Hillsdale PTSO Website



PTSO 2024-25 Membership Form (No Donation Required)

Knights Families,

This week, the spring weather (hot, cold, windy, and rainy) was upon us and Spring Break starts MONDAY! That makes us think of SPRING CANDY---support the Class of 2027's See's Candy fundraiser click here. Candy will be delivered to your door!!

Since this next week is break and doesn't have "events" or activities, we thought we'd highlight two of our booster groups.

ATHLETICS

An exciting Springtime HHS event is the Golf Tournament that will be happening at the end of April. This is an athletics booster fundraising event--with money raised to support our amazing athletics program! Don't golf?? That's ok--you can attend just the banquet! We hope to see you there!!

Want to learn more about the event? Check out details here

Haven't attended? You should! Buy Tickets Click here

Want to donate or become a sponsor? Click here

Want to help? Click here

Interested in becoming an active member of the Athletics Boosters? Contact Jenna Carson jalcarson@stanfordalumni.org

DANCE

The twenty-seventh edition of Knight Moves (KM) is coming your way! Knight Moves is a dance concert in which our talented Dance Ensemble will showcase their talent and will be joined by a fabulous Guest Ensemble. KMXXVII is sure to entertain and a show you don't want to miss, so mark your calendars for May 1, 2, 3. 

Want to promote your business/workplace in the KM program--where it will be seen by over 700 community members? Click here

Know a KM dancer and want to purchase a "Love Note" or Personal Ad? Click here

Ticket sale details coming soon - check the bulletin each week

Last, but definitely not least, we want to wish you all a fantastic week off school, however you may be spending it!

Until next time,

Jen and Holly

HHS PTSO Co-Presidents

Upcoming Events:

• March 31-April 4: SPRING BREAK (school resumes Mon. April 7)
• Tuesday April 1: Deadline to Register for Grad Knight SF Bay Cruise (Flyer)
• Thursday April 10: Life After Hillsdale (for 10th and 11th Graders) (Flyer)
• Friday, April 18: SMUHSD Pride Prom RSVP by April 6
• May 1, 2, 3: Knight Moves XXVII - tickets sales coming soon

This week's Fundraisers:

• NOW-April 4: See's Candy Fundraiser ~ Sophomore Class (Flyer)
• Purchase your yearbook
• Thursday, April 10 @ Panda Express MOBILE/ONLINE ORDERS ONLY~ CSF (California Scholarship Federation) (Flyer)
• April 13: Knight Moves Business Ads (Flyer)
• April 13: Knight Moves Love Notes / Personal Ads (Flyer)
• Saturday, April 18 5-7:30pm @ HHS: Cultural Knight. Link to help/donate
• Friday April 25: 17th Annual Golf Tournament, Banquet and Auction (Flyer)

This week's Volunteer Opportunities:

• Saturday, April 18 5-7:30 @ HHS: Cultural Knight. Link to help/donate
• April 19, 2025 8:30am-12:30pm: Annual Spring Planting and Work Day ~ Community Garden
• Friday April 25: Golf Tournament, Banquet and Auction (Volunteer Form)
• April Hospitality
• Teacher/Staff Appreciation--coming soon

Now Accepting Applications for Our Board of Directors!

Dear HHS families, 

HHSF wants YOU! Hillsdale High School Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises funds for our Small Learning Communities program (AKA our House system). HHSF's mission is to sustain this excellent, internationally-recognized program, which costs more to run than district funding provides. 

HHSF consists of an Executive Director and 11 active board members, plus ad-hoc committees. The board is comprised of parents, alumni, faculty, and staff who contribute a wide range of expertise. We meet every 2 months on campus. This is a great opportunity to get involved, make a positive impact on our school and community, and make your voice heard! Please email Marcine Jansen at execdirector@hillsdalehsfoundation.org with any questions. 

Learn More and Apply Today!

HHS Athletic Contest Calendar

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

Link to game schedule

Bell Schedule for Week of March 31

There is No School from Monday March 31st - Friday April 4th as it is Spring Break. Please see the complete Bell Schedule here.

Kudos to the Music Department

Congratulations to our Hillsdale High School musicians and Music Directors Mike Galea and Shawn Reifschneider on their recent accomplishments at the Heritage Festival, held in Anaheim, CA this last weekend! The Heritage Festival featured 17 schools from across North America (seven states and one Canadian province).

