| |
Sequoia
Sentinel
January 13, 2020
|
Sequoia PTSA's weekly eNewsletter in partnership with the Sequoia High School Education Foundation
|
|
IB Alumni Panel's Words of Wisdom
|
|
|
IB Coordinator Lisa McCahon (far left) and teacher Tessa Yeager (far right) with the 2020 Sequoia Alumni Panel.
|
"Keep going, find a way to continue your education, even if you don't know what you want to do!"
These words were spoken by one of our former students last Friday as part of our annual IB Alumni Panel. And I probably couldn't have come up with a better line if I had written it myself. Nine graduates from as far back at 2013 and as recently as last year reflected on their experiences for an audience of approximately 400 current 9th and 10th graders. The event was organized and moderated by Tessa Yeager and Lisa McCahon with the goal of helping students understand the value of taking IB classes in 11th and 12th grade.
The discussion focused heavily on overcoming challenges and especially about learning to manage their time. When losing sleep was no longer a sustainable practice, prioritizing activities and making decisions about which activity was most important in reaching their goals became critical. "I stayed away from dating guys," quipped an alumna.
More than one student spoke of the value of being surrounded by students with ambitions similar to their own, even if their backgrounds and experiences were different. This was crucial when the workload seemed overwhelming and thoughts of dropping IB classes surfaced. It was also a lesson they carried to college, where the importance of a strong peer network and regular study groups are essential. Learning is a social activity.
Of course, the students also talked about the support of their teachers. The open door policy and supportive demeanor of their Sequoia teachers made approaching professors in college during office hours less intimidating. One student recalled her professor in a seminar of 200 students singling her out by name with holiday well-wishes on the last day of the semester. "Am I the only one who's going to office hours regularly?" she wondered.
Parents, too, were recognized as being a big part of why students were successful in Sequoia's IB program. Students appreciated support and patience, especially in the most stressful times. One student shared how going home and teaching her father, whose life circumstances precluded him from pursuing an interest in math, what she was learning in her calculus class was an essential part of her mastering challenging material. Panelists counseled their younger peers to strike balance among family, friends, and other influences in deciding what to pursue. Ultimately, knowing yourself is vital. When it comes to choosing a college, the sage advice was, "Where you're going to be happy matters more than reputation and what your parents want."
This kind of wisdom carries great weight with current students. Some alumni are still in college (community college, small liberal arts, state universities, and top tier universities were represented) while others are in successful careers in corporate sales, community organizing, and pharmaceutical research. Under the flattering
Unaliyi
light of Carrington Hall, however, each of the panelists could have just as easily been mistaken for a classmate or, perhaps, a face in the mirror -- a proverbial visit from a future self.
It was a proud day at Sequoia.
Have a great week!
Best,
Sean
|
|
Join Us Tuesday Night for Sequoia's Community Dialogue Meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the MPR
All parents and guardians are welcome to attend the Sequoia Community Dialogue Meeting on Tuesday, January 14 at 7:00 p.m. in the MPR.
This is a yearly all-school event open to parents, students, teachers, and staff, and the topic of discussion will focus on the impact of stress on our community and strategies for a more stress-free life. Come join other members of the Sequoia community, both new and veteran. We'll enjoy fun games, engage in small-group discussions, and rumor has it, have plenty of delicious food.
Everyone is welcome!
|
|
Spring Sports - Is Your Student Ready?
Badminton, Baseball, Boys Golf, Boys Tennis, Lacrosse, Softball, Swimming & Diving, and Track & Field
All Spring sports will start on February 3, 2020. If you have not already done so, please make sure his/her physical is signed-off by their doctor and cleared via SportsNet by Friday, January 24.
|
|
Get Ready for Winter Formal
 This year's Winter Formal will be held at the
Fox Theater on
Saturday, February 1, 2020 from
8:00 - 11:00 p.m. The theme will be "
Winter Waltz". Please
click here to read more about Sequoia's policies for the dance.
