Hillsdale PTSO Website



PTSO 2024-25 Membership Form (No Donation Required)

Knights Families,

What a weekend it was--Cabaret was a smashing success! Thanks to the drama department and boosters for putting on such a fabulous fall musical! On any given night...you could see lights on at the theater with sets being build and students rehearsing. Thanks to all the parents and volunteers who made this show such a great experience for all!

Do you know what else was a smashing success? Our Knight Rider Concessions. We had a great football season that was led by Athletics and under the care of Natalya Popovych. She had the BEST crew along with Chef PJ. We can't wait until we see the Knight Rider back next season. Thank you to ALL who volunteered to help inside, outside, at the gate, and BBQ---and thanks to those who purchased and ate concessions, too. Can't be successful without people to buy!! Thanks to all!!

There's still more lights on at night at HHS---if you drive down Alameda de las Pulgas...you will be seeing the field lights on and along with lots of athletes from different sports...not just football. Speaking of football, our JV team had their own rivalry game against Aragon at Aragon last night. What a way to end their season—with a win!!

Today will be our Homecoming Rally (so it's a Rally schedule). Rally Days are always so much fun for all students with spirit activities and performances happening throughout the Rally. Fun fact: Did you know that the performers have been coming to school BEFORE zero period to practice their routines? Thanks to all who make the rallies so spirited, especially Sabrina Braccini and the Leadership class who are also working BEFORE and AFTER school to ensure our Knight Pride is strong!

Tomorrow, will be the Varsity Football game (also at Aragon) with a 12:00 kick-off for our Homecoming Game. The game will be purple themed to show support for Epilepsy Awareness and HHS Senior Quinlin White. 

Later in the evening on Saturday, is the Homecoming Dance at Devil's Canyon Brewery and Event Center from 8:00pm-11:00pm. TODAY is the last day that tickets are available for purchase, November 8 at the window of room 220 in Sir Cedric's Court. Tickets are $50. Payment via cash or check only. Please refer to the Dance Contract that was part of the 2024-2025 Mandatory Signature page at the beginning of the year for detailed dance rules/policies. Also refer to attendance eligibility for dances here under the section "Hillsdale Truancy/Tardy Policies: Attendance Eligibility for Extra Curriculars".

It's November and everyone is taking the time to show thanks and appreciation in so many ways. PTSO and Leadership will be showing the teachers and staff that they are thankful with a Pay it Forward breakfast at the end of the month. We are looking for donations of pies and some other items. Click here for details November Hospitality

Can't wait to see what next week has in store...we are sure to be busy!

Jen and Holly

HHS PTSO Co-Presidents

This week's Fundraisers: 

• See's Candy---benefits Dance Ensemble
• Park Lane Jewelry---benefits Spirit Squad
• Yearbook Senior ads go up in price December 31st
• Donate to the HHS Foundation to support Smaller Learning Communities (donation flyer below)

This week's Volunteer Opportunities:

• Community Garden harvest support--Thursdays 3:30-5:00pm
• Peace Pantry distribution or delivery--Friday mornings starting at 7:00 or 7:30

The 11th grade families are in the lead! 

As you know, our goal this year is for 100% of Hillsdale families to participate in supporting our nationally recognized House system. We are only at 17% as of today. Hillsdale can continue our amazing Small Learning Communities if we all donate to Hillsdale High School Foundation in any amount that is personally significant to you and affordable for your family. As you can see, more 11th grade families have donated than any other grade.

Donate before Giving Tuesday, December 3, to be included on our Donor List which will be published shortly after Winter Break!

Bell Schedule for Week of November 11

There is No School on Monday November 11 as it is Veterans' Day. Please see the complete Bell Schedule here.

HHS Athletic Contest Calendar

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

Homecoming Dance ~

Knights, Camera, Action

TODAY is the last day that tickets are available for purchase.

HHS Homecoming Dance will be on Saturday November 9th @ 8:00pm-11:00pm at Devil's Canyon Brewery and Event Center, 935 Washington St. San Carlos. The theme is Knights, Camera, Action.

Tickets will be available for purchase until next Friday, November 8 at the window of room 220 in Sir Cedric's Court. Tickets are $50. Payment via cash or check only.

Please refer to the Dance Contract that was part of the 2024-2025 Mandatory Signature page at the beginning of the year for detailed dance rules/policies. Also refer to attendance eligibility for dances here under the section "Hillsdale Truancy/Tardy Policies: Attendance Eligibility for Extra Curriculars".

If you qualify for free/reduced lunch, you're eligible for a homecoming ticket at a reduced price. Please complete this form to apply for a reduced rate ticket.

BSA Troop 44 Invites Teens, Boys & Girls

to Check Out Our Youth Group!

Troop 44 Annual Canoe Day!

