Weekly News & Announcements

Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

Registration is NOW OPEN for the Lafayette Res Run for Education!
 
Run/walk downtown Lafayette in the 2-mile fun run/walk or 5k, or strive for your best 10k time, which includes going around the Lafayette Reservoir on race day, Sunday, Oct 22. There is also a virtual option around the paved trail of the reservoir from Oct 12-21. Lafayette's public schools are beneficiaries of this event, with 15% percent of each registration going back to Acalanes - so be sure to choose Acalanes during the registration process!

• The first 100 students to register from each school will receive a voucher at packet pickup for 1/4 lb of bulk candy from Zoonie’s Candy Shop! Yes, even high school students!
• The school who increases their number of runners most compared to last year will receive an additional $500 beneficiary check! 

Let’s go Dons!

Parent Education

Navigating Teen Behaviors
Hosted by SEED High School
Monday, Sep 11 at 7pm
Acalanes Library

This workshop is designed for parents of teens with learning differences and/or disabilities, from your ADHD teen to your ASD teen and everything in between.

If you’d like to receive SEED High School invites, sign up at seedlagayette.org and select High School.

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)

If you are interested in joining the DEI committee, or just learning about what we do in our school and the district, please email us to be added to our mailing list. There are many ways to get involved!

Student Activities

What a great week we had last week with our welcome back rally and dance, along with the start to fall sports, acapella auditions and a welcome back carnival.
 
New and Returning Club Applications: Anyone can start a club at Acalanes and we encourage students to do so. Club applications are due this Thursday, Aug 31. Our Fall Club Day is Friday Sept 8 during academy and is a great chance to check out all of the clubs and join one or two.
 
The Acalanes Community Outreach Board is hosting a fundraiser tomorrow, Aug 28-Sep 8 to support citizens of Maui in wake of the recent fires that occurred. Cash can be donated in the morning by the flagpole and in jars in classes; those donations will go towards supplies for first responders and displaced families through the Maui Fund at the Hawaii Community Foundation. You can also donate online to the Maui Food Bank using this link.
 
Homecoming 2023: Acalanes celebrates music genres!
Homecoming week is Oct 9-14 and is one of the best weeks on campus with so many different ways for students to get involved. Please encourage your student to opt in! Class informational meetings will begin the week of Sep 4 so look out for specific information in the daily bulletin.
 
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 $100 and the sticker gets printed on the ID Card. Students will receive their ID cards this week. Perks include:

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

Spirit Wear/Class Shirt Update:
If you ordered spiritwear via the Gryco webstore, it will be here mid September and you will receive an email from me with pick-up information.
 
If you ordered a class shirt, we will hand them out on Wednesday, Sep 13 at lunch.
 
If you purchased ASB and didn’t receive your white spirit shirt, please send your student to room 314.
 
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

College & Career

Seniors

• College Visits This Week in the CCC: Please encourage your senior or junior to sign up on Naviance if they are interested in learning more about these colleges. Often, the decision maker is the one doing the presentation. Students need to ask teachers for permission and must come to get a pass from Debbie Levy in the CCC:
  • University of Arizona - Aug 28 at 11:15am
  • Seton Hall - Aug 30 at 1:35pm
  • Davidson College - Aug 31 at 8:45am
• Senior Parent Night: Thursday, Sep 7 in the Library from 6-7pm. Learn about the upcoming year and college & career planning.
• College Application Academy Support: Remind your student to come to academy sessions in the CCC. You can also schedule an appointment here.
  • Friday, Sep 1: Common App - Everything you need to know!
  • Wednesday, Sep 6: Common App - Everything you need to know!
  • Wednesday, Sep 13 & Friday, Sep 15: Essay Workshops
  • Wednesday, Sep 20 - UC App 101
• New FAFSA Changes and How They Impact Your Family:  This is a very informative video on the new changes to FAFSA, which opens in December.

Juniors

• Digital Practice for PSAT and ACT Exams: Click here to register your student for free online practice tests on Saturday, Sep 9, Sep 16, and Sep 23 from 9am-1pm with Revolution Prep.

Sophomores/Frosh

• Have your student explore their personality traits with this free assessment.

Please visit our College & Career Counseling website any time for additional information and support. 

Counseling

Counselor assignments are by last name:
A-Em Anne Schonauer  
En-Kr Erika Vasquez
Ku-Rog Marissa Meadows 
Roh-Z Susan Martin
 
Schedule Changes: Schedule changes will end tomorrow, Monday, Aug 28. We have made hundreds of changes, but unfortunately could not accommodate all requests. Please have your student see their counselor if they are still wanting a schedule change.
 
Dropping Classes: Students may still drop a class until the end of the first quarter, Friday, Oct 13. If the class is in the middle of the day, a student may add a TA period. TA is the only class a student can add after Monday, Aug 28.  
 
Class Visits: Counselors will be visiting senior and junior English classes next week.  We will give students an updated transcript, review post high school options with seniors and introduce post high school planning to juniors. The week after Labor Day, counselors will visit frosh and sophomore classes to talk about 4-year planning, credits, how to get involved, and other things they should be thinking about. 
 
Senior Appointments: Counselors will begin individual appointments with seniors beginning the second week of September, during which we will discuss the student’s plan for after high school. We will go through necessary steps to apply to college, arrange for relevant documents, and review deadlines.