 |
|
Calendar of Upcoming Events
|
30 Back to School Night & Class Parent Meetings (9th/10th/11th)
31 Dons Dialogue
September Dates:
3
School Holiday - Labor Day
6 Senior Parent Night
21 Club Day
28 Dons Dialogue
|
One week down! We hope your family has settled back into a new school year routine and that the transition for our new freshmen has been a smooth one. We were delighted by the standing room only turn-out for the New Parent Orientation. It's clear that the Class of 2022 is going to be an engaged and involved class of parents and students alike.
We have some important events this week so mark your calendars!
Back to School Night
will be held this Thursday,
August 30
from
6-8:30pm
.
It's a great way to meet your student's teacher and learn about their academic plan for the year as well as connect with fellow parents. Join us for an APC Welcome Reception at 5:30pm in front of the Main Gym and don't miss the class meetings (for Freshman, Sophomore and Junior Classes) directly following the classroom presentations. Finally, all APC donors can pick up a hard-copy of the 2018-19 Student Directory & Parent Handbook in front of the gym.
Our first
Dons Dialogue
will be held this Friday, August 31 at 8:45am in the Collaboration Center. We will have a special welcome to our new Associate Principals, Andrea Powers and Mike Plant. Come meet them! There is no better way to stay informed regarding what's happening on campus than to hear firsthand at these forums. Join us!
We look forward to seeing you at Back to School Night and Dons Dialogue.
Go Dons!
Dawn Brightbill & Sarah Cusumano
|
|
Back to School Night:
Thursday,
August 30
,
5:30pm
APC Parent Reception followed by Parent Info Session (Main Gym), classroom visits and class (Freshman, Sophomore and Junior) Meetings.
Dons Dialogue Schedule: Mark your calendar!
These forums are one of the best ways to find out what's going on at Acalanes. Principal Bell leads these informal meeting each month with overviews from various campus departments, as well as updates on the latest hot topics. It's also a great way to meet other Dons parents. Join us for coffee and light bites!
Dons Dialogue Calendar, 8:45-10am, Collaboration Center
Friday, August 31
Friday, September 28 (includes APC General Membership meeting)
Friday, October 26
Friday, November 30
Friday, January 25
Friday, February 22
Friday, March 29
Friday, April 26
Friday, May 31 (includes APC General Membership meeting)
|
|
A HUGE THANK YOU to all the families that have donated to our Acalanes Parents Club Annual Fund and helped us meet our fundraising goal!!
Without your generous financial support to APC, we couldn't do what we do for the students, staff, or school without you!! Partnering together helps make big things happen!
If you have not yet had a chance to donate...there is still time to help us meet our 100% participation goal. Click here to contribute. Any amount helps. Thank you for your support!
Corporate Matching
If you have already made your contribution to APC, we thank you and would ask you to look into Corporate matching for your company. These additional funds are important to our budget as well with no additional cost to you! Please
visit our APC Corporate matching webpage
for more information.
|
|
|
Senior, Junior, Sophomore, Freshman
Class Updates
|
Just a Reminder - Dons Families click on each
Class Heading to link through to our Webpage where you can find lots of great information and useful contacts. Be sure to keep up to date as lots of fun things are on the horizon!
August 30
Back To School Night (Please note the senior parent meeting will NOT be held until September 6)
September 6
Senior Parent Night 7-8:30pm
- The Counselors and College and Career Center will be presenting information about college, applications, timelines, letters of recommendation, transcripts and will be available to answer questions.
- Senior Portrait Flyers from Studio 1 Photography will be available. Studio 1 will be on campus from January 15-18 to take yearbook photographs. If you would like to schedule a session outside of school, contact Studio One Photography at 361-0430.
September 12
Parent Social at Rancho Cantina
, 6:30pm, $30/person includes one drink and appetizers. Please click
here
to purchase a ticket. We will also be accepting payment by cash or check at the door. We hope to see you there!
September 30 Homecoming Hallway Decorating, 10am-4pm
August 30
Back to School Night
Please plan on attending! The Junior Class will have a Parent Meeting immediately following the classroom visits. Kristin Kisner will speak about the all-important College & Counseling Center.
September 14
Football Snack Shack & BBQ
We are looking for Grillers and Snack Shackers to work the JV and Varsity football games versus El Cerrito. This is a great way to meet fellow parents and cheer on our DONS! ....Added bonus - BRAND NEW BBQs!
September 15 Lafayette Art & Wine Festival
Please help by signing up here for a shift...This is an easy opportunity to make some money for the Junior Class. Thank you!