The Hillsdale Music Department won the highest honor, the Overall Festival Sweepstakes, given to the highest scoring Music Department across all disciplines (choir/orchestra/bands). The Jazz Ensemble, directed by Mike Galea, won the Instrumental Sweepstakes Award which is given to the highest scoring band in the entire festival. Students Silas Keithly, Jamie Seligman, and Diego Wilson all received Individual Awards for their jazz performances. Additionally, our various groups were ranked as follows:    

Concert Band: SILVER rating (top 80% in North America)

Jazz Ensemble, Wind Ensemble, Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, and the Orchestra: all received GOLD ratings (highest possible rating and top 90% across North America)

Concert Choir: 2nd Place in their Division

Orchestra: 2nd place in their division

Concert Band: 2nd place in their division

Wind Ensemble: 1st place in their division

Jazz Ensemble: 1st place in their division 

When not competing, our musicians enjoyed professional clinics (including ones from the USC Band Director on the USC campus) and visits to Universal Studios and Disneyland. Thank you to our fabulous Music Directors, trip chaperones, and student musicians for making this trip such a success! 

Life After Hillsdale ~ HHS Counseling Department

Thursday April 10th from 5:30-7:45pm starting in the Hillsdale library ~ For 10th and 11th graders and their families.

HHS Culture Knight

Did you know that Cultural Knight is on April 18th @ 5:00pm-7:30pm in the MUR?!?! A night where we celebrate the wonderful vibrant cultures we have here at Hillsdale. This is a fundraiser event where student clubs of Hillsdale sell dishes that represent our community. We will have some entertainment as well. All in our community are invited and encouraged to come!!

 Google Form if anyone wants to sign up to help/contribute to Culture Knight? 

FREE Heart Screenings for Youth & Young Adults (12-25)

Peninsula Health Care District, in collaboration with the Kyle J. Taylor Foundation, and San Mateo Union High School District will be providing free heart screenings for youth and young adults ages 12-25. 

Details

Saturday, April 26, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm 

San Mateo High School Small Gym

506 N Delaware Street, San Mateo, CA 94401

Youth Heart Screening Sign up link

Youth Heart Screenings Save Lives!

1 in 300 youth has an undetected heart condition that puts them at risk for Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). The current standard approach to health history and annual physical examinations misses about 90% of at-risk youth. Early detection of heart abnormalities, which often go undetected until a traumatic cardiac event, can save lives.

Sees Candies Fundraiser ~ Class of 2027

Orders can be placed between March 1st - April 4th at bit.ly/Sees2027

Panda Express ~ CSF Fundraiser

Support the CSF (California Scholarship Federation) at Hillsdale by eating at Panda Express on Thursday, April 10. Order from *any* Panda Express online or on the app. Use the code 928585. Send a copy of your receipt to 26srinivasani70@stu.smuhsd.org.  

Save the Date for KNIGHT MOVES XXVII! ~ KM DATES May 1, 2, 3

The twenty-seventh edition of Knight Moves is coming your way! Our talented Dance Ensemble will showcase their talent and will be joined by a fabulous Guest Ensemble. KMXXVII is sure to entertain and a show you don't want to miss, so mark your calendars!

Have your own business or know of someone looking to promote their own? Advertise in the KMXXVII full-color premium program and support Knight Moves at the same time! Ad specs and details can be found in the Business Ad flyer by clicking here. Ads are due April 13th.

Help support Knight Moves and your favorite dancer(s) by purchasing a "Love Note" or "Personal Ad" in our program. Submissions are due by April 13th. Click here for more information.

Volunteers are always needed and welcomed. It takes a village and we have lots of opportunities to participate - a little or a lot! 

For more information on any of the above, please contact: dancelovenotes@gmail.com

17th Annual Golf Tournament & Dinner/Auction Banquet ~

Athletic Booster

💙⛳❤️ Calling all amazing parents! ❤️⛳💙

We need YOU to help make our Golf Tournament a huge success! This is a fantastic way to connect with our community, have some fun, and support a great cause. There are plenty of ways to get involved—just click the LINK to see where you can lend a hand!

