General Announcements

We are still looking for parents, alumni, and community members to join us for our highly anticipated Career Fair on Wednesday, Mar 12 at 10am. This is an important event for our students to learn more about career options. We’d love to have you join us!  Please contact Debbie Levy at dlevy@auhsdschools.org if you are available.


Our AP students need YOUR help!
We are searching for parents to help with proctoring AP exams from May 5 – May 23. 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 are needed starting at 7:15am and afternoon exams starting at 11:15am. Exams can range from 2-4 hours – please plan to stay for the longest amount of time possible. Restriction: Parents are NOT allowed to proctor an exam that their own child is taking.
 
If you are interested in learning more about proctoring AP exams, please contact the Acalanes Testing Coordinator, Jamielle McDonald at jmcdonald@auhsdschools.org
 
STATE TESTING IS COMING!
CAASPP testing will begin on Monday, Mar10 and all juniors will take the English, math, and science tests over the three weeks prior to spring break.
 
To prepare and fire up our students, Principal Shawn is visiting all junior classes to talk about the importance of this test. Our school has outstanding achievement, and these test scores are critical as a public measurement of our students’ progress. Assessments are part of the state-mandated accountability system and are presented to the public via the California School Dashboard. When all students try their best on CAASPP, AUHSD schools will be able to present accurate academic performance data.  Students will also receive their score reports, which are included in their academic file.  CAASPP scores are also used at colleges for course placement.
 
We greatly appreciate our parents and community’s encouragement of our students to do their absolute best, participate, and show up for our school in taking these tests seriously. Don’t stress, but please do your best!

DON’T MISS THE COLOR RUN!
Acalanes High School is having its Annual Color Run on Sunday, Mar 16 at 9 am. This is a super fun 1 or 2 mile run around the Acalanes campus with stations of different colored powders scattered throughout the course.
 
This event is inspired by the traditions of Holi, the Hindu Festival of Color. Holi celebrates the arrival of spring and its beautiful harvests and colors with festivals involving colored powder.
 
The Color Run is a community wide event and we want to encourage you to run or walk! You can purchase your registration on Go Fan which includes a t-shirt, raffle and more!.
 
We encourage people of all ages to come run! Hope to see you there!
 

Acalanes Student Community Service Awards: Deadline Friday, Apr 18
The Acalanes community service awards program year is in full swing so please make sure your students are logging those hours! It’s a great opportunity for students to give back AND be recognized for their service. Students who volunteer at least 30 qualifying hours by Apr 18 will get an Acalanes Service Award and there is an opportunity to receive a Presidential Service Award with additional levels of service hours. For more information on how to create a Helper Helper account, what qualifies as community service, and the additional requirements for a Presidential Service Award, please check out our volunteer website or email communityservice@acalanesparentsclub.com with any questions. Please remember that your student’s hours must be entered AND validated by their supervisor by the deadline.
 
Follow Acalanes Parents Club on Instagram. Please reach out to APC here with any questions.

We are still looking for parents, alumni, and community members to join us for our highly anticipated Career Fair on Wednesday, Mar 12 at 10am. This is an important event for our students to learn more about career options. We’d love to have you join us!  Please contact Debbie Levy at dlevy@auhsdschools.org if you are available.

February APC Dons Dialogue
Thank you to all who attended our Dons Dialogue on Friday, Feb 21. It was a great turnout. This month’s topics included Artificial Intelligence update, No Hate Speech zone discussion, CAASP Testing review, Student Activities report and Q&A with Principal Shawn. If you were not able to attend, here are the slides and video from the discussion.
 
Thank you to our APC Hospitality Co-Chairs, Mia Heglie and Monica Stassi, for providing the welcoming coffee and treats! The next Dons Dialogue will be on Friday, March 21.  Click here for the full schedule of upcoming Dons Dialogues.
 

Acalanes Student Community Service Awards: Deadline Friday, Apr 18
The Acalanes community service awards program year is in full swing so please make sure your students are logging those hours!  It’s a great opportunity for students to give back AND be recognized for their service. Students who volunteer at least 30 qualifying hours by Apr 18 will get an Acalanes Service Award and there is an opportunity to receive a Presidential Service Award with additional levels of service hours. For more information on how to create a Helper Helper account, what qualifies as community service, and the additional requirements for a Presidential Service Award, please check out our volunteer website or email communityservice@acalanesparentsclub.com with any questions. Please remember that your student’s hours must be entered AND validated by their supervisor by the deadline.
 
Follow Acalanes Parents Club on Instagram. Please reach out to APC here with any questions.

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

Emergency Alarms Check: On Monday February 10 we will be testing the different emergency alarms systems at Acalanes from 3:45pm-4:45pm. Please know the alarms going off at this time are not indicating an emergency. We will be reviewing our emergency procedures, updating staff, and drilling with students the first week of March.
 
Reminder: Monday, Feb 10 is a Friday Block Schedule.

Please reach out to Angela Ketcham or Bill Powers with any questions.
Follow Acalanes Parents Club on Instagram. Please reach out to APC here with any questions.

Course Selections Due Tomorrow, Feb 3
As a reminder, course selections (and alternates) for the 2025-2026 school year should be entered into Aeries by tomorrow, Monday, Feb 3 (although students are able to make changes through Feb 10).
 
Counselor Appointments will take place from Feb 3-11. All students will meet with their counselor for a pre-assigned 5-minute appointment during the school day to discuss their course selection and alternate choices. This meeting is to confirm that students have submitted their courses and alternates into the Aeries portal.

• Frosh counselor appointments – Feb 3 – 4
• Sophomore counselor appointments – Feb 4 – 6
• Junior counselor appointments – Feb 6 – 11

Course Preview Resources for Students
Students and parents are encouraged to view our course preview videos to familiarize themselves with the courses available. Students will view videos in their classes and in academy over the last two weeks in January and in early February.

• Rising Frosh (Current 8th Grade Students) – Class of 2029
• Rising Sophomores (Current Frosh) – Class of 2028
• Rising Juniors (Current Sophomores) – Class of 2027
• Rising Seniors (Current Juniors) – Class of 2026
• Students Interested in Taking 2+ honors or AP courses are encouraged to view this presentation when considering what courses they request.

More information on Course Selection can be found here.