Weekly News & Announcements

Parents Club Pro-Tip

STUDENTS SHOULD CHECK OUT THE CAFETERIA!
Did you know that Acalanes offers free breakfast, brunch and lunch for all students? Our amazing cafeteria staff prepares a variety of tasty baked goods and meals from scratch every day, making it easy for our students to stay fueled for success. As a reminder, Acalanes is a closed campus, so students are not allowed to leave during lunch. Encourage your students to take full advantage of the free meals on campus - or take a few extra minutes to pack a lunch in the morning.
 
If you’d like to see the cafeteria in action, please sign up here to come help out at lunch. We have a fun new volunteer opportunity available on Mon, Wed and Fri at lunch. Sign up here.

Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

AHS Garden Update
The garden club has been meeting weekly on Monday's during lunch. We have planted seeds for our winter garden and have our next work party scheduled for Sunday Nov 3 from 10am - 2pm (or until we finish, which is often earlier). We will be pulling out our summer garden, adding the rest of our soil to the beds, and planting our winter vegetables!  We can use all help, especially if you can bring a wheelbarrow or shovel.  Please take a moment to sign up here if you can come help.
 
We also received a small APC grant to buy new tools and supplies for planting our winter vegetables and are grateful for the support. And we are lucky that Meghan Thompson-Payne is on board to help with garden projects going forward. She wants to organize a small group of like minded parents to support the work of the garden club and the garden spaces at AHS. 
 
Finally, this past Friday we enjoyed a "harvest party" lunch. While the food did not come directly from the garden (most of our harvest was actually during the summer), it was nice to share food and enjoy each other's company.
 
Please reach out if you have any questions: Lori (LTewksbury@auhsdschools.org) and Cathy (CChallacombe@auhsdschools.org)
 
Thanks again for your support!

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)

Important October/Early November Dates

• LGBTQ History Month
• Filipino American History Month
• Oct 31 - Nov 1 Diwali
• Nov 1 All Saints Day
• Nov 1-2 Day of the Dead (el Dia de Muertos or el Dia de los Muertos)

Many clubs on campus hold events at lunch or afters chool to celebrate their heritage. We ask all parents to remind your kids to join in on this fun and learn about cultures outside of their own. While it may seem nerve wracking, please know that the clubs have asked for more involvement school wide!
 
Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is the Hindu festival of lights, with variations celebrated in other Indian religions. It symbolizes the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance". Diwali is celebrated during the Hindu lunisolar months of Ashvin (according to the amanta tradition) and Kartika - between mid-Sept and mid-Nov. The celebrations generally last five or six days.
 
All Saints’ Day in the Christian church commemorates all the saints of the church, both known and unknown, who have attained heaven. It is celebrated on Nov 1 in the Western churches and on the first Sunday after Pentecost in the Eastern churches. In Roman Catholicism, the feast is usually a holy day of obligation. It is part of the three-day triduum dedicated to remembering the dead, beginning with Halloween (Oct 31) and followed by All Saints’ Day (Nov 1) and All Souls’ Day (Nov 2).
 
The Day of the Dead (Spanish: el Día de Muertos or el Día de los Muertos) is a holiday traditionally celebrated on Nov 1 and 2, though other days, such as Oct 31 or Nov 6, may be included depending on the locality. The multi-day holiday involves family and friends gathering to pay respects and remember friends and family members who have died.
 
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

Thank you to APC for funding Breaking Down the Walls this past week. Our community is better as a result and the opportunity to spend time together, get to know one another and know that we are not alone is powerful. As one student said,
 
“I learned that our community has many stories and we have all been through things despite the stereotypes that we may have about one another. BDTW was about acceptance and courage, stepping outside our comfort zone and building a better sense of community.”
 
Looking for the perfect holiday gift? Our winter webstore is open for just a short period of time - get your Acalanes gear now! Orders due by Nov 7 and will be available in December.
 
HALLO-WEEK
Encourage your student to kick off Halloweek by coming to Trunk or Treat on Monday, Oct 28 at lunch on the blacktop! “Trick-or-Treat” for candy and other treats at decorated cars, enter a raffle for a Halloween gift basket, and play tons of fun games!
 
