Remembering 9/11: Acalanes Staff and Students Reflect on the Tragedy and What it Means to Them
By Zoe Edelman, Head Videographer // On the 18th anniversary of 9/11, Acalanes students and staff reflect on the importance of the day and what it means to them.
The Survival Guide to Freshmen Year: From one Acalanes Student to Another
By Allie Marcu, Staff Writer We all live or have lived the freshmen experience. Freshmen don’t understand why upperclassmen hate them until they aren’t one anymore. Once they become a sophomore, they then […]
Double NPR Episode 2: Electoral College
By Nicole Prozan, Opinion Editor // On this weeks episode of Double NPR, our editors discuss the electoral college. Enjoy! https://anchor.fm/acalanesblueprint/episodes/Episode-2-Electoral-College-e5aj0r
Motivational Speaker Mike Smith Brings new Ideas to Acalanes
By Ella Alpert, Staff Writer // Curious Acalanes students quickly fell silent as a young man, with hair past his shoulders and a sleeve of tattoos made his way across the gym. This […]
Bathroom Renovations Create an Unusual Situation for one Acalanes Teacher
By Tom Bequette, Staff Writer // For many students and staff, using the Acalanes bathrooms is the last thing on their mind as they go about their day. But for Abigail Smith, Acalanes’ […]
Summer Jobs and Internships Taken on by Students at Acalanes
By Aysha Craig, Staff Writer // Whether the goal is to take on a large responsibility or to try something new, jobs and internships are a popular way Acalanes students spend their time […]
Double NPR: Affirmative Action
By Zoe Cate, Online Editor-in-Chief // The long-awaited first episode of Double NPR is here. In this new segment, two editors, Nicole Prozan and Nelson Rogers, from opposite ends of the political […]
Football Pulls Away From Sacred Heart Cathedral
By Ryan Owens, Online Sports Editor // The greatest teams in sports are always resilient. The Acalanes football team showed plenty of resiliency Friday night as they defeated Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep […]
Football Triumphs in Season Opener
By Daniel Adri, Staff Writer // The energy followed the Acalanes football team as they sprinted out onto the field. The crowd was buzzing with excitement as the Dons kicked off their season […]
Aquadons Swim From Alcatraz Island to Chrissy Field
By Lizzy Xie, Online News Editor // While the majority of the Acalanes High School staff and students slept in on Saturday, August 25, a group of teachers jumpstarted their weekend with an […]
Cooking With Charlie: Popcorn Three Ways
By Zoe Cate, Online Editor-in-Chief // Cooking With Charlie is back! This time chef Charlie teaches us how to make popcorn three ways: sweet, salty, and spicy. Watch the video below to learn […]
Future Artist Recognition 2019
By Zoe Edelman, Head Videographer // An awards ceremony was held at Acalanes on May 30 to celebrate the seniors who are pursuing the arts in college. Watch the recap below!
Senior Week 2019
// As the school year comes to an end, so does the class of 2019’s time at Acalanes. Senior week was held May 20- 24 at Acalanes as a way for the […]
Senior Ditch Day 2019
By Stephanie Liu, Staff Writer // It’s 8:30 on a Friday morning and classrooms feel weirdly empty. Around two-thirds of students are missing, and the rest of the class checks their social media […]
The Nuances of Separating the Art From the Artist
By Anne Thiselton-Dyer, Arts Editor // It seems every day that another celebrity turns out to be a horrible person; Johnny Depp, Kevin Spacey, and R. Kelly are just a few of many […]
Students Jump Over Hurdles to Make it to Prom on Time
By Stephanie Liu, Staff Writer // Track star Mila Mathias paced arround her room, willing the polish on her nails to dry faster. Her prom dress and heels laid in a bag by […]
Pick Your Poison: Study Stimulant or Party Prescription
By Zoe Cate and Sofia Olsson, Online Editor-in-Chief and Copy Editor // Welcome to Generation Adderall: a generation of students struggling with a dependence on a tiny blue pill as a “study buddy” […]
Daniel Appel Wins 2019 Teacher of the Year Award
By Sydney Lauer and Leda Abkenari, Feature Editors // Each year, the Acalanes Union High School District (AUHSD) distributes “Teacher Of The Year Awards” to recognize outstanding staff members for their hard work […]
Exploring the Unique Experiences of Immigrant Students
By Lizzy Xie, Online News Editor // Among the vast majority of American-born high schoolers at Acalanes, a small portion of students possess backgrounds far unlike those of their peers. These individuals have […]
2019 Recruited Athletes
By Noah Glosson, Sports Editor // Acalanes Boosters honored 13 student-athletes during lunchtime at the Big Gym on Thursday, May 23. These athletes have either signed or committed to play their sports […]
POPs Concert 2019
By Anna Yiannkos, Head Photographer // Acalanes hosted the annual POPs concert on Thursday, May 23. Watch the recap below!