Tickets for the Winter Formal will be available at school starting January 24, 2020 with a one-day sale at the following prices:
Purple Card - $25
PAL - $35
Standard - $40
Regular ticket sales will be from January 27-31 at the following prices:
Purple Card - $35
PAL - $45
Standard - $50
Tickets at the door on the night of the event will be $60.
|
|
Interested in the Middle College Program at Sequoia?
The SUHSD Middle College program at Cañada College is now accepting applications for Fall 2020. Middle College is a collaboration between SUHSD and Cañada College, and students earn both high school and college credits, enabling them to complete their high school requirements and earn college credit simultaneously. All classes are held at Cañada College.
Interested students should speak to their counselor and attend one of the Parent/Student information nights on:
Tuesday, January 28
Tuesday, February 11
Tuesday, February 25
Thursday, March 5
All meetings will be held at the SUHSD Office at 480 James Ave, Redwood City in the Board Room from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
All applications must be submitted by March 20, 2020.
Please email Yesenia Haro, Cañada Middle College Staff Assistant or call her at 650-306-3155 with any questions.
|
|
Junior Families: Urgent Call for Donations and Volunteers for Upcoming Quad Game Basketball Concessions
 Attention Class of 2021 Families! Our class fundraising season is kicking off and we need your help! Donations and volunteers are needed for the concessions stand at three upcoming Quad Basketball Games on
January 24, January 31, and
February 7. Money raised will help fund graduation activities for the Class of 2021.
|
|
Pop-Up Sale Event - Order Your Sequoia Flannel Pant by Noon Today
 Today is the last day to order a Sequoia emblazoned purple plaid pajamas pant for your child. Surprise them with this comfy spirit wear for their next PJ Day at Sequoia!
Pop-up sale ends today at 11:59 a.m. PST. Please
click here to order.
Items will be delivered to Sequoia HS approximately two weeks from close of sale window.
Email Student Activities Director Corey Uhalde with any questions.
|
CAPTA Scholarships for Seniors
 The California PTA provides two annual scholarships to seniors:
- $750 Volunteer Service Scholarship: This scholarship recognizes graduating seniors for their volunteer service in schools and communities, allowing them to register for courses at accredited colleges, universities, trade or technical schools. Applicants must be PTA members graduating from a California high school between January 1 and June 30 of the current academic year.
- $500 Dr. Ralph E. White Graduating Senior Scholarship: Honoring the volunteer and public-service legacy of Dr. Ralph E. White and his wife, Eleanor, this additional scholarship provides $500 each to two successful applicants of the Volunteer Service Scholarship who intend to pursue a career in a medical field.
The applications for these scholarships are due by February 1, 2020. To learn more about the these scholarships, click here.
|
|
| |
Families Shower Staff With Appreciation Luncheon!
|
|
|
Smiles all around as teachers and staff filled their plates with a selection of delicious offerings.
|
 |
|
|
Admin greeting staff and teachers with sparkling cider.
|
Just before the winter break, Sequoia families treated all the Sequoia Staff and Teachers to a delicious holiday luncheon on Thursday, December 19th. Thank you to everyone who helped contribute to this wonderful event, and to our ELAC & PTSA coordinators, Elvira Macias and Jennifer DiGrande. This festive lunch offered many homemade dishes including tamales, pozole, rice, beans, salads, desserts, etc. all of which was enjoyed by the teachers, staff, and administrators!