On Wednesday, Oct 30 during academy, students are invited to room 314 for a fun and educational pumpkin carving activity. Students will carve pumpkins that you can put on your porch as a festive decoration. The purpose of the event is to teach students about reducing waste by using all parts of the pumpkin while also bringing the community together. Encourage your student to join the event to make a jack-o-lantern and enjoy some roasted pumpkin seeds! They can RSVP here to participate.
 
Chillin’ with Charlie is coming up on Friday, Nov 1 and will be filled with fun and lots of food. We will be watching Charlie Brown Thanksgiving with popcorn, candy, pizza and drinks. It will be in room 314 during lunch and we hope to see your student there!!
 
Students can also celebrate Halloween by coming to Staff Student Trivia on Friday Nov 1 at lunch in the big gym! Students can compete with another student and a teacher! If they aren’t playing, they can show up and watch their favorite teachers compete against each other in Halloween themed trivia!
 
Open Mic Night at Sideboard
Open mic night is back!! Students can showcase their talent and sign up via the link in the Daily Don. Mark your calendar to enjoy a meal out and student talent - Nov 6 from 5-7pm.
 
The annual Acalanes Fall Blood Drive is in two days (Oct 30) and we still need 3 more sign-ups to reach our goal. Anyone who donates blood will receive a $10 gift card. You can make appointments through the Red Cross website (link to page). You must create an account and find the Acalanes Blood Drive on the Find a Drive page. If you have any questions please reach out to Ms. Walton (kwalton@auhsdschools.org).
 
Starting to think about holiday cards and gifts? Shop at Minted and not only do YOU get 20% off, Acalanes gets 15% of all sales. Use the code FUNDRAISEACALANES. 

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 Cal State, Common, and UC applications. Tips and strategies provided during all sessions. MaiaLearning tutorials are also provided at each visit. Great tips here!
 
Senior Scholarships: November is National Scholarship Month. Check out these opportunities!

Counseling

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

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION October is the month we spend writing letters for Early Decision/Action deadlines. Please have your student see us right away if they need a letter of rec!
 
JUNIOR PARENT NIGHT Please come to the Library on Wednesday, Nov 13 from 6:30-7:30pm to hear from Debbie Levy, College and Career Center Advisor, and Susan Martin, Counselor, about all things juniors should be thinking about as they research and prepare to apply to college next fall! 
 
WINTER SPORTS START SOON Students planning on earning Athletic PE credit for their winter sport should pick up a contract (requires a parent, coach and student signature), return it by the deadline (late Nov) and take some timesheets to start documenting hours from the start of the winter sports season. All forms can be found in the Counseling Office.

School Nurse

Pumpkins aren’t just for carving! They are highly nutritious and yummy too! While you may not want to cook the big pumpkin sitting outside your front door, go ahead and grab some canned pumpkin puree. Add it to multiple recipes and meals (think chili, soup, muffins). The fiber and nutrients help keep your kids healthy, strong and smart! And when you do carve that pumpkin, roast those seeds and enjoy them as a healthy snack!

Let me know if you have questions or need support.

​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

LPIE

Join Us for LPIE's First Ever Community Crawl!
On Saturday, Nov 9, enjoy a day of family fun with a petting zoo, face painting, arts and crafts, a bubble performer, games, and more! Over 40 local businesses have donated to support our schools. Shop and dine with them throughout Veterans Day weekend and participate in our Scavenger Hunt! Find the LPIE teddy bear at 10 locations and enter to win a gift card to Five Little Monkeys or two tickets to the LPIE Gala!



7th Annual LPIE SPRING GALA
Saturday, March 22nd, 2025
The Palace Hotel San Francisco
 
We need your help to make this biggest fundraiser of the year a huge success! The online, silent, and live auctions fund essential programs—music, art, STEM education, libraries, electives, AP classes, teachers, technology, and more.
 
And this is where YOU come in! Do you have something special to offer, like a vacation home, sports tickets, an exclusive experience, or something unique? Or maybe you’ve got a brilliant idea for an auction item? We’d LOVE to hear from you!
Email us at office@lpie.org or fill out this form to share your donation. You can also support our schools by purchasing a raffle ticket here!

