Sequoia PTSA's weekly eNewsletter in partnership with the Sequoia High School Education Foundation |
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Put your right palm over the top of your left hand. Move your thumbs, which should be pointing in opposite directions, in slow circular motion. Look down, look up. Repeat. This is called the awkward turtle. The awkward turtle is a wonderful dance for when you’re surrounded by a group of ninth graders who have never met and are feeling nervous, shy, or otherwise uncomfortable. I haven’t had a chance to demonstrate the awkward turtle in a while, but it came in handy last week when I facilitated a Raven Circle during flex time. Place that awkward turtle on the ground and watch it wiggle around slowly with the other awkward turtles for a minute. Feeling better yet?
Raven Circles are an idea that grew out of discussions that took place in Sequoia’s Equity and Diversity Council focus groups last year. The mission is to create a safe space for students to learn team-building skills, build empathy, strengthen listening skills, and have fun. The execution is simple: 14-18 9th graders, grouped randomly, meet once a month during flex time with a Sequoia staff member. The staff members facilitate a series of activities that will build on each other over the course of the semester as the students get to know and trust each other more.
Thursday’s activity began with each student sculpting a pipe cleaner to represent how they are feeling and share with the group. The students, like any reasonable person would expect from a group of 14-15 year olds who have been masked or behind a computer screen for the past two years were shy and reserved. Hence the awkward turtle conversation.
Next, we rose to our feet to play a modified musical chairs-style game called “Time to Move”. We removed one of the chairs from the circle, leaving one person in the middle. The person in the middle calls out their name and says, “It’s time to move if you like…”. Students in my Raven Circle shared their enthusiasm for pizza, Disney movies, soccer, and the beach. Anyone who also likes whatever was named moves across the circle and finds a new spot, leaving one person in the middle to initiate another round.
By the time we were done, most of the awkward turtles had been trampled underfoot. I asked the students to write a short note reflecting on what they thought we accomplished. Here are s few responses:
"We were able to accomplish getting over the weird awkward phase"
"We learned everyone's names (sorry I'm not a talking person)"
"I learned that not a lot of people like soccer"
"We accomplished having more familiar faces in the hallways."
The Raven Circles initiative is happening because a critical mass of Sequoia teachers and staff have put in work over the last several months designing, preparing, and organizing it. This has been work above and beyond their regular duties in the classroom or offices, during a pandemic which continues to present new obstacles and twists for us to overcome. The ambition of the Raven Circles mission and the quality of its execution is testament to the values of our community. That its first session was as positive as it was speaks also to what awesome students we have. I can’t wait to get back together with my group next month.
Have a great week!
Best,
Sean
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That’s So Raven Ep. 11 (repeat)
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We celebrated the Holiday Season with our last episode of That's So Raven for 2021!
3:05 Finals Tips from Teachers
9:09 Gingerbread House Competition
12:33 Cooking Tutorial With Sara
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Represent! Submit pics of you with classmates for the yearbook |
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Encourage your student(s) to make sure they are well represented in the yearbook. All contributions from the Sequoia Community are welcome and encouraged. Sports pictures, club activities, fun events, concerts, or casual pictures from a typical day. Maybe a full page or two for a school event, club, or team, or other group? Let us know ASAP what space you would like and we'll make happen.
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Stemality: Sequoia students making change |
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Do you have a passion for STEM? Looking for service hours? Apply to be a volunteer for Stemality! Founded by four Sequoia students, the nonprofit promotes equality in STEM by conducting weekly after-school programs at elementary schools in San Carlos and Redwood City.
High school volunteers facilitate sessions by performing STEM activities and working with young children. To learn more and apply, visit www.stemality.org. Applications due January 28.
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Upcoming changes to the IB ESS course |
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Next school year (2022-2023) will be the last year IB Environmental & Societies (IB ESS) will be offered as a one year course. Starting in 2023-2024, IB ESS will be a two year course just like IB Biology. Please click here for more information.
Current 10th graders: if you want to take IB ESS at all, you MUST take it next school year (2022-2023). You will be unable to access the course your senior year as it will be a two year course.
