• Last Call for Fall 2019 APC Grant Applications!

    September 20, 2019

    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 this Friday, September 27.

  • Homecoming Updates

    September 20, 2019

    2019 Homecoming kicks off this week and the students couldn’t be more excited! The schedule of events is below. A few things to highlight:

    Monday, Lunch: Unified Soccer on the field. Please encourage your student to show up and support our special education students as they compete. 

    Wednesday, 7pm: Student vs student dodgeball in the big gym. Please encourage your student to come watch or play. It is a definite highlight of the year for students.

    Friday

    5:30pm: Tailgate. All of the Lafayette community is invited! We will have games, activities, popcorn, and 2 student bands playing. Please come out!

    7:00pm: Football Game

    1. Wear blue!
    2. Bring 1 or 2 canned foods to donate. This is the last chance for our community to come together and donate food to those who need a meal.
    3. There will be a halftime show with cheer, skit performances, Homecoming winner announcement, and a powder toss.
    4. Pep band and a DJ will be at the game. 

    Saturday, 7-10pm: Homecoming Dance.  Tickets are on sale at lunch and online and prices increase at the door. The dance offers more than just music! There is a game truck, caricaturist, photo booth, air brush tattoos, tacos, boba, ice cream & a hypnotist. If your student wants to bring a guest, guest contracts are in the main office and due Wednesday. 

     

    Homecoming Week Events

    Sunday 10am - 3pm

    Hallway Decorating

    Monday, the 23rd

    Dress-up: Earth, Wind, Fire & Water

    Seniors -  Blue
    Juniors - Red
    Sophomore - White
    Freshmen - Green

    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

    Seniors - Queen
    Juniors - Beach Boys
    Sophomores - Red +Devil + Black + Leather
    Freshmen - Beatles/60s Fashion + Yellow

    Lunch: Karaoke
    Last DAY of Canned Food Drive

    Friday, the 27th

    Dress-up (day): Class Shirts or Class Color

    Seniors - black
    Juniors - grey
    Sophomores -  blue
    Freshman - white

    Academy: Homecoming Rally (Students only)
    Lunch: Carnival
    5:30 pm: Pre Game Tailgate for the Lafayette Community
    7 pm: Homecoming Game (EVERYONE Wear Blue!)

    Saturday, the 28th at 7:00pm
    Homecoming Dance
    Tickets are on sale via the Web Store or at lunch. 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. 

     

    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 before Wednesday-we are selling out so buy yours quick! Shirts will be distributed 5th period Friday and at the tailgate. 

    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. 

    6th Man Jersey. Order a personalized 6th man jersey to wear to any athletic event including basketball! Jerseys can be customized with last name and graduation year on the back. Orders need to be placed by October 8 as they take 4 weeks to be produced and shipped (just in time for basketball season!).

  • What identities does your student hold?

    September 20, 2019

    High school is an important, and hectic, time in an adolescent's life.

    With all the academics, social and extra-curricular activities they engage in, they hold many identities. Think about your student. What do they do? Are they academically-oriented? Athletic? Artistic? Creative? Politically engaged or social action oriented? Talented at gaming? It is important to recognize these other identities, because solely holding the identity of a "student" can be very stressful. Having a narrow view on the identity of a student can make a low test score, bad quiz, or missing assignment devastating.

    Celebrate all of your student’s talents and abilities through the ups and downs of adolescent life and they’ll feel supported as a whole person. (CS 9/17)

    From Matthew Gahagan, Wellness Counselor Trainee

  • Progress Reports

    September 20, 2019

     Teachers updated School Loop this week. Paper report cards were only mailed home if no parent was registered on School Loop.  The next progress report is the end of the quarter, October 11.

     

  • School Nurse

    September 20, 2019

    I want to share a valuable resource from the American Lung Association that parents can use to begin a dialogue about vaping. The website is very informative and you can download The Conversation Guide HERE. 

    I am also including more resources on my Google School Nurse Website.

    Please call me to discuss concerns you have if you think or know your student is vaping.

    Dvora Citron, RN, MS
    Acalanes School Nurse

     

  • This Week’s Update

    September 18, 2019

    Lots of opportunities to work on college apps at brunch, lunch and academy. Make sure to have your student sign up for academy, as space is limited to 20 students.

