Weekly News & Announcements

Student Activities

Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year! We are ready to have an incredible year together and look forward to all of the amazing things to come.

Peek @ the week:

WB Rally attire:
Grades 9/10/11: Wear BLUE
Grade 12: Wear WHITE

ASB Stickers
ASB cards cost $115 and are available for purchase on the webstore. ASB cards support all student activities at Acalanes, support athletics (25% of every card sale goes directly to athletics) and helps to pay for AHS's finance tech's salary and get students discounts/free entry to the following:
-Home athletic events (Except playoffs). This year we have 6 home football games (totaling $35 without ASB).
-Free or discounted tickets to dances (For Homecoming, you will save $25 with ASB)
-Free Acalanes t-shirt at Dons Day (worth $10)
-Discounts at 10 local businesses when you show your ASB sticker on your ID card.

Class Shirts & Spiritwear
Didn’t get a chance to order your class shirt yet? You still have a chance via the webstore. Deadline to order is August 18th and class shirts will arrive mid September.
Looking for new Acalanes gear? Check out our summer webstore open now through Monday, Aug 18. All proceeds benefit the Classes of ‘26, ‘27, ‘28 & ‘29! The last day to purchase is Monday, Aug 18. Items will be available for pick-up in September.

Clubs
Clubs are one of the best ways to get connected to Acalanes and provide a wonderful opportunity for students to socialize, pursue a passion, network, & learn.
Clubs are all student led with a teacher as the advisor. Most clubs meet during lunch! We encourage you to join one or several.
Fall Club registration will run Aug 14-27. Look for the club application in the Daily Don. To start a club, you need 4 things:
1. 4 students and a teacher advisor
2. A Constitution
3. A completed club application
4. A budget or budget waiver
 We completed spring club re-up for returning clubs and have 37 approved clubs. Check them out!

Homecoming
Voting for the 2025 Homecoming theme will run this week-Monday through 2pm on Thursday! The winning theme will be revealed at Friday’s rally. Homecoming runs Sunday, Sep 28- Saturday, Oct 4. Informational meetings for ALL grades will  be Monday, Aug 25 at lunch and important skit & hallway decorating information will be shared. Homecoming at Acalanes is magical-encourage your student to get involved!

Staying in touch with student activities
Our goal at Acalanes is that every student is connected to at least one adult and one activity outside of school. If I can support you in any way, please don’t hesitate to reach out! There are multiple ways in which we push information out to both students and parents:
Monday morning announcements
Daily Bulletin
APC Newsletter
On campus publicity: posters, weekly flush, bulletin boards, canvas & more

Instagram (@ahs_dons)

Let’s have a great year, Acalanes!
Katherine Walton

Looking to stay informed? Follow us on Instagram for the latest on student activities and class happenings.

Counseling

Counselor assignments are by student last name:
A-F Anne Schonauer  
G-Ka Erika Vasquez on campus MWTh
Ke-Re Marissa Meadows 
Rh-Z Susan Martin
 
DONS DAY: Please come pick up your schedule from your counselor on Dons Day.  We are looking forward to seeing all of you! 
 
SCHEDULE CHANGE REQUESTS: Schedule changes will be made if there is an error in your schedule, such as the wrong class, or a gap (missing a period). All other requests will be reviewed on a case by case basis and approved by the principal only. A schedule change request form will be posted on the AHS website at the end of the first day of school.  Students may submit requests to change their schedule via the form. If a schedule change is approved, the student’s name will appear on a list on the Counseling Office window.

College & Career

Performing & Visual Arts

Your donations support a year full of high-quality extracurricular choral, instrumental and drama performances -- if you haven't yet had a chance to donate, you still can here.

Mark your calendars with these performance dates!

Please reach out if you have questions or are interested in joining us! info@ahsperformingarts.org or instrumental-co-vp@ahsperformingarts.org

LPIE

Back to LPIE - August 15, 6pm, Metro
Please join us to celebrate the start of the school year and mix and mingle with fellow parents, caregivers, and community members. And if you are new to Lafayette schools, you’re invited to join us for a New Family Welcome at 5pm at Metro — please click here to RSVP. We hope to see you there!

