Weekly News & Announcements

LPIE

Project LPIE is back for a 12th year at Acalanes!
With 15 categories in a variety of disciplines, the contest is open to any AHS student. This is a great opportunity for students to showcase their talents and add to their resumes. Submissions are due Thursday, Mar 6.
For more details visit: https://www.lpie.org/project-lpie-acalanes.


LPIE IS CURRENTLY RECRUITING PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SERVE ON THE 2025-26 BOARD
LPIE board members work to fulfill our mission to support and enrich the education of every child in Lafayette public schools. Serving on the LPIE board is an excellent way to learn about what's happening in our local schools and to provide fresh ideas and viewpoints. While many board members have children currently attending Lafayette schools, we welcome all community members to apply! Submissions are due by Wednesday, Jan 29.Please contact LPIE's Past President, Jaia Kaufman, at jaiakaufman@gmail.com to submit your interest or ask any questions.

NOMINATIONS FOR LEGACY AWARD
LPIE is accepting nominations for the Tom Mulvaney Legacy Award, which honors individuals, families, or businesses demonstrating exceptional commitment to the LPIE mission. Submit your nomination HERE by Feb 2 at midnight. The winner will be announced at LPIE's 7th Annual Spring Gala on Mar 22.

Sports

SAVE THE DATE for fun night celebrating sports at Acalanes!

*The game schedule below reflects dates and times as of last Friday. Games may change for several reasons, including weather. If you have questions or comments, please contact Acalanes Sports Boosters.

This week’s can’t miss events:
 
 Boys soccer
Tuesday, Jan 21 at Campolindo HS. Frosh at 4pm, JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7:15pm.
Thursday, Jan 23 at Northgate HS. Frosh at 4pm, JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7:15pm.
Saturday, Jan 25 Frosh at San Marin HS at 12pm.
 
Girls soccer
Thursday, Jan 23 host Miramonte HS. JV at 5pm, Varsity at 7pm.
Saturday, Jan 25 at Campolindo HS. Frosh at 3pm, JV at 5pm, Varsity at 7pm.
Saturday, Jan 25 Frosh at College Park HS at 9am.
 
Boys basketball
Wednesday, Jan 22 host Alhambra HS. Frosh at 4:30pm, JV at 6pm and Varsity at 7:30pm.
Friday, Jan 24 host Campolindo HS. Frosh at 4:30pm, JV at 6pm and Varsity at 7:30pm.
Saturday, Jan 25 host Dublin HS. Frosh at 12:30pm and JV at 2pm.
 
Girls basketball
Wednesday, Jan 22 At Alhambra HS. JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7pm.
Friday, Jan 24 at Campolindo HS. JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7pm.
 
Wrestling
Wednesday, Jan 22 v. Campolindo HS at Mt. Diablo HS at 5pm.
 
You may view the full 2024-2025 Athletic Schedule by clicking HERE.

General Administration Announcements

Helpful Resources for Course Selection
 
It’s Course Section time for the 2025-2026 school year!  Course selections (and alternates) should be entered into Aeries by Monday, Feb 3 (although students are able to make changes through Feb 10! Acalanes has a wealth of resources available to assist you and your students in the process.
 
Dons Dialogue | Jan 17 @ 8:45am
Counselors will review the course selection process for parents, the new course video resources will be introduced and we will continue department and course highlights. See below for the full agenda.
 
Counselor Class Visits | Jan 21-30
School counselors will visit students in their classes to discuss the course selection process, how to submit course requests on the Aeries portal, and how to review the registration packet. Counselors will share the course video resources with students.
 
Course Preview & Open House | Jan 30 @ 5:30pm
This night is a valuable resource for current frosh, sophomores and juniors who are mapping out their future courses, as well as an excellent way for incoming 9th grade students to experience all that Acalanes has to offer. It's also a great way to connect with fellow Acalanes parents. See below for more information and break-out timing.
 
