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Since this is our last Sentinel of 2025, here’s wishing your family a restful, joyous, and safe holiday season and winter break. Big shout-out to our volunteers for the hours they’ve put in to enrich our community. Whether text-banking for the SHSEF Annual Campaign, ferrying pizzas backstage for drama rehearsals, serving breakfast to our staff, or selling cocoa beneath the lights of Terremere Field on a cold November Friday night, the generosity of our volunteers astounds me year after year. Thank you!

Students return to Sequoia on 1/6/26. Zero period will meet. Everyone’s first class will be posted on Infinite Campus. Our counselors and Instructional Vice Principal work hard to minimize schedule changes, but in order to balance class sizes and account for staffing changes and enrollment adjustments, a small handful of students do start the second semester with a different schedule. 

Looking ahead, there is much to be excited about as we begin the second half of the school year. League games for winter sports are already underway and we’re excited about how well our teams are coming together. It promises to be a fun couple of months.

Starting in February, current Sequoia 9-11th graders will begin working with counselors to discuss next year’s schedules. These meetings are an important time for students to reflect on their progress towards meeting UC A-G requirements, graduation requirements, as well as their elective pathway. I encourage families to review the program planning handbook in order for students to be prepared for those meetings.

Students on early-action or early-decision status are already starting to get word from colleges and universities about their admission status. More good news to come in the next few months. Keep your chins up, Seniors. Keep an eye out for each other, as well. You never know how far a simple word of encouragement might carry someone. 

I hope you are able to enjoy spending time together as a family over these next two weeks. You have played a huge role in making the first semester a success. Let’s keep it going strong in 2026. Thanks to our amazing Sentinel production and thanks for reading!

Best,

Sean

Donate or Volunteer for the Sequoia Staff Holiday Luncheon Dec. 18

Show your appreciation for our fantastic Sequoia teachers & staff by donating food, drinks, gift cards, or your time at the holiday lunch on Thursday, December 18. The event is hosted by the PTSA! Click here to sign up to donate items or volunteer during the event. Shifts are from 10:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. and 12:45 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Contact Stacie Ciraulo with any questions. Thank you!

Support the class of 2026: Purchase from Honey Bear Trees

The Sequoia PTSA is thrilled that Honey Bear Trees is back for the holidays and is open for business. Mention Sequoia PTSA or bring the flyer below to their San Carlos location at 1579 El Camino Real, across from Trader Joe's.

Honey Bear Trees will donate 15% of your tree and/or wreath purchase to the Sequoia PTSA, which will use the funds to support the senior class’s safe and sober graduation celebration. 

La asociación de padres, maestros y estudiantes (PTSA por sus siglas en inglés) de Sequoia está emocionada porque Honey Bear Trees están de regreso para las fiestas y liston para vender. Mencione Sequoia PTSA o lleve el panfleto anexo a la tienda en San Carlos en 1579 El Camino Real, en frente de Trader Joe's.



Honey Bear Trees donará 15% de su compra de árboles y/o coronas de adviento a PTSA de Sequoia, quien usará los fondos para apoyar a la celebración segura y sobria de la clase de 12 grado.

Thank You to Our Donors!

Giving Tuesday was a success! 

Thank you to everyone who donated to SHSEF on Giving Tuesday. Because of your gifts, we’ve raised over $240k toward our $650k goal, which will enable us to fund impactful staff members, including a second college counselor and a mental health counselor. 

We rely on our community’s generosity to raise funds for critical programs for ALL Ravens. Help us reach the halfway point of our fundraising goal before December 31! NOW is a great time to look for holiday/year-end corporate matching from your employer. This giving season, consider a gift to SHSEF at the $1500 per student recommended ask or any gift that is meaningful to your family. Donate today. 

La Fundación SHSEF apoya al personal, los proyectos y los programas de Sequoia para asegurar que cada estudiante goce de la oportunidad de realizar su máximo potencial. Recaudamos fondos para la asesoría universitaria, enriquecimiento escolar, desarrollo profesional del personal, y recursos de apoyo para los estudiantes y sus familias. 

Leer más en Español o Dona ahora.

Raven Holiday Project 2025 (formerly "Adopt-a-Family")

Sign up here for the Sequoia Raven Holiday Project '25 to donate Sequoia sweatshirts, Target gift cards, or an hour or two of your time. We are once again hoping to give holiday gift bags to at least 200 students and their families in need in our Sequoia community. Your gifts will help us strengthen the student-school connection and make the holiday season a little brighter for some of our students and families. If you want to purchase multiple items, please sign up multiple times—each sign-up is for one sweatshirt or one gift card. Questions? Please contact Ann Kamensky, SHSEF Family Support Chair, at annkamensky@gmail.com or 617-835-9586. Thank you! ¡Gracias!

Follow us on Instagram

Looking for a way to get your SHSEF information and news and engage with our community? Follow us on Instagram: @SequoiaEdFoundation 

Please sign up to support the Junior Class fundraiser to sell Concessions at Sequoia basketball games. Money that is raised will be used towards the Graduation Night Celebration. We have spots to donate food & drinks, donate money to purchase items, or volunteer time to sell items at the basketball games. Please go here to sign up. Thank you for your support. If you have any questions, please contact Erika Nelson at 650-556-3525. 

Both home and away games have been added to the Sequoia High School Calendar –

and don't forget to follow @seqboosters on social media.

• Winter Break: December 19 - January 5
• Classes Resume: January 6

We are looking for volunteers to help with a short biography project in January. Volunteers will sit with a small group of ELD students (recent immigrants to the US) and support them as they read biographies. Volunteers will work under the direct supervision of Stacy Schmidt Wenzel. 

Dates: January 9, 16, and 23. 

Time: The shifts are 8:30 - 10:00 a.m. and 11:05am - 12:35 p.m.

Requirements: Volunteers who can commit to all three dates for either or both sessions. All volunteers are required to complete a clearance process (or are already be cleared to volunteer at Sequoia High School).

Please contact Stacy Schmidt Wenzel at swenzel@seq.org for more information.

What will you learn in the Media Center?

The Sequoia Media Center Newsletter is here!

With more than 20 years of experience, our program is known for providing safe, meaningful, and life-changing cultural immersion. The Program Director lives in the community year-round, and personally supports each student during their stay. In addition, we have a dedicated local team that provides daily assistance, cultural guidance, and close supervision to ensure students feel welcomed and supported at all times.

At the end of the program, students receive an official Certificate of Participation, documenting their immersion experience, volunteer hours, and cultural learning. This certificate can be a valuable addition to college and university applications, highlighting global awareness, independence, and community engagement.

• $200 Early Application Discount for applications submitted by December 31st.

• Referral Bonus: If a student refers another student who enrolls, both families receive a $100 credit.

• Loyalty Bonus: Students from your area who have participated in programs such as CIEE are eligible for an additional community discount.

Learn more at https://www.highschoolspanish.org/ 

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

Bay Area nonprofit leaders Bryan Neider, CEO of AbilityPath; Kathleen Foley-Hughes, Founder and Executive Director of Ada’s Café; and Olenka Villarreal, Founder and CEO of the Magical Bridge Foundation, will discuss what it takes to create inclusive environments where everyone can thrive. Register.

Los líderes de organizaciones sin fines de lucro del Área de la Bahía, Bryan Neider, director ejecutivo (CEO) de AbilityPath; Kathleen Foley-Hughes, fundadora y directora ejecutiva de Ada’s Café; y Olenka Villarreal, fundadora y directora ejecutiva de la Fundación Magical Bridge, conversarán sobre lo que se necesita para crear entornos inclusivos donde todas las personas puedan prosperar. Registro.