APC Fundraiser at Local Kitchens
There will be an APC fundraiser at Local Kitchens all day on Dec 5 Please enter the coupon code APC24 when ordering online or in store, and the Acalanes Parents Club will receive 25% of your order. Support APC while enjoying a delicious and easy lunch or dinner!.
APC Membership & Fundraising
Parents Club Pro-Tip
Yield at the “Shark’s Teeth” for Dons
This fall, the city installed a raised crosswalk by the school entrance to improve safety. Please give pedestrians space by stopping at the “Shark’s Teeth”. These triangles indicate where vehicles (autos and bikes) must stop when there are pedestrians crossing. Please also pass this tip on to any Dons who are new to driving.
Thanks for your help in keeping our students safe!
Acalanes Community Always (ACA)
Attention High School Students Interested in Travel
Erin Barth, Tina Gullberg, and ACIS are hosting a trip to Japan from Jun 8-16! Any Lamorinda high school student is welcome to join.
Some of the sites and activities you will experience are:
- Tokyo Tour with Guide
- Meiji Shrine
- Lake Ashi Boat Ride
- Hakone Komagatake Ropeway
- Mount Fuji Kawaguchiko 5th Station
- Toyota Motor Company Kaikan Museum
- Atsuta Jingu Shrine
- Kiyomizu-dera Temple
- Japanese Tea Ceremony
- Kinkakuji Temple
- Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
- Nara Park
- Todaiji Temple
- Osaka Castle
- CupNoodles Museum Osaka Ikeda
The deadline to sign up is rapidly approaching, so be sure to take advantage of this incredible opportunity! Please click here for more information and to sign up.
Calling all AHS and Miramonte students who have completed Spanish 3 (or higher): Spanish Immersion Trip to Spain: Jun 7-19, 2025*
Facilitated by Edu-Culture Immersion and led by AHS Spanish teacher Señora Holland and Miramonte High School teacher Señora Frank
- See link for flyer
- Contact Maya Ramdihal at Edu-Culture Immersion Study Abroad Programs for more information: maya@educulture.com (reference Acalanes-Miramonte trip to Spain) or see QR code on flyer
*Please note that this is a private tour and not affiliated with AUHSD
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)
Important December Dates
- Dec 3 International Day of Persons with Disabilities
- Dec 8 Bodhi Day
- Dec 10 Human Rights Day
- Dec 25 Christmas
- Dec 25-Jan 2 Hanukkah
- Dec 26- Jan 8 Kwanzaa
The annual observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons was proclaimed in 1992 by United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3. It aims to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development, and to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.
Bodhi Day is the Buddhist holiday that commemorates the day that Gautama Buddha (Shakyamuni) is said to have attained enlightenment, also known as bodhi in Sanskrit and Pali.
The month of December is a time set aside by many to celebrate a variety of traditions and enjoy time with family, friends and community. If you have some information you feel is important for our committee to share about a celebration you partake in, please let us know.
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.
To be more involved please reach out to our DEIB committee at diversityandinclusion@
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
We hope you had a great Thanksgiving break. It is hard to believe we are down to the last three weeks of the semester! There are lots of fun and meaningful activities planned during the next couple weeks – we hope your students opt in when they can!
Schedule of events this week:
- Mon-Fri at lunch: Senior dodgeball
- Wednesday @ academy: Blanket making for the Bay Area Rescue Mission
- Wednesday @ lunch: ACA Buddies
- Thursday at 7pm: Instrumental Winter Concert
- Friday @ lunch: Frosh cookie decorating in room 314
- Saturday from 10am-2pm: Students serve lunch at Glide Memorial in SF
The Acalanes Leadership Enviro Board is collecting gently used items to promote sustainability. From Dec 2-13, please donate clothes, shoes, accessories (such as jewelry, handbags, scarves, and belts), bedding, books, CDs, DVDs, pots, pans, kitchen items, kids’ toys, games, and stuffed animals in good condition. Donations can be dropped off in the bins located outside the main office and in the front quad. We aim to promote reusing items and diverting materials from landfills, giving them a second life to reduce waste. If you have any questions email estelle.block26@auhsdschools.
Acalanes shows up for Adopt-A-Family!
We have an amazing community – together, we are supporting 70 families this holiday season. THANK YOU!
If you adopted an individual or family, look out for information this week in your email regarding drop-off of gifts. All drop off needs to happen Friday, Dec 13 in front of the school as we take everything to the organization that afternoon. If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out to Hetty Lofting or Katherine Walton!