Thank you to all who helped provide or make items, set-up, serve, clean-up, or supply gift cards for the raffle, it took many helping hands to deliver this special event, including:
Yesenia Agosto, Silvia Aguilar, Adriana Agustin, Ana Alvarado, Carmen Alvarado, Maria Apolinar, Annie Baker, Alma Behar, Brenda Beltran, Thelma Bonilla, Margaret Brockman, Linda Burt, Maria Carmen Sanchez, Marlene Chacon, Michelle Chang, Valdemar Chavez, Juliana Chu, Liduvina Cisneros, Alana Corso, Teresa Cruz, Lian Cunningham, Elaine De La Cruz, Ruth Donohue, Lisa Drouin, Ines Farris, Claudia Flores, Delia Fuentes, Marisela Gomez, Josefina Gonzalez, Avani Gupta,Lisa Haaga, Lisa Hane, Adrienne Heist, Stacy Huisman, Charlie Hultgren, Ana Jimenez, Catalina Jimenez, Molly Johnson, Susan Lier, Jessinia Linares, Whitney Liu, Lucinda Lopez, Gladis Lozano, Jane MacFarlane Glasow, Silvia Macias, Guadelupe Mancilla, Sara Mancini, Holly Matsuo, Martha McDaniel, Jeanette Medina, Wilmer Mejia, Laura Mendoza, Maria Mendoza, Dora Merida, Lisa Miller, Rosa Molina, Mireya Montano, Ana Morales, Zury Morataya, Ana Murillo, Tina Murphy, Amy Ollmann, Betsy Parkhurst, Jasmin Peccei, Jennifer Pedrotti, Maria Graciela Perez, Marisol Pineda, Juana Pirir, Carlin Politzer, Ana Porix,
Sandra Ramos, America Reyes, Ruby Robles, Rosalba Rodriguez, Alma Rojas, Lorena Sanchez, Irene Sandoval, Gabriela Salgado, Sandra Salguero, Caitlyn Schneider, Gabriela Sepulveda, Jennifer Sharratt, Kirsten Smith, Alejandra Talavera, Jane Taylor, Angie Tinson, Imelda Vargas, Loreto Vargas, Susie Vick, Mailin Villeda, Eva Villegas, Celia Yanes, and Viki Young.
|
|
| |
| |
|
Calendar
Tuesday, Jan. 14
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
8th Grade IB Info Night,
Carrington Hall
Tuesday, Jan. 14
7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Community Dialogue Night, MPR
Thursday, Jan. 16
10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Monday, Jan. 20
No School
MLK Day
Tuesday, Jan. 21
7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Booster's Meeting, Staff Rm.
Friday, Jan. 24
3:15 p.m.- JV Girls
4:45 p.m. - JV Boys
6:15 p.m. - V Girls
7:45 p.m. - V Boys
BB Quad Game vs. Carlmont,
Gym 1
Tuesday, Jan. 28
6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Middle College Info Meeting
Board Rm,
SUHSD Office on James Ave.
Thursday, Jan. 30
7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 1
8:00 - 11:00 p.m.
Winter Formal,
Fox Theater, RWC
|
|
| |
|
Support Sequoia All Year
Copy and paste SHSEF's AmazonSmile link below onto your browser bar for quick access to future contributions while shopping!
|
|
It's Always the Right Time...
...to be a part of the Sequoia community!
|
|
The Sentinel
Our readers enjoy hearing about activities, events, and accomplishments of our Sequoia students, staff, and community. If you have articles to submit to the Sentinel (including photos and links), please
email the article/blurb by the Thursday before publication. See the following
Guidelines for news submissions.
For those who wish to subscribe or resubscribe, we cannot add you back if you initiated the unsubscribe authorization at any point so use the link below to receive our weekly newsletter. Please check all appropriate boxes for grade level or special interest communications.
|
|
|
En Español
¿Quieres traducir este boletín ahora? Siga estas instrucciones para obtener una traducción:
1. Haga clic en "Click here" en la parte superior del correo electrónico: "Having trouble viewing this email? Click here."
2. Mantenga presionada la tecla Control (PC) y la tecla A para seleccionar toda la página, a continuación, mantenga presionada la tecla Control y haga clic en la tecla C para copiar la página entera.
3. Abra una página nueva del navegador web y vaya a
4. Coloca el cursor en la caja y mantenga presionada la tecla Control y haga clic en la tecla V para pegar el boletín completo en el cuadro de traducción.
