Weekly News & Announcements

LPIE

Three Streams. Four Different Jobs.
 

 
State funding is essential, but it isn't enough for the education our community expects — and how much our schools receive isn't something Lafayette decides.
 
Parcel taxes are local, voter-approved dollars that stay in our community and are dedicated to supporting our public schools. Lafayette students are served by two school districts, each with its own voter-approved local funding measures. In June 2026, the community renewed this support by approving Measure H for the Lafayette School District, and this November, voters will consider Measure W for the Acalanes Union High School District. Together, these local measures help narrow the gap between state funding and the cost of providing the educational programs our community values, though they do not close it entirely. 
 
The LPIE annual campaign funds today’s people and programs in every school — given and spent each year, reaching 100% of students.
 
The LPIE Endowment funds what’s next — a permanent fund built to create new opportunities in our schools, for this generation and every one after, without depending on any single year’s fundraising.
 
Each one does a job the others can’t. State funding can't stretch to the education our community expects. Parcel taxes can’t fund beyond their ballot language. The annual campaign can’t promise anything beyond this year — the Endowment is the only one built to, and it’s the only one whose job is what comes next. Great schools happen when all four jobs get done — and every one of them exists because this community invests in it, year after year. 
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Support Your School — Donate Today

Sports

Acalanes Boosters is also looking for 3 nurses and/or doctors to volunteer their time at our Winter Sports Parents' Meeting on November 10 from 5:30-7 PM to help out with the TB screening that parents need to complete as part of their volunteer driving requirement. If you are able to help out, please reach out to Linda Choi at lchoi_tulip@yahoo.com. 

*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:
Flag football
Wednesday, Nov. 4 NCS Semifinal.
Saturday, Nov. 7 NCS Championship.
 
Girls volleyball
Wednesday, Nov. 4 NCS Semifinal.
Saturday, Nov. 7 NCS Championship.
 
Boys water polo
Thursday, Nov. 5 NCS Playoff First Round.
Saturday, Nov. 7 NCS Quarterfinal.
 
Girls water polo
Saturday, Nov. 7 NCS Semifinal.
 
Tackle football
Friday, Nov. 6 hosts Benicia HS.  JV at 4:30pm and Varsity at 7:00pm.
 
Cross country
Saturday, Nov. 7 DAL Championship at Hidden Valley Park.

APC in Action

Staff Appreciation Luncheon in November
 
The Acalanes Parents Club is celebrating our amazing staff with our annual Grateful Lunch on Monday, Nov. 2.  We would love your help and are looking for volunteers to help make this lunch extra special!  Please sign up HERE to bring a lunch item if you are able to contribute.  We really appreciate all of your support!

Parents Club Pro-Tip

Does your student love to travel? Are they interested in traveling with peers? Erin Field and Tina Gullberg take students in Lamorinda on international trips every summer. This year we are going to Italy, Austria, and the Czech Republic! I know that many of you travel frequently, but trips like this allow students to become more independent and make lasting memories with their friends.

Any student at Acalanes (or any of the other schools in our district) is invited to join us! They do not need to be in my class or have ever had Ms. Field as a teacher. All are welcome on this trip!

The deadline for registration is Sunday, Nov.15. We already have some registered! Please RSVP for the meeting using this link: https://webapp.acis.com/trips/recruiting-meeting/MjAyN3wxNjA1NHw5MDM=
 
And here is the link to view the trip itinerary: https://acis.com/tripsite-trip-overview/?key=MjAyN3wxNjA1NA==
 
You can also check out our Instagram page to see past trips: @ACIS_Lafayette TravelClub
 
**This is not a school-sponsored trip.

Community Service - Helper Helper
If students would like to set up a Helper Helper account to log their service hours, please email from their personal email account to communityservice@acalanesparentsclub.comand include their personal email, name, birthdate, and graduation year.

Volunteer Opportunities 
Recurring volunteer roles require the new District process for volunteer validation (e.g. driving for field trips, sporting events, etc).  Standalone volunteer opportunities (e.g. Football, Snack Shack) on campus do not require the new/latest rigorous training required by the district this year. 
Click HERE to access the AUHSD volunteer portal.
Click HERE to explore volunteer opportunities. 

Campus Culture Committee

💙 Acalanes Parent Club – Campus Culture Committee (CCC)-October 2026 Update
October 2026 Update | Building Community & Moving Into Action!
Thank you to everyone who attended our first Campus Culture Committee (CCC) meeting in September! It was wonderful to connect with parents and caregivers, share ideas, and begin planning ways to support our students, staff, and school community throughout the year. Click HERE for more details

🤝 Get Involved! CCC Volunteer Opportunities
Our CCC SignUpGenius is now available!
We invite parents and caregivers to sign up to support student clubs, staff, campus activities, and special events in meaningful and creative ways.
Whether you can volunteer your time, donate supplies, or help with a special event, every contribution helps strengthen our Acalanes community.
👉 Sign Up to Support Our Acalanes Community!

