Hillsdale PTSO Website



PTSO 2023-24 Membership Form (No Donation Required)

Knights Families,

Winter Break is officially over and so that means the Spring 2024 semester has begun, although the rain this week is reminding us that it is still winter weather! 

The PTSO hosted lunch for the teachers/staff for their Professional Development on Monday. The pizzas were from Bizza (located on 25th Ave, close to the Event Center). It was a great way to welcome everyone back to school.

Thanks so much to the Hospitality Helpers who give and donate! You make these events so successful! PTSO Hospitality isn't over for January. Tuesday, January 16, PTSO and the Leadership class will be hosting breakfast for the teachers and staff. There are still some open spots to donate food items. Click here to sign up Hospitality (You can also click the link for a sneak peek on our February Hospitality Needs)

Class of 2024, this is the beginning of your graduation year. Don't miss out on having your picture in the yearbook. TODAY is the last chance-- Senior Portrait Info Click the link for information and times. This is FREE (with options to purchase) for each Senior so they can have pictures in the yearbook. Senior families can also stay up-to-date with the latest monthly College and Career Newsletter by scrolling through the bulletin. 

Each year, the Junior Class participates in Mock Interviews, where they create a professional resume and are interviewed (both in person and virtually)...this is an amazing experience that our students get to take part in. But...we can't make it happen without volunteers. No experience needed! Sign up here  https://bit.ly/HHSMockInterviews2024 or contact HHS Teacher Rachel Mariucci [email protected] for more information. (Note: if you signed up via the PTSO Membership at the beginning of the year, no need to re-sign up)

Tonight there is a basketball quad vs Half Moon Bay. (Girls JV 3:15, Boys JV 4:45, Girls Varsity 6:15, Boys Varsity 7:45) Students are free, but will be required to submit their information on this google form to secure their free ticket. The form will lock when we reach 200 responses. This information has been sent out (separately) to all students. General Admissions $10, Kids K-12th Grade & Seniors (65+) $5,

Family Pass Holders FREE (To purchase a Family Pass, contact [email protected]) We will primarily be using GoFan for this event. However, we will have a cash option at our gate. You can purchase your GoFan ticket(s) here.

It's not just about basketball on Friday, there is also Boys' Soccer vs. San Mateo @ Hillsdale, too! These games will be at the stadium starting at 4:30pm. 

Need help with FAFSA or CA Dream Act applications? Click here. https://www.smuhsd.org/Page/14083#applications Each of these events are open to ALL 12th graders in SMUHSD, regardless of which school they attend. 

We'd like to thank everyone who gave to the Peace Pantry/Community Garden and Closet plus those who gave to The Foundation during our December donation time! Every little bit makes a big difference and we would not be able to serve and support the community and HHS students without YOU. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Stay tuned next week for another fun teacher/staff matching edition of the bulletin. 

Don't forget to scroll to the end of this bulletin to see our local business sponsor list. 

Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday on Monday.

Jen and Holly

HHS PTSO Co-Presidents

HHSF Is Off to the Races in 2024!

All of us here at the Hillsdale High School Foundation hope your 2024 has gotten off to a splendid start!

December was a VERY busy month in terms of gifts received, and we should have an update for you soon as to where we stand with our $600,000 fundraising goal for this school year.  Here are some other items you can expect to see from us in the coming months:

• We plan to release our 2022-2023 Annual Report in February or March, so be on the alert for that document.
• If you’ve been looking for a way to support our school, please consider joining the Foundation as a Board member or a volunteer for the 2024-2025 school year.  We’ll have our revamped application and descriptions of the roles we need help with available soon.  If you have questions in the meantime, please contact Katherine Goodman, HHSF Executive Director, at [email protected].

Also, we were thrilled to be able to put up the banner thanking our HHSF Business/Corporate Sponsors for 2024 at the corner of 31st and Alameda on Tuesday morning! Many, many thanks to our generous partners for their support of Hillsdale High School and our Small Learning Communities.

Schedule for Week of January 15, 2024

There is No School on Monday, January 15, 2024 as it is MLK Jr Day. Please see the complete bell schedule here.

HHS Athletic Contests Calendar

Come Support our teams! GO FIGHTING KNIGHTS!

Home games are in BLUE.

• GoFan Ticket Link (needed for Wrestling and Basketball)

Basketball ~ Snack Shack Volunteers Needed

It is that time again, Basketball season!! We have a couple of Friday nights hosting our Boys and Girls Basketball teams at Hillsdale. To make it more enjoyable, we are opening up the snack shack for all to grab a quick treat.

The athletic boosters would like to have some volunteers to lend a helping hand. Proceeds will go directly to our athletics. Click the link below to sign up!

Basketball Concessions

Senior Portraits - Final Call TODAY

TODAY is the last day for Senior Portraits. Sittings are FREE - don't miss your chance to have your picture in the yearbook!

Clue Onstage: Crew Applications due TODAY

Hillsdale Drama is now accepting Crew applications for the spring comedy Clue Onstage running March 21-24. No experience necessary. Applications due January 12, rehearsals begin January 23. Contact: [email protected]

APPLY HERE: https://forms.gle/8cHrrVCxMeFBR26v5

Junior Mock Interviews - Volunteers STILL NEEDED

During 11th grade advisory, every student will write a professional resume and participate in a 30-minute mock interview. This long-standing project is a great way to support students as they prepare for the world after high school. We need your help to make the experience authentic!

