• Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

    March 2, 2025

    Summer 2026 Travel
    Does your student love to travel? Consider a trip to Spain and Morocco! Sign ups are already happening for summer 2026. Sign up by Apr 1 and receive a $400 discount. Set up a direct debit plan to avoid putting down a deposit and lock in a low monthly payment. Students from any grade and any of the four district high schools can attend! The only requirement is an interest in travel! This trip has a little bit of everything -- ancient/historical sites, awe-inspiring locations, amazing food, and a once-in-a-lifetime bonding experience with your Lamorinda peers. Send your student on the trip of a lifetime where they become a global citizen who values travel and exploration.
     
    For anyone interested in going on the trip to Europe NEXT summer (2026), please click here to preview the trip and to register.
     
    And check out our Instagram page to see photos from the last two summers!
     
    If you have any questions please reach out to Erin Barth or Tina Gullberg. This is not a school-sponsored trip.

     

  • Campus Culture Committee

    March 2, 2025

    Upcoming Important Dates:

    • Women’s History Month (March)
    • Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (March)
    • Gender Equality Month (March)
    • Feb 28 - Mar 29 Ramadan
    • Mar 5 - Apr 17 Ash Wednesday and Lent
    • Mar 14 Holi Celebrated
    • Mar 16  Annual ACA Color Run/Holi Celebration! Go Dons! Register
    • Mar 20 Nowruz- Persian New Year
    • Mar 31 Trans Day of Visibility

    Please join us as we celebrate the many religious holidays and festivals in our world this month. Along with that, we will spotlight some amazing women and celebrate those with developmental disabilities. If you have someone or something you would like to highlight please let us know here.
     
    Ash Wednesday is a holy day of prayer and fasting in many Western Christian denominations. It is preceded by Shrove Tuesday and marks the first day of Lent, the six weeks of penitence before Easter.
     
    Do you use Facetime or Zoom? Thank prolific inventor Marian Croak, owner of 200+ U.S. patents. Croak was one of the first two Black women to be inducted to the Inventors Hall of Fame. She is best known for developing Voice Over Internet Protocols (VoIP), technology that converts your voice into a digital signal. Among her inventions is the text-to-donate function which has helped to raise millions of dollars for disaster-relief efforts.

    ALL ARE WELCOME HERE t-shirts are for sale! For just $20 you can support the Campus Culture Committee of APC while wearing a stylish black tee that lets everyone know what the Dons are all about. 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

    March 2, 2025


    SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK:

    • Monday @ lunch: Championship 3 v 3 staff/student basketball + Legally Blonde watch party to celebrate Women’s History month
    • Tuesday @ lunch: Intramural Flag Football informational meeting in rm 314
    • Wednesday @ lunch: Legally Blonde watch party to celebrate Women’s History month
    • Thursday @ lunch: Frosh Carnival
    • Friday academy: Enviro council on changing weather & water
    • Friday @ lunch: Legally Blonde watch party to celebrate Women’s History month

    UPCOMING:

    • Color Run + Holi celebration: Mar 16 at 9am
      • Get your ticket on Go FAN today!
      • A wonderful community event
    • Talent Show: Mar 18 at 7pm
      • A not to miss event for our community!
    • Junior & Senior Prom: Apr 19
      • Get your ticket on Go Fan now before prices go up on Mar 28
      • Bus assignments start Mar 26 at lunch
    • Special Olympics @ Acalanes: Apr 25
      • Volunteer opportunities are now open in room 314!
    • Intramural girls flag football sign-ups: tournament play is Apr 27
      • Informational meeting this Tuesday at lunch in room 314

    On Mar 7 during Academy, students are invited to room 314 to listen to a presentation on the changing weather and water on our planet. Students will be educated on how the environment has changed and what that will cause in the future. The purpose of the event is to show students what is going on around us, as well as ways to help fix it.
     
    Join us on Mar 16 for Acalanes’ annual Color Run, a vibrant Hindu holiday Holi celebration sponsored by local businesses! The event features student speeches about Holi, an exciting raffle, and a 1 or 2 mile run through our campus course where participants will be showered with colorful powder, and plenty of snacks. This fun-filled day is a chance to celebrate culture, community, and school spirit while supporting the classes of 2026 & 2027. Tell your family and friends, spread the word, and make this our biggest Color Run! Go Dons! Register today!
     
    Does your student have a small business? Would they be interested in selling used items? Do they want to make money? Then they should fill out this form for the Acalanes Makers Market in April (tentatively Apr 15) to show interest! This is a wonderful opportunity for clubs to fundraise and small businesses to expand their business.
     
    The Enviro board is holding a prom dress drive this year through Mar 29. There will be two locations with bins where people can drop off prom dresses and accessories: the Lafayette Community Center and in front of the Acalanes attendance office. The dresses will go to the San Francisco Princess Project which distributes the prom dresses to people who need them.
     
    Support the Garden Club and buy Acalanes grown succulents! Plants are purchased through the Acalanes webstore for $5.25. Once purchased you will receive an email with pick up instructions. Thanks for your support!

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

  • Counseling

    March 2, 2025

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

    8th Grade Appointments Counselors will be meeting with current 8th graders during the month of March to discuss transition to high school.
     
    3rd Quarter ends on Mar 14 There are two weeks left in the third quarter of the school year! Continued eligibility for spring sports will be determined by the quarter grades the week of Mar 17.  

  • School Nurse

    March 2, 2025

    Adolescents need between 8-10 hours of sleep per night.  This supports optimal health, wellness, and academic success! I’ve included a few “sleep hygiene” tips below. Please let me know if I can give you information/support.

    Tips for Better Teen Sleep

    • Set a Consistent Bedtime: Aim for a regular sleep-wake schedule.
      • Parents: Help your student create a schedule that works for them.
    • Limit Screen Time: Switch off devices 30 minutes before bed.
      • Parents: Offer to talk with your student about where they can recharge their devices overnight that is not within reach from their bed.
    • Watch Caffeine & Late-Night Snacks: Both can disrupt deep sleep.
      • Parents: Schedule family dinner time to be finished by 7 pm so students can go to sleep by 10 pm.  It’s ideal to have 3 hours between finishing dinner and going to sleep.
    • Create a Relaxing Wind-Down: Try reading, journaling, or light stretching before bed.
      • Parents: Does your student have a yoga mat, Kindle and/or journal? What a nice way to encourage them to have down time.
    • Optimize the Bedroom: Keep it cool, dark, and quiet for solid rest.
      • Parents: Help your student design a sleep-promoting room.

    (some information borrowed from @thebraindocs)

    Please reach out to me for any support your students or family might need.

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

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

  • Wellness Center

    March 2, 2025

    Did you know there is a difference between regular listening and active listening? Active listening differs from passive listening in the fact that you are intentionally going out of your way to show the speaker that they are being heard. Mastering the art of active listening can greatly improve all of your relationships, especially your relationship with your student. Instead of listening to your child intending to respond, try to listen to your child intending to understand what, exactly, they are trying to convey. Here are a few tips that might help you improve your active listening skills:

    • Face the speaker and make eye contact while they are speaking.
    • Pay attention to body language as well as verbal language.
    • Listen without interrupting, judging or jumping to conclusions.
    • Ask questions if you need clarification.
    • Reflect back what is being said so the speaker knows you are understanding.
    • Stay focused and don’t multitask.
    • Don’t insert your opinions or solutions unless asked.

    Most people, including your child, just want to be heard and supported. Taking the time to practice active listening and employ your skills with your student not only models good listening behaviors but supports the idea that you are a safe and trustworthy person for them to confide in.