Date: Friday, April 25th

Times: Slots available from 11:30am-9:00pm

✨ BONUS: Sign up to help with check-out at the end, and you’ll score FREE entry to the banquet dinner! 🎉🍽️

Let’s make this event unforgettable! We can’t wait to see you there! 💙⛳❤️

HHS Peace Pantry ~ Community Garden ~ Community Closet

March 

“If our hopes of building a better and safer world are to become more than wishful thinking, we will need the engagement of volunteers more than ever.” — Kofi Annan

Read the March 2025 Newsletter here

Peace Pantry

If you would like to volunteer at our Peace Pantry in March please sign up here. Our volunteer team meets in the Alameda Parking Lot every Friday morning at 7:00am (shift #1) and/or 7:30am (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. 

Community Garden

If you are interested in joining our Community Garden Team please email bstevenson@smuhsd.org to learn more. The winter months are a slow time of year in our garden but we can add you to our weekly WhatsApp Group Chat outlining how many volunteers we need each week and the specific garden tasks. Our volunteer team meets in the garden Thursdays from 3:30pm-5:00pm. No experience required. *Please follow us on Instagram, @hhs_community_garden, for updates.

*Save the date: April 19, 2025 8:30am-12:30pm for our Annual Spring Planting and Work Day in the Garden.

Community Closet

Our Community Closet Team is working hard on our Community Closet expansion project. In April, students will be able to access a well designed space to shop for clothes and essential items. **March Ask: Our volunteer team is currently in need of jeans, hoodies, coats/jackets, Hillsdale gear/swag, new socks, new undershirts, shampoo/conditioner and essential items. We would also appreciate donations of solid/dark ties and other dress clothing for Prom. We can accept donations every Wednesday from 2:45pm-4:00pm OR Friday mornings from 7:30am-8:30am in the Alameda Parking Lot. *Please follow us on Instagram @hhs_community_closet

Grad Night Tickets ~ DEADLINE April 1

SF Bay Cruise - Thursday, May 29th @ 8 pm - 2 am (Promptly after graduation).

Complete the registration form and pay through Go Fan.

$185 (includes boat cruise, food & drinks, DJ, and tons of special add-ons, plus bus transportation to and from school as well as Go Fan fees) This is our December price so BUY NOW!

Entradas Para La Noche de Grad

Crucero por la bahía de San Francisco - jueves, 29 de mayo @ 8 pm - 2 am (Inmediatamente después de la graduación)

Complete el formulario de registro y pague a través de Go Fan.

$185 (incluye crucero en barco, comida y bebida, DJ y toneladas de complementos especiales, además de transporte en autobús hacia y desde la escuela, así como tarifas de Go Fan). Este es nuestro precio de diciembre, así que ¡COMPRE AHORA!)

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 Family Education Webinars

All webinars are free and offer simultaneous Spanish interpretation.

Marianne the Maker: A Conversation About the Importance of "Making"

Friday, March 28, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.

Speakers: Kelly Corrigan, bestselling author, and her daughter, Claire Corrigan Lichty

Learn more and register

Parenting Tech-Savvy Kids: Promoting Safe and Healthy Decisions Online

Tuesday, April 1, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Speaker: Dr. Sameer Hinduja, international cyberbullying expert

Learn more and register

Stanford Medicine REACH Lab presents Two Webinars for Parents/Guardians About Substance Use Awareness and Prevention 

Live Spanish interpretation is available

Join Dr. Bonnie Halpern-Felsher, founder and director of REACH Lab at Stanford University, in this free virtual training: 

Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness: Critical Information and Prevention Resources

Monday, March 31, 10 – 11:15 a.m. 

Zoom registration link 

Flyer/Registration-English

Flyer/Registration-Spanish

In this session, Dr. Halpern-Felsher will provide information on the dangers of illegal fentanyl, its impact on teens and adolescents, harm-reduction strategies, and educational resources available to educators, students, parents, and others with youth in their lives.

Tobacco Education Coalition Youth Advisory Group (YAG) Public Service Announcement (PSA) Contest

Submissions due March 31

The San Mateo County Tobacco Education Coalition (TEC) Youth Advisory Group (YAG) and San Mateo County Office of Education TUPE are hosting the fourth annual anti-tobacco PSA contest for middle school and high school students! 

The YAG invites middle and high school students from across the county to submit a PSA for the contest. 

