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Hillsdale Knights Bulletin ~
October 3, 2025
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| | What's Happening at Hillsdale | | |
Knights Families,
We had such a successful Rev and Roam on Saturday!! We had so many people came out to see the cars that were shown by students, alumni, and car enthusiasts. SMPD Captain Jen Maravillas was our guest judge who rated all 42 cars who entered. The top three entries were given plaques as well as earning bragging rights. We also had a variety of marketplace and food vendors who participated in this community event! Thanks so much to those who put in hours of work behind the scenes and to the parent and student volunteers who came out Saturday to ensure the event was a success. We are already looking forward to next year!
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Last night was the Fall Music Concert featuring our Choir & Chamber singers, Jazz Combo Knight Train, and Featured Soloists--it was such a great event! Thanks to the Music Directors, Music Boosters, and parent volunteers who helped make the evening a success!
Tonight will be the Ritmo Latino Dance (Flyer English/Spanish) to wrap up Semana Latino. There were so many fun activities going on this week to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. A special thank you to the Latinos Unidos Club and the Folklorico Dancers for their hard work this week.
There is an event happening on Monday--working to get the details so we can include it here.
Next week we will celebrate Pride Week with lots of celebrations and activities happening throughout the week.
In a blink--about two weeks from now, it will be Pink Week and A Knight 4 the Cure (Flyer) For those who are new to HHS, here is the abbreviated explanation--Pink Week is a week in October--there are spirit days through the week, ending with the Pink Breakfast (food for HHS faculty/staff) and the Friday October 17 Pink Game (JV/Varsity football) where the players give donations to breast cancer in exchange for wearing pink items as a part of their football uniform. On Saturday October 18, A Knight 4 the Cure, there is a flag football game (teams of HHS girls, coached by students), a pink themed marketplace (pink pumpkins, shirts, poms, memorial locks, and more), and event food concessions throughout the evening. The halftime routine is a dance with the players, cheer, and dance ensemble. The proceeds from the day are split five ways--one for each of the classes and the fifth goes to a breast cancer charity. This is one of our biggest community events of the year and we need your support for it to be successful! Pink Breakfast Sign Up and AK4TC Sign-Up We've made it super simple, too...you can donate and have it delivered. Click sign up for delivery details.
Thanks again for continuing to support everything Hillsdale--in whatever ways you can (attending events, donating items, volunteering your time). We appreciate it all and know we can't do what we do without your help!
Jen and Holly
HHS PTSO Co-Presidents
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A Knight 4 the Cure!
Join us for the annual Knight for the Cure on Saturday October 18th! This is an amazing community event packed with flag football games coached and played by Hillsdale students. With great food and halftime performances, this is an event you won't want to miss! Proceeds from the event are split between all four classes AND a portion is donated to Breast Cancer Awareness. Don't miss it, get your tickets today!
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Upcoming Events:
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Mon Oct 6- Fri Oct 10: Pride Week
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Mon Oct 6: Athletics Booster Meeting @ Cafeteria/MUR 6:30pm
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Mon Oct 13- Fri Oct 17: Pink Week
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Mon Oct 13: No School - Staff PD Day
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Tues Oct 14: Monthly PTSO Meeting (Flyer)
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Wed Oct 15: Districtwide College Fair @ San Mateo HS 6:30-8pm more info
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Tues Oct 21: Financial Aid Workshop @ HHS Library 6:00pm
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Nov 13-16: HHS Drama Into The Woods (Flyer)
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Fri Nov 14: Yearbook/Senior Ad Pre-sale Pricing Ends (Flyer)
Current/Upcoming Fundraisers:
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Fri Oct 3: Ritmo Latino Dance (Flyer English/Spanish)
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Mon Oct 6: Maverick Jack's (Girls Volleyball) (Flyer)
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Wed Oct 8: Maverick Jack's (Girls Golf) (Flyer)
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Sat Oct 18: A Knight 4 The Cure (all classes AND Breast cancer charity) (Flyer)
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Sun Nov 23: Quin's 2nd Annual 5K (Flyer)
Volunteer Opportunities:
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Hillsdale: A Community Like No Other
Hillsdale is home to a thriving community of parent volunteers. Hear from Lisa Kemp, president of the Hillsdale Music Boosters and mom to Samuel (class of ‘24) and Sophomore Audrey. Pictured here with Samuel, Audrey and husband Andrew.
