General Announcements

Volunteer in the New Year!
We have a fun and unique opportunity to volunteer on campus!  We are looking for volunteers to help look after the student lunch line in the cafeteria on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Volunteer shifts are less than an hour and there are a lot of dates to choose from. Sign up once or for multiple shifts! This is a super easy and fun way to volunteer at Acalanes and a great opportunity to volunteer with a friend! Click HERE to learn more and to sign up!  Please check in at the front office when you arrive for your volunteer shift.

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

Helpful Resources for Course Selection
 
It’s Course Section time for the 2025-2026 school year!  Course selections (and alternates) should be entered into Aeries by Monday, Feb 3 (although students are able to make changes through Feb 10! Acalanes has a wealth of resources available to assist you and your students in the process.
 
Dons Dialogue | Jan 17 @ 8:45am
Counselors will review the course selection process for parents, the new course video resources will be introduced and we will continue department and course highlights. See below for the full agenda.
 
Counselor Class Visits | Jan 21-30
School counselors will visit students in their classes to discuss the course selection process, how to submit course requests on the Aeries portal, and how to review the registration packet. Counselors will share the course video resources with students.
 
Course Preview & Open House | Jan 30 @ 5:30pm
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. See below for more information and break-out timing.
 
Counselor Appointments | Feb 3-10
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 & OPEN HOUSE – for students and parents
Thursday, Jan 30:

• 5:30pm | Acalanes Parents Club hosted reception
• 5:45pm | Incoming 9th grade family meeting
• 6:15 – 8pm | Drop-in opportunities
• 6:35 – 7pm | Breakout session 1
• 7:05 – 7:30pm | Breakout session 2
• 7:35 – 8pm | Breakout session 3

DONS DIALOGUE – FRIDAY, JAN 17 at 8:45am in the Collaboration Center
We hope to see you for our January Dons Dialogue to hear all about the course selection process and timeline from the Counseling Department. Plus, teachers will join us to discuss Math Pathways, Sport Medicine, AP African American Studies, and the new course video resources. Superintendent Nickerson will lead a brief “In the Know” discussion about funding.  And of course, there will be Q&A time plus coffee and treats!
 
We know it’s hard to believe, but course selections for next year are due Feb 10! So be sure to attend (and encourage your students to start preparing their course selections and alternative choice).

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

December APC Dons Dialogue
Thank you to all who attended our Dons Dialogue on Friday, Dec 20. This month’s topics included learning about elective courses for 2025-26 and highlighted some of the engineering and STEM electives offered at Acalanes.  If you were not able to attend, slides from the discussion are available here.
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, Jan 17.  Click here for the full schedule of upcoming Dons Dialogues.
 
Thank You for Making Finals Fuel a Success!
We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated in Finals Fuel last month and made it a huge success!  Whether it was donating snacks, funds or volunteering your time to hand things out, we could not have done without all of you!  Thank you for putting smiles on a lot of students’ faces during finals week.  We also want to give a shout out to our amazing APC Co-Chairs Regan Scovic and Stephanie Asadorian for organizing and leading such a special Acalanes tradition!  Finals Fuel will be back in the spring!


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

Contact Regan Scovic and Stephanie Asadorian with any questions. Thank you in advance for your support!

Finals week is here! Tomorrow, Dec 16 is the regular class schedule and then the finals schedule begins on Tuesday, Dec 17 through Friday, Dec 20:

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS:

• Teacher Office Hours: Tuesday, Dec 17 from 8:30-10:20am during 0 period final
• Peer Tutoring: Finals Week Hours
  • Monday, Dec 16, regular hours (academy, lunch, 7th period and 1 hour after final school bell)
  • Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (Dec 17-19) from 12:50-3pm

• Wellness Center: Finals Week Hours
  • Monday, Dec 16, regular hours (8am-4pm)
  • Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday (Dec 17-19) from 8am-1pm

• Acalanes Library: Finals Week Hours
  • Monday, Dec 16, regular hours (7:30am-5pm)
  • Tuesday (Dec 17) and Thursday (Dec 19) from 7:30am-3pm

Wednesday (Dec 18) and Friday (Dec 20) from 7:30am-1pm

Check out our Finals Prep Webpage for more information and resources!

Finals Fuel –  We’re Almost There!
Thank you to all the families who have already contributed. We are close, but still need some more help to pull off this beloved Acalanes/APC tradition.

Help our students finish strong by providing snacks in between their finals. You can help refuel and recharge our Dons in several ways:

• Purchase snacks now and deliver to a residence near AHS
• Purchase snacks from our Amazon wish list and items will be sent directly to a residence for transport to AHS
• Donate money and we’ll shop for you: Venmo @Stephanie-Asadorian (any amount is welcome and appreciated)
• Volunteer to hand out snacks on campus Wednesday, Dec 18 – Friday, Dec 20

Please click on the SignUpGenius and/or Amazon Wish List to help.