There are three categories (poster, audio, and video), each of which will be awarded 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes. 

Details

Deadline: Monday, March 31, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. 

Theme: Better for a second, worse for a lifetime

Tagline: How does vaping negatively affect a person’s mind and body? 

Guidelines: https://bit.ly/PSA2025Guidlines (Eng/Sp)

Submission Google form 

Upcoming allcove San Mateo Events and Workshops

allcove San Mateo's events are held at their drop in center, located at 2600 S. El Camino, Suite 300, San Mateo. allcove recognizes the importance of resources from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. allcove team members can provide services in English and Spanish.

Monthly Events for Students

Friday April 4, 3:30 - 6:30 p.m.: Movie Night

Workshops for Students 

Blues Teen Support Group

Wednesday April 2, 5-6 p.m.

This support group is an interactive, six-week support program that works to teach youth about emotional resilience and how to reduce low mood and anxious thoughts. Our group consists of six, one-hour sessions coupled with home tasks to help students practice various coping skills. This event is in collaboration with NAMI.

Multiplayer Mayhem: Video Game Social 

Tuesday, April 8, 5 - 6:30 p.m.

Join us for an exciting night of Nintendo Switch gaming, where you can challenge your friends, show off your skills, and enjoy some friendly competition. Materials will be provided. This event is in collaboration with California Clubhouse. Please click here to register.

See all of allcove San Mateo’s upcoming events

April 17: Black Parents Association of SMUHSD Presents Village Talks

Join the Black Parents Association of the San Mateo Union High School District (BPA) for a virtual conversation as they continue the conversation about the importance of community and how we can all help our students thrive. 

Thursday, April 17, 7 - 8 p.m.

RSVP Zoom link will be sent after you RSVP. 

This event is open to all SMUHSD families, staff, faculty, and community members. 

View the event flyer

allcove San Mateo Now Recruiting for 2025 - 2026 Youth Advisory Group Cohort

Students: Are you passionate about mental health, advocacy, and making a difference in your community? allcove San Mateo is now accepting applications for the 2025-2026 Youth Advisory Group (YAG) Cohort! 

As a YAG member, you’ll have the opportunity to shape youth mental health services, develop leadership skills, and collaborate with peers who share your commitment to creating positive change. 

Applications are due on Friday, April 18.

Apply today

La organización allcove de San Mateo está reclutando jóvenes para el Grupo Asesor Juvenil 2025-2026

Estudiantes: ¿Les apasiona la salud mental, la defensa y hacer una diferencia en su comunidad?  

 ¡La organización allcove está aceptando solicitudes para el Grupo Asesor Juvenil (YAG)!

Como miembro del grupo YAG, tendrás la oportunidad de contribuir a los servicios de salud mental juvenil, desarrollar habilidades de liderazgo y colaborar con compañeros que comparten tu compromiso con la creación de un cambio positivo. 

El plazo de solicitud vence el viernes 18 de abril. ¡Aplica ahora!

Obtenga más información sobre la organización allcove de San Mateo en: https://allcove.org/centers/san-mateo/ 

Congressional Arts Competition

Deadline to submit is April 6

The Congressional Art Competition is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in the nation, as well as in our California 15th Congressional District.

The competition is open to all high school students in the 15th Congressional District. The winning artwork of the 15th Congressional district’s competition will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol. The winning artwork is also featured on House.gov’s Congressional Art Competition page. The second and third place winners may be featured in the 15th Congressional District Office.

Learn more about requirements and deadlines Last year's winner was from Burlingame High School!

Concurso de Artes del Congreso

La fecha límite para enviar las propuestas es el 6 de abril

El Concurso de Arte del Congreso es una oportunidad para reconocer y fomentar el talento artístico en la nación, así como en nuestro 15º Distrito Congresional de California.

El concurso está abierto a todos los estudiantes de high school del 15º Distrito Congresional. La obra de arte ganadora se exhibirá durante un año en el Capitolio de los Estados Unidos.  

La obra de arte ganadora también aparece en la página del Concurso de Arte del Congreso de House.gov. Los ganadores del segundo y tercer lugar pueden aparecer en la Oficina del Distrito Congresional 15.  

Obtenga más información sobre requisitos y plazos en

¡El ganador del año pasado fue de Burlingame High School!

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!