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"Our first day on campus at Hillsdale was in the middle of COVID, but the welcome that we received and the sense of belonging that the house system provided broke through the tension and introduced a strong sense of belonging – on DAY 1! The smaller learning communities have allowed our kids to feel connected and supported, allowing them to relax and pursue passions like athletics and music.
I’ve been the Music Booster President for the last 5 years and I only really got involved because I felt that the culture of comradery and togetherness demanded a response. The Music Department is an inspiring group to be a part of! The efforts of Mr. G and Mr. R have amazing ripple effects that impact the lives of the students, their families, and a much wider music-loving audience. It’s incredible to see the skill development, personal maturity, and passion that is on display year after year after year. As a family, we wouldn’t trade our music experience for anything, and we’ll leave with many lifetime memories."
| | It All Starts With Our Unique & Special House System | | |
Help us fund our House System and the connections that make Hillsdale so special.
Every gift is deeply appreciated. Our annual ask of $750 per student, comes to $75 a month for 10 months. Click here to give.
For those who are in a position to give more, help us uplift every child.
Thank you for being part of making Hillsdale a community like no other.
www.HillsdaleHSFoundation.org
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HHS Athletic Contest Calendar
Come support our athletes! Go Knights! (Games in BLUE = home games)
Link to game schedule
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We are the Stanford Parenting Center, an academic center seeking to empower parents with evidence-based strategies to help them foster healthy parent-child relationships and support their children’s mental health and well-being.
We offer online parenting classes, free webinars, free online video resources, and individual treatment options for a wide variety of parenting topics. We encourage you to visit our website for more information, and to check out our Instagram for bite-sized parenting research and event updates.
We are currently enrolling for five online parenting classes this fall. These are small, interactive group courses facilitated by Stanford clinicians and faculty:
- Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions
- Mealtime Made Easier: Tools for Tackling Picky Eating
- DBT Caregiving Strategies for Teens with Emotional Challenges
- Supportive Parenting for Little Ones with Big Feelings
- Parenting With Confidence: Handling Challenging Behaviors
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Congressional App Challenge
hosted by Congressman Kevin Mullin
Do you know a middle or high school student who is interested in technology, coding or building an app? Then please encourage them to apply for this year’s nationwide Congressional App Challenge! Rep. Mullin is excited to announce that he is hosting the local competition for students in California’s 15th Congressional District.
Students learn the exciting process of developing their own software application for mobile phones, tablets, or computers. Participants can register as individuals or as a team, and applications are due October 30, 2025 @ 9am PT.
Learn more about the App Challenge
Every year, this competition highlights the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (S.T.E.M.) education and fields. For more information on the rules and timelines, please visit the Congressional App Challenge website.
The winner of the Congressional App Challenge will be invited to Washington, D.C. next spring for an opportunity to present their project. I hope to see a creative submission from you soon!
Watch Rep. Mullin’s interview about the Congressional App Challenge.
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Maverick Jack’s ~ Girls Volleyball Fundraiser
Girls Volleyball Restaurant Fundraiser on Monday October 6 at Maverick Jack’s. Use promo code: GIVEBACK
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Maverick Jack’s ~ Girls Golf Fundraiser
Date: Wednesday, October 8th 2025, All Day.
Dine-in or order take-out from Maverick Jack's in San Mateo and they will donate 20% of the total bill to the team. Enjoy a delicious meal while supporting a great cause!
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HHS Drama ~ Into The Woods
Get your tickets for Into The Woods. It is going to be a fun show. Don't miss it!
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Buy Your Yearbook Now!
The Shield 2026 staff has begun production on the next edition of Hillsdale's yearbook. Editors, photographers and copy writers are hard at work creating the next amazing book of memories. The pre-sale price of $80 lasts until November 14, 2025.
Senior Ads are also on sale at our Friesens Publisher store link: https://ybstore.friesens.com/768274
¡Compra tu anuario ya!
El equipo de The Shield 2026 ha comenzado la producción de la próxima edición del anuario de Hillsdale. Editores, fotógrafos y redactores están trabajando arduamente para crear el próximo y maravilloso libro de recuerdos. El precio de preventa es de $80 y dura hasta el 14 de noviembre de 2025.