Counselor Appointments | Feb 3-10
All students will meet with their counselor for a pre-assigned 5-minute appointment during the school day to discuss their course selection and alternate choices. This meeting is to confirm that students have submitted their courses and alternates into the Aeries portal.

• Frosh counselor appointments - Feb 3 - 4
• Sophomore counselor appointments - Feb 4 - 6
• Junior counselor appointments - Feb 6 - 11

COURSE PREVIEW & OPEN HOUSE - for students and parents
Thursday, Jan 30:

• 5:30pm | Acalanes Parents Club hosted reception
• 5:45pm | Incoming 9th grade family meeting
• 6:15 - 8pm | Drop-in opportunities
• 6:35 - 7pm | Breakout session 1
• 7:05 - 7:30pm | Breakout session 2
• 7:35 - 8pm | Breakout session 3

APC in Action

DONS DIALOGUE - FRIDAY, JAN 17 at 8:45am in the Collaboration Center
We hope to see you for our January Dons Dialogue to hear all about the course selection process and timeline from the Counseling Department. Plus, teachers will join us to discuss Math Pathways, Sport Medicine, AP African American Studies, and the new course video resources. Superintendent Nickerson will lead a brief “In the Know” discussion about funding.  And of course, there will be Q&A time plus coffee and treats!
 
We know it's hard to believe, but course selections for next year are due Feb 10! So be sure to attend (and encourage your students to start preparing their course selections and alternative choice).

Follow Acalanes Parents Club on Instagram. Please reach out to APC here with any questions.

Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

Support the Garden Club and buy Acalanes-grown succulents! Plants can be purchased through the Acalanes webstore for $5.25. They will be delivered to your student during 3rd period, or you can pick them up at the main office at Acalanes. Thanks for your support!

Campus Culture Committee

Important January Dates

• Jan 13: Korean American Day
• Jan 20: Martin Luther King Jr Day
• Jan 25: Mahayana New Year
• Jan 27: APC Campus Culture Committee meeting
• Jan 27: International Holocaust Remembrance Day
• Jan 29-Feb 16: Lunar New Year

T-shirts are coming!! The open house/course preview is on Thursday Jan 30 and we will be at a table in the quad with our new “All are Welcome” T-shirts for sale. Please stop by and pick one up, along with a free sticker.
 
Our next Campus Culture Committee meeting has been pushed to Jan 27 due to the MLK holiday. Parents and caregivers of currently enrolled students are invited to attend at 6pm for a zoom call.

If you’d like to be a part of the upcoming 2025 celebrations, such as Black Excellence Month and Lunar New Year, please contact the DEIB committee here.

Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook to keep up to date with what the students are doing to celebrate all of these wonderful cultures and special dates.

Student Activities

BIG 10 in January
Students have designed the BIG 10 as a way for our community to SHOW UP & SHOW OUT to these 10 events that take place across campus. The schedule for January:
Monday, Jan 13 at 7:30pm: Boys basketball vs. Las Lomas (PJs-Night Night Knights)
Thursday, Jan 16 at 5pm: Wrestling vs. Campo
Thursday, Jan 23 at 7pm: Girls soccer vs. Miramonte
Friday, Jan 24 at 7:30pm: Boys basketball vs. Campo
Wednesday, Jan 29 at 7pm: Girls basketball vs. Clayton Valley
 
New Clubs and Spring Club Day
Club applications for any students looking to start a new club will be available this week in the Daily Don and due on Tuesday, Jan 21. We will have our spring club day at lunch on Wednesday, Jan 29. It is a great opportunity to connect with our clubs and their leadership teams.
 
Class Cup: Family Feud
Classes will come together to compete in Family Feud - Acalanes style. Encourage your student to come watch this week on Jan 13 and 15 and again on Jan 22 during lunch in the big gym.
 
