General Announcements

DON’T MISS THE COLOR RUN!
Acalanes High School is having its Annual Color Run on Sunday, Mar 24 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, gift from Zoonie’s and snacks at the end of the race. 

We encourage people of all ages to come run! Hope to see you there!

ACALANES JOB FAIR!
Do you own a business or work somewhere looking to hire this spring or summer? Acalanes will host a Job Fair on Wednesday, Mar 20, from 10-11am in our front quad. If you want to recruit some fantastic Acalanes High School student employees, we would love you to join us!
 
Please email any of the following for more information:
Katherine Walton at kwalton@auhsdschools.org or
Debbie Levy at dlevy@auhsdschools.org or
Nicole Singleterry at nsingleterry@auhsdschools.org
 
CAASPP TESTING IS COMING FOR ALL 11th GRADERS!
All Acalanes 11th graders will participate in CAASPP assessments during Mar 11-29. This assessment provides an important overall reflection of the academic success of our Acalanes community. To learn more about these assessments, please see below for the video recording or slides from our Dons Dialogue discussion on Friday, Feb 23. More information will be shared with our 11th grade students soon.

PEER TUTORING PRESENTS:  Tips for Organizing Your Schoolwork, Wednesday Feb 28
 
Peer Tutoring is excited to host “Tips for Organizing Your Schoolwork” on Wednesday, Feb 28 at lunch. Acalanes Department Chair, Amy Bellomo, will teach students tools to organize schoolwork and stay on track. Ms. Bellomo will show students how to use Google Tasks and Better Canvas, as well as how to merge Google and Canvas calendars. Pizza will be provided to the first 40 students who attend.
 
Peer Tutoring aims to better the educational, social and emotional well-being of all Acalanes High School students and gives students the skills necessary to succeed in academics and life post high school. Thank you to the Acalanes Parents Club, who fully funds this important student program.
 
Peer Tutoring is located in Room 107 and the hours are: academy, 7th period, lunch and every day for 1 hour after school.
 
Please contact Kristen Labrosse or Angela Ketcham with any questions.
   
DONS DIALOGUE – Listen to the Recording!
Don’t miss the video or slides from our most recent Dons Dialogue on Friday, Feb 23.
This month we discussed the importance and plans for CAASPP testing in March for all 11th graders. We also heard invaluable department highlights from;

• Mr Clark on PE
• Ms Johnson on Science Offerings and
• Mr Buchel on Math Pathways

And as always, we closed out the morning with a fun overview of student activities!

The next Dons Dialogue will be Friday, Mar 22 at 8:45am.
Follow Acalanes Parents Club on Instagram. Please reach out to APC here with any questions.

ACALANES JOB FAIR!
Do you own a business or work somewhere looking to hire this spring or summer? Acalanes will host a Job Fair on Wednesday, Mar 20, from 10-11am in our front quad. If you want to recruit some fantastic Acalanes High School student employees, we would love you to join us!
 
Please email any of the following for more information:
Katherine Walton at kwalton@auhsdschools.org or
Debbie Levy at dlevy@auhsdschools.org or
Nicole Singleterry at nsingleterry@auhsdschools.org

DONS DIALOGUE – THIS FRIDAY AT 8:45am!
Join us on Friday, Feb 23 in the Collaboration Center for coffee, treats and informative dialogue!  This month’s topics include;

• Department Spotlights on
  • Science – Sydney Johnson
  • Math Pathways – Misha Buchel
  • PE – Chris Clark
• CAASPP Testing
• ASB Update
• Q&A with Principal Shawn

The APC Dons Dialogues are the best way to stay in the loop with what is happening on campus, ask any questions you may have or just connect with the Acalanes community.
We hope to see you Friday!

STAFF APPRECIATION VALENTINES BREAKFAST
Check out the 💙 healthy spread our amazing Acalanes Staff enjoyed on Valentine’s Day! Many thanks to our Staff Appreciation Co-Chairs, Dominique Mickelson and Stacey Hastings for coordinating.

