Hillsdale PTSO Website



PTSO 2025-26 Membership Form (No Donation Required)

It's Friday, Knights Families! This means, it's time for another PTSO bulletin. This week, it's a wrap-up week, but in November spirit, it's all about THANKS...

• Thanks to the HHS Cheer coaches and their families for putting on such an amazing Homecoming Dance on Saturday. 
• Thanks to the HHS JV and Varsity Cheerleaders, Dance Ensemble, and Folklorico Dancers for their performances at the rally and the game.
• Thanks to Sabrina and our Leadership students for all they did for the rally and throughout the week so that our Knights could feel the Hoco spirit
• Thanks to all of our Fall Sport Coaches and athletes (and of course their fans) for great seasons!
• Thanks to all who volunteered to help with Concessions for our Fall sports...and thanks to those who supported by purchasing items.
• Thanks to our teachers, staff, and maintenance crew for holding everything together through the past two super busy months!
• Thank YOU for showing up---reading bulletins, supporting, volunteering, and donating!

Last night was opening night for Into the Woods...and there was quite a crowd waiting for the doors to open, even with the rain! If you missed last night, there are still three more chances to catch the show!! (Flyer)

Fall sports have wrapped, winter sports aren't officially starting yet--although there is a meeting this coming WEDNESDAY---Come and listen to the joint instrumental and choir concert on Thursday at 7pm in the HHS Auditorium. 

Not to worry, sports fans...see the athletics calendar for upcoming scrimmages starting THIS week! There's also a 5K coming to HHS on Sunday, November 23 for all to attend (Flyer)  Quin’s 2nd Annual 5K is an opportunity to come together as a community to honor Quin White, enjoy time with friends and neighbors, and start the day with fun and fitness. You can walk, run, or jog. The event will take place rain or shine! We look forward to seeing you there! 

It's the LAST day to order your 2025-2026 yearbook at the best price! (Flyer)  Don't wait for the prices to go up. Order today!!

Don't forget to scroll down to the end of this bulletin for other flyers, events, fundraisers, and volunteer opportunities!!

Have a great week!!

Jen and Holly

HHS PTSO Co-Presidents

Upcoming Events:

• Click HERE for Winter Sports and HERE to Email Winter Sports coaches 
• Nov 13-16: HHS Drama Into The Woods (Flyer)
• Fri Nov 14: Yearbook Pre-sale Pricing Ends (Flyer)
• Week of Nov 17: Senior Service Week (Community Closet) (Flyer)
• Wed Nov 19: Winter Sports Parent Meeting @ 6pm Auditorium & Gym
• Wed Nov 19: Music Booster Meeting @ 7pm Rm 501 and Zoom (Flyer)
• Thur Nov 20: HHS Joint Instrumental Concert @7pm
• Thur Nov 20: Water Equity-a panel discussion @ 7pm Little Theater (Flyer)
• Nov 26-28: No School - Thanksgiving Break
• Mon Dec 1: SCSCA Summer Exchange Application Due (Flyer)

Current/Upcoming Fundraisers:

• Until Dec 5: See's Candy (Dance Ensemble) (Link)
• Sun Nov 16 9am-8pm: Cruel Donuts (Dance Fundraiser) (Flyer)
• Tue Nov 18: Maverick Jack's (Music Boosters) (Flyer)
• Sun Nov 23: Quin's 2nd Annual 5K (Flyer)
• Tue Dec 2: HHSF Giving Tuesday (Link)
• Thur Jan 1: Senior Ads Early Bird Pricing Ends (Link)

Volunteer Opportunities:

• Peace Pantry: Fridays 7-8am (Sign Up here)

Giving Tuesday is a call for community, generosity and the collective good.

Give by November 21st for inclusion in our Community & Corporate Donor Roll.

3 Easy Ways to finish your tax deductible end of year giving: 

1. Give to the Annual Fund: Help close the funding gap and support our teachers & students! Click here to give.
2. Opt for monthly payments: Spread your gift into monthly payments! Every gift is deeply appreciated. Click here to give monthly in any amount.
3. Make a gift of stock to the Foundation: Click here for easy instructions.

Benefits of Stock Donations:

• Eliminate capital gains taxes and the Medicare surtax, which combined could be up to 23.8%
• Take an immediate income tax deduction in the amount of the full fair market value if you itemize your deductions
• Maximize your support of Hillsdale! Donating stock that has grown $10,000 in value could result in an additional $2,380 donated to HHSF vs. donating cash!