 
🍂 You're Invited! FRIENDSGIVING with Principal Colin Malcolm
📅 Thursday, Nov. 19
 ⏰ 5:30–7:00pm
 📍 Location: To Be Announced
Please join us for a special CCC FRIENDSGIVING Social with Principal Colin Malcolm!

 
💚 Parent Wellness Workshop & Spring CCC Updates
📅 Monday, Dec. 14
 ⏰ 6:00–7:30pm
 💻 Virtual Meeting

 
🏫 A Note About Participation in School Events
During our September CCC meeting, questions were raised regarding participation by community members in school-based activities and events intended for parents and guardians.
We encourage families to review the Acalanes Parent Club bylaws, which provide guidance regarding participation and membership. Please refer to the attached bylaws for the relevant language.

 
📅 Upcoming CCC Events at a Glance

• October – December: CCC Volunteer Opportunities – SignUpGenius Open
• November 19 | 5:30–7:00pm: FRIENDSGIVING Social with Principal Colin Malcolm – Location TBD
• December 14 | 6:00–7:30pm: Parent Wellness Workshop & Spring CCC Updates – Virtual
• January 11 | 6:30–7:30pm: CCC Meeting – Virtual
• May | Date TBD: CCC Year-End Retreat – In Person

📅 October Dates & Observances
October – LGBTQ+ History Month
LGBTQ+ History Month is observed throughout October and provides an opportunity to learn about and recognize the history, achievements, experiences, and civil rights movements of LGBTQ+ people.
October – Filipino American History Month
Filipino American History Month is celebrated throughout October and recognizes the history, culture, experiences, and contributions of Filipino Americans to the United States.

 
💚 Wellness Center Reminder
As we move further into the school year, we want to remind families that the Acalanes Wellness Center is here to support our students.

 
💙 Stay Connected & Get Involved
Our CCC continues to work alongside students, staff, families, and school leadership to help create an Acalanes community where all students and families feel seen, heard, valued, supported, and that they belong.

 
Reminder: Acalanes is a No Hate Zone
Acalanes is committed to maintaining a campus where every student feels safe, respected, welcomed, and valued.
If your student experiences or witnesses bias or hate, please encourage them to report it using the  Bias Incident Reporting Tool (BIRT) available on the AHS website.
   Submit a BIRT Report Here »
Reporting incidents helps our school respond to concerns and continue working together to create a culture of safety and belonging for everyone.

Student Activities

Peek at the week:
Monday & Wednesday lunch: Staff/student pickleball on the tennis courts
Tuesday: Blood Drive in the big gym (spots still available)
Wednesday @ lunch: Spooky sendoff relay in the big gym + pickleball
Thursday: Senior Movie Night
Friday @ lunch: Trunk or treat on the blacktop
 
Community Outreach Updates:
 
Canned Food Drive results: The Contra Costa Food Bank is beyond grateful for our community & what we were able to do for our neighbors. Acalanes contributed over 76,000 meals to the Food Bank in the month of September. WOW WOW WOW! It is a new record and we want to appreciate every single one of you who donated food or dollars this year.
 
Adopt-a-Family is coming! Last year we supported 70 local families during the holidays and we plan to organize it again. Look for more information on how to support an individual this holiday season or an entire family next week! Gift drop off will be December 11th.
 
Acalanes Fall Blood Drive- Tuesday, Oct. 27
Our fall blood drive is almost here and we are looking for 20 more donors. Please consider signing up to donate. You can sign up here.

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

College & Career

COLLEGE NIGHT FOR JUNIOR PARENTS: Junior Parents, we will host a college night just for you on Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 6:30pm in the Acalanes Library. Come hear College and Career Advisor Debbie Levy and Counselor Susan Martin talk about all things college and what you can do to support your junior as they prepare and plan for this next important step in their lives!

Counseling

Counselor assignments are by student last name:
A-F               Anne Schonauer
G-Hul           Erika Vasquez on campus Tues/Fri
Hum-Pla       Marissa Meadows
Ple-Z            Susan Martin

End of First Quarter! The first quarter of the school year ended on Friday, Oct. 9. Quarter report cards were sent out on Friday, Oct. 16. These grades are used to determine athletic eligibility for the remainder of the fall season and the beginning of the winter season. Students need at least a 2.0 GPA with no more than one F grade to be eligible for sports. 
 
Junior Parent Night - Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 6:30pm in the Library All junior parents are invited to spend an evening with College and Career Advisor Debbie Levy and Counselor Susan Martin as they discuss preparing the Class of 2028 for their college search. 
 
Letters of Recommendation - Counselors typically spend the month of October writing letters of recommendation for college applications for seniors. If your senior needs a Counselor Letter of Recommendation, please make sure to fill out the Student and Parent Surveys on Maia Learning, and send your student’s counselor a copy of their resume or brag sheet one month in advance of their first deadline.  Thank you!