Acalanes Adult Education provides comprehensive educational opportunities for adults aged eighteen and above. Situated at the Del Valle Education Center, adult learners have the privilege of enrolling in diverse courses, including Apple classes, Microsoft Excel, Creative Writing, English Language Learning (ESL), CPR Certification, Yoga, Money Management, History, Dreams and Nightmares, Estate Planning, Art, Crafting, Sewing, Fabric Collage, Crochet, World Languages (French, Italian, Russian, and Spanish) and many more. For further information, please visit auhsd.org/adulted. Additionally, you may access the Fall 2024 Course Catalog. To register online, visit https://tinyurl.com/
Thriving, Engaged and Well-Balanced Students
Creating a positive “school experience” for our students has been a top District priority for over a decade. One of the instruments we have used to measure our students’ experience is the Challenge Success-Stanford Survey of School Experiences. 83% of our students participated in the survey in April. The survey gathers student insights pertaining to academic engagement, support and belonging at school, homework load and habits, stress, sleep, academic integrity, extracurricular participation, and parent expectations. We have made some progress, but have much work to do to better support our students. This presentation includes district-wide data.
Dr. Denise Pope, founder of Challenge Success and an expert in student well-being, will visit our community on Wednesday, Sep 18 to share her insights and current research regarding supporting our students to thrive in our high-stakes and high-pressure culture. Increasing demands on students can lead to unhealthy stress, disengagement, or debilitating physical and mental health symptoms. Dr. Pope will address how to reduce academic stress and disengagement without sacrificing achievement and examine how to increase student resilience, creativity, competence and general well being. The presentation will be focused on supporting high school students and will include insights for navigating the pressures of college admissions.
The Lafayette Orinda Presbyterian Church will host the event from 6:30-8pm. Seats are limited and we expect high parent interest so please register and reserve your spot here. We hope to see you there!
Parent Education
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)
Important September Dates:
- Sep 15 – Oct 15 National Hispanic Heritage Month
- Sep 19 Latinx Potluck (before the Campo/ACA volleyball game)
- Sep 27 National Native American Day
- Sep 30 Black Student Union (BSU) Summit
Our first DEIB Committee meeting last Monday was a chance to learn about each other and the needs of our school community. If you would like to get involved, learn more, or get signed up for our next meeting, please email us. There are ways to help both big and small, on campus or from the comfort of your own couch. And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram or Facebook.
Student Activities
Spiritwear
Did you order a class shirt? We will be handing them out to students during lunch on Wednesday, Sep 4. Did you order spiritwear through our online spiritwear vendor Gryco? It will arrive in mid Sep and you will receive an email with pick-up instructions.
Homecoming 2024- Musicals Sep 15-21
The countdown is on and preparation is underway. Check out this homecoming overview document for everything you need to know about the week!
Sep 21 is our HOCO Night Out from 7-9:30pm. It is a campus wide event (1,100+ attended last year) and is a beloved night not to miss. Tickets are on sale via GoFan and are:
$30 with ASB
$55 without ASB
$75 for an outside guest
Outside guests need to fill out and return a guest contract by Sep 18 to the main office. Stay tuned for confirmed vendors, food, games, activities, and entertainment.
In order to ensure that HOCO Night Out is safe for all, we need parent chaperones. Please consider volunteering as we expect over 1100 students that evening.
2024-2025 Clubs
Our fall club day is Friday, Sep 6 during academy. The full list of clubs will be posted in the bulletin this week for students to check out ahead of time.
My goal is that every student at Acalanes is connected to one activity outside of class. I am always happy to meet with students and/or parents about on campus programming and opportunities. If I can help, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Looking to stay informed? Follow us on Instagram for the latest on student activities and class happenings.
Katherine Walton, Activities Director
College & Career
Seniors: Please come by the College and Career Center during 6th, 7th, academy, lunch and/or brunch to work on your common application and UC application. Tips and strategies provided during all sessions. MaiaLearning tutorials are also provided at each visit. Great tips here!
Sports Recruiting Presentation: Acalanes is hosting a presentation for families of student athletes. This will be held on Monday, Sep 9 at 7pm in the PAC. Students and parents of all grades and sports are welcome to attend. For more information, click here.
Frosh, Sophomores, Juniors Out-of-State College Fair:
When: Thursday, Sep 5, 6-8pm
Where: Las Lomas Library
Join the Las Lomas College & Career Center for an out-of-state college fair on Sep 5 at 6pm. This is an excellent opportunity to meet public and private out-of-state college admissions officers. The program will include short presentations, including one on the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) scholarship program.
Please sign up for the fair HERE.
PRACTICE SAT/PSAT/ACT: Our testing partner, Revolution Prep, is offering a free PSAT practice test on Sep 7, SAT practice test on Sep 21 and ACT practice test on Sep 14. Click here to learn more and register.
Frosh students can join a free webinar led by Revolution Prep on 3 Essential Skills Your Student Needs to Kickstart their School Year on Sep 24 at 5pm.
Counseling
Counselor assignments are by student last name:
A-F Anne Schonauer
G-Ka Erika Vasquez
Ke-Re Marissa Meadows
Rh-Z Susan Martin
CLASS SCHEDULES Students can now only drop a class, they can’t add any new classes. Students can drop a 1st or last class of the day for an Off Campus, or they can drop a class and add a TA that period. The deadline to drop a class is the end of the first quarter, Friday, Oct 11. After this date, any class dropped will receive an automatic F grade.
CLASS VISITS Counselors will be visiting Chemistry classes this week to present to sophomores. We will provide them with a transcript, and walk them through some things they should be aware of as they start 10th grade!
