Weekly News & Announcements

Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

Join the fun and get in the ACA Fall spirit by participating in these events:

Saturday, October 3rd - ACA Campus Clean-Up
Kick off the month of October by helping us spruce up our campus so it looks great when students return. All are welcome - students, parents, and community members. Grab a few friends or pull your club or team to work together in socially-distanced zones. Sign up here!

WELCOME TO OUR FIRST ACA DAYS! And ACAtober! Thursday, October 8 Campus Drive-By (See class drive-by schedule below)

•    WAVE & Say hello to AWESOME Acalanes Teachers & Staff
•    CELEBRATE 1st Quarter End with “APC Finals Fuel” gift
•    GIVE BACK Pick up thank you cards for those you appreciate
•    RECEIVE Spirit sticker from your Class Officers & Liaisons
•    DONATE Acalanes Community Always - Fire Relief Fund
•    HELP YOURSELF Learn more about AHS Peer Tutoring
•    PICK UP Yearbooks, Class T-shirts & AHS Flags
•    SMILE You’re part of an amazing DONS School Community

First 50 students per grade get a SURPRISE piece of ACA Swag!  

3:00 - 3:30pm    SENIORS!!!!
3:30 - 4:00pm    JUNIORS!!!
4:00 - 4:30pm    SOPHOMORES!!
4:30 - 5:00pm    FROSH!

Acalanes Alumni Network
Team ACA is looking for local Acalanes Alums (you may have just graduated or be a “vintage” Alum) to help with some exciting projects. Email Dawn Brightbill and Sarah Cusumano to join the effort at aca@acalanesparentsclub.com. 

Lafayette Res Run
Creativity at the Lafayette Chamber is in high gear. Visit the Fundraising section to learn more about this fantastic community event and register to join the fun.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)

It’s week six in our challenge to build habits supporting racial equity. Join us in celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month! 

For week six, listen to NPR episode “Latinx Monuments We’d Like to See”. Ivy Queen, Jean-Michel Basquiet and Maria from Sesame Street are just a few of the Latinx featured in this episode. (28 minutes)

Tuesday, Nov 10 from 7-8:30 - AUHSD Book Club Across that Bridge: Life Lessons and a Vision for Change by late Congressman John Lewis
Thanks to everyone who participated in the book club last Tuesday, discussing How to Be An Antiracist by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi. The next AUHSD DEI Book Club book is Across that Bridge: Life Lessons and a Vision for Change by late Congressman John Lewis. Sign up here.

Thursday, Oct 1 from 7-8:30pm - Parent Racial Equity Seminar Series - Session 1 (see the flyer here!)
This Acalanes parent-specific series led by Dr. Lori A. Watson allows parents to intimately explore issues of race and identity, and gives us the tools to speak with our children, friends, and community members about this often difficult, uncomfortable topic. Spaces are limited to the first 50 people who sign up. Participants are encouraged to sign up for at least four sessions. Click here for the Google form with more information and to sign up. Series dates are:

• Thursday, October 1
• Monday, November 16 
• Tuesday, January 19
• Tuesday, February 9  
• Wednesday, March 3 
• Thursday, May 6

Interested in joining our committee? Have questions? Email us.

Membership & Fundraising

October 16-31 - Virtual Lafayette Res Run For Education
The Lafayette Chamber and the City of Lafayette co-sponsor the Lafayette Res Run for Education, traditionally held on an October Sunday. Due to COVID-19, the legendary race will be a virtual one this year, held from October 16-31, 2020. Join us for one of four races: 5k, 10k, 2 mile walk/run, or the 2.7 mile reservoir run/walk. Registration for all races is $25; reference Acalanes when you register and a portion of your fees go straight to our school. Race packets include the must-have traditional long sleeve t-shirt and race bib. Zoonies, the newest ASB Spirit Card partner, has a gift for the first 100 sign-ups from Acalanes (thank you, Zoonies!) Support Acalanes and sign up now. Go Dons!

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

From the Activities Director

Student Activities Update for the Week (video)

2020-2021 Clubs
Club meetings continue this week. Encourage your student to attend even if they missed the first meeting last week. Check out our 44 clubs!

Through Monday, Oct 5 - School Supplies Drive for Stege
Acalanes is holding a supplies drive for Stege Elementary School, our sister school since 2013. Each year we make personal bags for every student at Stege and work with their administration to hand them out. This year we are collecting pencils, erasers, crayons and colored pencils between now and October 5. There are bins at the flagpole. From 4-5 pm on Friday, Oct 2 and Monday, Oct 5, we will collect money as well as physical supplies. Soon, we will accept donations via the Acalanes Web Store. Thank you for your support.

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

Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Awareness
In tomorrow’s Cohort Academy, students will be exploring this topic, and you will receive more information from Principal Bell about it. 

Suicide can be a scary topic for parents to think about and discuss. You have our compassionate understanding on that! As mental health support professionals, we also know that it’s essential to talk about the reality of mental health challenges and suicidal ideation in adolescence. And it’s critical to know the signs and how to help. Being open about suicide does NOT cause a person to contemplate it more seriously. That’s one of the many myths surrounding suicide, and mental health challenges that we can all play a role in dispelling. 

The Wellness Team will provide the content and resources for Monday’s discussion, and you can ask your student to share with you what they learned. To help you with the conversation, visit this resource from a wonderful organization called Each Mind Matters. If your student misses Cohort Academy, the entire presentation will be available to them in Canvas--you can suggest that you watch it with them. And as always, if you’re concerned about your student’s mental health, fill out a wellness referral HERE

Allen Choi, Wellness Coordinator
Casey Sasner, Intake Specialist

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

College & Career

All senior students should set up at least one appointment to discuss post AHS plans. Students can book an individual meeting with Ms. Reicher here. 

Tuesday, Sept 29 at 7pm - Financial Aid Night
Join Tim Lenahan for an online presentation about college costs. The meeting link is here, and you can review this helpful handout for details. Learn more about presenter Tim Lenahan.

Mark your calendars for Senior events:

• Wednesdays and Fridays Senior Academy - Academy is available on Wednesdays and Fridays for all Seniors working on college applications. The Zoom link is in Naviance. Please have students check their AUHSD gmail accounts for all communications from Ms. Reicher. 
• Tuesday, Oct 13 at 7pm FAFSA Night - The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form allows students to request federal grants, work-study, and loans all in one application. Join us online to learn more. 

For Juniors: Tuesday, Oct 6 at 7pm - Class of 2022 Parent/Student Presentation
Lots of great college planning information. Hear from your Class Liaisons, as well as Wendy Reicher and Counselor Susan Martin. Watch your email for the Zoom link!

Check out the Fall CCC Newsletter for updates!

ICYMI
If you weren’t able to attend our webinar on “Navigating the College Admissions & Testing Landscape”, watch the replay here.

Freshman College Planning
Sophomore College Planning
Junior College Planning
Senior Checklist

• CCC Website 
• Follow us on Instagram: @acalanesccc
• Facebook Page for Students Have your senior or junior join the College and Career Student FB page 

Wendy Reicher/College and Career Advisor: wreicher@auhsdschools.org

Wendy Reicher