GRAD NIGHT CHAIR
It may seem like it is far off but planning for Grad Night is underway and we need a chair (or chairs) to help man the ship....literally! Grad Night will be on a Commodore yacht, sailing around the San Francisco Bay! We have a great party planner who we have worked with on several Acalanes events but we need some parent(s) to take the help. Please contact Kat O'Donnell if you are interested and have questions.
Tori Heffelfinger
Kathy Hemmenway
Kat O'Donnell
Ellen Seiler
Here we go parents! We've got lots of IMPORTANT DATES for you to put into you calendars to take us through the first couple months of Sophomore year.
Most Importantly
: Thursday, August 30 is
Back To School Night
Plan to attend the Sophomore Class Meeting at 8pm in the PAC (location subject to change). You'll hear from our new Associate Principals, learn about our new on-campus Wellness Center, get info about the College & Career Center and hear from a local police officer regarding new student drivers!
August 28
Sophomore Class Fundraiser 4-9pm at Lafayette's Chipotle. Don't forget to mention you're from Acalanes.
September 13 Sophomore Parent Social at Cooperage from 7-9pm Tickets are $30 per person and available through the AHS Webstore.
September 15, all day,
Lafayette Art & Wine Festival Ticket Booth Sales
. Sophomore parents, we need your help staffing this Sophomore Class fundraiser. Sign up to work a quick shift selling wine/beer
October 19 Sophomore Snack Shack Fundraiser starting at 5:30pm. Parents we need your help in the snack shack! All proceeds go directly to the Class of 2021. Sign up here.
September 30-October 6
Homecoming 2018
Parents, please encourage your sophomore to GET INVOLVED! Homecoming Week has something for everyone and the more the merrier! From skits, to hallway decorating to class competitions, it's a great week of bonding!
We hope the first week of high school went well! We have a lot going on in these coming weeks and want to point out a few important dates:
Thursday,
August 30,
Back To School Night
We hope you are all planning to attend this great event, when you can tour your student's classrooms starting at 6pm. A Freshman class breakout session will follow (location TBA), when you will have the opportunity to hear from our administration (we have two new Associate Principals), learn about our new Wellness Center, hear about peer tutoring and learn more about fundraising (among other things)!
Friday, September 7
Freshman Snack Shack Fundraiser
We need help with concessions during the football games and welcome any interested parents to sign up
here
. It's a fun evening and also a great way to meet other parents while cheering on the Dons!
There will be a lot coming up as we get closer to Homecoming and we encourage you to encourage your student to get involved! We will also be helping out with concessions that evening and are still looking for some parent volunteers- sign up here if you're interested.
Jen Fish
Kristin McPhail
Judy Sandberg
Candy Stryker
|
|
|
Welcome to the 2018-2019 school year! We are real excited for a great 1st quarter and have lots planned for the students.
Club Applications:
Club Day is September 21
Any student can start a club on campus! Applications will be available in Room 314 and on the Acalanes homepage beginning
August 27
and are due
September 12.
Students need the following to start a club:
- 4 students
- A certificated teacher as an advisor
- Constitution
- Completed Application
- Budget or budget waiver
There is a mandatory meeting on Friday, August 31, in room 314 at lunch for any student interested in starting a club.
Stege School Supplies Drive
For the fifth year, we support a sister school in Richmond called Stege Elementary. Throughout the year, students volunteer to work in the classroom and build relationships with the students along with providing donations. This year we are kicking off with a school supplies drive in which we will provide each of the 300+ students with a bag full of supplies. Consider donating in your 5th period class-we are collecting colored pencils, erasers and pencils. Deadline to donate is
August 29.
Need dinner Tuesday night?
Consider going to Chipotle in Lafayette and support the classes of '20, '21 and '22. Mention you are from Acalanes and we get 50% of the profit.
Homecoming 2018
Sunday, September 30-Saturday, October 6
Over 700 students voted on the theme this year and it is....Once Upon a Homecoming (Fairytales). It is a great week & a great opportunity for students to get involved in class skits, lunchtime activities, dodgeball and class hallway decorating.
We still have some spirit wear left to sell! Grab a sweatshirt, sweatpants, Don Nation blue shirt or an Acalanes mug by visiting the webstore. All proceeds benefit the Classes of '19, '20, '21 and '22 and items will be delivered to your student's 3rd or 5th period class.
Questions?
Email
Katherine Walton, the leadership teacher, Room 314.
|
|
College Visits Reps from over 150 colleges will be on campus this fall. This is a great opportunity for students to learn more about a particular school and connect with the rep. Many of the private schools use this as a way to show demonstrated interest. Sign up in Naviance (go to the College home section and scroll to the bottom). Next week: UMass Lowell, George Mason, Northwestern and Maryville.