Questions? Email Hillsdale Foundation Director Amy Michael: amymichael@hillsdalehsfoundation.org

Hillsdale is Stronger Together

www.hillsdalehsfoundation.org

HHS Athletic Contest Calendar

Come support our athletes! Go Knights! (Games in BLUE = home games)

Link to game schedule

Community Event ~

Water is Life: Victories and Challenges in Water Equity

The HHS Community is invited to a community event: Water is Life--Victories and Challenges in Water Equity. Thursday, November 20th @ 7:00pm in HHS's Little Theater.

The event will feature representatives from three non-profit organizations describing their work on dam removal on the Klamath River, restoring rivers, and fighting pollution in the SF Bay. Assembly member Diane Papan will provide opening remarks. 

The event is open to SMUHSD students, staff, parents, and community. Please join for an exciting and inspiring evening!

2026 Summer Exchange Program

San Carlos Sister City Association (SCSCA) is excited to share an opportunity for high school students in San Mateo County to participate in our International Student Exchange Program with our sister city, Omura, Japan in July 2026. For a week, students will live with a Japanese host family where at least one member speaks English. In exchange, San Mateo/San Carlos students host their Japanese counterparts in the weeks following. Students do not need to know the Japanese language to participate!

• Eligibility: Mature and curious high schoolers within San Mateo County
• Cost: No program fee (Student families will cover their own airfare and spending money, but we make no profit from the program)
• Application Deadline: Monday December 1st, 2025

Apply here: https://forms.gle/g5n7F2wNw6mhRSCR9

For further details or questions contact: Ryan.Tomita03@gmail.com

Please CC on any inquiry emails: johnjhoffmann@icloud.com, sancarlossistercityassociation@gmail.com

Fundraising and Sales

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

Dancing Into The Holidays with See's!

Do some holiday shopping while supporting your favorite dance team! Storefront will be open until December 5th and orders will ship directly to your home.

All sales will support Knight Moves XXVIII.

Yearbook Senior Ads

Senior Class parents! Please consider purchasing a Senior Ad in the 2026 yearbook for your graduate. It is a fun way to commemorate their years of education. You can get a 1/4, 1/2 or full page ad. You provide the pictures and words, the design is done by a professional at Friesens Publishing Company. Prices go up January 1st. Order at: https://ybstore.friesens.com/768274

Avid young journalists and designers from Hillsdale can attend the National High School Journalism Conference using these funds and experience in depth learning about publishing and broadcast. 

Seniors Corner



Graduation Information

Senior Family Packet

Welcome Class of 2026!

Senior Fall Events

Please join our Instagram site @hhs2026parents for more information about senior activities!

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.

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 **

Empowerment Through Action at Hillsdale

Peace Pantry ~ Community Garden ~ Community Closet

November 2025

“Imagine a circle of compassion and no one is standing outside of it.”  

~  Father Gregory Boyle

Read the November 2025 Newsletter here..

Ways to Get Involved:

Peace Pantry

If you would like to volunteer at our Peace Pantry in November 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

Our 2025 Harvest has officially come to a close. 2025 has been a record setting year! If you are interested in joining our Community Garden Team please email bstevenson@smuhsd.org so we can add you to our WhatsApp Garden Group as we complete post harvest tasks and prepare our winter garden. No experience required. *Please follow us on Instagram, @etatogether, for updates.

Community Closet

For the month of November, the Community Closet is in need of warm coats, jackets, HHS Swag, Jeans, hoodies, new socks, t-shirts and the following essential items: shampoo, conditioner, lotion, shaving cream, toothpaste/tooth brushes, deoderant and laundry soap.*Please follow us on Instagram @etatogether

College & Career Counseling

Current Workshops, College Rep Visits and Events

Junior & Senior Newsletters:

12th Grade Newsletters

11th Grade Newsletters

Please reach out with any questions:

Ms. Laura Burtness

Hillsdale's College, Career, and Financial Aid Advisor

LBurtness@smuhsd.org

650 558 2613

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

Parent Venture Webinars For Parents / Guardians

The Power of Sleep for Student Resilience, Health and Well-Being

Wednesday, November 19, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Learn more and register

In-Person Financial Aid Workshops

These workshops are open to all SMUHSD families

Save the dates for the following in-person workshops offering students and their families with assistance in filling out financial aid paperwork.

In-Person Workshops

December 2, 6 - 8 p.m., Capuchino High School

More in-person workshops will be scheduled for January 2026 - visit www.smuhsd.org/financial-aid to stay up-to-date.

All families-- regardless of home school-- are welcome to attend either event. More events will be coming starting in January!

Additional information

Refreshments will be served.

No RSVP needed, drop in between 6 - 8 p.m.

As a reminder, filling out the FAFSA or CADAA is a graduation requirement! 