Sunday November 10th @ 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Foster City Dog Park

If you are a teen, boy or girl who loves to experience new adventures, learn leadership skills, participate in community service events, and make new friends, then come join us for a day on the water and a BBQ lunch.

Canoe Day is a fun annual Troop 44 event where boys and girls can meet the scouts in our troop and enjoy a fun morning canoeing in the Foster City Lagoon, before returning for a BBQ lunch.

This event is open to boys and girls ages 10 to 17 and no prior scouting experience is necessary.

Please RSVP to bsatroop4t4@gmail.com by November 1.

HHS Invitational Concert

Please join us for the Hillsdale High School Invitational Concert featuring HHS's Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra and the Bands and Orchestras from Abbott, Bayside, and Bowditch Middle Schools. Thursday, November 21, 2024 @ 7pm in the Hillsdale High School Main Theater. Free!

Hillsdale Peace Pantry ~ Community Garden ~ Community Closet

November 2024

"Let us remember that, as much has been given us; much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds." - Theodore Roosevelt

Peace Pantry

If you would like to volunteer at our Peace Pantry this Friday OR in November 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. We currently need Thursday harvest support from 3:30pm-5:00pm. All you need to do is show up. No experience required. Our Community Garden Team is currently producing a weekly harvest of organic fruits and vegetables which directly supports Hillsdale families enrolled in our Peace Pantry. *Please follow us on Instagram, @hhs_community_garden, for updates. *We need additional support in November putting a fresh layer of wood chips down to help prepare our garden for rain and winter. 

Community Closet

Our Community Closet Team is working hard on our Community Closet expansion project. Soon, students will be able to access a well designed space to shop for clothes and essential items. Our volunteer team is currently in need of (ONLY) men’s (high school age) jeans, Hillsdale gear/swag, new socks, new undershirts, shampoo/conditioner and essential items. 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

Hillsdale Stands Together,

Brett Stevenson

Hillsdale ETA Co-Executive Director

ETA Website, ETA Overview Slides. ETA Donation Page

Dancing into the Holidays with See's!

Do some holiday shopping while supporting your favorite dance team! Storefront will be open until December 6th and orders will ship directly your home. All sales will support Knight Moves XXVII.

Park Lane Jewelry ~ Spirit Squad Fundraiser

Get your holiday shopping done and support our Spirit Squad! We’ve partnered with Park Lane Jewelry, and 50% of each purchase goes back to our squad! Simply scan the QR code to shop starting on November 11th! Want to know more? Join us for a Virtual Facebook Party on November 11th @ 7pm for fun, prizes, and all things sparkle! 💎 You can shop until November 27th!! Don’t miss out on a chance to shine and support a great cause!

College & Career Counseling

Current Workshops, College Rep Visits and Events

Please reach out with any questions:

Ms. Laura Burtness

Hillsdale's College, Career, and Financial Aid Advisor

LBurtness@smuhsd.org

650 558 2613

Veterans Day Reminder

There is no school on Monday, November 11 in recognition of Veterans Day. The District Office and all school sites will be closed.

La Oficina de San Mateo Union High School District estará cerrada el lunes, 11 de noviembre en conmemoración del Día de los Veteranos.

November is National Native American History Month

National Native American Heritage Month, celebrated in November, recognizes the lives and accomplishments of the Indigenous peoples of what is now known as the United States.The 57th Annual Native American Day was celebrated at the California Capitol on September 27, 2024. This year’s theme was Recognizing 100 Years of Citizenship and the Fight for the Right to Vote: 1924-2024.”

Today there are more than 100 federally recognized Indigenous tribes in California, more than any other state in the nation. The United States Bureau of the Census determined in 2020 that there were over 720,000 individuals in the State of California of Native American descent, making it the largest population of Indigenous people in the 50 states.

SMUHSD acknowledges that it is located on the unceded ancestral homeland of the Ramaytush Ohlone peoples, recognizes that, as the original stewards of this land, the Ramaytush Ohlone understood the interconnectedness of all things and maintained harmony with nature for millennia, and honors the Ramaytush Ohlone peoples for their enduring commitment to Mother Earth.

SMUHSD supports the use of curricula at our schools that highlights the experiences and contributions of Native Peoples both historically and in our current times to help students understand the importance and relevance of Native American culture and history.

Read the proclamation, which Student Board Council member Elizabeth Bours helped to write, that was approved at the October 24 SMUHSD Board Meeting.

November is National Homeless Youth Awareness Month

November is National Homeless Youth Awareness Month. Every year, hundreds of thousands of American families become homeless, including more than 1.7 million children.

According to the California Department of Education, in the 2022-23 year, there were 246,480 homeless students enrolled in California schools. This was a 9% increase in the homeless student population from the previous school year.

