• Sports

    October 21, 2024

    *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 golf
    Monday, Oct 21 DAL Championship at Blue Rock East GC 9:30am.
     
    Girls volleyball
    Tuesday, Oct 22 at Miramonte HS. Frosh at 4:30pm, JV at 5:30pm, Varsity at 6:30pm.
    Thursday, Oct 24 DAL Semifinal.
    Saturday, Oct 26 DAL Championship.
     
    Girls tennis
    Tuesday, Oct 22 College Park HS at 3:30pm. Varsity is home and JV is away.
    Saturday, Oct 26 Freedom JV Tournament.
     
    Girls water polo
    Tuesday, Oct 22 host Tamalpais HS. Varsity at 6pm and JV at 7pm.
    Wednesday, Oct 23 host Monte Vista HS. Varsity at 6pm and JV at 7pm.
    Friday, Oct 25 and Saturday Oct 26 NorCal Varsity Championship at Sacred Heart Prep HS.
     
    Boys water polo
    Wednesday, Oct 23 host College Park HS. JV at 4pm and Varsity at 5pm.
    Thursday, Oct 24 JV at Liberty HS at 5pm.
     
    Flag football
    Wednesday, Oct 23 host Northgate HS at 5:30pm and Clayton Valley Charter HS at 8pm.
     
    Cross country
    Wednesday, Oct 23 Mid-Season Mania at Campolindo HS at 5pm.
     
    Football
    Thursday, Oct 24 Frosh at Granada HS at 6pm.

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

  • General Administration Announcements

    October 13, 2024

    STUDENT SAFETY EXPECTATIONS
    ICYMI, please take time to read Principal Shawn's email from Friday, Oct 11 regarding student safety. Principal Shawn provides an overview of the expectations that were shared with all our students on Friday during Academy. The guidelines are designed to ensure a secure and supportive learning environment for everyone.

    Click here to review the full email on Parent Square.
    Click here to review Acalanes Student Safety Expectations. 

  • APC in Action

    October 13, 2024

    DONS DIALOGUE - FRIDAY AT 8:45AM
    Please join us on Friday, Oct 18 at 8:45am in the Collaboration Center for our October Dons Dialogue. Discussion topics for October include; Peer Tutoring, Breaking Down the Walls program, student safety expectations, College & Career Center update and a student activities report. APC will provide coffee and treats. All parents/caregivers welcome.
     

    FRIDAY, OCT 11 WAS A SNACK ATTACK DAY FOR THE ACALANES STAFF!
    Thank you to our Staff Appreciation team, Dominique Mickelson and Stacey Hastings, for creating this yummy snack bar for all our Acalanes Staff. Your generous donations to APC allow us to make sure the staff know how much we appreciate all they do to support our students.


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

  • APC Membership & Fundraising

    October 13, 2024

    All APC members should have received an email with a link to the Acalanes 2024-2025 Online Family Directory! If you donated to the APC and did not receive the email, please contact our Communications Team at vpcommunications@acalanesparentsclub.com.
     
    It is not too late to donate here. With a donation of any amount, you will receive the directory, and you can also get an Acalanes tote bag. If you have any questions, or if you have donated and would like a tote bag, please contact Carrie Daughters.

  • Parents Club Pro-Tip

    October 13, 2024

    ATTENDANCE Q&A - PART 2
    What does my student do if they are marked absent by their teacher and it is an error?
    Have the student come into the attendance office to get a teacher correction form.
     
    Do I need to excuse my student if they already have an early dismissal for sports?
    No. Early sports dismissals are included in the Daily Don (email and/or text) sent from the office each morning.
     
    If my student returns with a medical/dental note, do I still need to call the attendance line?
    Yes, the absence still needs to be verified by a parent. Please call the 24-hour attendance line at 925-280-3973.

  • Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

    October 13, 2024

    CALLING ALL DONS DADS!
    The Dons Dads is a dad-led group formed to create simple ways for father figures within the Acalanes High School Community to connect.  Relationships formed > Experiences shared > Laughs had > Ideas batted around > The world benefits.
     
    For our first event, we've got space reserved at the Headlands for burgers and beverages for a Thursday Night Football (tm) game.
     