Former Speechwriter for George W. Bush and Blueprinter Visits Acalanes
By Anna Yiannkos, Head Photographer // Former speechwriter for President George W. Bush and Blueprint Editor-in-Chief came back to Acalanes to speak about his journey from Blueprint to the White House and all the lessons he […]
Blueprint Wins Big in Local and National Competitions
By Lizzy Xie, Online News Editor // Acalanes’ student-run newspaper, Blueprint, won first place for Overall Excellence in the county-wide Lesher Journalism Awards contest for the second year in a row in a […]
Cooking With Charlie: Garlic Knots
By Zoe Cate, Online Editor-in-Chief // On this episode of Cooking With Charlie, Charlie Keohane teaches us how to make garlic knots. Watch the video below to learn how to make these delicious […]
Cooking with Charlie: Chocolate Oat Bars
By Zoe Cate, Online Editor-in-Chief // Welcome to the first episode of Cooking with Charlie. This is a new segment on Blueprint Online, where we sit down with Charlie Keohane as she experiments […]
Men’s Volleyball Wins All In Close Call Against Campolindo High School
By Sarah Westergren, Staff Writer // Tensions ran high as the Dons battled for first in the league against rival Campolindo High School on Thursday, April 25 at home. Competition picked up […]
Baseball Rolls Over Rival Campolindo to Remain Undefeated In League Play
By Ryan Owens, Online Sports Editor // The warmer weather might have had something to do with the smoking hot bats of the Acalanes Dons Tuesday, April 23. The Dons scored […]
Spring Play 2019
By Zoe Cate, Online Editor-in-Chief // Baskerville comes to the Acalanes small theatre Wednesday, April 24 through Saturday, April 27 at 7 PM. Tickets can be purchased on the webstore. Support the DramaDons!
Preview of Powder Puff 2019
By John Kalil, Managing Editor-in-Chief // Back for its second year on campus after a long hiatus, Powder Puff women’s football will take place Wednesday, April 16 and Thursday, April 17 on the field […]
Acalanes Men’s Lacrosse Honors Former Lacrosse Coach Matt Lynn
By John Kalil, Managing Editor-in-Chief // It was a beautiful spring evening to celebrate the life of a cherished member of the Acalanes community. This past Friday, April 14, students, parents, and community […]
QSA Day of Silence Calls Attention to Prevalent LGBTQ Issues
By Jamie Lattin, Staff Writer // A congregation of students donning red and wearing stickers gathered in the front quad on a bright, crisp spring morning, prepared for a silent protest that […]
2019 Annual Talent Show Recap
By Zoe Edelman, Videographer // Students showcased their gifts through the annual talent show on Wednesday, March 27 in the PAC from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Hosts included seniors Ed Collinson, […]
10 Things To Do This Spring Break
By Binti Sohn, Staff Writer // Spring break can either seem like the slowest week of the year, or it can pass by in a second. Learning how to spend it right […]
Student Profile: Meeting Next Year’s ASB Officers
By Nicole Prozan, Staff Writer // Each year, new students are elected to head the Associated Student Body (ASB). ASB has many responsibilities including overseeing leadership, planning events, and being liaisons for […]
Daughter Margalit Ir Speaks of Her Parents’ Holocaust Experience in Academy Seminar
By Jamie Lattin, Staff Writer // When presented in an academic setting, history can often appear to be an impersonal slew of facts and statistics. The stories that are passed down from […]
Competition Strikes Between Staff and Students in New Senior-Only Dodgeball
By Ryann Drue, Videographer // In the first event of its kind, the Acalanes Leadership Associated Student Body (ASB) officers put together a senior-only dodgeball event, more formally known as “Dodge or […]
Annual Psychology Project Reminds Students of Teenage Parenting Obligations
By Ryann Drue, Videographer // Psychology students discovered what it meant to be a teenage parent through the yearly flour baby project, spanning from March 4 to March 8. Students were required […]