Learn more

Talleres sobre ayuda financiera en persona.

Asista a estos talleres en persona si:

Necesita ayuda para completar la forma FAFSA o la CADAA

Tiene preguntas sobre el proceso de solicitud de ayuda financiera

Reserve las fechas:

martes 2 de diciembre, 6-8 p.m. en Capuchino High School

Se programarán más talleres en persona para enero del 2026

Todas las familias están invitadas a asistir a cualquiera de los eventos, independientemente de la escuela a la que asistan sus hijos. ¡Habrá más eventos a partir de enero!

Información adicional

Se servirán refrigerios.

No es necesario confirmar asistencia

Puede acudir en cualquier momento durante el taller

¿Tiene alguna pregunta? Póngase en contacto con el asesor de ayuda financiera de su escuela

November 15: Environmental Youth Leadership Summit 

The San Mateo County Office of Education is hosting its Environmental Youth Leadership Summit on Saturday, November 15, 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. The summit is organized by students, for students and aims to educate and empower students to take action and be part of creating a sustainable future. 

The summit is FREE and breakfast and lunch are provided. SMCOE is looking for students who would like to provide input, organize a breakout session, and/or help plan the summit! Interested students please fill out this Google Form.

November 20: Youth Leaders Rising - In-Person Youth Leadership Training

For middle and high school youth leaders passionate about advocating for and supporting undocumented and mixed-status folks. This session will cover:

• Know Your Rights!
• Youth Participatory Action Research
• Youth-Led Policy Development
• Peer-to-Peer Allyship

Details:

Thursday, November 20, 2 - 4 p.m.

San Mateo County Office of Education, 101 Twin Dolphin Drive, Redwood City, CA 94065

Transportation Costs and Refreshments Provided!

Registration Required

Please register individually, even if attending as a team.

Questions? Contact: Rubie Macaraeg, rmacaraeg@smcoe.org

View the flyer

California Teen Poet Laureate Applications Due November 30

The California Arts Council (CAC) announced today that the application process is now open for the state’s first California Teen Poet Laureate. The role offers young adult word artists within our state the unique opportunity to promote literary arts and engage with diverse communities throughout California. All eligible teenaged poets are encouraged to apply. 

This new position, established through Senate Bill 748, authored by Senator Henry Stern and signed into law in 2019, will serve as an advocate for poetry throughout the Golden State.  

Learn more and apply at capoetlaureate.org.

The 2026 Scholastic Awards Are Now Open for Submissions

The Scholastic Awards are the nation’s longest running, and one of the most prestigious recognition programs for creative teenagers across America and a significant source of scholarships for young artists and writers. The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization manages the growing program.  

One of the benefits of entering the Scholastic Awards is the opportunity to have your work considered for national scholarships ranging from $500 to $12,500. Learn more

Visit the What You Need to Know page to find out everything you need to participate, including the Awards AI Policy, category changes, new category updates, and portal updates.

Teens and educators can visit artandwriting.org now to log in or create an account in the portal. 

Deadlines

Region at Large West Writing Deadline: December 2, 2025, 8:59 p.m.: https://www.artandwriting.org/regions/WRALW/details

California Bay Area Art Region Deadline: January 6, 2026, 8:59 p.m.: https://www.artandwriting.org/regions/CA005A/details

Apply Now for Creative Youth Awards

The Creative Youth Awards (CYA) is an annual program founded by the Bay Area Creative Foundation to celebrate, cultivate, and inspire creativity in youth and young adults.

The Awards are an opportunity for San Francisco Bay Area high school students to submit original artworks and performances across a range of creative disciplines, including visual art, film, music, dance, photography, and writing.

Submission deadline: December 10, 2025. 

Learn more and apply: https://www.creativeyouthawards.org/creative-youth-awards

Aplique para los Premios Creativos para Jóvenes

Los Premios Creativos para Jóvenes (CYA) son un programa anual fundado por la Fundación Creativa del Área de la Bahía para celebrar, cultivar e inspirar la creatividad en los jóvenes y adultos jóvenes.

Los premios son una oportunidad para que los estudiantes de preparatoria del Área de la Bahía de San Francisco presenten obras de arte y actuaciones originales en un amplia gama de disciplinas creativas, incluyendo artes visuales, cine, música, danza, fotografía y escritura.

Fecha límite para aplicar: 10 de diciembre de 2025

Obtenga más información y presente su aplicacion en: https://www.creativeyouthawards.org/creative-youth-awards

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

Become a Basementeer! 

Register as a Basementeer. Basementeers' receive a 10% discount and Sports Basement gives back 10% of the profit to HHS. Just select Hillsdale High School as your beneficiary!