• General Administration Announcements

    January 22, 2023

    Be sure to read Principal Shawn’s email regarding “Upcoming Course Selection Events at Acalanes”. Click here to read the email on Parent Square.
     
    Policies & Procedures Reminder
    As we move further along into our second semester, we want to share a few friendly reminders regarding the day to day policies and procedures outlined in our StudentHandbook.

    1. Students must have a hall pass when leaving class at any time. 
      • Students repeatedly in the hallways without a pass will be followed up with.
      • Students are not to be leaving class and roaming campus, the pass should be used respectfully.
    2. The parking lot is off limits to students during the school day. This includes eating lunch in their cars. Only cars with AHS parking permits are allowed to park in  student designated parking spots.
    3. Acalanes is not an open campus, which means students are not allowed to leave during brunch, lunch, or Academy.
    4. Please review the AUHSD Attendance Policies  as outlined in the StudentHandbook.

  • Helpful Resources for Course Selection

    January 22, 2023

    Course selections for the 2023-2024 are due Friday, Feb 8! Acalanes has a wealth of resources available to assist you and your students in the process.
     
    OPEN HOUSE & COURSE PREVIEW



    A detailed program for the evening will be available on the 26th. The planned breakout session timing is;
    Session 1:  6:35-7:00pm
    Session 2:  7:05-7:30pm
    Session 3:  7:35-8:00pm*
    Open Session (drop in any time): 6:15-8:00pm
     
    *Please note, new this year, is a required session for all students planning to take 2+ AP/Honors Classes. This important session will be held during Open House & Course Preview from 7:35-8pm in the PAC. Parents are invited to attend with your students at Open House! There will also be a makeup session (for students only) during Academy on Friday, Jan 27.
     
    GRADE LEVEL STUDENT PRESENTATIONS
    All 9th, 10th and 11th grade students recently attended grade specific presentations on course options with counselors, admin and teachers. The presentations are available below for parents to review and discuss with students. We encourage you to take a look, there is a lot of good information! 
    Rising Sophomores (Current Frosh) In-House Course Preview Presentation
    Rising Juniors (Current Sophomores) In-House Course Preview Presentation
    Rising Seniors (Current Juniors) In-House Course Preview Presentation
     
    9th & 10th GRADE PARENT NIGHT SLIDES
    The library was packed with Frosh/Soph parents on Jan 12! If you missed the evening or want additional access to all the valuable information shared, please see these slides below. Thank you to the parents and counselors for a great session! 
    Frosh/Soph Parent Night Slides

  • APC in Action

    January 22, 2023

    Nominating Committee Volunteers NEEDED!
    APC Nominating Committee needs your help! We are looking for volunteers to join the 2023 Nominating Committee to help fill our 2023-2024 APC Board. This role is a small time commitment but has a large ability to help. The committee will begin at the end of this month. If you have questions or would like to volunteer, please email Kristen Labrosse, APC Parliamentarian.
     
    Volunteer Service Awards 
    The 2022-23 volunteer program year is in full swing for the Acalanes and President’s Service Awards! All applications are due by Apr 14 so please make sure your student is logging those hours. It’s a great opportunity for students to give back AND be recognized for their service. Visit the Volunteer Service Award page (under Get Informed) on the APCwebsite to learn more and find the forms or email communityservice@acalanesparentsclub.com with any questions.

    Dons Dialogue - Listen to the Recording!
    Do not miss the recording or slides from our most recent Dons Dialogue on Friday, Jan 20. The room full of parents were lucky to hear an incredible overview of;

    • The Course selection process from Counselor Susan Martin
    • The exciting Computer Science and Engineering pathway from Teacher Dan Appel
    • The impressive Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) course options from Teachers Lauren Gibson and Eric Morford
    • All of the fun activities happening on campus from Leadership Student Tess Gundaker

    We closed the session with a powerful Q&A discussion with Principal Shawn. 

    Be sure to listen to the recording here or view the slides here! We promise you will be happy you did.

    The next Dons Dialogue will be Friday, Feb 24 at 8:45am.
     

  • LPIE

    January 22, 2023

    LPIE is excited to invite our entire Lafayette community to celebrate all we have done together to enrich our schools over the last 40 years, as well as the potential of what is to come!

    Join us for a festive family night with games and activities for all ages.

    Friday, February 10, 2023
    4:30-7:30pm
    Lafayette Park Plaza

    Order dinner and drinks from nearby restaurants and food trucks. Enjoy performances by our local Lafayette students, live music from David Martin’s House Party, and hear from dedicated community advocates for our schools. We hope you and your family will join us for this special and significant event.
     
    Entry is complimentary; purchase required for restaurants, food trucks, drinks.
     
    RSVP here! Guests who register will automatically be entered into a drawing to receive a Valentine’s dinner for two! Must be present to win during the event on Feb 10.
     
    Questions? Please contact Andrea Hilsabeck or MicheleColaco
    Follow us on Instagram or visit www.lpie.org

  • Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

    January 22, 2023

    Calling all Acalanes alumni! We have begun work to formalize an Acalanes network and we invite you to join on instagram, facebook or linked in. These will be places to connect, re-connect, hear life updates, share opportunities & learn more about class gatherings.

  • Parent Ed

    January 22, 2023

    Please join us for the next event in our Wellness Parent Education Series. The Sports and Wellness Education Night will take place on Tuesday, Jan 24 from 6-7:30pm on Zoom with Dr. Doug Garner. You can register here.
     
    Click here to review the full Wellness Parent Education Series for 2023.
     
    Recordings of past Wellness Parent Ed events can be viewed on the AUHSD website here. Topics include Depression & Anxiety, The Fentanyl Epidemic, Connecting with Your Teen and more.

  • Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)

    January 22, 2023

    Lunar New Year, the Year of the Rabbit, begins today, Jan 22. Did you know that San Francisco has celebrated Lunar New Year in some form since the Gold Rush era of the 1860s? If you haven’t heard of Chunyun, you might want to stream “Last Train Home” by Lixin Fan, an astonishing documentary about this annual migration during Lunar New Year and its human scale.
     
    Upcoming Events and Announcements

    • Asian/South-Asian/Asian-American Parents Happy Hour Jan 27, 5:30-8pm at Town Bakery & Cafe in Moraga: If you are a Walamorinda Asian, South Asian, or South/Asian-American identifying parent/guardian, please join us for an affinity space Happy Hour! Free light appetizers and drinks for purchase. Hope you can join us for this informal gathering (parents only event). Please RSVP here.
    • Attention Parents of Athletes in Female Sports: The Voice In Sport Foundation (VISF) has introduced The Fair Play for Women Act that will strengthen TITLE IX through better education, stronger enforcement and greater transparency in data and reporting. Student athletes can join the VIS Advocate Program to receive FREE advocacy training and contribute to gender equity at your school. All advocates gain access to the VOICEINSPORT platform where they can meet with experts in sports psychology, nutrition, and talk one on one with their favorite college and professional women athletes!
    • For Your Student: A Night in New Orleans Takes Over the Acalanes Gym

    The district Black Student Unions (BSUs) are co-hosting a New Orleans-themed dance on Friday, Feb 3 at 7pm for all AUHSD students. More information is available in the Student Activities section below and will be available in the Daily Don. Tickets are $10 on GoFan.