Legislative News

Las Trampas Creek Council of PTA's (LTCC), in partnership with the League of Women Voters of the Diablo Valley, hosted several school board Candidate Forums this month. To view recordings of these forums, including the AUHSD Governing Board Candidate Forum that occurred on Oct 12, please visit the LTCC website here.

Student Activities

Buy your Gratitude Grams now! These are a great way for students to appreciate classmates, friends, staff members and teachers by sending them a little goodie bag filled with love and appreciation. Each is $5 and they are available for purchase on the webstore.
 
Acalanes Blood Drive Tuesday, Oct 25
Acalanes is hosting a blood drive in conjunction with the Red Cross this Tuesday, Oct 25! High school students 16 years and older and any community member over 18 can donate. We encourage our Acalanes families to donate as well. Use the QR code around campus to connect to the app or text BLOODAPP to 90999 to sign up for an appointment. Thank you for your support!
 
Halloween
As we approach Halloween, let’s celebrate together! We will have lunchtime carnivals, lunchtime trick or treating and a pumpkin carving contest this week.
 
As always, if there is anything we can do for you or your student, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Thank you and go Dons!
 
Katherine Walton, Leadership Teacher, Leadership Teacher

College & Career

SENIORS
California State Applications: Every day during the month of Oct and Nov, the CCC is open to help with the Cal State application. It takes less than 1 hour.

FAFSA: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid opened Oct 1. The state is asking all seniors to fill out the FAFSA or to opt-out.
 
UC/Common App Support: Your student can click here to make an appointment to work on essays or get help with the entire process.
College Visits This Week in the CCC Office: Sign up on the Naviance home page. Scroll to the bottom of the home page to see “What’s New” or email to register at least 24 hours in advance. Have your students speak with their teachers to get permission. Follow the CCC instagram @ahs_college_career for timing each week.

• Monday, Oct 24: Butler Univ, Claremont McKenna College, Portland State, University of Iowa, Rider University, Boise State
• Tuesday, Oct 25: UC San Diego, Chapman Univ, Embry-Riddle, Univ. of Colorado, Colorado Springs
• Wednesday, Oct 26: TCU, Univ. of Washington, Univ. of Hawaii, Clarkson
• Thursday, Oct 27: Williamette Univ, Univ. of Redlands, Loyola Marymount Univ
• Friday, Oct 28: Pomona College, Carleton College, Gonzaga, Northeastern, University of San Diego, Wentworth Institute

JUNIORS
Parent Night: Counselor Susan Martin and College and Career Center Advisor Debbie Levy will discuss post-high school options on Nov 9 in the PAC from 6:30-7:30pm.
 
College Visits: Please have your student join college visits if they are interested in learning more about universities. It’s a fun way to check out majors, clubs, and study abroad options.

Volunteer Opportunities: Encourage your child to check out these great places to give back!

SOPHOMORES/FROSH
Internship Opportunity: Junior Achievement is looking for future entrepreneurs for a year-long business program.
Volunteer Opportunity: This is also a good site to search for teen volunteer work.
 
Please visit our College & Career Counseling website any time for additional information and support.  

Counseling

Counselor assignments are by last name.
A-Em Anne Schonauer  
En-Kr Christine Todd  
Ku-Rog Marissa Meadows 
Roh-Z Susan Martin

Letters of Recommendation Counselors are all busy this month writing letters of recommendation for seniors with early deadlines for college applications. Each counselor has 30-40 letters to write by Nov 1. We apologize in advance if we are not as responsive as we usually are.
 
AP Exam Registration Deadline is Nov 6
Sign up for AP Exams until Sunday, Nov 6. Late registration options are available, but will incur a late registration fee. Please see here for more details.
 
Junior Parent Night Nov 9
We are hoping that many junior parents can come to the PAC on Wednesday, Nov 9 at 6:30pm for a presentation by Debbie Levy, our College and Career Advisor, and Susan Martin, one of our counselors. We will be speaking about post-high school options for your students and things to think about now.

School Nurse

One Shot in Each Arm! Protect your student against illness and missing school (and protect your community as well)! Make their appointments to get both the flu shot and their next Covid booster (now giving new bivalent version effective against variants). Many pediatrician’s offices and most pharmacies have them available.
 
October is Breast Health Month: See THIS RESOURCE on BSE to share with your student. Actual Daisy Wheel tools also available in my office - stop by!
 
Please see my website for more information on medications, health issues, forms, etc.  Does your child have an EPIPEN? Hopefully you have let me know. HERE is some interesting information about Benadryl vs. Epinephrine.
 
Weekly Health Tip:  Ways to Help Your Teen Get More Sleep

Dvora Citron, RN, MS
dcitron@auhsdschools.org
925-280-2970 x7128
IG:  acalanesschoolnurse

Wellness Center

AUHSD Wellness is hosting a monthly Zoom parent education series on numerous topics surrounding mental health and wellness in your student. The goal of these educational opportunities is to help parents feel equipped in supporting their child to the best of their ability. This flyer outlines topics, dates and times, as well as links for registration. We hope to see you there!

Follow us on Instagram @acalaneswellness to keep up with what's going on with the AHS Wellness Center and all of our parent and student opportunities

Performing Arts

The Acalanes DramaDons are proud to present Rumors, by Neil Simon
In this laugh out loud comedy, four couples arrive at the 10th anniversary celebration party for New York's deputy mayor and his wife, only to find the mayor wounded in bed and the wife missing.
 
