Weekly News & Announcements

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)

This Month’s Important Dates:
Aug 12 International Youth Day
Aug 26 Women’s Equality Day
 
Welcome back DONS!!! We are so glad you are here! Please join us this year in making sure all students, staff, and families feel welcome each and every time they step on our campus. The APC DEIB Committee is here to help students and families promote diversity, equity, inclusivity and belonging in every aspect of our school. From classrooms to clubs to parent education nights, our goal is to help provide spaces of discussion where we can learn from one another. If you would like to be a part of this group, please visit our table at DONS DAY or send us an email at diversityandinclusion@acalanesparentsclub.com .
 
On Aug 12 the United Nations recognizes International Youth Day by bringing youth issues to the attention of the international community and celebrating the potential of youth as partners in today’s global society. You can learn more about the UN Holidays and Celebrations by clicking the links to discover why they are so important.
 
And…Please check out the new AUHSD DEIB website for many great resources and events!

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

Student Activities

Welcome back to the 2024-2025 school year! And to new families, welcome to the Acalanes community! We are so glad you are here. A few announcements and reminders as we start the year:
 
ASB Stickers: Thank you to all who have purchased the ASB sticker via the webstore! There is still time to purchase and this money drives student activities at Acalanes. ASB costs $110 and the sticker gets printed on the ID Card. Perks include:

• Free spirit shirt
• Discounts at local businesses
• Free admission to home athletic events
• Discounts to on campus dances

Acalanes summer spiritwear - store is open until Friday!
Looking for new student designed spiritwear? You can buy now through Aug 16 and proceeds benefit the classes of 2025, 2026, 2027 & 2028.
 
Dons Day: Encourage your student to check out their class table tomorrow morning, along with our clubs, who will also have tables. It is a great way to get connected!
 
Frosh Orientation is tomorrow from 12-1:30pm and is all student led. Students can check in at the PAC. The Transfer Student Orientation is from 11:30am-12:30pm and students will meet in front of the flagpole.
 
Homecoming informational meetings will be held Monday, Aug 19. These are a great chance for your student to learn more, get involved and experience an incredible tradition at Acalanes High School. Homecoming week runs from Sept 15-21.
 
New and Returning Club Applications: Anyone can start a club at Acalanes and we encourage students to do so. Club applications will be available for any new or returning club on Monday, Aug 19 and due on Thursday, Aug 29. There is a mandatory meeting at lunch on Wednesday, Aug 23 in room 314 for anyone interested in starting or renewing a club.
 
Class Shirts: Friday, Aug 16 is the last chance to order your class shirt via the webstore. Students typically wear their class shirts to rallies and other on campus events and this is a great fundraiser for each class. Shirts will be distributed in mid Sept during lunch - more details coming soon!
 
A few additional important dates:
Sep. 15-21 Homecoming 2024
Apr 19: Junior & Senior Prom
 
My goal is that every student at Acalanes is connected to one activity outside of class. I am always happy to meet with students and/or parents about on campus programming and opportunities. If I can help, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
 
Looking to stay informed? Follow us on Instagram for the latest on student activities and class happenings.
 
Katherine Walton, Activities Director

Counseling

Counselor assignments are by student last name:
A-F Anne Schonauer  
G-Ka Erika Vasquez
Ke-Re Marissa Meadows 
Rh-Z Susan Martin
 
NEW COUNSELOR ALPHA With the recent decision by the Board to cut counselor staffing at Acalanes, we have had to redistribute our students to accommodate this change. Ms. Schonauer, Ms. Meadows and Ms. Martin have taken on extra students, while Ms. Vasquez will have a reduced caseload. Ms. Vasquez is now working a split position between Acalanes and Miramonte. She will be on campus M/W/Th, and will be at Miramonte Tu/F. She is always available by email or phone M-F. If your student needs something urgently on a day she is not at Acalanes, they can always ask another counselor for help.
 
DONS DAY and CLASS SCHEDULES We are excited to see our students tomorrow as they pick up their schedules! It’s always so fun to reconnect and hear about summer adventures. Please have your student email us immediately if there is an error in their schedule - missing a period, in the wrong class, two classes in the same period, etc. Any class change requests will be accepted from students beginning Wednesday afternoon, Aug14. We will post a Schedule Change Request Form on the main page of the AHS website at that time. All changes will be made on a space-available basis and are not guaranteed. Any teacher change requests will not be accommodated - however, we will try to move a student to a new teacher if they have had the teacher for a full year previously. Students have the first ten days of school to finalize their schedules (until Aug 26).
 
DROP DEADLINE Students may ADD a class during the first ten days of school only, but they may DROP a class at anytime during the first quarter, which ends on Oct 11. After this date, any class dropped will receive an automatic F grade.  

School Nurse

Welcome Dons to our 2024-25 School Year!

I will be present at Dons’ Day if you have any questions, updated forms to submit, or just to say HI!
You can access the Medical Forms page HERE or use the QR code below.

My office hours are:
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and some* Thursdays
Tuesdays & Thursdays:  8am - 3:50pm
Wednesdays:  7:30am - 3:20pm
 
​AHS School Nurse Calendar
 
See my website for more information.
 
Always Your School Nurse,
Dvora Citron, RN, MS
dcitron@auhsdschools.org, 925-280-2970 x7128
IG: acalanesschoolnurse, ​School Nurse Website

Performing & Visual Arts

Acalanes Symphonic Orchestra plays the National Anthem 
at the Oakland A’s game on Monday, Sept 2!

Come to the Coliseum to cheer on the Symphonic Orchestra at this fundraiser. Tickets are $31 and all proceeds support AHS Instrumental Music. (Seats in our section retail for $59 on MLB.com!) Game time is 4:07pm  against the Seattle Mariners. Purchase tickets here!

LPIE

Welcome all new and returning families!
Please join us at Metro on Friday, Aug16 at 6pm to help us kick off the 2024-25 school year. No RSVP is needed. Everyone is welcome, and we hope to see you there!