Los anuncios para estudiantes de último año también están a la venta en el enlace de nuestra tienda Friesens Publisher: https://ybstore.friesens.com/768274
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Quin’s 2nd Annual 5K
Please join us for Quin’s 2nd Annual 5K on Sunday, November 23rd. This special event is an opportunity to come together as a community to honor Quin, enjoy time with friends and neighbors, and start the day with fun and fitness. Whether you choose to walk, jog, or run, we hope you’ll join us in celebrating Quin’s spirit and making lasting memories. The event will take place rain or shine! We look forward to seeing you there!
Register Here
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Welcome Class of 2026!
Senior Fall Events
Save these *tentative* dates for upcoming senior events!
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Fri Oct 3: Ritmo Latino Dance
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Sat Oct 18: A Knight 4 the Cure (all class community event and fundraiser)
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Sat Oct 25: Senior Class Pub Crawl (this is NOT a school sponsored event, but a fundraiser for the Senior class) 21+ and older only
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Fri Nov 7: Homecoming Game - Football
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Sat Nov 8: Homecoming Dance
Please join our Instagram site @hhs2026parents for more information about senior activities!
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Senior Portraits
Class of 2026 - Get your Graduation Portraits Taken Now
This will be the senior's picture in for the year book and you will have the opportunity to purchase photos.
See Flyer for more information.
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Class of 2026 ~ Grad KNight
Don’t miss out on Grad KNight! 🎓⚓
The Class of 2026 will set sail for an unforgettable Bay Cruise! It will be an evening of music, dancing, food, casino fun and celebrating this milestone year. Reserve your student’s spot today! Let’s make this a knight they’ll remember forever.
** Please note that Grad Knight is NOT a school sponsored event and takes place immediately following the graduation ceremony. It is an event organized by parent volunteers from the class of 2026 **
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Empowerment Through Action at Hillsdale
Peace Pantry ~ Community Garden ~ Community Closet
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October 2025
In Lak’ech
Tú eres mi otro yo.
You are my other me.
Si te hago daño a ti,
If I do harm to you,
Me hago daño a mi mismo.
I do harm to myself.
Si te amo y respeto,
If I love and respect you,
Me amo y respeto yo.
I love and respect myself.
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Hillsdale Community,
The month of October is upon us. In Empowerment Through Action (ETA) at Hillsdale, we continue to deepen our commitment to one another which leads to a greater sense of the role we all play in our community. Whether it is a small act of kindness or giving an hour of your time at our Peace Pantry or a donation of Back to School Clothing to our Community Closet. . .all of these acts of kindness deepen our ties to each other.
October is a cause for celebration in our community garden as we are in our final month of harvest season. Just for a moment, we would like to share three key data points from our garden with you:
2023 Harvest Total: 1,507.5 Pounds
2024 Harvest Total: 2,081.48 pounds
2025 YTD Harvest Totals: 2,462.45 pounds (with another month to go!)
Our Hillsdale Community Garden Volunteer Team made up of students, staff, parents and neighbors and led by Shin Hsieh, Yvonne Hsiung, Kathy Steul, Lauren Mansfield and Oscar Gonzalez. This garden team deserves our highest praise for their continued fight to address food insecurity in our community while providing organic fruits and vegetables from our HHS Community Garden! Please join us on Thursdays from 3:30-5:00pm for weekly harvest in October.
Our Community Closet Team of student volunteers continues to make a major impact on our Community. Our amazing Wellness Counselor, Sami Shiroma, shared her appreciation on a recent visit with a student to the community closet, “I had the opportunity to take a student down to the community closet this week and we were both blown away by the experience. It was as if we were shopping in a boutique! Our HHS student has been going through some financial struggles and being able to supply her with clothes and toiletries was so amazing. She was eternally grateful.” A special thank you to our Community Closet Student Volunteers and our CC Leadership team: Lila Corkish, Samantha Rank, Alyssa Morimoto and Jackue Garcia.
Read the complete October 2025 Newsletter here.