Essay Workshop Thursday, August 30, 7th Period - Sara Little the creator of The Messy Essay will be holding an essay workshop for our students. This will be great for those who have not started, who need a little more help or who think they are done. Sign up here. Space is limited.
Seniors If you have questions about college applications, essays, list building or anything college related - make an appointment and come during Academy. GO DONS!!!
General Information
Financial Aid Presentation
Learn about financial aid from the financial aid department at St. Mary's on
October 15
,
at 6pm, in the library.
Volunteering at John Muir If your child is interested in volunteering at John Muir, send him or her to the College & Career Center to put their name on the list. Volunteers must be able to commit to 3 hours a week, be interested in a medical career, have at least a 3.0 and be either sophomore or junior. Two Acalanes students are chosen each semester. There is a running list so make sure to send your child each semester to continue showing his or her interest.
|
|
|
Schedule Changes
Schedule changes can be requested by filling out a form outside the counseling office before school.
A list of students with changes will be posted on the window at breaks and lunch. The last day to
change a schedule and start in a new class is
August 31
.
Students can still drop 1 class (depending on credits and other considerations)
until
October 26
.
Counselor Class Visits Your counselors have been hard at work and are excited to see students again. Counselors are here to help support your students with academic planning as well as social and emotional development. Students can email us or stop by to request an appointment. Counselors will be visiting each grade level in English classes during the first
few weeks of school, with a grade-specific presentation.
|
|
Heading
back to school
can be tough on young people, but you can help them cope.
While we can't completely shield young people from all the stressful or traumatic situations they may be facing, we can help them learn to manage their emotions and reactions in ways that cultivate
resilience
.
Mental health issues like
depression and anxiety
in young people are treatable and should be addressed as soon as possible.
It's important for parents and caregivers to know the signs that a young person is struggling emotionally and have the tools to help. Click here for more information.
It's hard to talk about mental health sometimes, but the conversation is too important not to have. Find tips and information to help you get started
here.
|
|
Illness And When To Keep Your Student Home From School
- If your child has a fever. When a child has a temperature of 100 or more, they are often both infectious and also really not feeling well.
- If your child feels ill enough that they cannot participate in class or attend to learning activities.
- If your child is contagious (pink eye, strep throat, flu). Please keep your child home in this case. They will recover better and faster, and are less likely to spread their illness to other students and teachers. If your child needs antibiotics, they should NOT return to school until they have been on antibiotics for at least 24 hours.
- Vomiting and/or diarrhea. Your child should not return until they have no vomiting or diarrhea for at least 24 hours.
Any of the above are examples when students should definitely stay home from school. If you take your child to the doctor, please turn in medical documentation with an update on their condition. More information is always available on my website.
Acalanes School Nurse
925.280.3970 x7128
|
|
 |
|
Welcome Back!
LPIE wishes you a warm welcome back to school! We look forward to working with you this year to provide students with the classes, programs, supplies and tools they need to succeed and thrive. If you are new to our district, we are the educational foundation in Lafayette, run by parent volunteers, that provides major financial support to all six of Lafayette's public schools. We bridge the gap between federal and state funding and the true cost of high-quality, well-rounded education. If you are a returning family, there may be some things you didn't know about LPIE ... for instance:
Did you know that this week, thanks to your LPIE contributions, every Freshman, Sophomore and Junior will be issued a Chromebook? This 1-to-1 program is fully funded by LPIE and continues to grow each year.
LPIE at Acalanes This Week:
The Lafayette Art and Wine Festival is coming up
September 15 & 16. Help LPIE staff the ticket booth for Lamorinda's largest annual festival and have a lot of fun in the process! Sign up genius
here.
It's not too late to make your annual donation... visit our donation page
here.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact Laura-Kate Rurka at or Sarah Chang. Thank you!
|
|
The Acalanes Boosters will provide a Strength Training and Conditioning program throughout the school year. The Kick-off Meeting will be Wednesday,
August 29
from 3-4:30pm in the outdoor area between the main and small gyms.
Monday,
September 17,
there will be a presentation by Julian Jenkins of
Next College Student Athlete (NCSA)
in the PAC at 7pm. This organization uses the athletic and academic hopes of the student to find the most suitable universities and assist with contact.
This week's can't miss events:
Football
Friday,
August 31
at Rodriguez HS. JV at 5:15pm and varsity at 7:30pm.
Girls Volleyball
Tuesday,
August 28
at Deer Valley HS. Freshmen at 4pm, JV at 5pm and Varsity at 6:30pm.
Girls Water Polo
Tuesday,
August 28 host Carondelet HS. JV at 4pm and Varsity at 5pm.
Girls Tennis
Tuesday, August 28 at Heritage HS at 4pm.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
