General Announcements

DONS DIALOGUE – THIS FRIDAY AT 8:45am!
Join us on Friday, Feb 23 in the Collaboration Center for coffee, treats and informative dialogue!  This month’s topics include;

• Department Spotlights on
  • Science – Sydney Johnson
  • Math Pathways – Misha Buchel
  • PE – Chris Clark
• CAASPP Testing
• ASB Update
• Q&A with Principal Shawn

The APC Dons Dialogues are the best way to stay in the loop with what is happening on campus, ask any questions you may have or just connect with the Acalanes community.
We hope to see you Friday!

STAFF APPRECIATION VALENTINES BREAKFAST
Check out the 💙 healthy spread our amazing Acalanes Staff enjoyed on Valentine’s Day! Many thanks to our Staff Appreciation Co-Chairs, Dominique Mickelson and Stacey Hastings for coordinating.

  

The selections for the 2024-2025 school year are due THIS WEEK! As you discuss any final selections with your student, these grade level slides might be helpful:

• Presentation to current 9th graders (“rising sophs”) – view slides
• Presentation to current 10th graders (“rising juniors”) – view slides
• Presentation to current 11th graders (“rising seniors”) – view slides

As a reminder, students should enter their course selections into Aeries BEFORE they meet with their counselors. Students will come to the appointment with their courses submitted and with a completed and signed form in hand to give to their counselor. Students can check their course selection form for the date and time of their appointment with their counselor.
 
If you have any questions or need any further information, please visit the counseling page on the Acalanes website.

AP EXAM PROCTORS NEEDED – GREAT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
Our AP students need YOUR help! We are searching for parents to help with proctoring  AP Exams during the first two weeks of May. Exam dates are May 6-10 and May 13-17

AP Exams start everyday at either 8am or 12pm. Students know to show up 30 minutes prior to start time for check in. Proctors for morning exams need to start at 7:15am and for afternoon exams at 11:15am. Exams can range from 2-4 hours and we ask that you please plan to stay for the longest amount of time possible. Restrictions: Parents are NOT allowed to proctor an exam that their own child is taking.

If you are interested in learning more about proctoring exams, please contact the Acalanes Testing Coordinator, Nicole Singleterry at nsingleterry@auhsdschools.org.

The selections for the 2024-2025 school year are due the week of Feb 5! Acalanes has a wealth of resources available to assist you and your students with this process.
 
If you haven’t already, make sure to read Principal Shawn’s email regarding “Upcoming Course Selection Events at Acalanes”. Click here to read the email on Parent Square.
 

COURSE PREVIEW & OPEN HOUSE 
for students and parents on Thursday, Feb 1 from 5:30-8pm

• 5:30pm | Acalanes Parents Club Hosted Reception (in front of the PAC*)
• 5:45pm | Incoming 9th Grade and New Family Meeting (in the PAC)
• 6:15 – 8pm | Drop-In Opportunities
• 6:30 – 7pm | Break-Out Session 1
• 7:05 – 7pm | Break-Out Session 2
• 7:35 – 8pm | Break-Out Session 3**

* Performing Arts Center
** Any student considering taking 2+ Honors or AP classes must attend the mandatory session offered during Session 3 at the Course Preview & Open House or during Academy on Friday, Feb 2.
 

>> Course Preview & Open House Program << 
We encourage all families to review and print the linked program to help navigate the break-out sessions. 
 

This night is a valuable resource for current frosh, sophomores and juniors who are mapping out their future courses, as well as an excellent way for incoming 9th grade students to experience all that Acalanes has to offer. It’s also a great way to connect with fellow Acalanes parents.
 

IN HOUSE COURSE PREVIEW
We have completed our 9th, 10th and 11th grade In House Course Preview programs. During these programs, teachers shared the elective course options available to each grade level for next year.
 
We encourage parents and students to refer to grade level slides (linked below) when discussing academic planning and choosing your courses for next year.

• Presentation to current 9th graders (“rising sophs”) – view slides
• Presentation to current 10th graders (“rising juniors”) – view slides
• Presentation to current 11th graders (“rising seniors”) – view slides

SPRING 2024 APC GRANT APPLICATIONS NOW AVAILABLE!
Calling all teachers, parents, students in the Acalanes community!  Acalanes Parents Club is looking to award grants that will enhance and enrich the educational experience of AHS students in new and innovative ways. Teachers, staff and students are encouraged to submit ideas for meaningful programs and educational equipment.
Applications are due by Friday, Feb 15. Click here to read more and apply!
 
ACALANES SERVICE AWARDS DEADLINE IS APR 19
Thanks to APC, the Acalanes and Presidential Service Awards have gone digital. New this year, APC funded the Helper Helper app where students can find and record volunteer hours. Since then, over 200 students have created Helper Helper accounts and logged over 4,500 volunteer service hours – and we’re hoping that number will keep increasing! 
 
Students who volunteer at least 30 hours by Friday, Apr 19 will get an Acalanes Service Award so please encourage your students to get those hours entered AND validated with the deadline quickly approaching!
 
To learn more and/or join the Helper Helper app, check out the volunteer website.
 
PEER TUTORING- KEEPING AHS STUDENTS ON TRACK
In the fall semester, Peer Tutoring saw over 4,000 visits in Room 107. Students rely upon the program for a quiet, welcoming place to study and an effortless way to get academic support. Our tutors not only work with students who drop in to Room 107, but are now requested by faculty to provide auxiliary help in the classroom. Teachers have effectively used our tutors over 120 times for help with test prep, test review, essay editing and math support.
 
