Weekly News & Announcements

LPIE

Project LPIE 2026 is here! Open to all Acalanes High School students, this competition is an annual event that showcases our students for their project-based learning. Students compete in 15 categories that recognize students' skills both within and outside the classroom. Awards in every category! Projects are due Thursday, Mar 5. Winners will be announced Friday Apr 10 at an Awards Reception. For more details visit: https://www.lpie.org/project-lpie-acalanes
 
LPIE is proud to announce a call for nominations for the Tom Mulvaney Legacy Award to honor those individuals, families, or businesses who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to the LPIE mission.
Nominations are due by Thursday, Jan 22 at midnight. The winner will be announced Saturday, Mar 7, 2026. Questions? Contact office@lpie.org or (925) 299-1644.
Submit your nomination here.
 
LPIE IS CURRENTLY RECRUITING FOR THE 2026-27 LPIE BOARD
 
LPIE board members work to fulfill our mission to support and enrich the education of every child in Lafayette's public schools. Serving on the LPIE board is an excellent way to learn about what's happening in our schools, to provide fresh ideas and viewpoints, and to do the critical work of raising money to support all six of Lafayette’s public schools. If you are interested in volunteering your time and sharing your talents, we want to hear from you!
 
In particular, we are seeking 1–3 volunteers to serve as our 2027 Gala Auction Chair(s)! If you like a good auction and enjoy finding unique and compelling items that help raise important funds for our schools, this role may be a great fit for you. To move forward with planning next year’s Gala and to set realistic fundraising goals for the 2026-27 school year, we need to have an Auction Chair in place by Feb 6.
 
Please contact LPIE's Past President, Samantha Carter, at pastpresident@lpie.org,  to submit your interest or ask any questions. Submissions are due by Feb 1, 2026.
 
Thank you for considering getting involved and supporting our schools!

Sports

*The game schedule reflects dates and times as of last Friday. Games may change for several reasons, including weather. If you have questions or comments, please contact Acalanes Sports Boosters.

This week’s can’t miss events
 
 Girls basketball
Tuesday, Jan 13 hosts Las Lomas HS. JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7:00pm.
Thursday, Jan 15 hosts Northgate HS. JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7:00pm.
Saturday, Jan 17 hosts Redwood HS. JV at 2:30pm and Varsity at 4:00pm.
 
Boys basketball
Tuesday, Jan 13 at Las Lomas HS. Freshmen at 4:30pm, JV at 6:00pm and Varsity at 7:30pm.
Thursday, Jan 15 at Northgate HS. Freshmen at 4:30pm, JV at 6:00pm and Varsity at 7:30pm.
Saturday, Jan 17 plays McKinleyville HS at San Marin HS at 2:30pm.
Saturday, Jan 17 at Arroyo HS.  Freshmen at 1:00pm and JV at 2:30pm.
 
Boys soccer
Tuesday, Jan 13 host Las Lomas HS. Freshmen at 4:00pm, JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 7:30pm.
Thursday, Jan 15 at Clayton Valley Charter HS. JV at 5:00pm and Varsity at 7:00pm.
Saturday, Jan 17 host College Park HS. Freshmen at 12:00pm, JV at 2:00pm and Varsity at 4:00pm.
 
Girls soccer
Tuesday, Jan 13 at Benicia HS.  JV at 5:00pm and Varsity at 7:00pm.
Thursday, Jan 15 hosts Clayton Valley Charter HS.  JV at 5:00pm and Varsity at 7:00pm.
 
Wrestling
Wednesday, Jan 14 v. Berean Christian HS at Mt. Diablo HS at 5:00pm.
Saturday, Jan 17 Varsity San Ramon Valley Invitational.
Saturday Jan 17 Lady Grizzly Classic at San Lorenzo HS.

You may view the full 2025-2026 Athletic Schedule by clicking HERE.

General Announcements

AHS Has a New Website!
Acalanes has transitioned to a new website. Please bookmark https://ahs.acalanes.k12.ca.us/ to access all things ACA. Go Dons!

APC in Action

JANUARY DONS DIALOGUE - SAVE THE DATE
Please join us for the first Dons Dialogue of 2025! Friday, Jan 23 at 8:45am in the Collaboration Center. We will hear from Principal Shawn and other Acalanes Staff members plus time for open Q&A. The detailed agenda will be released in the APC Newsletter next week.
Coffee and treats will be served!
 
FINALS FUEL IN ACTION!
Thank you to all the families that contributed snacks, funds or time to hand out fun snacks and encouraging words to all our students between exams. This is a special Acalanes tradition and one of the best volunteer roles on campus. If you missed your opportunity to help this winter, don’t worry Finals Fuel will be back in the spring. Special thanks to our APC Finals Fuel Chair, Regan Scovic!

Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

SAVE THE DATE!

Webinar for Parents of new Teen Drivers: Hosted by the CHP and Impact Teen Drivers. This workshop has been created for parents to learn some of the strategies they can use to keep their teen safe on the road.

• What: From Learner’s Permit to Safe Driver: Strategies for Parents
• When: Wednesday, Jan 14, 6:30-8:00pm
• Where: Virtual event- link to be sent as a follow up

Campus Culture Committee

Acalanes Parent Club – Campus Culture Committee (CCC) Update
As we continue the 2025–2026 school year, the Campus Culture Committee (CCC) remains dedicated to building a stronger parent support system for all student groups on campus. We are also working closely with staff on issues that impact our students’ experiences and well-being.

We recognize that supporting our students starts with supporting parents, which is why part of our mission is to ensure parents feel cared for through mental health and wellness support. 

Join Us Monthly! (In-Person & Virtual Meetings)
Meeting Schedule | 6:00–7:30pm

• Jan 12 – Virtual
• Feb 9 – In-Person
• Mar 16 – Virtual
• Apr 20 – In-Person (Final Meeting)
• May – No Meeting

Student Activities

WE ARE BACK! And we’re ready to have the best 2nd semester. Let’s do this!
 
BIG 10: Boys Basketball
Tuesday, Jan 6, at 7:00pm
Let’s pack the gym for the league opener against Ygnacio Valley. Wear jerseys!
 
ACA Buddies
Friday, Jan 9, at lunch in room 314
 
Club Applications
Is your student looking to start a new club? Club applications for NEW clubs only are available and due Jan 13. Our spring club day is Jan 21 at lunch.
 
Here are a few more things to look forward to:

• Jan 12-16: Senior Portraits
• Jan 14: Schoolwide academy—Dons are Stronger Together
• Jan 21: Spring Club Day
• Jan 23: Senior Breakfast
• Jan 29: Open House
• Feb 27: All district dance at Acalanes; Acalanes rally
• Apr 25: Junior & Senior prom

If you ever have any questions or are looking for ways for your student to get involved, please reach out!

College & Career

Upcoming Career Academies
The Acalanes College and Career Center will host Career Academies from 10:10am to 11:05am during Jan, Feb, and Mar. We invite interested parents, alumni, and community members to share their career experiences/pathways with our students.
 
At Acalanes, we encourage our students to explore the many career options and the diverse career pathways people take to find their chosen careers. Here are the upcoming Career Academy dates:
 
Business Academy: Wednesday, Jan 21, 2026
Environmental Academy: Wednesday, Feb 4, 2026
Engineering Academy: Wednesday, Feb 25, 2026
Education Academy: Wednesday. Mar 4, 2026
Computer Science Academy: Wednesday, Mar 11, 2026
Health Academy: Friday, Mar 20, 2026
 
If you would like to be a presenter or would like to recommend someone, please email Debbie Levy at dlevy@auhsdschools.org. Please provide your name, job title, and phone number. We will follow up with all contacts. Thank you for your support in helping our students explore careers. We really appreciate it.

Counseling

Counselor assignments are by student last name:
A-F Anne Schonauer  
G-Ka Erika Vasquez on campus MWTh
Ke-Re Marissa Meadows 
Rh-Z Susan Martin

Mid-Year Reports for Colleges Counselors will send Mid-Year Reports to all Common Application schools once grades have been finalized and transcripts have been updated— the week of Jan 12.

Wellness Center

The new year brings the opportunity for fresh starts and new beginnings. It is commonplace that many people will decide to take on New Year’s resolutions with the hope of improving some aspect of their lives, but keep in mind that resolutions are not a one size fits all concept. When making a resolution, it is important to remember that what works for others may not work for you. It is also important to remember that the only person that should be holding you accountable for your resolution is yourself. If you are choosing to make changes for others, take a step back to be sure that these changes align with your personal values. Sharing these goal setting tips with your AHS student can help develop their perspective on what is really important to them.
 
When making a New Year’s resolution, the key to success is setting realistic goals. How many times have you or people around you made a resolution so extreme that it is out of the window by Jan 7? It happens often because people either make goals that are too broad or make goals that require a complete lifestyle overhaul. First, set an extremely specific goal. Note that there is a major difference between “exercise more” and “exercise 20 minutes each day.” By creating specific goals, you are able to measure progress. Next, take baby steps. If you are someone that has not previously prioritized a major facet of your resolution, start by gradually increasing your goal. For example, if you currently spend 3 hours on your phone each day, creating a resolution to completely stop spending idle time on your phone is unrealistic. Maybe you can cut down your time spent by 30 minutes each week to reach your overall goal. Small changes to habits you wish to kick are changes nonetheless.
 
Happy New Year!