MAIN MESSAGE

“Action speaks louder than words but not nearly as often.” - Mark Twain

A few weeks ago, I was invited by leaders from the Sequoia Gender-Sexuality Alliance (GSA) to chat about their goals for the year. They are already hashing out plans for the third annual Pride Fair this spring, hosting weekly meetings at lunch to share resources and fellowship with Sequoia’s LGBTQ+ students and their allies. The meetings are well-attended, with a noticeable uptick after the club fair last month. The students asked if I’d be willing to use this platform to champion their work. Their concern is that students might not know about the community that exists here at Sequoia. The GSA leadership is educated on elevated rates of depression and suicide among LGBTQ+ youth. They worry that students might be struggling with the challenges inherent in adolescence – more acutely so through the LGBTQ+ lens – and felt compelled to act assertively to maintain that Sequoia isn’t a place where young people fall between the cracks. I affirmed their efforts and told them I was eager to help.

Over in the main building, another club was meeting and hatching plans of their own. Sequoia’s Black Student Union (BSU) has a long history of leading positive change in our school. They were among the first to recognize the dangers of teenage vaping and enacted a schoolwide campaign in 2017 to educate and persuade their peers to resist the marketing and peer pressure driving this unhealthy habit. Over the past two years, they’ve sought to eradicate a different toxic presence: the n-word.  

Used casually in recent years among young people, I do not believe that this word is being used in the way it has historically been used to oppress and inflict violence upon black people in our country. Nonetheless, this word does have a long history of violence. On its face, it represents hate. Many of our students and staff feel unsafe hearing it, whether that’s the intention or not. If the latter is indeed the case, we can chalk that up to ignorance. Our goal at Sequoia is not to be ignorant. As such, the BSU enlisted the staff to help lead an effort to make our school n-word free.  For the last two Thursdays (and moving forward), Sequoia staff members have been wearing T-shirts designed by the BSU making this expectation explicit. At Sequoia, it states plainly, we do not use this word.   

Down the hall on Tuesdays at lunch, Sequoia’s Dream Club moves quickly through their packed agenda. The Dream Club is perhaps our highest-profile student organization. Since 2008, they have advocated for the rights of students to post-secondary education regardless of immigration status. Around this time of year, the students are deep in planning for the annual Dream Club Dinner, to be held this year on November 21. In addition to the logistical challenges of a 300-400 person dinner/fundraising event, the Dream Club Dinner includes spoken-word performances and art from our “Dreamers”. It is an inspiring intersection of activism and creativity. Later this year, students in the Dream Club will help organize a conference for area high school students and families to share resources about college and other opportunities and support.  

One of our proudest traditions at Sequoia is the channeling of our values into actions that impact our community in direct and concrete ways. So it is once again in 2025-26.  

Have a great week!

Best,

Sean

PTSA/ELAC Meeting - November 4

Join us on Tuesday, November 4, for a special PTSA/ELAC meeting featuring Mitch Weathers, educator, former Sequoia High School teacher, and author of Executive Functions for Every Classroom. Mitch, founder of Organized Binder, Inc., will share how students can build focus, organization, and resilience — skills that matter more than ever in today’s fast-paced, tech-driven world. Don’t miss this inspiring talk!

Tuesday, Nov. 4 | 7pm | MPR

PTSA Reflections Art Program

Explore the arts and express yourself in the PTA’s Reflections Program! This year’s theme is I Belong | Yo pertenezco. Enter your artwork and reflection in one of six categories: 

Dance, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, or Visual Arts.

Learn more here (including how to enter).

All entries will be recognized for their artistic achievement. Entries are due by Sunday, November 9, 2025 at midnight. Questions? Email us.

Do you still need to join the PTSA? It's never too late!

Click HERE to join online or submit the membership form in English or Spanish with a check for $21. 

Help make our Unaliyi spirit stronger!

Contact Dana Rechin with any questions.

Bridging the Gap: SHSEF Fills a Need - College & Career Preparedness

We hope that our freshmen enjoyed their college campus visits last week–SHSEF is proud that  our students were able to experience the full-day field trip. Juniors took the PSAT, and we hope they felt great about checking that PSAT box on their to-do list. Thank you to our donors for supporting these programs for College & Career Preparedness, and others, including:

• Additional Credentialed College Counselor
• On-Campus school day SAT for Juniors (Spring 2026)
• Multi-day College Trip for AVID Students
• Release time for teachers to write college recommendations
• Professional Development & Training
• Conferences for College Counselors
• Funding for College counselors to visit schools & promote Sequoia students

To close the gap in state and local funding, SHSEF raises funds from parents, community members, and grantors. In addition to College & Career Preparedness, the donated funds also support Academic & Arts Enrichment and Mental Health & Wellness.

