• Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

    December 5, 2020

    Shop Local For the Holidays
    Help Lafayette business owners during this challenging economic time by shopping local! A bonus is that sales tax from your purchases will be funneled back into our local economy. Visit here for more ways to support Lafayette businesses.  

    Questions, comments or feedback, email aca@acalanesparentsclub.com.

  • LPIE

    December 5, 2020

    Tell them LPIE sent you! Shop Honey Bear Trees across from Acalanes if you are in the market for a Christmas tree and holiday decor! Bring this flyer, and Honey Bear will donate 20% of your purchase price back to LPIE.

    Thanks to the generosity of two anonymous families, there is a dollar-for-dollar $60,000 match for all donations made in December. LPIE recognizes the sacrifices families are facing, and knows that the ask to donate is a big one. Therefore, we hope this matching gift opportunity encourages you to support at the level that is meaningful to you. Participate here.

    Laura    -Kate Rurka     & Jennifer Palmer
    Acalanes LPIE School Chairs

    www.lpie.org

  • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)

    December 5, 2020

    Week FIFTEEN in the Challenge to Build Habits Supporting Racial Equity
    Winter is here and what is better than cozying up with a good read? This week’s challenge is to save the date for our next district-wide book discussion, Thursday, Feb 4 at 6:30pm! The groups are teacher-moderated and discussions are informative and interesting. This time, the book is the critically-acclaimed “Between the World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates. Order your copy from Orinda Books and receive it in time for holiday gift giving! And, HBO adapted the book into a movie and a podcast, available until Sunday Dec 27. 

    • Sign up to attend here.

    December 10-18 - Hanukkah is coming!
    Also written as Chanukah, this is the Jewish eight-day, wintertime “festival of lights,” celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers, and foods. If you are so inclined, try this recipe for delicious latkes. 

    Speaking of holidays, the DEI group at Acalanes would like to recognize all the cultures represented at our school. Please let us know any special events that we can learn about and honor throughout the year. For starters, how do you celebrate your winter holidays? Email us! 

    Join the Grassroots Law Project (AUHSD) for Students and Parents
    The group aims to     bridge the gap between grassroots organizing and legal expertise in criminal justice reform. With over 75 student volunteers, backed by parent and teacher allies, GLP functions as a unit with members in each school. The group is not a club affiliated with individual schools, but a district-wide chapter powered by students and supported by parents and teachers. To get involved, fill out this Google Form. Check them out on Instagram too!

    More information or questions?
    Email us! Stay current by visiting our webpage, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. 

  • Membership & Fundraising

    December 5, 2020

    Acalanes Flags
    ‘Tis the season for giving - and receiving - the perfect gift: Acalanes Flags! Flags are available in two sizes on the Acalanes webstore. Get yours today and share your school spirit. Go Dons!

    If you have any questions, please contact VP Fundraising Kelly Daggs.

  • From the Activities Director

    December 5, 2020

    Dec 17 and 18 - Spirit Wear Pick-Up
    If you ordered spirit wear, we will have pick up days the afternoon of December 17th and the morning of December 18th.

    Dec 11 from 3:15-4:30 - Adopt-a-Family Gift Drop-Off
    Thanks to our community’s generosity and support, we adopted 26 families! If you opted in, check your email for all the information you need. Coordinate with Katherine Walton if you cannot drop off the gifts on Dec. 11. Sign-up genius can be found here.

    Dec 8-10 - Frosh In-Person Study Groups
    We want to support the Class of 2024 as they approach their 1st set of final exams. We are holding in person study groups led by teachers. Freshmen can sign up here. 

    Equity Club Docu-Series: Queer Straight Alliance Video
    Take some time today to watch this incredible video featuring members of our QSA. Listen, engage, and educate. 

    Channel Kindness Book Club
    We have partnered with the Born this Way Foundation to read Lady Gaga’s newest book, Channel Kindness. Students can sign up, be given the book to read, and then in late January, attend a book club meeting where several of the authors of the book will join us to dialogue. The book encompasses themes around mental health, physical health, giving back to the community & kindness. Link to sign up. 

    Take a minute to read the November issue of the Diversity newsletter:

    Next week is our annual winter week! A fun way to end the first semester with multiple opportunities to engage. Here is an overview:

    Monday, Dec 7

    • Dress-up: No Mirror Monday (wear PJ’s)

    Tuesday, Dec 8

    • Dress-up: Tie Dye Tuesday
    • 3:15-4:45pm: In-person study groups for Class of 2024

    Wednesday, Dec 9

    • Dress-up: Wild Wednesday
    • Lunch: Staff/Student Bonding
    • 3:15-4:45pm: In-person study groups for Class of 2024
    • 7pm: DramaDons Performance

    Thursday, Dec 10

    • Dress-up: Time Travel Thursday
    • 3:15-4:45pm: In-person study groups for Class of 2024
    • 7pm: Choir Concert

    Friday, Dec 11

    • Dress-up: Face-off Friday
    • Lunch: Scribblio Lunchtime activity 
    • 3:15-4:30pm: Adopt-a-Family gift drop off in front of school

    2020-2021 Clubs Club meetings continue. Check out our 45 clubs!

    If I can ever do anything to help you or your student, don’t hesitate to reach out!

    Katherine Walton, Student Activities Director

  • Wellness Center

    December 5, 2020

    Periodically, we facilitate round table discussions on big issues, and this week, we had an important talk with student facilitators and attendees, featuring Contra Costa County District Attorney Colleen Gleason, who runs the County Sexual Assault/Child Molestation and Abuse Unit. The focus of the conversation was on supporting victims in getting help when they’ve suffered abuse. Students were able to ask questions and learn new perspectives on what “support” and the process of getting justice looks like. Most importantly, DA Gleason shared advice you can give your kids: if they go to a party, use the buddy system AND if they get assaulted, tell someone (and assure your child that they will not “get in trouble” for doing so). Finally, it’s important that the individual go to the hospital as soon as possible following an assault. 

    Here is a fantastic resource with videos on consent and other important topics: Community Violence Solutions. These conversations are so important and we think you’ll find that if you lean into them, you - and your student - will be happy you did. 

    Allen Choi    , Wellness Coordinator
    Casey Sasner, Intake Specialist

    For updates, tips and advice, follow Wellness on Social Media: Instagram @acalaneswellness