General Announcements

STUDENT SAFETY EXPECTATIONS
ICYMI, please take time to read Principal Shawn’s email from Friday, Oct 11 regarding student safety. Principal Shawn provides an overview of the expectations that were shared with all our students on Friday during Academy. The guidelines are designed to ensure a secure and supportive learning environment for everyone.

Click here to review the full email on Parent Square.
Click here to review Acalanes Student Safety Expectations. 

DONS DIALOGUE – FRIDAY AT 8:45AM
Please join us on Friday, Oct 18 at 8:45am in the Collaboration Center for our October Dons Dialogue. Discussion topics for October include; Peer Tutoring, Breaking Down the Walls program, student safety expectations, College & Career Center update and a student activities report. APC will provide coffee and treats. All parents/caregivers welcome.
 

FRIDAY, OCT 11 WAS A SNACK ATTACK DAY FOR THE ACALANES STAFF!
Thank you to our Staff Appreciation team, Dominique Mickelson and Stacey Hastings, for creating this yummy snack bar for all our Acalanes Staff. Your generous donations to APC allow us to make sure the staff know how much we appreciate all they do to support our students.


Follow Acalanes Parents Club on Instagram. Contact APC here with any questions.

MAKE-UP SCHOOL PHOTOS: Tomorrow, Monday, Oct 7
Did your student miss school photos at the beginning of the year? If so, your student will receive a pass tomorrow morning to come to the PAC lobby at a designated time to get a school photo taken and pick up a student ID card. If your student needs to have a photo retaken, they can come to the PAC lobby during brunch to have a new photo taken and ID card printed. 

PEER TUTORING PRESENTS NOTE TAKING 101!
If your child is struggling with note taking, or just looking for new/different strategies, this will be a helpful seminar. Pizza lunch provided for the first 40 students.
Wednesday, October 9, Lunch in Room 107

APC SENDS A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO KATHERINE WALTON!
Let’s hear it for Katherine Walton and the Leadership students for organizing an incredible Homecoming week! Did you hear, all together over ⅓ of the student body participated in HOCO skits, almost 1,200 students attended the HOCO dance, and we donated more than 64,000 cans to the Contra Costa Food Bank, wow!
 
Our amazing Walton works hard all year long to build an enthusiastic and inclusive Acalanes community. Her passion, dedication and school spirit sets the tone on campus. Acalanes is such a special place thanks to Katherine Walton!


 
FALL 2024 GRANT APPLICATION – DEADLINE EXTENDED!
The APC Fall Grant application window is open for one more week! We invite all AHS teachers, staff, students, and parents to submit a grant application for programming, materials or projects that enhance the educational experience for our school community; all ideas are welcome. Click here for criteria and application. Completed proposals and questions can be submitted by Friday, Oct 4 to Nicole Sanders, APC Grants Coordinator, or delivered to the APC Box in the front office.
 
Follow Acalanes Parents Club on Instagram. Contact APC here with any questions.

APC FALL GRANT APPLICATIONS DUE FRIDAY!
Calling all teachers, parents and 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 THIS Friday, Sep 27. Click here to read more!

SEPTEMBER APC DONS DIALOGUE – Video and Slides!
Thank you to all who attended our September Dons Dialogue on Friday, we had a packed room. We kicked off the meeting with a brief General APC meeting with approval of the 2024-25 budget.This Dons Dialogue topics included an overview of our Aca Serves program, Academy with purpose and a student activities report. If you were not able to attend, here are the slides from the discussion. You can watch the video recording here. 

Thank you again 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, Oct 18.  Click here for the full schedule of upcoming Dons Dialogues.

DONS DIALOGUE & APC GENERAL MEETING
Please join us on Friday, Sep 20 at 8:45am in the Collaboration Center for our September Dons Dialogue. We will start with a brief APC General Meeting including a review and vote on the 2023-24 APC budget. Our Dons Dialogue with Principal Shawn will immediately follow.

Dons Dialogue Agenda, Sep 20:

• ACA Serves
• Academy with Purpose
• AUHSD Board Candidates Forum
• Student Activities
• Q&A with Principal Shawn

APC will provide coffee and treats. All parents/caregivers welcome. We hope to see you there!

 
Fall 2024 Grants Application Now Available! 
Calling all teachers, parents and 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, Sep 27. Click here to read more!

Update from Principal Shawn
If you haven’t already had a chance to read it, please review Principal Shawn’s email from Thursday regarding alcohol and high school events. You can view it here in ParentSquare (once you log in).

New Volunteer Opportunity – Parent Garden Chair!
Do you enjoy working in your garden and want to give back to the Acalanes community? This might be the perfect role for you!
 
Science teacher Lori Tewskbury is looking for a parent to join her in guiding the efforts of the Acalanes garden. This role would meet regularly with Ms. Tewksbury to plan next steps and needs for the garden, as well as help manage garden work parties.
 
If interested, please email Michele Colaco, APC Co-President, for more information. 
 
Fall 2024 Grants Application Now Available!
Calling all teachers, parents and 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, Sep 27. Click here to read more!

Peer Tutoring is Open!
We welcome Bill Powers as our new Co-Director, who joins Angela Ketcham, along with another outstanding Peer Tutoring staff!
 
Peer Tutoring aims to better the educational, social and emotional well-being of all Acalanes High School students and support them in developing the skills necessary to succeed in academics and life post high school.
 
We are open and ready to welcome students in Room 107. Students can drop in to receive help from junior and senior student tutors in any AHS academic subject, or just come in to do homework, read or study.
 
We are thankful to the Acalanes Parents Club for continuing to fully fund and support this program.
 
Hours of operation: Everyday @ lunch, Monday & Wednesday @ Academy, 7th period, and every day after school for 1 hour after the last school bell rings.
 
Stay Connected:  Follow the Acalanes Parents Club on Instagram to keep up to date on what’s happening at Acalanes and reminders for important dates. Please reach out to APC here with any questions.