General Announcements

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.

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.

August APC Dons Dialogue – View the Slides!
Thank you to all who attended our first Dons Dialogue of the school year on Friday, Aug 23. We had a packed room. This month’s topics included an overview of new staff, Challenge Success results, technology, athletic PE and a student activities report. If you were not able to attend, here are the slides from the discussion.

*ATHLETIC PE: Please click here to download the Contract and Weekly Timecard discussed by Coach Ivankovich for Athletic PE.

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, Sept 20.  Click here for the full schedule of upcoming Dons Dialogues.

Peer Tutoring is Now 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.
 
Please Consider Volunteering!
If you are looking for fun, easy ways to support our Dons, APC has a wide variety of events throughout the calendar year. The snack shack during football games, community support at the Lafayette Food & Wine Fest and ResRun, passing out snacks during finals weeks, and new volunteer events geared for Dons Dads only are just a few APC volunteer opportunities. Please check out our full list and sign up today – and don’t forget to invite your friends to join you!
 
Thank you APC Volunteers!
APC welcomed AHS staff back to school with coffee and bagels to kick off the school year. A big shout out to Stacey Hastings and Dominique Mickelson, our Staff Appreciation Coordinators, for organizing such a fun event for our staff! Your donations to APC help make these staff appreciation events possible. Thank you!!!

Acalanes Back to School Night (BTSN) is Thursday, August 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 5:30 and classroom visits start at 6pm.

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!

A full program, including details about classroom sessions will be available in the APC newsletter next weekend.

Join us for the Dons Dialogue Friday, Aug 23 at 8:45am!
Acalanes Parents Club is pleased to invite you to our first Dons Dialogue of the 2024-2025 school year! Dons Dialogues are the best way to find out what’s going on at Acalanes!
These monthly forums provide parents with the opportunity to hear directly from Principal Eric Shawn and other AHS faculty regarding academics, student activities, department information, hot topics on campus, plus open Q&A. APC will provide coffee and treats. All parents/caregivers welcome. This month’s topics include:

• Introduction of Admin Leadership
• Announcement of New Teachers/Staff
• Technology at Acalanes: Cell Phone Policy, BYOD, Canvas
• Challenge Success Results
• Athletic PE Requirements
• Student Activities Report
• Q&A with Principal Shawn

Thank you Dons Day Volunteers!
It was wonderful to see everyone at Dons Day this past Monday!  We want to give a HUGE thank you to our amazing Dons Day Planning Team: Andrea Powers, Charlene Condy, Jen Dodge, and Daniele Upp for making it such an incredible day!!  And THANK YOU to all the parents and students who volunteered that day!  We could not have done it without all of you!  Go Dons!!

 
Please Consider Volunteering!
If you are looking for fun, easy ways to support our Dons, APC has a wide variety of events throughout the calendar year. The snack shack during football games, community support at the Lafayette Food & Wine Fest and ResRun, passing out snacks during finals weeks, and new volunteer events geared for Dons Dads only are just a few APC volunteer opportunities. Please check out our full list and sign up today – and don’t forget to invite your friends to join you!

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.