This past semester, as with its previous 25+ year history, Peer Tutoring has proved to be an invaluable component to the success of Acalanes and its students. We thank APC for funding 100% of the Peer Tutoring program and you for your continued support.
 
Please reach out to Angela Ketcham or Kristen Labrosse with any questions.

Be sure to read Principal Shawn’s email regarding “Upcoming Course Selection Events at Acalanes.” Click here to read the email on Parent Square.
 
AP EXAM PROCTORS NEEDED – GREAT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
Our AP students need YOUR help! We are searching for parents to help with proctoring  AP Exams the first two weeks of May. Exam dates are May 6-10 and May 13-17

AP Exams start everyday at either 8am or 12pm. Students know to show up 30 minutes prior to start time for check in. Proctors for morning exams need to start at 7:15am and for afternoon exams at 11:15am. Exams can range from 2-4 hours and we ask that you please plan to stay for the longest amount of time possible.
Restrictions: Parents are NOT allowed to proctor an exam that their own child is taking.

If you are interested in learning more about proctoring exams, please contact the Acalanes Testing Coordinator, Nicole Singleterry at nsingleterry@auhsdschools.org.

Course selections for the 2024-2025 school year are due the week of Feb 5! Acalanes has a wealth of resources available to assist you and your students with this process.

IN-HOUSE COURSE PREVIEW
This month, we will inform all of our rising 9th, 10th and 11th grade students of the courses and choices they have to make to register for classes for the next school year at our In-House Course Preview Program. 9th through 11th graders will be required to attend one academy program in the PAC. During the program, teachers will share the elective course options available to that grade level for next year:

• Wednesday, Jan 17 – All current 9th graders (“rising sophs”)
• Friday, Jan 19 – all current 10th graders (“rising juniors”)
• Wednesday, Jan 24 – all current 11th graders (“rising seniors”)

Students will attend regular academy when their grade is not participating in their In-House Course Preview presentation.
We encourage parents and students to refer to the slideshows for this program by clicking here when discussing academic planning and choosing your courses for next year.

COURSE PREVIEW & OPEN HOUSE – for students and parents on Thursday, Feb 1 from 5:30-8pm:

• 5:30pm | Acalanes Parents Club Hosted Reception
• 5:45pm | Incoming 9th Grade Family Meeting
• 6:15 – 8pm | Drop-In Opportunities
• 6:30 – 7pm | Break-Out Session 1
• 7:05 – 7pm | Break-Out Session 2
• 7:35 – 8pm | Break-Out Session 3*
• * Any student considering taking 2+ Honors or AP classes must attend the mandatory session offered during Session 3 at Course Preview & Open House or during Academy on Friday, Feb 2.

This night is a valuable resource for current frosh, sophomores and juniors who are mapping out their future courses, as well as an excellent way for incoming 9th grade students to experience all that Acalanes has to offer. It’s also a great way to connect with fellow Acalanes parents.

WANT TO GET MORE INVOLVED?
APC is looking for parents/guardians who want to make a difference and enhance our students’ high school experience. There is no better way than joining the APC Board. From big roles to smaller event driven jobs, the 2024-25 APC Board slate is opening soon. Click here to learn more about all the APC roles and how you can help AHS next year. If interested, please email past-president and Parliamentarian, Veronique Kuhner.
 
DONS DIALOGUE – Listen to the Recording!
Don’t miss the recording or slides from our most recent Dons Dialogue on Friday, Jan 19. It was standing room only for the parents who were lucky to hear an valuable overview of:

• Course Registration Timeline and Process (Martin)
• HSD/Ethnic Studies (Walton)
• AP African American Studies (Munoz & Morlan)
• AP Psychology (Jazayeri)
• Data Science & Statistics (Gilson)
• Instrumental Music & Beginning Band (Cordoba)
• Student Report (Acuña)

Be sure to listen to the recording here or view the slides here! We promise that you will be happy you did!
The next Dons Dialogue will be Friday, Feb 23 at 8:45am.

Follow Acalanes Parents Club on Instagram. Please reach out to APC here with any questions.

Course selections for the 2024-2025 school year are due the week of February 5! Acalanes has a wealth of resources available to assist you and your students in the process.

IN HOUSE COURSE PREVIEW
This month, we will inform all of our rising 9th, 10th and 11th grade students of the courses and choices they have to make to register for classes for the next school year at our In House Course Preview Program. 9th through 11th graders will be required to attend one academy program in the PAC. Teachers will share the elective course options available to that grade level for next year:

• Wednesday, Jan 17 – All current 9th graders (“rising sophs”)
• Friday, Jan 19 – all current 10th graders (“rising juniors”)
• Wednesday, Jan 24 – all current 11th graders (“rising seniors”)

Students will attend regular academy when their grade is not participating in their In House Course Preview presentation.
 
COURSE PREVIEW & OPEN HOUSE – for Students and Parents
Thursday, Feb 1:

• 5:30pm | Acalanes Parents Club Hosted Reception
• 5:45pm | Incoming 9th Grade Family Meeting
• 6:15 – 8:00pm | Drop-In Opportunities
• 6:30 – 7:00pm | Break-Out Session 1
• 7:05 – 7:30pm | Break-Out Session 2
• 7:35 – 8:00pm | Break-Out Session 3

The night is a valuable resource for current frosh, sophomores and juniors who are mapping out their future courses, as well as an excellent way for incoming 9th grade students to experience all that Acalanes has to offer. It’s also a great way to connect with fellow Acalanes parents.