Weekly News & Announcements

Two weeks left! 2019-2020 APC Grant Program!

Acalanes Parents Club will continue its APC Grant Program this year with a focus on ideas that will enhance the educational and campus experience of AHS students in new and innovative ways. Teachers, students and parents are welcome to submit a grant proposal.

The application and grant criteria can be found on the APC web site.

Email completed applications to Laura White or deliver to the APC box in the office.

Grant applications are due by noon on Friday, September 27

Homecoming Week Events

Sunday, the 22nd @ 10 am

Hallway Decorating

Monday, the 23rd

Dress-up: Earth, Wind & Fire
Lunch: Unified Soccer & tailgate

Tuesday, the 24th

Dress-up: Country vs Rock
Lunch: Tie Dye

 Wednesday, the 25th 

Dress-up: 70's (hippie)
Lunch: Student vs. Staff Dodgeball
7 pm: Student vs. Student Dodgeball (class vs. class)

Thursday, the 26th

Dress-up: Subthemes
Lunch: Karaoke
Last DAY of canned food drive

Friday, the 27th

Dress-up: Class Shirts or Class Color (12: black, 11: grey, 10: blue, 9: white)
Academy: Homecoming Rally (Students only)
Lunch: Carnival
5:30 pm: Pre Game Tailgate for the Lafayette Community
7 pm: Homecoming Game (Wear Blue!)

Saturday, the 28th at 7 pm
Homecoming Dance
Tickets are now on sale via the Web Store or starting at lunch on Sept 16. Ticket prices are:

$15 with ASB
$30 without ASB
$45 for guests*

Prices increase by $5 at the door.

*Want to bring a guest? Fill out the guest contract (found in room 314) and submit to the main office by September 25th.

Homecoming Dance Tickets

Tickets are now on sale via the Web Store or starting at lunch on Sept 16. Ticket prices are:

$15 with ASB
$30 without ASB
$45 for guests*

Prices increase by $5 at the door.

*Want to bring a guest? Fill out the guest contract (found in room 314) and submit to the main office by September 25th. 

Spirit Wear is still available

Spirit Wear is still available via the Acalanes Web Store. All spirit wear orders benefit the Class of 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023! Spirit wear will be delivered to your students 5th period class. 

2019 Homecoming Shirt

For $5 Dons can purchase a limited edition Homecoming Shirt, Bleed Blue. Shirt can be purchased on the Web Store and at lunch. Purchase by Sept 17 so you can wear it to the Homecoming Game on Sept 27.

Canned Food Drive

We are holding the canned food drive in conjunction with Homecoming. It is a class competition worth 600 points (skit is 800; halls are 800). Please consider donating cans at the flag pole each morning or cash donations at lunch. All proceeds go directly to the Contra Costa Food Bank. Goal: 10,000 cans (7 cans per student & staff member). 

Wellness Center

We’ve been doing a little “listening campaign” in wellness to understand what adolescents most need from parents and the other adults in their lives. We didn’t expect the answers to be so similar and resounding. In a word, they want the thing we all want, active listening.

The features of active listening include: open curiosity; non-judgment; feedback to reflect understanding; questioning whether the speaker would like advice. We all know how it feels when the person we’re speaking with is waiting their turn to speak instead of really listening. We’re a bit less aware when we’re the ones listening without curiosity and when we’re directing the conversation toward our own agenda.

Try a little exercise with a friend of family member where you each take two minutes to answer a prompt (try “what’s in your heart?” or “what’s really been on your mind lately?”) No interruptions, no feedback. See how it feels and you’ll have a great sense for how you can immediately improve how you’re supporting your teen.

Allen Choi, Wellness Coordinator (ext. 7150)
Casey Sasner, Intake Specialist (ext. 7136)

College & Career

The following schools will be on campus:

• Macalester College
• Pacific Lutheran University
• Boston University
• Hamilton College - NY
• University of Massachusetts, Lowell
• Northwestern
• University of Toronto
• Gonzaga
• University of Rochester
• Bryant University
• University of Oregon
• Whitman College

 Check Naviance for date//times to sign up...

Important Reminder! Students need to get permission from their teacher the Monday before the visit AND pick up a pass in College & Career the morning of. Students may not miss a test for a rep visit. 

College Apps and Post-High School Planning

Counselors visited seniors in their government classes last week to talk about post-high school planning and next steps on college apps. We will be meeting with seniors individually throughout the month of September and early October. Students who need a letter of recommendation or school report from their counselor should make sure to have an appointment at least a month in advance of the deadline.

Counselors are assigned by student last name, as follows:

Last names A- E  Anne Schonauer aschonauer@auhsdschools.org   x7113
Last names F - Lar Christine Todd   ctodd@auhsdschools.org   x 7114
Last names Las- Roh  Marissa Meadows mmeadows@auhsdschools.org   x7145
Last names Rog- Z Susan Martin smartin@auhsdschools.org   x 7139

CSF applications due September 30.  

CSF is an honor society.  Students who are members at least 4 semesters in grades 10-12 get a notation on their final transcript and get a stole to wear with graduation robes.   At least one of the semesters must be based on grades earned in senior year. Students must turn in a completed application and pay dues on the Web Store to be a member.  See the Web Store or look here for more info.

United States Marine Band Performance at Acalanes

The Acalanes Instrumental Music Program is honored to host an open concert on Wednesday, October 16 at 7:30pm in the gym, featuring The United States Marine Band.

The last time this band toured in California was ten years ago.Their appearance in Lafayette is the ONLY performance in the immediate Bay Area. This is once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in our Lamorinda community! The United States Marine band is the country’s oldest continuously active professional musical organization. Established in 1798, this band made its White House debut over 200 years ago. It performs at state dinners, White House and other events of national significance.

Tickets are free, with a four-ticket limit per request. Tickets will be available starting September 18. Click on the following link for the ticketing site here. Please note, no bags or backpacks will be allowed in the gym at the performance.

For inquiries, contact Paulie Proffett or Instrumental Music Director Lauren Gibson.

Acalanes Fall Pops Concert – The Dons go to the Movies!

Acalanes High School’s award winning Instrumental Music Department is excited to present its first concert at the Acalanes Performing Arts Center on October 10 at 7pm.  Come listen to the Symphonic Band, Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Orchestra perform favorite soundtracks and classic music from popular movies!