KEY 2ND SEMESTER DATES:
Jan 24: Senior Breakfast + All School Rally + boys basketball vs. Campo
Jan 29 @ lunch: Spring Club Day
Jan 30: Open House
March 13: 1st ever community rally
Mar 18: Talent Show
Apr 18: Special Olympics
Apr 19: Junior & Senior Prom
Apr 23-26: School Musical
 

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

College & Career

Senior Scholarships

• AAUW scholarship for a female senior with significant community service
• Tri Counties Bank scholarship for seniors with financial need or merit

Frosh/Sophomores: Parents, please join us for our Frosh/Soph Parent Night THIS THURSDAY, Jan 16 from 6:30-7:30pm in the library. We will cover essential information on course selection, graduation/4-year college requirements, and provide a brief overview of course offerings. We will also introduce our College and Career Center and highlight the resources available to support your student’s academic and career planning. Looking forward to seeing all of you.

Counseling

Counselor assignments are by student last name:
A-F Anne Schonauer  
G-Ka Erika Vasquez
Ke-Re Marissa Meadows 
Rh-Z Susan Martin

Frosh/Soph Parent Night is this Thursday, Jan 16 at 6:30pm in the library: Come hear Counselor Marissa Meadows and College and Career Advisor Debbie Levy speak about the Course Selection process coming up as well as things to be thinking about for college. 

School Nurse

Happy New Year! Last week I encouraged you to think about the pillars of a healthy lifestyle. This week I encourage you to move forward and actually set some small, attainable goals in at least 2 of the healthy lifestyle pillars: nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management and connection.
In my Health Coach training and practice, one of the most powerful tools is the SMART goal framework, with goals:

• Specific
• Measureable
• Achievable
• Relevant
• Time-Bound

An example might be: I am going to bring a piece of fresh fruit to school with me each day this week. Try to make sure the goal is as specific as possible - instead of “fresh fruit”, write “apple”. Note that this goal is not “eating” the apple, but rather “bringing” the apple. Build the structure to create success for the goal. Make sure the goal is one that is realistic (in this case, make sure there is an apple to take to school each day). Relevant relates to a goal of being healthier to support well-being. Time-bound refers to assigning a very specific time/timeline to the goal – in this case that might be: pack an apple for my lunch at 7:30am each day. I’d love to discuss this more with you if you want to be in touch – I look forward to connecting with you to help you cultivate healthy habits for your students and your family. I want to hear your goals!

Please reach out to me for any support your students or family might need. Here’s to a healthy and fulfilling start to 2025!

My office hours are:
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and some* Thursdays
Tuesdays & Thursdays:  8am - 3:50pm
Wednesdays:  7:30am - 3:20pm

Always Your School Nurse,
Dvora Citron, RN, MS
dcitron@auhsdschools.org, 925-280-2970 x7128
IG: acalanesschoolnurse, ​School Nurse Website

Wellness Center

Are you or someone you know interested in quitting tobacco use? Kick It California is a free program that helps Californians kick smoking, vaping, and smokeless tobacco with the help of proven, science-based strategies. Clinically proven, culturally sensitive, and trusted, Kick It California, formerly the California Smokers’ Helpline, opened in 1992 as the first publicly funded statewide quitline. They now offer individual telephone counseling, a texting program, online chat, a smart phone app, Alexa Skill for quit smoking tips, and self-help materials. Take the first step toward quitting by visiting https://kickitca.org/. In Contra Costa County, you can also call 2-1-1 for a direct referral to Kick It California. 

Performing & Visual Arts

Lafayette Schools Choral Concert - Jan 23, 7pm at Stanley Middle School
The Acalanes Choir is excited to perform at the Lafayette Schools Choral Concert. Come enjoy vocal music performances by Lafayette students of all ages.

LPIE

Project LPIE is back for a 12th year at Acalanes!
This week we are launching our annual Project LPIE competition. With 15 categories in a variety of disciplines, the contest is open to any AHS student. This is a great opportunity for students to showcase their talents and add to their resumes. For more details visit: https://www.lpie.org/project-lpie-acalanes.