During the next couple of days, donating to Walnut Creek School District will be as easy as dropping the kids off at school or grabbing a cup of coffee.

The Walnut Creek Education Foundation's fall campaign is still underway, with volunteers collecting donations during "Fall Donations Days" today and Friday . Parents can hand their completed donation forms during morning drop-off or afternoon pickup at the Walnut Creek School District's five elementary schools, and at Walnut Creek Intermediate School, both days.

For added convenience for parents to give donations, foundation volunteers will also be in downtown Walnut Creek on Friday at Peet's Coffee & Tea, 1343 Locust St.; and at Starbucks Coffee, 1340 N. Main St. Parents can give donations while grabbing their morning coffee anytime from 8 to 10:30 a.m.

To date the foundation has raised $607,445, but still needs $116,555 to reach its goal. Working to counter deep budget cuts to education from the State of California this past year and for the coming year, the foundation is trying to pick up the pace of raising money to ensure important academic programs and student support services remain in place for students.

For more information go to wcefk12.org.

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    The Las Lomas High School Instrumental Music Department is ready to hit all the right notes with its fall concert series, "Fantasia."

    The event

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    will have instrumental compositions in a free and improvisatory style under the direction of music director John Schroder. At 7:30 p.m. Oct. 27 the Symphonic Band and the Jazz Ensemble will be featured. The following evening, Oct. 28, the concert band and the wind ensemble will be on stage at 8 p.m. All performances will be in the Las Lomas High School Theater, 1460 South Main St. in Walnut Creek. Donations will be accepted at the door, and refreshments will be served in the cafeteria following both concerts.

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    Registration is now open for the Dec. 12 ACT achievement test. Students who wish to take the college admission and placement exam must register before Nov. 6.

    The ACT is a curriculum-based achievement exam.

    The ACT has four sections — English, mathematics, reading and science, and takes about three hours to complete. Students who take the ACT Plus Writing complete an optional writing test that requires an additional 30 minutes.

    The cost for the ACT test without writing is $32. When combined with the optional writing test, the total cost is $47. Students who qualify may apply for a fee waiver through their high school counselor.

    For more information go to www.actstudent.org.

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    Mardie's Walnut Creek Marathon to benefit the Walnut Creek Education Foundation and San Francisco AIDS Foundation will take place Nov. 1 at 8 a.m. at Heather Farm Park. Participants will have option to register for a 5K, 10K, half-marathon or full marathon.

    Mardie Fulop, runner and lead library media specialist at Walnut Creek Intermediate, has organized the run to encourage residents to come out and raise money for both causes. The cost is $25 per person or $35 for a family.

    For more information go to www.wcefk12.org.

    To submit an item for School Notes, reach Elisabeth Nardi at 925-952-2617 or enardi@bayareanewsgroup.com.