Interviews will be on February 27, 28 and 29 (Tues/Wed/Th) and will be both in person and via Zoom. Friends, family and community members are welcome to participate.

Sign up for a shift(s) at https://bit.ly/HHSMockInterviews2024.

Questions? Contact Hillsdale teacher Rachel Mariucci at [email protected]

Music Booster Meeting

Please join us for our Music Boosters meeting on Wednesday, January 17th @ 7PM. This month it will be over Zoom, so you can stay up-to-date from the comfort of your own home. All music families are encouraged to attend!

Zoom meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82277283652

Meeting ID: 822 7728 3652

Passcode: 995780

City of San Mateo ~ Hillsdale Boulevard & Alameda de las Pulgas Traffic Signal Project

at the Hillsdale Boulevard and Alameda de las Pulgas Intersection

Ways to Get Involved

• Attend the Community Workshop on Monday January 29, 2024 at the Hillsdale Branch Library (205 W Hillsdale Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94403) from 5:30PM – 7:30PM

At the Community Workshop, the project team will share information about the project, including existing conditions findings and the proposed traffic signal design at the intersection of Hillsdale Boulevard and Alameda de las Pulgas. We will look to collect community feedback for the design at the workshop and welcome your input.

• Review and comment on the proposed concept design. The proposed design will be posted when available.

Please visit http://www.cityofsanmateo.org/hillsdalesignal for more information.

Peace Panty/Community Garden/Community Closet ~ January Update

Hillsdale Community,

Happy New Year! On behalf of our team, we want to say thank you for helping us reach our goal of raising $80,000 during our Holiday Giving Campaign during the month of December! This was an amazing effort on behalf of parents, alumni, HHS staff, neighbors, local churches and businesses. Donations ranged from $50 to $600 to $6,000. Coretta Scott King argues that all communities can look out for one another by taking action, “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” Make no mistake, the Hillsdale Community stepped up in December and in turn this allows our Peace Pantry, Community Garden and Community Closet to maintain 100% support to HHS families who struggle with food insecurity and the high cost of living in San Mateo. Since March 16, 2020 we have raised over $500,000 in support of Hillsdale families. 

By reaching our 2024 Funding Goal of $80,000, this will allow for the following:

• HHS families will receive a $25.00 bag of cultural food staples and essential items from Mi Rancho Market twice a month (in addition to groceries from Second Harvest food bank). 
• Maintain and expand our Community Garden by 20% whose fruit and vegetables are Friday mornings at our Peace Pantry Food Drive Thru. 
• Maintain (and potentially expand) our Community Closet which offers clothing and essential items throughout the school year. 

How can you get involved in 2024 at Hillsdale:

The greatest gift we can give to someone else (outside of our immediate family) is our time. Our mantra in this work and in terms of volunteer time is “no shame in the game” with the amount of time we can offer Collectively, if WE can all chip in a little bit of time or heart work, WE can make a major impact in the Hillsdale Community. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, check out our website or follow us on Instagram: 

• Hillsdale Community Closet: If you would like to volunteer at our Community Closet (Alameda Parking Lot) in January please email [email protected] for information. *Please follow us on Instagram @hhs_community_closet
• Hillsdale Community Peace Pantry: We need January volunteers to work the drive thru OR deliver groceries to 2-3 families who do not have transportation. If you would like to volunteer in January, please sign up here. 
• Hillsdale Community Garden: https://www.hhscommunitygarden.com/ Our Hillsdale Community Garden provides organic fruits and vegetables to Hillsdale families enrolled in our Peace Pantry. Primary volunteer opportunities are Thursday harvest support from 4:00pm-5:00pm and Friday morning projects from 8:00am-11:30am. Please follow us on IG at @hhs_community_garden for updates. If you are interested in volunteering, please email Brett Stevenson at [email protected].

We are making January all about our need for Winter Coats and Essential Items i.e. toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, deodorant, laundry detergent, shampoo, conditioner etc. Community Closet will be open Thursdays 2:30-4pm and Friday mornings 7:30-8:30am to receive donations in Alameda Parking Lot. If those times don’t work please feel free to drop off in main office. It has been really cold and rainy and a warm coat matters. 

Hillsdale Stands Together!

Warriors Game ~ Spirit Squad Fundraiser

Support the Cheer team - Gather your family and friends and join Hillsdale High School Nights at Chase Center as your Golden State Warriors take on the Utah Jazz on Sunday, April 14 @ 12:30pm! Last day to buy tickets is February 23, 2024.

See Flyer for details...

Senior Ads for the HHS Yearbook

Use https://ybstore.friesens.com/768274 or the QR code. (Flyer Link)

Senior Quote for Yearbook

It is time to submit your Senior Quote that will be printed under your portrait photo in The Shield 2024 Yearbook.

Fill out this form to share what you want people to remember about you. Due January 19, 2024

January College & Career Newsletter

Greetings, 12th grader families, and happy 2024! I hope you and your family had a rejuvenating break.

Here is the latest newsletter, in English and Spanish. 

Highlights of this Senior Newsletter:

Highlights:

• Community college, CSU and UC updates
• 20+ new scholarships, including HHS-only ones!
• New jobs, summer internships and fabulous opportunities!
• Does your student want to become a radiology technician? Read on!
• Financial Aid workshops + Money Mondays!

As always, please contact me if I can be of support or assistance.

Best--

Laura Burtness, [email protected]

Hillsdale's College, Career, and Financial Aid Advisor

650 558 2613