Weekly News & Announcements

APC in Action

Staff Appreciation Grateful Lunch
Acalanes teachers and staff enjoyed a “Grateful Lunch” hosted by APC earlier this month! We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of the families who contributed to the Staff Appreciation Fall Lunch and to our amazing Staff Appreciation Co-Chairs Dominique Mickelson and Stacey Hastings for organizing such an incredible meal for our staff!  We are so grateful for all of you and your help in making this lunch a success!

 
Follow Acalanes Parents Club on Instagram. Please reach out to APC here with any questions.

Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

Book Drive
The Acalanes Class of 2025 National Charity League is collecting new and gently used books for ages toddler through early high school students. The books will be donated and utilized as part of their "Sweet Dreams" senior class project supporting Hope Solutions. Hope Solutions provides emergency support for unhoused individuals and families in Contra Costa County. Beginning Tuesday, Nov 5, through Friday, Nov 22, donations can be dropped off outside of the Acalanes main office in an orange bin labeled "Hope Solutions Book Drive." Feel free to email lucy.thomas25@auhsdschools.org if you have any questions.

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)

Important November Dates

• National Native American History Month
• Nov 13-19 Tansgender Awareness Week
• Nov 18 ACA DEIB community meeting 6pm
• Nov 20 Transgender Day of Remembrance
• Nov 28 Thanksgiving
• Nov 29 Native American Heritage Day

Please join the Acalanes DEIB Committee in the Collaboration Center tomorrow, Monday, Nov 18 at 6pm. Our 3rd meeting will include discussions about recent racist incidents on campus and how we can support families and students during the next few months.
 
Transgender Awareness Week, observed November 13 to November 19, is a one-week celebration leading up to the Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR), which memorializes victims of transphobic violence. TDoR occurs annually on Nov 20, when transgender advocates raise awareness of the transgender community through education and advocacy activities.
 
Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) was started in 1999 by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a vigil to honor the memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed in 1998. The vigil commemorated all the transgender people lost to violence since Rita Hester’s death, and began an important tradition that has become the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance. We ask families and staff to support those who may need a little extra care on this special, but often difficult, day.

 
To be more involved please reach out to our DEIB committee at diversityandinclusion@acalanesparentsclub.com and/or attend our next meeting on Monday, Nov 18 at 6pm in the Collaboration Center.
 
Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook to keep up to date with what the students are doing to celebrate all of these wonderful cultures and special dates.

Student Activities

Schedule of events this week:

• Wednesday before school: Frosh social in the frosh quad
• Wednesday academy: Yoga with Ms. Bruce in the small gym
• Wednesday lunch: Senior friendsgiving
• Wednesday at 7pm: Fall jazz concert in the PAC
• Friday at lunch: ACA Buddies

Adopt-A-Family - last chance to sign up!
As the holiday season approaches, the Acalanes Community Outreach board is kicking off Adopt-A-Family. If you have a desire to make a difference in our community, we encourage you to sign up! Last year, as a community, we were able to support 70+ families. Two options to support:
Option 1:  If you would like to adopt an individual along with their wishlist of gifts to buy, please sign up here.
Option 2: If you wish to adopt a family, please fill out the google form. We will be in touch with your family details.
All wrapped gifts will be collected the morning of Dec 13 in the front of the school. As this date approaches, we will be in touch with more details! If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out to Hetty Lofting or Katherine Walton!
 
Starting to think about holiday cards and gifts? Shop at Minted and not only do YOU get 20% off, Acalanes gets 15% of all sales. Use the code FUNDRAISEACALANES.

Looking to stay informed? Follow us on Instagram for the latest on student activities and class happenings.
 
Katherine Walton, Activities Director

College & Career

Senior Scholarships: November is National Scholarship Month. Check out these opportunities!

Counseling

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

WINTER SPORTS ARE STARTING Students planning on earning Athletic PE credit for their winter sport should pick up a contract (requires a parent, coach and student signature), return it by the deadline (this Friday, Nov 22) and take some timesheets to start documenting hours from the start of the winter sports season. All forms can be found in the Counseling Office.
 
END OF SEMESTER COMING SOON There is just one more week until Thanksgiving break! After that, there are two weeks and then finals week!  Please encourage your students to turn in any work they are missing. Utilize the Thanksgiving break if possible to catch up on missing work!

