• Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

    May 11, 2025

    Recording of Supporting Your Teen Through Grief and Loss. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our community partners—Hospice of the East Bay and the Contra Costa Crisis Center—for joining us for last Thursday’s webinar, and to Las Lomas Wellness Coordinator Amelia Whalen for organizing and moderating the event. If you missed it, you can watch the webinar Supporting Your Teen Through Grief & Loss at the link provided. Webinar Link
     
    🚗 Le Pit Club Presents: Acalanes High School Pit Stop! 🏁
    Join us on Saturday, May 17 from 10am to 1pm on campus for a car show to support Acalanes!
    Featuring:

    • Super cars & exotic vehicles
    • Classic & custom-restored cars
    • Delicious food
    • Family-friendly event
    • Exciting prize giveaway

    Free and open to the public!
    Have a cool family car to show off? Contact Mr. Dukes, jdukes@auhsdschools.org to register.
    Don’t miss this high-octane community event in support of Acalanes High School!
     
    County Connection is launching Youth Ride Free, a pilot that will allow anyone 18 and under to ride their buses for free from Jun 1 - Jul 3. No IDs or applications are required.
    As a test pilot program this summer, their goal is to enhance mobility on public buses and provide access to vital resources within the area like parks, shopping centers, and job opportunities for young riders. Please help to get the word out to students about Youth Ride Free by sharing news and information about the program. Attached are flyers (English and Spanish) for use or you can look at their webpage for more information.

  • Campus Culture Committee

    May 11, 2025

    Upcoming Important Dates:

    • May is Asian/Pacific Heritage month
    • May is Mental Health Awareness Month
    • May is Jewish American Heritage Month
    • Campus Culture Committee Meeting  -May 19 - check your email for invite

    May is Mental Health Awareness Month, an annual observance founded by Mental Health America in 1949 to highlight the importance of mental wellbeing, educate the public, reduce stigma and promote support for those affected by mental health conditions. Each year, individuals and organizations come together to raise awareness and advocate for better mental health care and resources. Acalanes has many mental health resources on campus and students can head to the Wellness Center to learn about all of them.

    Please get your ALL ARE WELCOME HERE t-shirts! For just $20 you can support the Campus Culture Committee of APC while wearing a stylish black T that lets everyone know what the Dons are all about. Or you can reach out here for payment information and how to get your shirt. Available in M and L only at this time.

    If you’d like to help with any celebrations or join in our cultural discussions, please contact the Campus Culture Committee here and 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

    May 11, 2025

    THIS WEEK:
    Wednesday @ academy: Grad cap decorating
    Wednesday @ lunch: Innertube water polo
    Thursday @ lunch: Frosh ice cream social
    Friday @ lunch: ACA Buddies
    Friday @ 7pm: Spring Choral Concert
    Saturday @ 10am-1pm: Acalanes Car Show in the APL
    Sunday @ 4pm: Senior Time of Reflection
     
    Amin shirts are for sale via the webstore. Proceeds will be donated to the GoFundMe for Amin’s family💙Once ordered, feel free to have your student stop by room 314 to pick up.
     
    Week of May 19: Summer Send-Off Spirit Week
    We will have a jam packed week full of lunchtime fun culminating in our end of year rally on May 23 during academy.
     
    DATES NEXT YEAR:
    Aug 11 at 12pm: Frosh Orientation
    Sep 28-Oct 4: Homecoming 2025
    April 25, 2026: Junior & Senior Prom
     
    Summer webstore is now open! Place your orders now through August.
     
    Looking to stay informed? Follow us on Instagram for the latest on student activities and class happenings.
     
    Katherine Walton, Activities Director

  • College & Career

    May 11, 2025

    Seniors should log into MaiaLearning and fill out their 2025 senior exit survey on their dashboard. This is important, as it’s the only way our registrar knows where to send your student’s final transcripts.
     
    The “Rising Senior” Parent Meeting is Tuesday, May 13, from 6:30-7:30pm in the library. Debbie Levy will lead this evening to discuss a brief overview of the 2026 admissions landscape. The focus will be on how to support your students with the college admissions process, as well as a brief introduction to our new college planning tool- Maia Learning. In addition, there will be tips for the summer, preparation advice for the fall, details about a summer essay writing workshop, and upcoming College 101 advice.