  

The selections for the 2024-2025 school year are due THIS WEEK! As you discuss any final selections with your student, these grade level slides might be helpful:

• Presentation to current 9th graders (“rising sophs”) – view slides
• Presentation to current 10th graders (“rising juniors”) – view slides
• Presentation to current 11th graders (“rising seniors”) – view slides

As a reminder, students should enter their course selections into Aeries BEFORE they meet with their counselors. Students will come to the appointment with their courses submitted and with a completed and signed form in hand to give to their counselor. Students can check their course selection form for the date and time of their appointment with their counselor.
 
If you have any questions or need any further information, please visit the counseling page on the Acalanes website.

AP EXAM PROCTORS NEEDED – GREAT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
Our AP students need YOUR help! We are searching for parents to help with proctoring  AP Exams during the first two weeks of May. Exam dates are May 6-10 and May 13-17

AP 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 need to start at 7:15am and for afternoon exams at 11:15am. Exams can range from 2-4 hours and we ask that you please plan to stay for the longest amount of time possible. Restrictions: Parents are NOT allowed to proctor an exam that their own child is taking.

If you are interested in learning more about proctoring exams, please contact the Acalanes Testing Coordinator, Nicole Singleterry at nsingleterry@auhsdschools.org.

The selections for the 2024-2025 school year are due the week of Feb 5! Acalanes has a wealth of resources available to assist you and your students with this process.
 
If you haven’t already, make sure to read Principal Shawn’s email regarding “Upcoming Course Selection Events at Acalanes”. Click here to read the email on Parent Square.
 

COURSE PREVIEW & OPEN HOUSE 
for students and parents on Thursday, Feb 1 from 5:30-8pm

• 5:30pm | Acalanes Parents Club Hosted Reception (in front of the PAC*)
• 5:45pm | Incoming 9th Grade and New Family Meeting (in the PAC)
• 6:15 – 8pm | Drop-In Opportunities
• 6:30 – 7pm | Break-Out Session 1
• 7:05 – 7pm | Break-Out Session 2
• 7:35 – 8pm | Break-Out Session 3**

* Performing Arts Center
** Any student considering taking 2+ Honors or AP classes must attend the mandatory session offered during Session 3 at the Course Preview & Open House or during Academy on Friday, Feb 2.
 

>> Course Preview & Open House Program << 
We encourage all families to review and print the linked program to help navigate the break-out sessions. 
 

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.
 

IN HOUSE COURSE PREVIEW
We have completed our 9th, 10th and 11th grade In House Course Preview programs. During these programs, teachers shared the elective course options available to each grade level for next year.
 
We encourage parents and students to refer to grade level slides (linked below) when discussing academic planning and choosing your courses for next year.

• Presentation to current 9th graders (“rising sophs”) – view slides
• Presentation to current 10th graders (“rising juniors”) – view slides
• Presentation to current 11th graders (“rising seniors”) – view slides

SPRING 2024 APC GRANT APPLICATIONS NOW AVAILABLE!
Calling all teachers, parents, 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, Feb 15. Click here to read more and apply!
 
ACALANES SERVICE AWARDS DEADLINE IS APR 19
Thanks to APC, the Acalanes and Presidential Service Awards have gone digital. New this year, APC funded the Helper Helper app where students can find and record volunteer hours. Since then, over 200 students have created Helper Helper accounts and logged over 4,500 volunteer service hours – and we’re hoping that number will keep increasing! 
 
Students who volunteer at least 30 hours by Friday, Apr 19 will get an Acalanes Service Award so please encourage your students to get those hours entered AND validated with the deadline quickly approaching!
 
To learn more and/or join the Helper Helper app, check out the volunteer website.
 
PEER TUTORING- KEEPING AHS STUDENTS ON TRACK
In the fall semester, Peer Tutoring saw over 4,000 visits in Room 107. Students rely upon the program for a quiet, welcoming place to study and an effortless way to get academic support. Our tutors not only work with students who drop in to Room 107, but are now requested by faculty to provide auxiliary help in the classroom. Teachers have effectively used our tutors over 120 times for help with test prep, test review, essay editing and math support.
 
This past semester, as with its previous 25+ year history, Peer Tutoring has proved to be an invaluable component to the success of Acalanes and its students. We thank APC for funding 100% of the Peer Tutoring program and you for your continued support.
 
Please reach out to Angela Ketcham or Kristen Labrosse with any questions.