Q&A: Getting to Know the Characters of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella
By Stephanie Liu, Staff Writer // Acalanes Performing Arts presents a production of everyone’s favorite classic fairytale, Cinderella. Disney fans should prepare for different vibes, different songs, and different personalities than the Disney […]
Improvadons Club Offers Theatrical Entertainment
By Binti Sohn, Staff Writer // To all students dreaming of becoming an actor or actress, becoming an Improvadon might just be the right course of action. The student-led club focuses on […]
College Board: The Non-Profit Dominating College Admissions
By Kiara Kunnes and Charlie Keohane, Print Editor-in-Chief and News Editor // One recruited athlete who received a full-ride scholarship has taken the SAT. One academically oriented student who has consistently taken Advanced Placement […]
A Continuum of Silence: Part II of Exploring Sexual Assault
By Karen Rosenberg and Lisi Burciaga, Print Editors-in-Chief // Dear Readers, Before you read this story, we warn you that it is a very dark, heavy hitting, and sometimes stomach-turning piece. If matters […]
Brenden Wins All in Staff and Student March Madness Basketball Tournament
By Ryann Drue, Videographer // Staff and students kicked off March with the first annual March Madness Week from Feb. 25 to March 1. ASB hosted a faculty and student tournament at […]
Black Student Union Raises Awareness of Black History Month on Campus
By Zoe Edelman and Lizzy Xie, Staff Writers // February is Black History Month; Acalanes’ Black Student Union (BSU) teamed up with the Acalanes Leadership Diversity board to put on a week […]
Sophomore Max Simas Plays for All-State Band in Fresno Convention
By Binti Sohn, Staff Writer // While most students’ biggest achievements include grades or the starting lineup, sophomore Max Simas’ accomplishment stands apart; he played the drums as part of the esteemed All-State […]
Women’s Basketball Falls Short in Overtime of NCS Quarterfinals
By Noah Glosson, Staff Writer // The four-seeded women’s basketball team fell in heartbreaking fashion to the five-seed Redwood Giants of Larkspur by a score of 65-57 in the North Coast Section […]
Valentine’s Day Singing Grams Make a Comeback at Acalanes
By Nicole Prozan, Staff Writer // Valentine’s day singing grams are a coveted tradition at Acalanes. After a lapse in this tradition last year, singing grams are being re-instituted this Valentine’s day with […]
Women’s Basketball Powers Past Northgate in First Round of NCS
By John Kalil, Sports Editor // It was a dry day in Lafayette, but last night the women’s basketball team poured in 62 points to soak Northgate in the first round of […]
Men’s Basketball Upsets College Park in First League Win of the Season
By Noah Glosson, Staff Writer // The men’s basketball team picked up its signature win of the season over Diablo Athletic League (DAL) powerhouse College Park 85-76 on Wednesday, Feb. 6 at […]
Blueprint Creative Submissions
How Different Writing Creative Submissions Winner, Anonymous “If you had a box of crayons,” Ms. Florine starts slowly, “would you want them to all be the same color?” She sweeps her shoulder length […]
Breaking the Silence: Revealing the Hidden Imprints of Sexual Assault
Dear Readers, Before you read this story, we warn you that it is a very dark, heavy hitting, and sometimes stomach-turning piece. If matters of great sensitivity, such as sexual assault, will […]
Breaking Down The Walls Breaks Standard for Anti-Bullying Campaigns
By Leda Abkenari, Jamie Lattin, Stephanie Liu, and Zoe Edelman, Staff Writers and Videographer // Kindness is in our DNA. Despite the overall accepting atmosphere at Acalanes, the community is not immune to […]
Athlete In the Moment: Girls Soccer Against Campolindo 01/28