ACA Serves: Blanket Making
On Dec 4 there will be a winter blanket making academy in room 314. There will be hot cocoa and other snacks to bring the winter vibes. We will make no-sew blankets and then donate them to the Bay Area Rescue Mission, which will use them in their homeless shelters. Your student can sign up with this form – we hope to see them there!
Ordering holiday cards and gifts? Shop at Minted and not only do YOU get 20% off, Acalanes gets 15% of all sales. Use the code FUNDRAISEACALANES. All money raised goes to off setting the cost of prom tickets.
Looking to stay informed? Follow us on Instagram for the latest on student activities and class happenings.
Katherine Walton, Activities Director
College & Career
Senior Scholarship: Technology Addiction Awareness Scholarship (deadline Jan 30)
Counseling
Counselor assignments are by student last name:
A-F Anne Schonauer
G-Ka Erika Vasquez
Ke-Re Marissa Meadows
Rh-Z Susan Martin
INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS WITH 9TH GRADERS Counselors are finishing up their individual meetings with 9th graders this week. Wishing everyone the best of luck with final exams! Here is the finals schedule.
School Nurse
Thanksgiving break is an opportunity to spend time with your family and take advantage of doing activities (or not!) that our regular busy schedules don’t always allow for. We all need to reset and have down time. I hope you all enjoyed the break together and enjoyed some simple activities together such as afternoon tea or game night.
I hope you liked the pumpkin pie oatmeal recipe I shared and had a wonderful week with your loved ones. Stay healthy!
AHS School Nurse Calendar
See my website for more information.
Always Your School Nurse,
Dvora Citron, RN, MS
dcitron@auhsdschools.org, 925-280-2970 x7128
IG: acalanesschoolnurse, School Nurse Website
Wellness Center
Gratitude: A Path to Positivity
Gratitude is the act of appreciating the good in our lives. It helps shift our focus from what we lack to what we have, fostering a sense of contentment and joy. Expressing gratitude can improve mental well-being, strengthen relationships, and even boost physical health. It encourages us to pause and recognize the small blessings we often overlook, like a kind word, a sunny day, or simply having a loved one by our side.
Gratitude Activity: The “Thank You” Letter
- Objective: To cultivate a habit of gratitude by expressing appreciation to someone who has positively impacted your life.
- Reflect: Think about someone who has done something meaningful for you—perhaps a teacher, friend, family member, or mentor.
- Write: Take a piece of paper and pen. Start the letter with “Dear [name]” and describe why you’re grateful to them. Be specific—mention a memory, action, or quality of theirs that made a difference in your life.
- Deliver: If possible, give or mail the letter to the recipient. If not, keep it as a reminder of your appreciation.
- Reflect Again: Notice how you feel after expressing your gratitude. Often, the act of giving thanks brings its own joy.
This activity not only brightens the recipient’s day but also helps you build a stronger connection and deepen your appreciation for the people around you.
Performing & Visual Arts
Acalanes Choir Concert at St. Mary’s
The Acalanes Choir is pleased to join the St. Mary’s College Choir and the DVC Chamber Singers in performing at the St. Mary’s College Choir Concert, “Keep Looking Up”. The Acalanes Choir will perform at the Thursday night concert only.
When: Thursday, Dec 5, 8pm
Where: St. Mary’s College Chapel, Moraga
Winter Concert 2024Join us for some holiday cheer as Acalanes Band Director Edwin Cordoba leads his amazing musicians in a festive performance!
When: Wednesday, Dec 4, 6:30pm
Where: AHS Performing Arts Center
Music Groups: Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, Drummer Dons, Acastix
Admission Price: Free ($10 donation suggested)
The Acalanes Choir will perform at the “It’s A Wonderful Life in Lafayette” event in the Park Plaza on Sat, Dec 8 at 5:10.
Choral Winter Concert
Please join us in celebrating the season at the Acalanes Choir Winter Concert featuring the Harmonix, Octet and more!
When: Thursday, Dec 12, 7pm
Where: AHS Performing Arts Center
Acalanes Performing Arts Boosters would like to give a big shout out to the Acalanes musicians who were selected for the California All State Jazz Band and California Honor Orchestra. The All State review panel selects only one jazz piano player from the entire state and APAB is very proud of Nathan Joseph for his accomplishment. Nathan is a talented multi-instrumentalist and will perform with the All State Jazz Band in Sacramento in January. Props also go to violist Miela Hsu and cellist Nathan Feng for earning seats in the California Honor Orchestra and for representing the Acalanes Union High School District at a performance in Santa Monica next month.
