Weekly News & Announcements

College & Career

SENIOR PARENT NIGHT- NOTE THE DATE CHANGE to Thursday, Sept 11 at 6:30pm
Please join Counselor Anne Schonauer and College and Career Center Advisor Debbie Levy in the library on Thursday, Sept 11 from 6:30-7:30pm to discuss post-high school planning, details regarding letters of recommendation, sending transcripts, college visits, and more!



All Families 9-12: Unlock the Secrets to College Financial Aid: 2025–2026 Edition
Join us for this must-attend webinar hosted by College Aid Pro designed to help your family confidently navigate the college financial aid process. They'll break down what you really need to know to avoid costly mistakes and make the most of every opportunity. Can’t attend live? Register anyway and they'll send you the recording!
 
What you’ll learn:

1. Why filling out the FAFSA matters—even if you think you won’t qualify.
2. How to uncover financial aid opportunities you didn’t know existed.
3. Where to find scholarships —regardless of income.
4. FAFSA dos and don’ts, plus key updates for 2025–2026.
5. What business owners and homeowners need to know.
6. Special considerations for divorced or separated families.

Sept 25, 2025, 7pm PT
Register here: https://pages.collegeaidpro.com/fin-aid-101-ca-hs-partners-registration-9.25.25
Don’t leave money on the table—register now and take the first step toward a smarter college plan!
 
Our friends at Revolution Prep are offering our students a FREE PSAT and SAT practice exam. Please see details below:

• PSAT Practice Exam:  Saturday, Sept 6 | 9:00am – 12:00pm PT* | Online
• SAT Practice Exam:  Saturday, Sept 20 | 9:00am – 12:00pm PT* | Online

Register here for exams and other educational webinars:  Acalanes High Schoolregistration landing page
 
Navigating the Critical Changes in Admissions Testing School:  Thursday, Sept 11, 2025 | 7:00pm PT
PSAT, Now What?:  Wednesday, Oct 29, 2025 | 6:00pm PT
College Planning Case Study: Thursday, Nov 13, 2025 | 6:00pm PT

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
 
CSF APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN SEPT 1-30: CSF (California Scholarship Federation) is an honor society. Current 10th, 11th and 12th graders are encouraged to apply. A complete CSF application has 2 parts: an application form and a payment on the webstore. Turn in forms in the counseling office. The deadline is Tuesday, Sept 30 for both the form and the payment! Students who are members for at least 4 semesters, including during senior year, will get a special stole to wear at graduation. Read the FAQ on the application form and contact Ms. Schonauer for any clarification.
 
INDIVIDUAL SENIOR APPOINTMENTS: Beginning the week of Sept 8, Counselors will begin calling in each senior for an individual appointment. We will review graduation status, and discuss post-high school planning and the specific support each student needs from us (such as a letter of recommendation, help refining their college list, handling logistics like matching Maia with Common App, and requesting transcripts and letters from teachers).
 
SENIOR PARENT NIGHT: All parents of seniors are invited to an evening with College and Career Advisor Debbie Levy and Counselor Anne Schonauer to discuss the college application process. Thursday, Sept 11 at 6:30pm in the Acalanes Library. 

Performing & Visual Arts

Come see the Jazz Ensemble & Choir at the Art and Wine Festival!
The Jazz Ensemble, some members of the Orchestra & Band, and the Choir will represent Acalanes at this year’s Art and Wine Festival. Come support the Instrumental Music and Choir programs on Sunday, Sept 21. The Acalanes Jazz Ensemble & Guests will perform at 12:15pm and the Acalanes Choir will perform at 12:45pm on the Community Stage!

LPIE

LPIE is proud to welcome back Ashby Lumber as a Diamond Business Partner this year. We’re especially grateful to Bryan and Emily Morgan for their continued dedication to LPIE and Lafayette public schools.

Bryan brings thoughtful leadership to our Board of Directors as this year’s Vice President, and Emily’s support through Ashby Lumber helps us continue to strengthen our schools and community.

In Emily’s words: "Ashby Lumber is proud to support LPIE! As a family-owned company with deep roots in the Bay Area, we believe in giving back to the communities that have supported us for over 50 years. Supporting local schools means investing in the next generation of leaders, innovators, and builders. If you’re planning a home project or your contractor needs quality building materials, make sure it's Ashby. Let’s build something great together!"

Thank you, Ashby Lumber, for helping us build a brighter future for Lafayette students.


LPIE's 5th Annual Poker Tournament - Friday, Oct 17, 2025
Get ready to ante up for a night of fun and excitement! Our 5th Annual Poker Tournament is coming—don’t miss your chance to play, win great prizes, and support our local schools all at once. Visit lpie.org to purchase tickets!

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.