    WHAT:       NFL Football. Broncos @ Saints. Burgers & Beverages
    WHERE:    Headlands Brewery- Mt Diablo Blvd, Lafayette CA
    WHEN:      Thursday, Oct 17. Kick off at 5:15pm. Doors open at five o'clock.
    WHO:        You, and anyone else you'd like to invite.
    VENMO:    $40 gets you two beverages and a smash burger.  @bob-mccallister  / 415.260.7518.

     
    Send payment to Bob now to reserve your spot. Include your name and email in the memo.
     
    We're fired up to have you.
     Josh Milnes & Bob McCallister, Dons Dads Co-Chairs/Founders


    LAFAYETTE RES RUN FOR EDUCATION - NEXT WEEKEND!
    Show your community spirit, and support Acalanes (Go Dons!) - sign up for the Lafayette Res Run for Education on Sunday, Oct 20. 15% of Acalanes designated registrations + donations go back to Acalanes Parents Club. Every registration counts! Be sure to select Acalanes when you register!
     
    In 2023, the Lafayette Res Run for Education donated over $28K to our local public schools. Learn more and register TODAY.

    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

  • Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)

    October 13, 2024

    Important October Dates

    • LGBTQ History Month
    • Filipino American History Month
    • Oct 14 Indigenous Peoples’ Day
    • Oct 31 Diwali

    LGBT History Month is an annual month-long observance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history, and the history of the gay rights and related civil rights movements. It was founded in 1994 by Missouri high-school history teacher Rodney Wilson. LGBT History Month provides role models, builds community, and represents a civil rights statement about the contributions of the LGBTQ+ community.

    Filipino American History Month (FAHM) is celebrated in the United States during the month of October. In 1991, October was chosen to commemorate the arrival of the first Filipinos who landed in what is now Morro Bay, California on Oct 18, 1587. It is also the birth month of Filipino American labor leader Larry Itliong.

    Indigenous Peoples' Day is a holiday in the United States that celebrates and honors Indigenous American peoples and commemorates their histories and cultures. It is celebrated across the United States on the second Monday in October and is an official city and state holiday in various localities. “We acknowledge that Lafayette is part of the unceded, ancestral homeland of the Bay Miwok people. The Bay Miwok and neighboring Ohlone people have lived in and moved through this place for thousands of years.” City of Lafayette

    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

    October 13, 2024

    The annual Acalanes Fall Blood Drive is Oct 30. 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. Our goal is to have 46 donors. If you have any questions please reach out to Ms. Walton or marshall.stirling27@auhsdschools.org.
     
    Breaking Down the Walls From Oct 22 - 24, all 10th and 11th grade students will participate in Breaking Down The Walls. The Breaking Down the Walls program is a unique opportunity for students and staff to connect, share their stories, and realize…

    "It's hard to hate someone whose story you know."
    Thanks to APC funding, this program creates a safe environment for students to build empathy and understanding through a "play, trust, learn" model. By first helping students laugh together, they start to trust one another and eventually want to learn from those outside their regular friend group. The assembly, training, and workshops leave everyone with the realization that we are truly BETTER TOGETHER! 

    Breaking Down the Walls strengthens social and emotional learning (SEL), specifically building social awareness and relationship skills vital to student growth and success. 

    • Meaningful connections and positive relationships
      • Bring students together and provide dedicated time for them to connect and build relationships. 
    • Empathy and Understanding
      • Allow students to share their stories, hear their peers' stories, and learn they are better together. 
    • Thriving Campus Culture
      • Create an inclusive culture where students say, "I belong here; I am safe here; I can learn and grow here." 

    Here is a 4-minute video from the organization with testimonials from students. Students will be participating during one of the three days, assigned by last name. Look for more specific information next week. 

    Starting to think about holiday cards and gifts? Shop at Minted. Not only do you get 20% off, Acalanes gets 15% of all sales when you use the code FUNDRAISEACALANES.

    If you ordered spiritwear from the Gryco webstore and haven't picked it up, please email Katherine Walton and she can leave it in the attendance office for you. 

    2024-2025 Clubs
    Looking to connect your student to a passion? Here are 77 unique clubs on campus, from Archery Club to the Red Cross Club. 
     

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