  • School Nurse

    May 11, 2025

    School gets even busier over this last month, and many students feel overwhelmed and also get ill. You can support your students’ health and well-being by modeling healthy habits. Another helpful strategy (though not intuitive in our fast-paced culture) is to assist them in scheduling rest breaks to pace themselves. This will help them practice being grounded and help prevent overwhelm. It’s like helping them “put their seatbelts on” - strapping in to stay safe.
     
    But also think about what happens when they take “their seatbelts off”. When students finish AP tests and finals, when the weekend comes, and when they finish school and graduate, they often rush to “take their seatbelts off”. Please remember that parents are the #1 influence on their kids’ decisions to (OR NOT TO) engage in risky behavior. So consider the opportunity you have to connect with you students about:

    • Boundaries, family values, and rules and expectations about alcohol and other risky behaviors.
    • Ways to say “NO” to negative peer pressure, including underage drinking.
    • Reminders about rules of the road – always wearing a seatbelt, obeying the speed limits, and never driving drunk or impaired or getting in the vehicle with someone who has been drinking, or who has used another impairing substance, or does not have a legal license to drive other passengers.
    • Knowing a way out of a sticky situation and emphasizing that safety is most important. (We often talk about how it isn’t the first bad decision that is the problem, it’s the second one.)

    Parents, please remember to talk with your teens about making calculated, mindful decisions at the end of the year, graduation, and beyond. Along with educators, community leaders, and other trusted adults, we are making strides to eliminate underage drinking and make our roads safer. Let’s keep up the great work as we celebrate the moments that matter over the next few months! responsibility.org

    Please reach out to me for any support your students or family might need. You can access the medical forms page on my website HERE.

    My office hours are:
    Tuesdays, Wednesdays and some* Thursdays
    Tuesdays & Thursdays:  8am - 3:50pm
    Wednesdays:  7:30am - 3:20pm

    Dvora Citron, RN, MS
    dcitron@auhsdschools.org, 925-280-2970 x7128
    IG: acalanesschoolnurse, ​School Nurse Website

  • Performing & Visual Arts

    May 11, 2025


    Spring Choral Concert 2025
    Join us for an evening of choral music at the Spring Choral Concert presented by the Acalanes Choir and Choral Student Groups.

    • When:  Friday, May 16 at 7pm
    • Where: AHS Performing Arts Center
    • Admission Price: Free ($10 donation suggested)

    Jazz Cafe Returns
    This year’s final performances of the exceptional Acalanes Jazz Ensemble and Acalanes Jazz Combo will be at the Jazz Cafe at Stanley Middle School. Our Instrumental Dons are role models for the three Stanley jazz bands who will also perform.

    • When: Friday, May 16 at 6pm
    • Where: Multi-Use Room, Stanley Middle School
    • Admission Price: Free



    Acalanes & Campo Jazz Ensembles Perform at Yoshi's on Monday May 19, 8pm
    Support the Acalanes & Campo Jazz Ensembles at this benefit concert at Yoshi's in Oakland. The Acalanes Jazz Ensemble includes a 2025 California All-State Jazz Band student member and the Ensemble and Combo have won multiple group awards this year. You won’t want to miss this show! All proceeds from the performance benefit the jazz programs at the schools. Tickets available here.


    Acapalooza 2025!
    Get ready for Acapalooza - the Acalanes Chamber Music Collage Concert - which brings our talented student musicians together for a relaxed evening of music. Featured ensembles include Brassworks, Trio Con Fuoco, Acastix, and other popular bands performing works by Cole Porter, Bizet, Bach and more. Whether you’re a chamber music fan or just looking to enjoy a unique night out, come join us for an unforgettable performance!

    • When: Thursday, May 22 at 6:30pm
    • Where: AHS Performing Arts Center
    • Admission Price: Free ($10 donation suggested)

    Join Acalanes Performing Arts Boosters!
    Performing Arts Boosters is a parent group that promotes and advocates for high quality performing arts education at Acalanes. There are open positions in the Instrumental Music subgroup as well as in the umbrella Boosters organization.

    • Performing Arts Boosters
      • Member-at-Large
      • Treasurer 26-27 shadow role (QuickBooks)
      • Web Admin 26-27 shadow role (Wix & Google Workspace)
    • Instrumental Music
      • Concert Attire Coordinator
      • Carpool Coordinator
      • Stanley Liaison
      • Publicity & Communications Coordinator
      • Programs & Posters Coordinator
      • House Manager

    Please reach out if you have questions or are interested in joining us! info@ahsperformingarts.org or instrumental-co-vp@ahsperformingarts.org