By Aliye Wingate, Staff Writer // Whenever a team from Acalanes plays Campolindo High School, there will always be some sort of anticipation; after all, we are rivals. As part of the […]
Men’s Basketball Defeated by Rival Campolindo High School
By Noah Glosson, Staff Writer // The men’s basketball team endured a tough loss to rival high school Campolindo 43-66 in front of a sellout crowd on Thursday, Jan. 24, bringing their […]
Why Anti-Semitism Led Me to Stay Home From the Women’s March
By Nicole Prozan, Staff Writer // The two most important aspects of my identity are feminism and Judaism. Feminism is a main pillar of my everyday life which dictates my actions. My strong […]
Reflecting on the Fall 2018 College Application Experience
By Sarah Westergren, Online Editor-in-Chief // As the final Common Application deadline comes to a close, Acalanes students took a moment to reflect on the process and offer their best advice for […]
Student Profile: Didgeridoo Player John Stancik
By Ryann Drue, Videographer // In an exclusive Blueprint interview, Online Associate Editor Zoe Cate sat down with sophomore John Stancik to talk all things didgeridoo; a unique wind instrument he recently […]
Discovery of Mold Prompts School to Close Weight Room
By Noah Glosson, Staff Writer // Acalanes has closed the school weight room due to a recent discovery of mold on Tuesday, Jan. 9 in one of its corners. The weight room […]
Finals Week Advice for Freshmen
By Shreekar Pandey and Zoe Cate, Feature Editor and Online Associate Editor // Finals week is taking place at Acalanes Monday, Jan. 14 through Jan. 17. For freshmen, this will be their […]
Men’s Basketball Falls in Final Seconds of Chris Huber Classic Championship
By Noah Glosson, Staff Writer // In an intense Chris Huber Classic championship game, Acalanes fell in heartbreaking fashion as Tamalpais scored the go-ahead basket with 1.1 seconds remaining, handing Acalanes its […]
Men’s Basketball Advances to Third Straight Chris Huber Classic Championship
By Noah Glosson, Staff Writer // The Acalanes men’s basketball team held off a physically talented De Anza squad 57-51 on Friday, Dec. 28, earning themselves a spot in the Chris Huber […]
Men’s Basketball Shines in First Round of Chris Huber Classic
By Noah Glosson, Staff Writer // In honor of longtime assistant basketball coach and Physical Education teacher Chris Huber, the men’s basketball team hosted the first day of its annual Chris Huber […]
10 Things To Do This Winter Break
By Anna Yiannikos, Natalie Seiler, and Sydney Rohrbough, Staff Photographers // Stuck at home for the holidays? Have no fear—here are 10 things to keep you busy this winter season. Make your […]
Acalanes Celebrates Another Successful Year of “Adopt-a-Family”
By Zoe Edelman, Videographer // Acalanes staff and students participated in the annual “Adopt-a-Family” celebration on Wednesday, Dec. 18 during Academy, hosted by the Community Outreach Leadership board. This year, 25 classes […]
Acalanes Performing Arts “Sing All Together” Winter Performance
// The Acalanes Performing Arts Department presented their 2018 winter concerts entitled “Sing All Together” on Dec. 18 and 20. The first performance included special guest Las Lomas Chorale, with the second […]
10 Tips for Freshmen Heading Into First-Semester Finals
By Noah Glosson, Staff Writer // Finals week is a daunting time for most students. Unlike previous years, teachers will only have one week to review with their students before they hand […]
The Best and Worst of Netflix Holiday Films, Ranked
By Claire Mueller, Staff Writer // It’s the perfect time of year to bundle up under a warm blanket, drink hot cocoa, and watch a seasonal movie with close friends and family. […]
Acalanes Showcases Students’ Musical Talent In Instrumental Winter Concert
By Ryann Drue, Videographer // Acalanes hosted its annual Instrumental Winter Concert on Tuesday, Dec. 18 through Thursday, Dec. 20. The Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Freshman Band performed that Tuesday, with […]