Hillsdale Stands Together,
Brett Stevenson
Hillsdale ETA Co-Executive Director
ETA Website, ETA Overview Slides. ETA Donation Page
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Ways to Get Involved:
Peace Pantry
If you would like to volunteer at our Peace Pantry in October please sign up here. Our volunteer team meets in the Alameda Parking Lot every Friday morning at 6:45am-7:15am (shift #1) and/or 7:15am-8:00am (shift #2) to provide weekly groceries and essential items to families. Volunteers can sign up to help set up and/or work a station at our Farmer’s Market and/or break down. No experience required. *Please follow us on Instagram, @etatogether, for updates.
Community Garden
Now is the time we really need help in the garden with our harvest in full swing. If you are interested in joining our Community Garden Team please email bstevenson@smuhsd.org to learn more OR stop by and meet our volunteer team who work in the garden every Thursday from 3:30pm-5:00pm and complete various gardening tasks. No experience required. *Please follow us on Instagram, @etatogether, for updates.
Community Closet
For the month of October, the Community Closet is in need of HHS Swag, Jeans, hoodies, new socks, t-shirts and the following essential items: shampoo, conditioner, lotion, shaving cream, toothpaste/tooth brushes, deodorant and laundry soap.*Please follow us on Instagram @etatogether.
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Opportunities Slide Deck for All Students!
This is a wonderful, frequently-updated slide deck that features volunteer opportunities, job openings, community engagement activities, summer opportunities, career exploration, research positions, and more. bit.ly/SMUHSDCareerOpportunities
| | Important District Updates | | |
Save the Date! The Districtwide College Fair is Wednesday, October 15 from 6:30 - 8 p.m.
This year the annual College Fair will be held at San Mateo High, located at 506 N. Delaware Street.
More than 75 representatives from colleges across the country will be in attendance.
The Fair is open to all SMUHSD students and families!
More information will be posted at www.smuhsd.org/collegefair
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Reserve esta fecha: La feria universitaria del Distrito es el 15 de octubre
Este año la feria universitaria se llevará a cabo en San Mateo High School el 15 de octubre de las 6:30-8 p.m. Este evento está abierto a todos los estudiantes de SMUHSD y sus familias.
Aspectos destacados de la feria universitaria:
¡Habrá más de 75 representantes de diferentes universidades!
¡Habrá presentaciones sobre cómo pagar la universidad y más!
Más información sobre la feria universitaria, incluyendo una lista de universidades participantes, será publicada al final de septiembre en: www.smuhsd.org/collegefair
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Parent Venture Webinars For Parents / Guardians
Helping Students Navigate AI with Confidence and Curiosity
Thursday, October 9, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Learn more and register
Why Neurodivergent Kids Need Autonomy to Navigate a Neurotypical World
Wednesday, October 15, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Learn more and register
The Five Principles of Parenting: An Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans
Thursday, October 16, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Learn more and register
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2026 YoungArts Application Now Open
Calling all artists: The 2026 YoungArts application is officially OPEN! If you’re 15-18 years old or in grades 10-12 and passionate about visual, literary, or performing arts, this is YOUR moment!
Apply now at youngarts.org/apply
Why apply?
- Win cash awards up to $10,000
- Receive lifelong creative and professional support
- Access mentorship through our robust network of artists
- Be nominated for U.S. Presidential Scholars in the Arts
Deadline to apply is Wednesday, October 8, 2025, 5 p.m.
Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to showcase your talent and creativity!
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San Mateo County Poetry Out Loud Registration Now Open
Poetry Out Loud (POL) gives high school students the confidence to make themselves heard, using one of the most powerful tools at their disposal—poetry. It encourages teens to learn about poetry through memorization, performance, and competition.
Educators, youth organization leaders, and high school students are invited to be part of San Mateo County’s Poetry Out Loud 2026 Program. Teens build public speaking skills and self-confidence, while learning about literary history and contemporary life through poetry with the help of a coach.
School/organizational champions will be mentored by local Poet Laureates and poetry teachers preparing them to effectively compete at the county, state and national levels if selected.
Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program in partnership with the NEA, the Poetry Foundation, and each state’s arts agency. Important dates:
September 1 - December 12, 2025: Registration window is open
January 2026: Mentoring sessions for teens via Zoom
February 2026: San Mateo County Finals
March 15 - 16, 2026: State Finals Competition in-person in Sacramento
May 2025: National Finals in-person in Washington, DC
Learn more and register: https://www.smcgov.org/ceo/poetry-out-loud-2026
| | Other Ways to Support Hillsdale | | | | |