School Nurse

Thanksgiving break is an opportunity to spend time with your family and take advantage of doing activities (or not!) that our regular busy schedules don’t always allow for. We all need to reset and have down time. I encourage you to think of some special practice that you can enjoy together. It can be as simple as afternoon tea or game night.

I also want to share a recipe I made this week that I really love. It’s a healthy and delicious way to use the nutrient-rich pumpkin. Maybe you can try it during your break. I actually make enough so I can pack for work in the morning.

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal
Serves 4
Ingredients:

• Old-fashioned rolled oats: 1 cup dry
• Ground flaxseed: 2 Tbsp
• Pumpkin puree: ½ cup
• Maple syrup: 2 Tbsp
• Pumpkin pie spice: 1 tsp
• Toppings: chopped roasted walnuts or pecans and diced persimmon

Cook oatmeal as directed. Just before finishing, add in ground flaxseed, pumpkin puree, maple syrup and pumpkin pie spice. Add oat milk as desired and top with roasted walnuts and diced persimmon. Enjoy and tell me how you like it!

​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

Fall Jazz Concert
Don’t miss the upcoming Fall Jazz Concert featuring the Acalanes Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combos, Stanley Messengers and special guest, The Kyle Athayde Band! Come join us for a fun-filled evening as they perform toe-tapping music that will please everyone!
When: Wednesday, Nov 20, 7 pm
Where: Performing Arts Center at AHS
Performers: Acalanes Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combos, Stanley Messengers and special guest, The Kyle Athayde Band
Admission: Free

LPIE

7th Annual LPIE SPRING GALA
Saturday, March 22, 2025 - The Palace Hotel, San Francisco
 
TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW!
 
Please visit our gala webpage to purchase tables or individual tickets. The evening will feature silent and live auctions, a delicious dinner, dancing and live music from Mustache Harbor. All proceeds will support programs and experiences in our schools, funding the teachers, instructors and supplies that make them possible.

Sports

*The game schedule below 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 water polo
Tuesday, Nov 19 CIF NorCal Quarterfinal.
Thursday, Nov 21 CIF NorCal Semifinal.
Saturday, Nov 23 CIF NorCal Championship.
 

Football
Friday, Nov 22 or Saturday, Nov 23 NCS Semifinal.
 
Cross country
Saturday, Nov 23 NCS Championship at Hayward HS at 1pm.
 
Boys basketball
Tuesday, Nov 19 Host Dublin HS scrimmage. Frosh at 4:30pm, JV at 5:45pm, Varsity at 7pm.
Saturday, Nov 16 at Branson HS scrimmage. Varsity at 11am, JV at 1pm, frosh at 2:30pm.
 
Girls basketball
Saturday, Nov 16 host Folsom HS, Archbishop Mitty HS, San Ramon Valley HS scrimmage. JV at 10:30am and Varsity at 2pm.
 
Wrestling
Saturday, Nov 23 East Bay Classic at Mt. Diablo HS.
Saturday, Nov 23 Berkeley Novice Tournament.

You may view the full 2024-2025 Athletic Schedule by clicking HERE.

APC in Action

Peer Tutoring Seminar #2: The Importance of Self Talk, Wednesday, Nov 13
We do not hear any voice more than our own and how we "speak" to ourselves is so important - it can be friend or foe. Peer Tutoring is excited to welcome Don alum and current Mental Performance Coach/Assistant Boys Basketball Coach, Joey Hewitt, who will present information about the importance of self talk and techniques that will encourage more positive self talk. This session will take place during lunch on the 13th. Please encourage your student to attend and to share what they learn!
 
APC Fall Grants Have Been Awarded - Fall ‘24
Thank you to the teachers, students and staff who submitted proposals for an APC Fall Grant. APC Grants are funded through parents annual donations - so THANK YOU parents!  We are pleased to announce the following grants have been awarded so far this fall:

• The ACA garden will refresh their winter garden with fresh organic soil, winter vegetable seed starts and new gardening tools.
• A newly formed Culinary Passport Club will provide food tastings and cultural events where they offer sampling of cuisines they are focused on that month.
• The school nurse’s office will get 3 new beds. First time in over 20 years!
• The CTE department will receive materials to build 2 oversized Adirondack chairs that will be painted ACA blue and placed on campus. Will make for great photo ops!

 
Follow Acalanes Parents Club on Instagram. Please reach out to APC here with any questions.