Our fundraising goal for the 2025-26 school year is $650,000, and our recommended ask per student is $1,500, or any gift meaningful to your family. Learn more and DONATE TODAY!

Upcoming School Schedule Changes

• November 5 - Minimum Day
• November 11 - Holiday (Veterans Day)
• November 26, 27, 28 - Holiday (Thanksgiving Break)

For all upcoming events, the bell schedule, and home and away games, please visit the Sequoia High School Calendar here.

Seeking Visual Arts Professionals!

We’re seeking professionals in the Visual Arts to inspire students by sharing their career journeys in a 30–40 minute presentation. If you have experience in fields such as Graphic Design, Visual or UI/UX Design, Interior or Exhibition Design, Fashion, Illustration, Animation, Videography, or Motion Graphics, we’d love to hear from you! Help students explore creative career pathways and bring real-world insight into the classroom. Please contact Faith Velschow if interested.

Fall Musical Tickets Available!

Tickets are now on sale for Sequoia Drama's fall musical production of THE LIGHTNING THIEF!

Performances are Nov. 7-9 and Nov. 13-15, all shows at 7:00 p.m. except for our Sunday pay-what-you-can matinee at 3:00 p.m.

Visit our ticketing website to get your tickets!

Order Your Yearbook Today!

Order Your Yearbook Today! 

Don't miss out on the lowest price for the Sequoia High School Yearbook! Purchase today for just $90! Visit www.yearbookordercenter.com and use the school code: 7268

Prices will go up December 1!

Gorgeous evergreens for the holidays for sale now! Three weeks to order!

Why buy your fresh evergreens from chain stores when you can support a small business as well as raise funds for the Class of 2028’s Safe & Sober Graduation Activities? We are offering beautiful and fragrant wreaths, garlands and cute reindeer for sale at great prices ranging from $27-44. We partner with a sustainably run family farm for this fundraiser. Items will be available for pick up in San Carlos in early December.

Click here to order your holiday decor from the PTSA store! Last day to order is Nov. 9th!

PayPal or credit/debit cards accepted. Ping Liz if PayPal is not your thing! We have workarounds! Please share the link to the online store with your neighbors and friends! Contact Liz Min with any questions!

ATHLETICS

Winter Sports Tryouts Start November 3rd!

Get ready, Sequoia athletes! Tryouts for Boys and Girls Soccer, Boys and Girls Basketball, and Wrestling begin on Monday, November 3rd. All athletes must be cleared to play by Monday, October 27. Complete your student’s registration and submit medical forms via SportsNet.

Attention Freshmen: We plan to field freshman teams for Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, and Girls Soccer if there is enough interest - and freshmen are always encouraged to try out for JV/Varsity Girls Basketball and Co-ed Wrestling. 

For the most up-to-date and complete details on practice times, equipment, and contact information, please visit the Athletics Winter Sports Tryouts page on the Sequoia High School website.

Both home and away games have been added to the Sequoia High School Athletics Calendar – and don't forget to follow @seqboosters on social media.

The October Sequoia Media Center Newsletter is here!

To sign up for the free Parent Venture newsletter, click here. 

October 29: Helping Kids (and Parents) Break Free of People Pleasing and Perfectionism

In Are You Mad at Me?, psychotherapist and NY Times bestselling author Meg Josephson reframes “people-pleasing” and shares practical tools to spot perfectionism, navigate conflict, and strengthen family bonds for both parents and kids. Register.

29 de octubre: Ayudando a niños (y padres) a liberarse del perfeccionismo y la necesidad de complacer a los demás

En ¿Estás enojado conmigo, la psicoterapeuta y autora reconocida por el New York Times, Meg Josephson, replantea el concepto de “complacer a los demás” y comparte herramientas prácticas para identificar el perfeccionismo, manejar los conflictos y fortalecer los lazos familiares, tanto para padres como para hijos. Registro.

October 30: Values in College Admission: Getting There, Being There—What’s New, What’s Not

Join us for a wide-ranging discussion of new considerations for students and families as they navigate today’s college-admission landscape—and, more importantly, as they begin the college experience itself. Register.

30 de octubre: Valores en la admisión universitaria: llegar, estar ahí — qué es nuevo y qué no

Acompáñenos en esta vasta conversación para estudiantes y familias sobre qué hay de nuevo en el panorama de las admisiones a la universidad y, sobre todo, al inicio de la experiencia universitaria, a la par de que navegan este proceso. Registro.