Flag football
Monday, Sept 8 hosts Benicia HS. JV 6:30pm and Varsity 7:45pm
Tuesday, Sept 10 at College Park HS. JV 6:30pm and Varsity 7:45pm
Thursday, Sept 11 at Monte Vista HS. JV 6:30pm and Varsity 7:45pm
 
Girls golf
Monday, Sept 8 Varsity v. Miramonte HS at Orinda CC at 3:30pm
Wednesday, Sept 10 Varsity v. Miramonte HS at Rossmoor GC at 3:30pm
Thursday, Sept 11 JV v. Campolindo HS at Moraga CC at 3:30pm
 
Girls volleyball
Tuesday, Sept 9 at College Park HS. Freshmen 4:30pm, JV 5:30pm, Varsity 6:30pm
Thursday, Sept 11 hosts Las Lomas HS. Freshmen 4:30pm, JV 5:30pm, Varsity 6:30pm
 
Girls tennis
Wednesday, Sept 10 Piedmont HS at 4:00 pm. Varsity home, JV away
 
Boys water polo
Wednesday, Sept 10 Varsity Novato HS at 4:00pm
 
Girls water polo
Wednesday, Sept 10 at Tamalpais HS. JV at 6:00pm, Varsity at 7:00pm
 
Tackle football
Thursday, Sept 11 hosts St. Ignatius HS. Freshmen at 4:30pm, JV at 6:30pm
Friday, Sept 12 at St. Ignatius HS at 5:00pm
 
Cross country
Saturday, Sept 13 Viking Opener Invitational at Spring Lake Regional Park, Santa Rosa.

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

General Announcements

Acalanes School Advisory Council

Acalanes is searching for 4-5 parents to join the Acalanes School Advisory Council. This year, we hope to have representation from all four grade levels, and parents of students from a variety of interests and backgrounds.

The Acalanes High School School Advisory Council meets five times a year to provide a forum for staff, students, and parents to discuss progress and provide feedback on the school site plans like the AHS Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA), the school safety plan, and progress on issues of equity and access.

All meetings are held at AHS from 3:30-5pm in the Collaboration Center:

• Oct 15, 2025
• Dec 10, 2025
• Feb 26, 2025
• April 15, 2026
• May 13, 2026

Please fill out this form if you are interested in joining the School Advisory Council.

APC Membership & Fundraising

Acalanes Parents Club has committed nearly $215,000 to Acalanes this school year, which will provide vital services for our entire AHS community. As of today, we have yet to reach that goal and we need your help!

As a reminder, your donation to APC goes directly to Acalanes High School and supports important programs that greatly benefit all Acalanes students and staff. These programs include

• Peer Tutoring
• College & Career Services
• Campus Enhancements
• Parent Education
• Staff & Teacher Development
• Communications
• Grant Programs
• Volunteer Opportunities
• And more . . .

If you haven’t had a chance to donate, please consider doing so here. The suggested amount is $450 per student, but any amount is needed and greatly appreciated. 

All APC members will receive a link to the online AHS student/family directory in the next few weeks.

Another important source of funds is making your donations go twice as far with Corporate Matching. Please check if your company has a matching program and, if so, please contact corpmatch@acalanesparentsclub.com for further information.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

ACA Student Discounts!
As part of your student’s ASB card purchase, your student can get discounts or freebies at some favorite local business, such as

• Diablo Foods
• Johnny’s Donuts
• Local Kitchens
• Sideboard
• And more!

Your student just needs to show their ASB card at checkout. See the full list of discounts here! There is still time to purchase the ASB card in the Acalanes Webstore, this money drives student activities at Acalanes.

A Few Important Dates!

• Saturday and Sunday, Sept 20-21, is the annual Lafayette Art & Wine Festival.  We look forward to seeing many of you there!
• Sunday, Oct 19 is the Annual Lafayette Reservoir Run. Signup now and support our local schools.

Campus Culture Committee

The Acalanes Parent Club (APC) Campus Culture Committee (CCC), formerly known as DEIB, would like to welcome you to the 2025–26 school year! This year, our focus is on building a stronger parent support system for all student groups on campus and working closely with staff on issues that have an impact on our students. We also recognize that supporting our students starts with supporting parents — so part of our mission is to ensure parents feel cared for through mental health support and a strong collective voice.

Join Us Monthly! (In-Person & Virtual Meetings)
Meeting Schedule | 6:00–7:30 PM
Sept 15 – In-Person
Oct 20 – Virtual
Nov 17 – In-Person
Dec – No Meeting
Jan 12 – Virtual
Feb 9 – In-Person
Mar 16 – Virtual
Apr 20 – In-Person (last meeting)
May – No Meeting

Reminder: Acalanes is a No Hate Zone. If your student experiences hate or bias, please encourage them to use the Bias Incident Reporting Tool (BIRT) available on the AHS website. 

Student Activities

What a great start to the school year; such good energy on campus!

Peek @ the week:

Monday
Happy Labor Day

Wednesday
Lunch: Class Cup Basketball in the big gym

Thursday
Lunch: Resource fair in the frosh quad

Friday
Academy: Fall Club Day
Lunch: Girls Waterpolo HOME game
6:15 PM: Tailgate prior to Friday Night Lights.
Theme: Jerseys

Homecoming: Acalanes goes to the movies! Sept 28-Oct 4

Homecoming work parties have begun! 10th & 12th will be at Acalanes (314) today from 1-4pm and 11th is at the Schaffer’s house from 11am-1pm. All are invited!

