General Announcements

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.

Welcome Back! Please review all of the important information included in Principal Shawn’s email from Thursday, Aug 8. Click here to view the recent school emails in Aeries Parent Square.

First Week of School Schedule
We have an adjusted bell schedule for the first week of school. Please share with your students. Tuesday and Wednesday are Anchor Days (aka “see all days”), Thursday and Friday will follow the regular block schedule.
 
See the APC in Action section below for more important dates.

Important reminders from APC to help make back to school time a success.

• Dons Day is tomorrow, Monday, Aug 12 from 7:30-11:30am! Please complete your annual online registration in Aeries before coming to Dons Day. As a part of registration, please visit the Acalanes Web Store and check out how to support all Acalanes partners, such as APC. You can also purchase yearbooks, class activity funds, ASB card, apparel and more!
• If you are a 9th or 10th grade family and still need residency verification, please come to the collaboration center starting at 7:30am. Please bring all of the necessary proof of residency documentation listed here. We recommend bringing copies to expedite the process.
• Frosh Orientation will be held from 12-1:30pm and meets in the Performing Arts Center (PAC).
• New Parent Orientation meets in the library from 12-1pm.
• Transfer students are invited to meet near the flagpole at 11:30am for an orientation and tour.
• Please remember there is an adjusted bell schedule for the first week of school. Tuesday and Wednesday are anchor days (aka “see all” days”). Thursday and Friday follow the regular block schedule.
• Volunteer opportunities: In case you missed it in the registration process, please complete this volunteer form so we know what you’re interested in helping with this year. There are plenty of parent volunteer opportunities, starting with Homecoming this fall!

Join us for the Dons Dialogue Friday, Aug 23 at 8:45am in the Collaboration Center: 
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.

Please reach out to APC here with any questions.

Please review AUHSD’S Fall Registration and Residency Verification email sent Wednesday, May 29 via Parent Square. The email shares a lot of valuable information for summer. Below are two important excerpts to review.
 
FALL REGISTRATION
All families must complete online registration, aka Data Confirmation, beginning Jul 29. You will receive directions on how to complete registration on Tuesday, Jul 23 through Parent Square. Parents/guardians must complete registration prior to attending Dons Day on Monday, Aug 12.
 
RESIDENCY VERIFICATION
All rising 9th graders, 10th graders, new students or students who have moved, must complete in-person residency verification starting July 29 through Aug 12 at the Acalanes main office between 8am and 4pm. We will also host evening events for in-person residency verification on Jul 31 at Acalanes High School and Aug 1 at the AUHSD District Office. Both offices will be open until 8pm. Please click here for more information on what documentation is required to confirm your residency.
 
See APC in Action below for more important dates.

1. AUHSD postcard to arrive on or after: Jul 8
2. Parent email from AUHSD with detailed online registration instructions: Jul 23
3. Online registration open: Jul 29 – Aug 12
4. Classes of 2027 and 2028 families, new families or families who have moved must complete IN PERSON residency verification:
   1. Jul 29 – Aug 12 from 8am-4pm in the Acalanes Main Office
   2. Jul 31 evening hours (open until 8pm) in the Acalanes Main Office
   3. Aug 1 evening hours (open until 8pm) in the AUHSD District Office
5. Dons Day: Aug 12 from 7:30-11:30am
   1. New Student Orientation: 11:30am (meet at flagpole)
   2. Frosh Orientation: 12-1:30pm (start in PAC)
   3. New Parent Orientation: 12pm (in Library)

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS!

The Acalanes Parents Club would like to thank the following APC Board Members and Committee Chairs who are stepping down from their role or graduating from Acalanes. APC is grateful for their dedication to making our community stronger and our school a better place for all of our students.
 
THANK YOU!

• President – Kelly Daggs
• Past President/Parliamentarian – Veronique Kuhner
• Assistant Treasurer – Eng Young
• Campus Enhancement –  Denise Cain
• Social Media Manager – Veronica Valencia
• LPIE AHS School Chair – Jaime Roder
• Dons Day Coordinators – Amy O’Rear
• Parent Education Events – Elsa Troy
• Senior Class Liaisons – Claire Gallacher, Beth Goldberg, Becki Hanson, Joy Martin, Amy Parlett

SERVICE AWARD GUIDELINES UPDATED
Congratulations to the 215 students who received an AHS or President’s award for their outstanding community service! This was a record high year for community service with Dons volunteering 15,970 hours.
 
Please note that important revisions have been made to the award guidelines to clarify what service counts and to promote student service for the broader community. Some of the changes include:

• New requirement to submit hours within one month of service
• New limits on AHS and AHS Club service hours
• New guidelines that allow for some for profit volunteering (senior centers, camps, teaching assistants and coaches)
• NEW Excellence in Community Service Recognition for graduating seniors

 
You can find the detailed updated guidelines here that will apply to all service hours submitted between Apr 20, 2024 to Apr 18, 2025. If you or your student have any questions, please email us at communityservice@acalanesparentsclub.com.  (And if your student emails us but hasn’t heard back, please make sure they check their spam folder!).
 
Happy summer!

FINALS SCHEDULE: May 28 – 31
Reminder that there is NO SCHOOL tomorrow, Monday, May 27 for Memorial Day. The finals schedule begins on Tuesday, May 28.

During finals, Peer Tutoring will be open Tuesday-Thursday from 12:55-3pm. The library will be open from 7:30am-3pm Tuesday and Thursday and from 7:30am-1pm Wednesday & Friday.

A great way to help support our students during finals is to help out with Finals Fuel (see below).
 
MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL SHAWN
Be sure you take the time to read Principal Shawn’s email from Thursday, May 23 regarding Chromebook Return and Bring Your Own Device for 2024-25.

FINALS FUEL: It’s not too late to sign up to help pass out snacks!
Please see open volunteer slots here. Thank you to those who have contributed snacks for this week.
 
Reach out with any questions: reganscovic@gmail.com or stephquinn@hotmail.com  Thanks again for your support!
 
Regan Scovic & Stephanie Asadorian