Rumors runs Oct 26, 27, 28, and 29 in the Acalanes Little Theater. All shows start at 7pm and doors open at 6:30pm.
 
Tickets are $7.00 for students and $14.00 for general admission and can be purchased at ahsperformingarts.org.

LPIE

LPIE’s 3rd annual Read-a-thon is Nov 1 - Nov 15. Students can pick up a flyer in the Acalanes library for more information. There will be prizes for top readers. In addition, there will be raffle prizes for students who read 40 minutes or more per day and who turn in their packet by the due date with at least one donation. More information and sign-up at LPIE Read-a-thon!
 
Happy Reading Lafayette!

Questions? Please contact Andrea Hilsabeck or Michele Colaco
www.lpie.org, Follow us on Instagram 

Sports

This week’s can’t miss events!
 
Unified Soccer
Monday, Oct 24 host Freedom HS 1pm.
 
Girls Volleyball
Tuesday, Oct 25 NCS Playoff, First Round at 7pm.
Saturday, Oct 29 NCS Quarterfinal at 7pm.
 
Girls Tennis
Tuesday, Oct 25 DAL Girls Tennis Championship at Northgate HS at 9:30am.
Wednesday, Oct 26 DAL Girls Tennis Championship at Acalanes HS at 4pm.
Thursday, Oct 27 DAL Girls Tennis Championship at Acalanes HS at 4pm.
 
Boys Water Polo
Wednesday, Oct 26 at Campolindo HS. JV at 4pm and Varsity at 5pm.
Friday, Oct 28 at De La Salle HS. JV at 5pm and Varsity at 6pm.
 
Girls Water Polo
Wednesday, Oct 26 at Campolindo HS. Varsity at 6pm and JV at 7pm.
 
Football
Friday, Oct 28 host Miramonte HS. JV at 4:30 pm, Varsity at 7pm.

The fall sport schedules will be found on the AHS website by clicking here.
 
If you have any questions, please contact Randy Takahashi at rtakahashi@auhsdschools.org or Haley Walsh at hwalsh@auhsdschools.org.

APC in Action

APC Fall Grants Have Been Awarded
Thank you to the parents and staff who submitted proposals for an APC Grant this Fall.  We had a healthy number of submissions and are pleased to announce four grants have been awarded through APC and two additional grants will be supported through our partnership with LPIE:

• Members of the Black Student Union (BSU) will attend a field trip (with other Acalanes Union district high school students) to San Francisco to tour the Museum of the African Diaspora. 
• A book entitled How She Did It by Molly Huddle and Sara Slattery will go to each member of the women's cross country team. The authors are professional runners who interview other female runners on their path to success.
• A new sturdy carport-type covering (wind and weather resistant) will go up to shelter visual arts students working outside. This expanded space will allow students to work on larger and outdoor projects throughout the school year.
• Planting materials will be purchased for the revitalization of the Acalanes garden area outside 505/507 wing. Please click here to read more about the AHS Garden Restoration Group, their plans and how you can help.
• Spanish 3 students will experience a cultural evening at Pena Pachamama in San Francisco. Supported by LPIE.
• The San Francisco Shakespeare Festival will come to Acalanes to perform A Midsummer Night’s Dream. They will also host a Playshop on campus for students to participate and perform. Supported by LPIE.

Pizza with Dr. Z! How to Study Math
Peer Tutoring will host “Pizza With Dr. Z,” on Thursday, Oct 28 at lunch. Acalanes Math Department Head, Vicki Zalewski, will lead students in a discussion on best practices for staying on top of math concepts and will also give tips on how to study for assessments. Pizza will be provided to the first 40 students who attend!
 
Peer tutoring aims to better the educational, social and emotional well-being of all Acalanes High School students and gives students the skills necessary to succeed in academics and life post high school. Peer Tutoring is off to a great start this year, with over 1000 student visits to date this year! Thank you to the Acalanes Parents Club, who fully funds this important student program.
 
Peer tutoring is located in Room 107. Hours are: Academy, 7th period, lunch and every day 1 hour after school.
 
Meet our Outstanding Acalanes Custodial Team!
Earlier this month, APC honored National Custodian Day by presenting our hardworking custodial team with a full platter of fresh baked goodies. This invaluable team works day and night to take care of our campus and keep our students safe. Next time you are on campus and see one of these hardworking Dons, please give them a wave and thank them for all they do for our students and the Acalanes community.
 
From left to right; Rosabel, Francisco, Daniel, Jorge, Edgar, Federico. Plus Pedram, not in photo.
 
Follow Acalanes Parents Club on Instagram. Contact APC here with any questions.

Parents Club Pro-Tip

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.

APC Membership & Fundraising

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 23. 15% of Acalanes designated registrations + donations go back to Acalanes Parents Club. Every registration counts! Be sure to select Acalanes when you register!

In 2021, the Lafayette Res Run for Education donated a record $42,568.75 to our local public schools. Learn more and registerTODAY.

Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

Campus Clean Up - Saturday Nov 5, 11am-2pm
It’s time for our Fall Campus Clean Up! Earn service hours, connect with our Acalanes community, and share in Dons’ pride. Students, parents, teachers, and community welcome. Click here to sign up. Questions? Email denisecain4@icloud.com