Contact Regan Scovic and Stephanie Asadorian with any questions. Thank you in advance for your support!

We have your students covered as they prepare to finish the semester strong! Please be sure to visit our APC website for even more information on all events planned to support our students through finals.
 
CANINE STRESS BUSTERS
Tuesday, Dec 10 during lunch in the front quad
Come hug it out with your favorite four-legged friends. Therapy dogs will be on campus to provide smiles and tail wags to help reduce stress and provide a general sense of connection to our students.
 
FROSH FINALS INFORMATIONAL MEETING
Tuesday, Dec 10 during lunch in the library
Come hear from teachers in English, math, world history, living earth and world language about best practices to prepare for finals. They will not only share information on finals but best ways to study as well. Finals goodie bags will be given to the first 200 frosh thanks to APC!
 
EXAM JAM
Wednesday, Dec 11 from 3-5pm in the library
Kick start your finals studying and preparation during Exam Jam. We will have teachers from each department, along with peer tutors, to support and answer questions. It is a great opportunity to finish up study guides, begin to study while enjoying delicious snacks and enjoy a quiet environment. Exam Jam is open to all students.
 
WELLNESS WINTER WORKSHOP
Wednesday, Dec 11 and Friday, Dec 13 during academy
Our Wellness in the Winter sessions are a space to gather together and practice coping skills to thrive during finals and a long break with family. Sign up for this academy.
 
And don’t forget to encourage your student to take advantage of these additional resources:

• Peer Tutoring during every academy, lunch, 7th period, and every day for 1 hour after the final school bell.
• The Wellness Center is open for students to drop in Monday through Friday from 8am – 4pm (with teacher approval during class hours).
• Acalanes library is open from 7:30am to 5pm daily.

Check out our Finals Prep Webpage for more information and resources!

STAFF APPRECIATION OPPORTUNITY!
Calling all bakers for one of our favorite Acalanes traditions! The APC Staff Appreciation Holiday Cookie Exchange is on Friday, Dec 13. Sign up here to contribute to this fun event for our staff!
Contact Stacey Hastings or Dominique Mickelson with any questions.

FINALS FUEL for EXAM WEEK – Get Involved
Finals are just around the corner…..and that means FINALS FUEL is back! During finals week, we provide snacks for the students during brunch period. You can help refuel and recharge our Dons in several ways:

• Purchase snacks prior to finals week and deliver to a residence near AHS
• Purchase snacks from our Amazon wish list and items will be sent directly to a residence for transport to AHS
• Donate money and we’ll shop for you: Venmo @Stephanie-Asadorian (any amount is welcome and appreciated)
• Volunteer to hand out snacks on campus Wednesday, Dec 18 – Friday, Dec 20

Please click on the SignUpGenius and/or Amazon Wish List to help.

Contact Regan Scovic and Stephanie Asadorian with any questions. Thank you in advance for your support!

PEER TUTORING SEMINAR
Is your student nervous for finals? Please encourage them to attend Peer Tutoring’s seminar with our very own Mr. Stewart for some reassurance going into finals week. Mr. Stewart will provide some time-tested tips to reduce anxiety and strengthen your student’s agency to be better prepared. This will take place on Wednesday, Dec 11 during academy in room 107.

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

Important Attendance Reminder
If a student is leaving early during the day for any reason, it is their responsibility to pick up their “off campus pass” from the main office (after a parent has called). They can pick it up in the morning, during brunch/lunch or between periods. It must be picked up before they attend the class they are leaving early from.

STAFF APPRECIATION OPPORTUNITY!
Calling all bakers for one of our favorite Acalanes traditions! The APC Staff Appreciation Holiday Cookie Exchange is on Friday, Dec 13. Sign up here to contribute to this fun event for our staff!

Contact Stacey Hastings or Dominique Mickelson with any questions.

FINALS FUEL for EXAM WEEK – Get Involved
Finals are just around the corner…..and that means FINALS FUEL is back! During finals week, we provide snacks for the students during brunch period. You can help refuel and recharge our Dons in several ways:

• Purchase snacks prior to finals week and deliver to a residence near AHS
• Purchase snacks from our Amazon wish list and items will be sent directly to a residence for transport to AHS
• Donate money and we’ll shop for you: Venmo @Stephanie-Asadorian (any amount is welcome and appreciated)
• Volunteer to hand out snacks on campus Wednesday, Dec 18 – Friday, Dec 20

Please click on the SignUpGenius and/or Amazon Wish List to help.

Contact Regan Scovic and Stephanie Asadorian with any questions. Thank you in advance for your support!

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