Weekly News & Announcements

Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

What is ACA You Ask?
Not only is “ACA” short for “Acalanes,” it is also the overarching, unifying theme that we at Acalanes High School represent on and off campus. Simply put, ACA (Acalanes Community Always) represents:

• Connectivity between Acalanes students, teachers, staff members, alumni and the greater Lafayette community
• Spirit and unity

These are characteristics that we all share as part of the Acalanes family, both during our time at Acalanes, and beyond as alumni. Our ACA spirit is on display daily in and outside of the classroom, and within our athletics, performing arts, student government, clubs, and Acalanes support organizations. We look forward to supporting ongoing programming that continues to build school spirit and supports our community and each other!
 
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!
 
Important Dates!

• Saturday and Sunday, Sept 23-24 is the annual Lafayette Art & Wine Festival. We look forward to seeing many of you there!
• Sunday, Oct 22 is the Annual Lafayette Reservoir Run. Signup now and support our local schools.

APC in Action

Important reminders from APC to help make back to school time a success.

• Dons Day is tomorrow, Monday, Aug 14 from 7:30-11:30am! Please complete your annual online registration in Aeries before coming to Dons Day. As a part of registration, please visit the Acalanes Web Store and check out how to support all Acalanes partners such as APC. You can also purchase yearbooks, class activity funds, ASB card, apparel and more!
• If you are a 9th or 10th grade family and still need residency verification, please come to the collaboration center starting at 7:30am. Please bring all of the necessary proof of residency documentation listed here. We recommend bringing copies to expedite the process.
• Frosh orientation will be held from 12-1:30pm and meets in the Performing Arts Center (PAC).
• New parent orientation meets in the Library from 12-1pm.
• Transfer students are invited to meet near the flagpole at 11:30am for an orientation and tour.
• In addition to Dons Day, Chromebooks will be available for pick up on the first day of school. Students may use their own devices if preferred.
• Please remember there is an adjusted bell schedule for the first week of school.

Volunteer opportunities: In case you missed it in the registration process, please complete this volunteerform so we know what you’re interested in helping with this year. There are plenty of parent volunteer opportunities, starting with Homecoming this fall!

Please reach out to APC here with any questions

General Administration Announcements

Welcome Back! Please review all the important information included in Principal Shawn’s email from Friday, August 11. Click here to view the email in Aeries Parent Square.
 
First Week of School Schedule
We have an adjusted bell schedule for the first week of school. Please share with your students. Tuesday and Wednesday are Anchor Days (aka “see all days”), Thursday and Friday will follow the regular block schedule.

APC Membership & Fundraising

Acalanes Parents Club has committed nearly $185,000 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!
 
We are tremendously grateful for your support, which funds the following programs for all Acalanes students and staff:
 
*Peer Tutoring                   *College & Career Services          *Campus Enhancements
*Parent Ed                         *Staff & Teacher Development      *Grants Program         
*Communications               *Volunteer Opportunities               *and more…
 
If you haven’t had a chance to donate, please consider doing so here. The suggested amount is $350 per student, but any amount is needed and greatly appreciated. 
 
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, contact corpmatch@acalanesparentsclub.com for further information.
 
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Sports

This week’s can’t miss events:

Girls volleyball
Tuesday, Aug 15 host Carondelet HS scrimmage. Frosh at 4:30pm, JV at 5:30pm and Varsity at 6:30pm
Wednesday, Aug 16 host Alumni game at 6:30 pm

Girls water polo
Thursday, Aug 17 at Carondelet HS scrimmage

Football
Friday, Aug 18 Napa HS, Vallejo HS, Windsor HS scrimmage at Napa HS. JV at 4:30pm and Varsity at 7pm

You may view the 2023-2024 Athletic Update by clicking HERE.

General Administration Announcements

Please review Prinicpal Shawn’s end of year message sent Friday, May 16 via Parent Square. The email shares a lot of valuable information for summer. Below are two important excerpts to review.
 
Fall Registration and Residency Verification
All families must complete online registration beginning July 31. You will receive directions on how to complete registration on July 25 through ParentSquare. Parents/guardians must complete registration prior to attending Dons Day on August 14.
 
NEW THIS YEAR: All rising 9th-grade and 10th-grade families (Class of 2026 & 2027) must complete in-person residency verification starting Juyl 31 through August 14 at the Acalanes main office between 8:00am and 4:00pm. We will also host evening events for in-person residency verification on August 2 at Acalanes High School and August 3 at the AUHSD District Office. Both offices will be open until 8:00pm. Please click here for moreinformation on what documentation is required to confirm your residency.
 
See APC in Action below for more important dates.

APC in Action

1. AUHSD postcard to arrive on or after: July 12
2. Parent email from AUHSD with detailed online registration instructions: July 25
3. Online registration opens: July 31 - Aug 14
4. Classes of 2026 & 2027 families must complete IN PERSON residency verification:  
   1. July 31 - Aug 14 from 8am-4pm in the Acalanes Main Office
   2. Aug 2 evening hours (open until 8pm) in the Acalanes Main Office
   3. Aug 3 evening hours (open until 8pm) in the AUHSD District Office
5. Dons Day: Aug 14 from 7:30-11:30am
   1. New Student Orientation: 11:30am (meet at flagpole)
   2. Frosh Orientation: 12-1:30pm (start in PAC)
   3. New Parent Orientation: 12pm (in Library)

Thank You to All our Volunteers!
The Acalanes Parents Club would like to thank the following APC Board Members and Committee Chairs who are stepping down from their role or graduating from Acalanes. APC is grateful for their dedication to making our community stronger and our school a better place for all of our students.
Thank you!

