or they can drop a class and add a TA that period. The deadline to drop a class is the end of the first quarter, Friday, Oct 11. After this date, any class dropped will receive an automatic F grade.
INDIVIDUAL SENIOR APPOINTMENTS Counselors will start seeing seniors individually starting this week. During these appointments, we will look at Maia Learning, talk about schools and deadlines, discuss documents needed, and come up with a to-do list for you/your student, if necessary.
FIRST PROGRESS REPORTS This week is the last week of the first grading period! Progress reports should be available in Aeries next week, reflecting grades from the start of school through Sep 13. The next grading period will be the end of first quarter, Oct 11. Continued athletic eligibility will be determined from these grades for fall sports. -
School Nurse
Build healthy habits for your students now! Four years goes by in a flash. Make sure you use this time to offer lots of attractive healthy choices that your kids will make a routine part of their lives:
- Healthy snacks and meals: it takes time and energy. Involve them by getting their requests for fruits and vegetables and other healthy foods. Make sure they’re readily available for your students to have at home, pack for school, and take with them when on the run. When I was growing up, my mom would always put out a platter of different fresh veggies with a healthy dip in the middle. It would always disappear quickly…try it! Bonus idea: make a “hummus” by blending a can of beans and add some tahini and different spices.
- Help your students learn how to put together an easy, nutritious and tasty meal:
- Prepare a grain: rice, quinoa, pasta
- Vegetables: steamed, sauteed, roasted
- Healthy protein: (I prefer roasted tofu)
If you “batch cook” and make a big bowl of each, you’ll have enough for a few meals, or at least leftovers.
It takes a village- keeping our students healthy and safe is our highest priority. Give yourself permission to regularly speak with your own kids about safe and healthy behaviors. That includes drinking alcohol, substance use and sexual activity. Talk with your kids about what routines and practices will keep them stay healthy and strong so they have as many positive options to choose from in their future.
Please, let me know if you have questions or need support.
You can access the medical forms page HERE or use this QR code:
My office hours are:
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and some* Thursdays
Tuesdays & Thursdays: 8am - 3:50pm
Wednesdays: 7:30am - 3:20pm
AHS School Nurse Calendar
See my website for more information.Always Your School Nurse,
Dvora Citron, RN, MS
dcitron@auhsdschools.org, 925-280-2970 x7128
IG: acalanesschoolnurse, School Nurse Website -
Wellness Center
September is suicide awareness and prevention month. Although this is an extremely difficult topic to discuss with your student, it is also extremely necessary to do so. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people ages 10 to 34 and it can touch any community at any time. It is important to know the warning signs and what to do if you suspect that your child or someone else who you care about is suicidal. Here you can find resources specifically for parents looking to educate themselves on the statistics, warning signs and preventative measures surrounding teen suicide.
*If you or your student are ever experiencing a mental health crisis call 988 or 211 for crisis support resources. Or, text ‘HOPE’ to 20121. -
Legislative News
Register to Vote
Is your student 18 or about to turn 18? Now is the perfect time to register to vote and make sure their voices are heard! If your student is 16 or 17, they can pre-register today and be automatically ready to vote when they turn 18. It's quick, it's easy, and it's their right! Let's make sure this next generation is represented — click here to register or pre-register today!
Social Media