An Alternative Attitude Towards Jewish Holidays
By Nicole Prozan, Staff Writer // Bright twinkling lights throughout the streets, holiday commercials, and the coveted return of the red Starbucks cup stir up feelings of cheer, excitement, and happiness among […]
Question and Answer with Water Polo Head Coach Misha Buchel
By John Kalil, Sports Editor // Sports Editor John Kalil interviewed women’s water polo head coach Misha Buchel on another successful season after their NCS Championship win on Saturday, Dec. 1. Kalil: […]
The Art Room Exhibit Showcases Student Artwork
By Sarah Westergren, Online Editor-in-Chief // A subtle melody. Soft, warm hues. Walls, covered in art. It was the perfect ambiance at Lafayette’s Art Room last Friday night. “I wanted to showcase a […]
Loss of Another AUHSD Student Results in Community Devastation
By Zoe Cate, Ari Goodman and Sarah Westergren, Online Associate Editor, Staff Writer, and Online Editor-in-Chief // The Acalanes Union High School District (AUHSD) suffered yet another loss last week with the […]
Bejing Teachers-In-Training Visit Acalanes to Learn About American School System
By Stephanie Liu and Lizzy Xie, staff writers // Although the Chinese education system is known for producing competitive, smart and capable students, there is always room to grow. For Chinese teachers, […]
District Wears Green in Light of Miramonte High School Tragedy
By Noah Glosson, Staff Writer // Students and staff across the Acalanes Union High School District (AUHSD) wore green for Miramonte Support Day on Friday, Nov. 30. Throughout the week, Leadership posted […]
Women’s Water Polo Wins Second North Coast Section Title in Three Years
By Noah Glosson, Staff Writer // The dream season is now complete. The Lady Dons are the 2018 North Coast Section (NCS) Women’s Water Polo Open Division Champions. In front of a […]
Women’s Volleyball Wins First Round of North Coast Sections
By John Kalil, Sports Editor // The Acalanes women’s varsity volleyball team gave new meaning to the term “road warriors” this past Tuesday, Oct. 23. The Lady Dons made the six hour […]
Play Preview 2018: ‘12 Angry Jurors’
By Lizzy Xie, Staff Writer // Blueprint sat down with lead actors Anna Sominsky, Blake Levinson, Alex Gold and Joel Braunstein to get the latest scoop on everything “12 Angry Jurors”, a […]
Orchestra and Wind Ensemble Boast Yet Another Successful Fall Instrumental Concert
By Sydney Lauer, Staff Writer // The Acalanes String Orchestra and Wind Ensemble wowed audiences during its annual Fall Instrumental Concert. Taking place Thursday, Oct. 18 in the Performing Arts Center, the […]
Football Falls to Rival Campolindo High School
By Ryan Owens, Staff Writer // The Acalanes football team endured a tough loss to rival school Campolindo this past Friday, Oct. 12. The Dons committed three turnovers and failed to […]
Acalanes Choirs Perform at Annual District Concert
// Acalanes’ Women’s Ensemble and Bella Voce choirs, along with Campolindo’s and Miramonte’s choirs, performed at the Women’s Fall Choral Classic (FCC) on Oct. 11 at the Lafayette Orinda Presbyterian Church. The […]
‘To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before’ Pleases Teenage Audiences
By Claire Mueller, Staff Writer // With an astounding rating of 96 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” is not your typical Netflix romantic comedy. It introduces […]
Homecoming Week: Tuesday
By Ryann Drue, Videographer // Students partook in Tuesday’s cardstacking challenge, modeled after the juniors’ subtheme, Alice In Wonderland. Juniors took first, with sophomores following behind and seniors lagging in third place. The senior […]
“Senior Sunrise” Tradition Makes Its Way to Acalanes
By Coco Cornish, Copy Editor // As the sun rises over senior year, so does a new found tradition at Acalanes High School. Coming together on Friday, Aug. 24, 75 seniors gathered […]
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