INDIVIDUAL SENIOR APPOINTMENTS Counselors will start seeing seniors individually starting the week of Sep 9. During these appointments, we will look at Maia, talk about schools and deadlines, discuss documents needed, and come up with a to-do list for you/your student, if they need one.
SENIOR PARENT NIGHT
Thursday, Sep 5, from 6:30-7:30pm in the Acalanes Library.
Join us for important information about post high school planning with Counselor, Anne Schonauer and College & Career Center Advisor, Debbie Levy.
School Nurse
What’s new with COVID? Parents, we still want you to call the attendance office to report Covid, as we are still required to report cases. However, we are now considering Covid as any other respiratory illness: students and staff can come back if, for 24 hours, their symptoms are getting better overall and they have not had a fever (without taking fever-reducing medication). You can read these CDPH Guidelines: Considerations when a Child has Symptoms of Illness in Child Care or School.
Just a reminder to make sure your student has healthy food/snacks and water with them to nourish and fuel them during the school day.
You can access the medical forms page HERE or use the QR code below.
My office hours are:
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and some* Thursdays
Tuesdays & Thursdays: 8am – 3:50pm
Wednesdays: 7:30am – 3:20pm
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
Performing & Visual Arts
Concert Wear Donations Needed
Are you ready to make a difference in the lives of our talented Acalanes musicians? We’re seeking donations of gently-used concert attire to ensure that every student can look their best for upcoming performances.
Our current inventory of loaner attire is running low, so if you have any of the following items that your student has outgrown or no longer wears, please consider donating them to our Instrumental Music Concert Attire Closet (website):
- Black concert dress (from the past 4-5 years)
- Black tuxedos/suits
- Black jackets
- Black dress pants, black skirts (below knee)
- White, black, french blue button-down dress shirts
- White, black, french blue sleeved blouses
- Black ties (bow or regular)
- Black dress shoes
Your generosity helps to ensure that every musician has the opportunity to shine on stage!
Please bring the clothes to the AHS music/band room. If you have any questions, please contact Andrea Christie or info@ahsperformingarts.org.
Acalanes Performing Arts Boosters Update
We hope you enjoyed the phenomenal Acalanes Jazz Ensemble and Acalanes Choir at the Back to School Night reception on Thursday. This was the kick-off for this year’s performances of our talented musicians, actors and choralists. The general performance calendar is here and the Instrumental Music calendar is here. Your donations support extracurricular performance programs — if you didn’t get a chance to donate, you still can here!
LPIE
26th Annual Lafayette Art and Wine Festival- join us on Saturday, Sep 21 from 10am-7pm and Sunday, Sep 22 from 10am-6pm
Did you know that the Art & Wine Festival is a fundraiser for the City of Lafayette and that LPIE is the largest beneficiary? Did you know that the people who work the ticket booth are volunteers? Come have some fun and help LPIE at the same time by staffing the festival ticket booth and/or the LPIE booth. Click HERE to sign and show your support for our schools!
Sports
*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 volleyball
Tuesday, Sep 3 host Monte Vista HS. Frosh at 4:30pm, JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 6:30pm.
Wednesday, Sep 4 at Moreau Catholic HS. Frosh at 4:30pm, JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 6:30pm.
Saturday, Sep 7 Frosh Sonoma Valley tournament.
Girls golf
Tuesday, Sep 3 v. Las Lomas HS at 5:30pm.
Flag football
Wednesday, Sep 3 at San Marin HS at 5pm.
Saturday, Sep 7 Alameda HS and Heritage HS at Heritage HS at 9am.
Boys water polo
Wednesday, Sep 4 host El Cerrito HS. Varsity at 6pm and JV at 7pm.
Thursday, Sep 5 host Marin Catholic HS. JV at 4pm and Varsity at 5pm.
Girls water polo
Friday, Sep 6 and Saturday, Sep 7 Acalanes Invitational.
Football
Thursday, Sep 5 Frosh host Dublin HS at 5pm.
Friday, Sep 6 host Mt. Diablo HS. JV at 4:30pm and Varsity at 7pm.
Cross country
Saturday, Sep 7 St. Mary’s Invitational at St. Mary’s College.
You may view the full 2024-2025 Athletic Schedule by clicking HERE.
General Administration Announcements
Acalanes Back to School Night (BTSN) is this Thursday, Aug 29 from 5:15-8pm!
Please plan to join at 5:15pm in the front quad for a parent and staff reception hosted by the Acalanes Parents Club (APC). Principal Shawn will share some remarks around 5:30pm and classroom visits start at 6pm.
As mentioned above, this evening is for us, the parents/caregivers, to experience what our students experience each and every school day – you don’t want to miss it!
Important Reminder: be sure to print the BTSN Program here and write down your student’s schedule and room numbers so you know where to go! Print and fold like a book.
Driver Etiquette at the New Raised Crosswalk on Stanley Boulevard
The City of Lafayette recently completed construction of the raised crosswalk on Stanley Boulevard near AHS. A raised crosswalk is a ramped speed table spanning the entire width of the roadway and acts as a traffic calming measure that allows pedestrians to cross at grade with the adjacent sidewalk. In addition, the new crosswalk includes flashing beacons that are activated by a push button to alert drivers of pedestrians crossing it.
This serves as a friendly reminder that drivers must yield to pedestrians and stop at the yield markings (sometimes called “shark teeth” markings) when pedestrians are crossing or preparing to cross. Drivers should not block the crosswalk when waiting for the traffic to move.