5. Asegúrese de seleccionar "To: Spanish" en la parte superior de la página. Haga clic en el botón Traducir. La traducción al español debe aparecer en el lado derecho.
|
|
|
|
|
|
THE PARENT EDUCATION MINI-SERIES
Raising a Resilient Learner
Adina Glickman, MSW, Founder of the Stanford Resilience Project
Thursday, January 16, 2020, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Sequoia Union High School District Office, Birch Room
480 James Avenue, Redwood City
Students who thrive develop a range of intellectual and social-emotional skills and capacities.
The Resilient Learner
is an integrated approach to learning that can help children and teens flourish - both in school and outside of school.
Parents, students, educators, and community members welcome! Free admission and light refreshments.
Parent Education Mini-Series events are sponsored by Sequoia Healthcare District and Sequoia Union High School District.
M-A PARENT EDUCATION SERIES
The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their Lives
Dr. William Stixrud & Ned Johnson, Co-Authors
Thursday, January 30, 2020, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Menlo-Atherton High School,
M-A Performing Arts Center (PAC)
555 Middlefield Road, Atherton
The Self-Driven Child offers a combination of cutting-edge brain science, the latest discoveries in behavioral therapy, and case studies of kids and teens co-authors
Bill Stixrud, PhD, and
Ned Johnson have helped over the years to teach you how to set your child on the real road to success.
Parents, students, educators, and community members welcome! Free admission and light refreshments. Spanish interpretation will be available.
M-A Parent Education Series events are sponsored by M-A PTA, Sequoia Healthcare District, and Sequoia Union High School District.
WOODSIDE PARENT EDUCATION SERIES
Creating Gender Inclusive Environments for Children and Teens
Joel Baum, Senior Director for Professional Development, Gender Spectrum
Thursday, February 27, 2020, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Woodside High School
Multi-Use Room (MUR)
199 Churchill Avenue, Woodside
As one of the most fundamental aspects of self, gender impacts everybody--particularly children and teens.
Gender Spectrum's mission is to create a gender-inclusive world for all children and youth. Today's young people have significantly different understandings of gender than previous generations, with consequences for children, families, organizations, and institutions.
Parents, students, educators, and community members welcome! Free admission and light refreshments. Spanish interpretation will be available.
Woodside Parent Education Series events are sponsored by Woodside PTSA, Sequoia Healthcare District, and Sequoia Union High School District.
CARLMONT PARENT EDUCATION SERIES
 LIKE: The Impact of Social Media On Our Lives
Documentary Film Screening & Panel Discussion
Tuesday, March 17, 2020, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Carlmont High School, Performing Arts Center (PAC)
1400 Alameda de las Pulgas, Belmont
Join us for an exclusive showing of
LIKE, the new IndieFlix Original documentary
that explores the impact of social media on our lives. By understanding the impact of technology on the brain, we can learn how to navigate it more safely with our teens.
Parents, students, educators, and community members welcome!
Free admission and light refreshments. Spanish interpretation (film subtitles) will be available. Film showing to be followed by a panel discussion.
Carlmont Parent Education Series events are sponsored by Carlmont PTSA, Sequoia Healthcare District, and Sequoia Union High School District.
Questions? Contact Charlene Margot , M.A., Founder and Director, The Parent Education Series.
|
|
Help Us Create a Post-It Note Collage Wall - Deadline is Wednesday, January 15
|
|
|
Actual finished size will be 6' tall by 16' wide with over 1200 Post-It Notes.
|
We would like to invite you and your community to participate in our Community themed Post-It Note Collage Wall. This exciting project master-minded by the
Redwood City Parks and Art Foundation was created to unite the community through art. We hope to learn from each other what community means to each participant and how we can work together to make these dreams a reality.
To participate via the online google form please click below. If you'd like actual Post-It notes, please text Sheila Cepero at 650-303-0216.
|
|
|