Sports

Hey Acalanes – It's Time to Back Your Dons!
Now’s the time to grab your Acalanes Sports Booster Membership and support the athletes who make our community proud. With 4 membership levels, you’ll enjoy complimentary passes to home league games, exclusive merch perks, and the unbeatable feeling of backing all 27 sports that make Acalanes shine.
Did you know 74% of students play a sport, but funding doesn’t come from the district? Our incredible athletic programs rely entirely on parents, the community, and sponsors like YOU.
Join us:

• On the webstore
• At Dons Day
• Or at acalanesboosters.com

Every membership makes a difference. Every athlete feels it.
Support your Don — and all the Dons.
We’re 100% grateful.
__________
Fall Sports Night at Acalanes!
Thursday, Aug 14 | It all  starts at 6:15pm
Parents — don’t miss this exciting kickoff to the season! Whether you're new to Acalanes athletics or a seasoned sideline pro, this night sets you and your athlete up for success.
Get the inside scoop on what’s ahead from big wins to big support  and how you can be part of it.
6:15–6:55pm | DonsWear Pop-Up + Booster Memberships 
Gear up for game days with fresh DonsWear and secure your Sports Booster Membership: packed with perks like game passes, exclusive merch, and serious Don pride.
7:00pm | All-Parent Meeting + Fall Sports Breakouts

Join us in the PAC for a brief all-sports parent meeting, followed by your team-specific fall sports meeting. Meet your coaches, connect with other parents, and get prepped for a DONtastic season! 

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You may view the full 2024-2025 Athletic Schedule by clicking HERE.
*The game schedule 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.

General Administration Announcements

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.

APC in Action

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!!

Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

Garden Summer Plans and Work Mornings
We have our summer crops planted and will need help this summer weeding and harvesting! Please encourage your student to come down from 9-11am on Jun 11, Jun 23, Jul 9 and Jul 23 to help out in the garden (parents welcome too)! They can get volunteer hours and first pick of any produce that is ready!  If you have any questions, please email Ms. Tewksbury.
Have a great summer and hope to see you in the garden!

Sign up NOW for the Lafayette Res Run for Education!
Early bird registration is NOW open for the 2025 Lafayette Res Run for Education but only through June 30! Race day is Sunday, Oct 19. Register here for the 5k, 10k, 2 mile or Reservoir Challenge. As a result of last year’s race, the beneficiary amount awarded to the schools in 2024 totaled $37,497.95! Sign up today and support OUR school!

APC Membership & Fundraising

PERSONALLY ENGRAVED BRICKS ON THE DONS LEGACY WALL!
These engraved bricks make a great graduation gift for your Acalanes senior, or a lasting end of the year gift for your students, family, or favorite Acalanes teacher or staff member. The Dons Legacy Wall is located in front of the front office, and there is no better way to leave a lasting tribute than with a personally engraved brick! Your $300 donation covers the cost of your personally engraved brick while also supporting the Acalanes Parents Club. Purchase your brick here through the Acalanes web store.
Any questions? Please contact the Legacy Brick Coordinator Leanne Zimmerman at  leanne.zimm@gmail.com.
Congratulations to the Class of 2025!!!

Campus Culture Committee

Upcoming Important Dates:

• May is Asian/Pacific Heritage month
• May is Mental Health Awareness Month
• May is Jewish American Heritage Month
• June celebrates Pride, Juneteenth and the Summer Solstice.

As we approach the end of the year, we want to remind parents that inclusivity and belonging begin at home, and we hope your summer will be full of fun times with family and friends. Our community has worked hard to highlight different cultures, religions and genders throughout the school year and APC is grateful for their efforts and those of AUHSD.

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. See you in the fall!

Student Activities

A year full of programming and memorable moments is not possible without the larger community support. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for everything you have done to make the 2024-2025 school year positive for our young people. From the little asks to the larger asks, thank you thank you thank you. - K. Walton
 
Summer webstore is open! Place your orders now through August.
 
DATES NEXT YEAR:

• Aug 11 at 12pm: Frosh orientation
• Sep 28-Oct 4: Homecoming 2025
• Apr 25, 2026: Junior & Senior prom

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

Counseling

Counselor assignments are by student last name:
A-F Anne Schonauer  
G-Ka Erika Vasquez on campus MWTh
Ke-Re Marissa Meadows 
Rh-Z Susan Martin
 
Summer school: If your student has a D/F grade to make up, they can enroll in AUHSD Summer School.  Las Lomas High School will be hosting summer school this year, and will run from Jun 9 to Jul 10. Students must attend summer school twice a week, but they can work through the class on the online platform any time during the week and potentially finish before Jul 10.