• Past President/Parliamentarian - Kristen Labrosse (now Co-Director, Peer Tutoring) 
• Treasurer - Katharine Wallace
• Community Partners - Natasha  Acuña
• Co-Head Class Liaison & ACA Liaisons - Jen Dodge & Heidi Hambidge
• Auditor - Nina Ruebner
• Webmaster  - Danielle Gallagher
• Student Directory - Sharon Hunt
• Co-Hospitality Coordinators - Audra Fraioli & Kari Trimble
• Co-Staff Appreciation - Jennifer McCarthy
• Co-Finals Fuel - Sheryl Platt & Janice Metzger
• Co-Dons Day Coordinator - Pam Severson
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Liaison - Teli Thayer
• Senior Class Liaisons - Catherine Burns, Charlene Condy, Jen Dodge, Daniele Upp 

Finals Fuel
Thank You to all the families who helped make Spring Finals Fuel a success!  The students were very appreciative - many “thanks and thank you's” were heard amongst the rush for snacks! 
And special shout out to our Finals Fuel Co-Chairs, Sheryl Platt and Janice Metzger. They made sure our students were well fueled for exams all year.
 
AHS Service Awards & Presidential Awards - NEW PROCESS & NEW GUIDELINES for Next Year
Thank you to all students for their community service this past year and we look forward to another great year of service in '23-24!  Please note that we will have several changes next year. First, the minimum hours for the AHS service award for next year will be 30 hours (back to the pre-Covid threshold). Second, and more importantly, your students will be able to record and verify their hours throughout the year using a new app called Helper Helper. Please check out the AHS website (under College and Career Center) for more information on the NEW guidelines and NEW instructions for students to validate and record their service hours for the coming year. If you have any questions, please email us!

Acalanes Community Always (ACA)

The 4th annual Senior Car Rally was a HUGE success! We want to thank all of the volunteers who helped greet and park the seniors, decorate the route before and clean up after. APC would like to extend an enormous thank you to Laura Bergman and Lulu Braunstein for organizing the incredible afternoon! And it goes without saying - thank you to our fabulous Acalanes families, Oakwood Athletic Club, Lafayette Police Department, Lafayette Rotary Club, Lafayette Chamber and the greater Acalanes and Lafayette community for making our seniors feel so loved! We all thank you! GO DONS!

See more 4th annual Senior Car Rally pictures here.

Student Activities

As the year comes to an end, I just want to thank you for the generous support, time and energy that you provided to students. I am incredibly proud of the abundance of programming that happened on our campus and the leadership that was shown by students. A special thank you to the team of parent liaisons who have given hundreds of hours to support the Classes of 2023, 2024, 2025 & 2026. To our “graduating” liaisons - Catherine Burns, Charlene Condy, Jen Dodge, Heidi Hambidge and Danielle Upp….there are no words that can capture my appreciation and gratitude for what you have done throughout the past four years for our students and families of the Class of 2023 - simply amazing!
 
Acalanes Spirit Wear Webstore. Looking for new Acalanes gear? Check out our summer webstore open now through Friday, Aug 18. All proceeds benefit the Classes of ‘24, ‘25, ‘26 & ‘27!
 
A few important dates for next year:
Aug 14: Dons Day & new student orientation
Aug 15: 1st day of school
Oct 9-14: Homecoming 2023
Apr 27: Junior & Senior Prom
 
Have a great summer and see you Monday, Aug 14 for Dons Day and frosh orientation!
 
Looking to stay informed? Follow us on Instagram for the latest on student activities and class happenings.
 
Katherine Walton, Leadership Teacher

College & Career

Final Transcripts: These requests were made when the Senior Exit Survey was completed by your student. If your student gets off a waitlist and/or has a change of plans, please contact Ms. Finn (efinn@auhsdschools.org) in the Counseling Office; she is in charge of sending these to the colleges.

JUNIORS/RISING SENIORS SUMMER IDEAS
 
Summer can be a great time to get started on your college application if you want to get a jump start (you can also get everything done once you return to school in August).

• Log into Naviance
  • Add to the “Colleges I’m Thinking About List”
  • Research colleges
  • Update your resume
• Go on college tours (virtual or in person)
• Begin brainstorming (or writing) for the UC (Personal Insight questions) or Common App essay (all prompts are easily found online)
• Register for a fall SAT or ACT (if taking)
  • Spend some time doing test prep (if taking a test)
• Complete the Junior Survey
• Volunteer
• Get a job
• Have fun!!!

Free - College Essay Workshop Tuesday, May 23 and Thursday, May 25
Must register ASAP - be sure to select “register to all dates below” to register - the event is not full.
 
Looking for college resources over the summer? Please see links below.
 
College Essay Guy

• Free College Essay Resources for Students-

Registration required for live summer courses
How to Write the College Application + Supplemental Essays Course
https://www.collegeessayguy.com/how-to-apply-for-college

• How to Write a Personal Statement Online Course for Students

https://www.collegeessayguy.com/how-to-write-a-personal-statement

• Additional College Resources

https://www.collegeessayguy.com/college-application-hub
https://www.collegeessayguy.com/webinars-live-events
 
SOPHOMORES/FROSH
 
Volunteer Ideas: Check out this website for ideas too! It’s best to set a search filter for teens.
 
Please visit our College & Career Counseling website any time for additional information and support.