Youth.gov, states that homeless high school students are more than three times as likely to have attempted suicide within the last year. Additionally, almost 50% of homeless youth reported participating in self-harming behavior.

According to the SMUHSD annual census, 43 of our current students are experiencing homelessness in SMUHSD.

Through our District and School Site Homeless Student liaisons, we are committed to improving student equity and access to high-quality education and resources, included, but not limited to, school supplies, food, clothing, bus passes, free admission to dances, yearbooks and school apparel for youth experiencing homelessness and who are in foster care.

Read the proclamation, which Student Board Council members Emily Ma and Elizabeth Bours helped to write, that was approved at the October 24 SMUHSD Board Meeting.

Upcoming Family Education Webinars

The below Parent Venture webinars are free to attend and offer simultaneous Spanish interpretation unless otherwise noted.

Fostering Mathematical Brilliance in All Students

Wednesday, November 13

Speaker: Christa Jackson, PhD, Professor of Mathematics, Science and STEM Education, St. Louis University

Register

Learn more: www.smuhsd.org/family-ed

Art Exhibition Opportunity for San Mateo County High School Students

Selected artists will exhibit their art at Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) Community Space in Redwood City

In 2022, the Chan Zuckerberg Foundation launched an art program at the CZI Community Space to create opportunities for San Mateo County artists of all ages and abilities to showcase their artwork. This year’s theme is Metamorphosis: Evolving Identities. Learn more about the art exhibition opportunity and submit an application by November 25: https://www.rwcpaf.org/art-at-the-czi-community-space

Poetry Out Loud Competition

Registration Deadline is December 3

Poetry Out Loud (POL) inspires in high school students and teens 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.

Participants master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary history and contemporary life. And the best part about POL, it’s fun and easy to participate:

Ask a teacher, mentor, or group leader to be your sponsor.

1. Sign up by December 3, 2024 at bit.ly/PoetryOutLoud2025. You will receive a confirmation email and instructions.
2. Go to the POL website and choose three poems.
3. Coaching sessions will be available to a limited number of students from each school or organization to be held in January 2025 via Zoom.
4. Check out video of past participants and resources: www.poetryoutloud.org
5. Start memorizing and have fun!

The San Mateo County competition will take place on February 4, 2025.

Dr. Cora Clemons Emerging Young Samaritan Award

Inspired by the devotion to community service demonstrated by our

founder, Dr. Cora Clemons, Samaritan House is proud to announce

the establishment of the Dr. Cora Clemons Emerging Young

Samaritan award. This annual $2,000 award recognizes a young San Mateo

County changemaker whose work exemplifies the selfless spirit and energy

of Dr. Clemons.

Applicants/nominees must be San Mateo County residents, 16-22 years old on January 1, 2025, and pursuing their service work in the County.

Applications open October 1, 2024, and the submission deadline is January 24, 2025.

To learn more and apply, visit www.samaritanhousesanmateo.org/dr-clemons-award/

Premio Dra. Cora Clemons de Casa Samaritana (Samaritan House)

El premio Dra. Cora Clemons está inspirado en el trabajo de servicio comunitario y el espíritu desinteresado de nuestra fundadora, la Dra. Cora Clemons.

Este premio anual de $2,000 reconoce a dos jóvenes creadores de cambios en el condado de San Mateo, cuyo trabajo de servicio comunitario modela el compromiso de la Dra. Clemons con el servicio. El comité de premios da la bienvenida a los nominados que toman la iniciativa para generar un impacto en su comunidad y ejemplifican el valor y el poder de la compasión y la empatía. Los nominados pueden postularse directamente o ser nominados por un miembro de la comunidad.

El comité de premios da la bienvenida y valora todos los proyectos y trabajos que honran el legado de la Dra. Clemons de luchar contra la pobreza y mejorar vidas.

Los solicitantes/nominados deben ser residentes del Condado de San Mateo, tener entre 16 y 22 años para el 1 de enero de 2025 y realizar su trabajo de servicio comunitario en el condado.

Las solicitudes se abren el 1 de octubre de 2024 y la fecha límite de presentación es el 24 de enero de 2025.

Para obtener más información y presentar una solicitud, visite: https://samaritanhousesanmateo.org/dr-cora-clemons-premio-joven-samaritano-emergente/

Love the Arts? Attend an Upcoming Concert or Play!

Visit the District website at smuhsd.org/vapa for a list of upcoming concerts and plays taking place across the District. These visual and performing arts events are open to anyone in the community.

Upcoming Performances:

Aragon

Fall Musical - Sister Act The Musical: November 21-24, 2024

Burlingame

Fall Play - The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee: November 14-17

Capuchino

Fall Play - Ghostlight: November 14-16

Hillsdale

HHS Invitational Concert - November 21, 2024

San Mateo

Instrumental Winter Concert: December 10

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!