Dear Acalanes Community,

I am reaching out to let you know the Acalanes campus is likely to open for hybrid, in-person learning on March 16. Our staff and teachers are looking forward to the next step in ultimately getting our students back on campus full-time. 

The March 16th estimated return date is based on hitting “red tier” covid data as indicated on the county dashboard (more details can be found from our last Dons Dialogue here). Communication from Contra Costa County and careful monitoring of the data support this projected timeline.

The information that follows below is a helpful guide and checklist for the next steps required for hybrid instruction and details about our transition to in-person learning next week.

Instructional Learning Cohort Reminder

All students have been scheduled into Hybrid Schedule groups based on your selection of either in-person hybrid or fully-remote learning. Hybrid in-person groups are Student Cohorts A and B. Fully remote groups are AC and BC. To view your assigned cohort groups follow the directions below:

  1. Log in to Aeries PASS portal: PASS Parent Login
  2. Select the tab "Student Info"
  3. Select the tab "Demographics"
  4. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and look for the box labeled "Sched Grp"

Please see the district website for your child’s specific schedule as determined by the instructional model of in-person cohort or fully remote cohort.


Prepare for Transition Schedule & 1st Week of Hybrid Instruction
The schedule for next week (3/8-3/12) has been altered to accommodate teacher and student preparation for in-person instruction. If our data continues on the predicted path, the week following (3/16 - 3/19) will begin the in-person hybrid schedule.

Please note the following:
  • Students will not have school on Monday, March 8th or Monday, March 15. 
  • On Tuesday through Friday, March 9 - March 12, students will be expected to check in for daily attendance with their Cohort Academy teacher at 9:00 AM.  After the check-in, students will be released to do asynchronous work.
  • Tuesday (3/9) and Wednesday (3/10), all students will be required to complete a mandatory module in Canvas regarding health and safety during hybrid learning. This course is for all students, even those who have selected to stay fully remote.
  • Thursday (3/11) and Friday (3/12), teachers will assign work to all students.  All students should expect work for their regularly scheduled Thursday and Friday classes and may have homework. Course work and homework will be communicated through class pages on Canvas.


Check Your Student's In-Person Orientation Time

For students who will be attending in-person, attendance at our in-person orientations is required. There are a lot of things to be familiar with as we return to in-person instruction. In addition to the Canvas module, students will be assigned a time for a live tour on campus.  Assignments are based on grade level by alpha last name and will take place Tuesday through Friday of next week.  You can see an outline of scheduled in-person orientation dates below but please check this document for specific times by last name.
  • March 9th - Seniors (10am, 11am & Noon)
  • March 10th - Juniors (t10am, 11am & Noon)
  • March 11th - Sophomores (10am, 11am & Noon)
  • March 12th - Frosh (10am, 11:30am & 1pm) 

All students are invited for the orientations, whether they are planning to attend in-person or stay fully remote.  Students must come to the campus at their assigned time and must keep a mask on at all times.  Students must also fill out their health screening prior to coming to campus (see below).


Register for Required Health Screening

Part of our safety plan involves daily health screenings for students and staff.  All students are required to complete a COVID-19 screening every day that they come to school.  The health screening should be completed in the morning prior to arriving at school. Please choose an option below:


It is recommended that students use the cell/mobile set up as it allows you to set up a daily text message reminder.  The registration process will ask you to enter your name, phone number or email, date of birth, and ID number.  For the questions that begin with “I am…” please select the “Neither of these” options. More information regarding the required health screening is available on our district website.

Continue to Read All Communications

There will be a steady stream of information shared from the school and district over the next week or two that I encourage you to read thoroughly so your students have all the details they need for the transition to hybrid learning. As always, don’t hesitate to reach out should you have any questions.

We are so excited to welcome our students, in-person, back to campus!

Acalanes Community Always,

Travis Bell
Principal