Sports

*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:

Girls tennis
Tuesday, Oct 29 DAL Singles and Doubles Playoffs at Northgate HS at 9:30am.
Wednesday, Oct 30 DAL Singles and Doubles Semifinals and Championships at Acalanes HS at 2pm.
 
Girls volleyball
Wednesday, Oct 30 NCS First Round Playoffs at 7pm.
Saturday, Nov 2 NCS Quarterfinal at 7pm.
 
Flag football
Wednesday, Oct 30 College Park HS at 5:30pm and Berean Christian HS at 6:45pm at College Park HS.
Saturday, Nov 2 DAL Playoffs at Benicia HS.
 
Girls water polo
Wednesday, Oct 30 at Campolindo HS. JV at 4pm and Varsity at 5pm.
 
Boys water polo
Wednesday, Oct 30 at Campolindo HS. Varsity at 6pm and JV at 7pm.
 
Cross country
Wednesday, Oct 30 DAL Center Meet at Newhall Park at 3:30pm.
 
Football
Thursday, Oct 31 Frosh host Campolindo HS at 5pm.
Friday, Nov 1 at Campolindo HS. JV at 4:30pm and Varsity at 7pm.

You may view the full 2024-2025 Athletic Schedule by clicking HERE.

General Administration Announcements

Important Attendance Reminder
If a student is leaving early during the day for any reason, it is their responsibility to pick up their "off campus pass" from the main office (after a parent has called). They can pick it up in the morning, during brunch/lunch or between periods. It must be picked up before they attend the class they are leaving early from.

APC in Action

October APC Dons Dialogue 
Thank you to all who attended our Dons Dialogue on Friday, Oct 18. It was a packed house! This month's topics included Peer Tutoring, Breaking Down the Walls, student safety expectations, a student activities report and Q&A with Principal Shawn. If you were not able to attend, a video and slides from the discussion will be available here next week.
 
Thank you to our APC Hospitality Co-Chairs, Mia Heglie and Monica Stassi, for providing the welcoming coffee and treats! The next Dons Dialogue will be on Friday, Dec 13.  Click here for the full schedule of upcoming Dons Dialogues.
 
Parent Volunteers Needed During Lunch
We have an incredible new volunteer opportunity!  We are looking for volunteers to help oversee the student lunch line in the cafeteria on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during the school week.  This is an easy and fun way to volunteer on campus and a great opportunity to volunteer with a friend!  Volunteer shifts are less than an hour, and there are lots of dates to choose from.  Sign up here! Please check-in at the front office when you arrive for your volunteer shift.  Thank you for your support!
 
Student Volunteer Community Service Awards
The 2024-25 Student Volunteer Program has kicked off for the Acalanes and President’s Service Awards so please make sure your student is logging those hours!  It’s a great opportunity for students to give back AND be recognized for their service. You can read more about the awards here and email us at communityservice@acalanesparentsclub.com with any questions. 

Follow Acalanes Parents Club on Instagram. Contact APC here with any questions.

Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

SUMMER JAPAN TRIP
Acalanes staff are taking students on a trip to Japan this summer. Students from any grade and any of the four high schools can attend! The only requirement is an interest in travel! This trip has a little bit of everything -- ancient/historical sites, awe-inspiring locations, amazing food, and a once-in-a-lifetime bonding experience with your Lamorinda peers. Send your student on the trip of a lifetime where they become a global citizen who values travel and exploration.
 
For anyone interested in going on the trip to Japan this summer, please follow this link to preview the trip and to register:  June 2025 - Japan.
And check out our Instagram page to see photos from the last two summers! acalanes_travels

If you have any questions please reach out to Erin Barth or Tina Gullberg. This is not a school-sponsored trip.

College & Career

Seniors: Please come by the College and Career Center during 6th, 7th, academy, lunch and/or brunch to work on your Cal State, Common, and UC applications. Tips and strategies provided during all sessions. MaiaLearning tutorials are also provided at each visit. Great tips here!
 
Senior Scholarships: Pixel Plex for STEM & business students application is due on Thursday, Dec 5 and Stand up to Distracted Driving Scholarship application is due Wednesday, Nov 13.