    Oct. 12 Mock ACT 9-12 ($30 fundraiser for AAUW) Sign Up Here
    Oct. 15 AUHSD Military Career Night @AHS Gym 6:30p-8p
    Oct. 19 PSAT - register on the Web Store.
    Open to Juniors and interested Sophomores.
    Oct. 23 SAT/ACT Info Night @AHS 6:30p-7:30p

    College Rep Visits this Week! The following schools will be on campus:

    • Whitworth
    • University of South Carolina
    • PItzer
    • Landmark College
    • Willamette Univ.
    • Boise State
    • Univ. of Delaware
    • Marymount California Univ.
    • Puget Sound
    • Drexel
    • American University
    • Vassar
    • Worcester Poly
    • Indiana
    • Elon
    • Cal State Maritime Academy

    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.

    We have many students working at local businesses and we want to celebrate that! The College & Career Center is creating a “Dons in the Workforce” bulletin board. Please have your student bring me a picture of them at work!

    Did you miss the presentation at Senior Parent Night? Here are the College & Career Center and Counselor’s slides about colleges, the application process, Naviance and all things related to “Life after Acalanes!”

    As always, email me with any questions!

    Wendy
    wreicher@auhsdschools.org

  • Grad Night 2020

    September 15, 2019

     Come aboard a Commodore Cruise to celebrate graduation! 

    Acalanes High School parents have a proud tradition of offering a safe, alcohol and drug-free event for our graduating seniors. This year’s Grad Night is held Friday, May 29, 2020 immediately following the Graduation Ceremony at Acalanes.  The event includes transportation to and from the Commodore Cruise harbor in Alameda, dinner, snacks, security and fabulous entertainment.

    Tickets are now $200 per student but the price increases on November 30.  You may purchase a ticket on the Web Store.  Not sure if you already have?  Login, go to MyAccount, MySettings and see your purchase history.  

    Note: Grad night scholarships are available so ALL seniors can attend. Your School Counselor can provide information regarding scholarships. 

    Download the Senior Grad Night Waiver

  • Co-Presidents’ Message

    September 15, 2019

    We are looking forward to the APC Campus Clean-Up later today from 1-4pm. Students and parents are still able to drop by for an hour or two to help our campus shine. Meet in the Acalanes Main Quad (bring work gloves & a refillable water bottle) for your volunteer assignment. We hope you all notice a difference on campus this week.

    A shout out to our APC Teacher Appreciation team led by veteran volunteer Emma Bishopp & Renee Kerns for kicking off the school year with a fun welcome back lunch for teachers and staff. Special thanks to Acalanes parents Julie & Robert Pancoast for providing a tremendous discount on yummy pizza.

    You may be hearing about the new Dons Show Up campaign on campus or from your students. To help explain this messaging, check out the General Announcements below.  We plan to run a Dons Show Up section from time to time in our newsletter, focused on ways that students and parents can “show up” for one another on and off campus. 

    We had a TREMENDOUS turn-out at our first APC Dons Dialogue and our next one will be held this Friday, September 20, at 8:45am, in the Collaboration Center. Principal Bell and our associate principals will share information about key programs and activities on campus. Check out more details in the APC in Action section below. We hope you will join us!

    Dawn Brightbill & Sarah Cusumano

     

  • DONS SHOW UP

    September 15, 2019

    Perhaps you’ve seen the new hashtag #DonsShowUp around campus and wondered exactly what it is. This year, Acalanes is kicking off a new campaign asking students, parents, teachers, and staff to “show up” for each other to help build community.

    Showing up could be as simple as going to an event that a student might not usually attend; athletes showing up for plays, theater students going to concerts or someone from the orchestra attending a game.

    Showing up also means students reaching out and being there for another student; taking the extra step to ask a fellow student if they are OK, checking in on someone eating lunch alone or simply saying hi to another student whom they don’t already know.

    The goal is for all students at Acalanes to be supported and seen. 

  • Dons Dialogue 9/20

    September 15, 2019
    Friday, Sept 20, 8:45-10am

    APC’s second Dons Dialogue of the year is this Friday morning in the Collaboration Center.  Following a quick approval of the APC Budget, Principal Travis Bell and Associate Principals Andrea Powers and Mike Plant have a full agenda, so you won’t want to miss it!  Dons Dialogue will include:

    • Acalanes High School Safety Protocols
    • Sandy Hook Promise Anonymous Reporting System
    • Academy Update 
    • Recap of the Recent Mike Smith Student Assembly Presentation & Workshop 
    • ASB and Leadership Update

    As always, parking will be reserved in the parking lot south of the Main Gym. Coffee and treats will be served.

    See you there!

     

  • HELP HELP HELP!

    September 15, 2019

    We still have quite a few afternoon slots to fill in the Lafayette Art & Wine Festival Ticket Booth next Saturday, September 21.  (The Junior class receives $1,000 for staffing the booth!)  Grab a couple of friends, enjoy the festival and then work a quick 2 hour shift to help our class!  Sign up here.