If your student wants to participate in skits but hasn’t filled out the google form, now is the time! Skit practices begin at lunch this week!
9th: Frosh Skit sign up
10th: Sophomore Skit sign up and Partner Skit form
11th: Junior Skit sign up,  Partner Skit form, and  Hallway deco interest
12th: Senior Skit sign up

Club Day is Friday during Academy and all students are encouraged to cruise through the front quad and check out the 85+ clubs we have at Acalanes. Look in the Daily Don for the full spreadsheet of clubs and preview them before Friday.

Class Shirt Pick-up will be at lunch on Wednesday, Sept 10th.

If you have yet to purchase your ASB Sticker, NOW is the time! Thank you for supporting student activities at Acalanes. We are still about $6K down in sales.
ASB cards cost $115 and are available for purchase on the webstore. ASB cards support all student activities at Acalanes, support athletics (25% of every card sale goes directly to athletics) and helps to pay for AHS's finance tech's salary and get students discounts/free entry to the following:
-Home athletic events (Except playoffs). This year we have 6 home football games (totaling $35 without ASB).
-Free or discounted tickets to dances (For Homecoming, you will save $25 with ASB)
-Free Acalanes t-shirt at Dons Day (worth $15). If you didn’t get your black dice shirt, stop by room 314.
-Discounts at 12 local businesses when you show your ASB sticker on your ID card.

College & Career

SENIOR PARENT NIGHT- NOTE THE DATE CHANGE to Thursday, Sept 11 at 6:30pm
Please join Counselor Anne Schonauer and College and Career Center Advisor Debbie Levy in the library on Thursday, Sept 11 from 6:30-7:30pm to discuss post-high school planning, details regarding letters of recommendation, sending transcripts, college visits, and more!

All Families 9-12: Unlock the Secrets to College Financial Aid: 2025–2026 Edition
Join us for this must-attend webinar hosted by College Aid Pro designed to help your family confidently navigate the college financial aid process. They'll break down what you really need to know to avoid costly mistakes and make the most of every opportunity. Can’t attend live? Register anyway and they'll send you the recording!
 
What you’ll learn:

1. Why filling out the FAFSA matters—even if you think you won’t qualify.
2. How to uncover financial aid opportunities you didn’t know existed.
3. Where to find scholarships —regardless of income.
4. FAFSA dos and don’ts, plus key updates for 2025–2026.
5. What business owners and homeowners need to know.
6. Special considerations for divorced or separated families.

Sept 25, 2025, 7pm PT
Register here: https://pages.collegeaidpro.com/fin-aid-101-ca-hs-partners-registration-9.25.25
 Don’t leave money on the table—register now and take the first step toward a smarter college plan!
 
Our friends at Revolution Prep are offering our students a FREE PSAT and SAT practice exam. Please see details below:

• PSAT Practice Exam:  Saturday, Sept 6 | 9:00am – 12:00pm PT* | Online
• SAT Practice Exam:  Saturday, Sept 20 | 9:00am – 12:00pm PT* | Online

Register here for exams and other educational webinars:  Acalanes High School registration landing page
 
Navigating the Critical Changes in Admissions Testing School:  Thursday, Sept 11, 2025 | 7:00pm PT
PSAT, Now What?:  Wednesday, Oct 29, 2025 | 6:00pm PT
College Planning Case Study: Thursday, Nov 13, 2025 | 6:00pm PT

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
 
CLASS VISITS: Counselors will continue visiting grade level classrooms this week.  We have visited English 4 and English 3, and will visit Chemistry classes to speak to sophomores. All 10-12th graders received/will receive an updated copy of their transcript, and we will review grade-level specific information, such as PSAT/SAT and AP testing signup information, as well as college information for 11th and 12th graders.
 
CSF APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN SEPT 1-30: CSF (California Scholarship Federation) is an honor society. Current 10th, 11th and 12th graders are encouraged to apply. A complete CSF application has 2 parts: an application form and a payment on the webstore. Turn in forms in the counseling office. The deadline is Tuesday, Sept 30 for both the form and the payment! Students who are members for at least 4 semesters, including during senior year, will get special stole to wear at graduation. Read the FAQ on the application form and contact Ms. Schonauer for any clarification.
 
INDIVIDUAL SENIOR APPOINTMENTS: Beginning the week of Sept 8, Counselors will begin calling in each senior for an individual appointment. We will review graduation status, and discuss post-high school planning and the specific support each student needs from us (such as a letter of recommendation, help refining their college list, handling logistics like matching Maia with Common App, and requesting transcripts and letters from teachers).
 
SENIOR PARENT NIGHT: All parents of seniors are invited to an evening with College and Career Advisor Debbie Levy and Counselor Anne Schonauer to discuss the college application process. Thursday, Sept 11th at 6:30pm in the Acalanes Library.