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Feb. 1-3: Auditions for Sequoia Drama's spring musical!
Auditions for Sequoia Drama's spring musical, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, are February 1-3 after school in Carrington Hall.
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Join the Sequoia Union High School District Team! |
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Want to love where you work and what you do? Have some extra time to spend at our amazing schools, while getting paid?
SUHSD is looking for more Guest Teachers. The credential requirement for being a Guest Teacher is a California Teaching Credential (CTC) or 30-day substitute permit. Don't have that? Don't worry! SUHSD can assist you in applying for the 30-day sub permit; the requirements are simple:
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Fingerprints for CTC ($79) and the district ($25), the district will pay the $25 fee
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Bachelor's degree. Official transcripts must be sent to Human Resources (HR) directly from the college/university, or delivered in a sealed envelope
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Basic skills requirement--see here for explanation on how the requirement can be fulfilled
- $102.50 application fee
Many parents have enjoyed working as Guest Teachers over the years, and some have gone on to permanent jobs within the district. Guest Teacher pay starts at $240 per day. More information is available here. The district hopes to hear from you! Questions? Email Human Resources.
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⚽ 1/18 Girls soccer vs Aragon - varsity 4:30 p.m., JV 6:15 p.m.
⚽ 1/19 Boys soccer vs Westmoor - varsity 4:30 p.m., JV 6:00 p.m.
🏀 1/19 Boys basketball vs Capuchino - JV 4:30 p.m., varsity 6:00 p.m.
🏀 1/21 Girls basketball vs Carlmont - JV 4:30 p.m., varsity 6:00 p.m.
🏀 1/22 Boys basketball vs El Camino - freshman 12:00 p.m.
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Visit SeqSports.com for complete game schedules, and please note that some games may be affected due to Covid protocol.
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Jan 31: Spring sports tryouts begin |
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Is your student interested in playing a spring sport at Sequoia? Tryouts for baseball, softball, lacrosse, track, swimming, stunt team, boys volleyball, boys golf, and boys tennis begin Monday, January 31.
New and returning athletes must register on SportsNet to be eligible. Contact the head coach for more details and follow individual SEQ sports teams on Instagram.
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Jan. 18: Boosters Meeting |
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Meeting ID: 969 2641 9178
Passcode: Boosters
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Donate a gift card to your favorite local biz for our Crab Feed Auction |
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Support your favorite local business AND your Sequoia Boosters by purchasing a minimum value $50 gift card to your favorite local business(es) to be sold during our silent auction. You can drop gift cards in the Boosters mailbox at school or email Aimee Swanson for more information.
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Class of 2023 fundraiser - rep needed NOW! 🏀 |
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Urgent! We need a representative for the class of 2023 to run home basketball concessions. Your child does not need to be a junior or on the basketball team for you to volunteer. This fundraiser helps keep the cost down for senior activities for the class of 2023.
Starting Jan. 28 there are four Friday home games where you will sell candy, popcorn, chips, snacks, and more. There are also opportunities to sell during weekday games. A sign-up sheet is created and volunteers fill the spots. It’s a great way to get on campus, see people, and have fun!! This is a well-run fundraiser and we have lots of info to make it super successful. Please email karenellerha@gmail.com with any questions.
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MEET ME IN THE MEDIA CENTER |
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We look forward to seeing you,
Ms. Snow
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THE PARENT EDUCATION SERIES |
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¿Fumas en Snapchat? Hablando sobre vapeadores, cigarrillos electrónicos y tabaco con adolescentes |
¿Cómo ha cambiado el consumo de tabaco (nicotina), cigarrillos electrónicos y vapores en los adolescentes durante la pandemia? ¿Cómo influyen las redes sociales en los comportamientos de salud de los adolescentes?
Únase a Erin Vogel, PhD, USC Keck School of Medicine, para conocer las respuestas a estas preguntas y más. Esta sesión en línea cubrirá el vapeo, el uso de tabaco entre los jóvenes, los cigarrillos electrónicos y el impacto de las redes sociales en la salud y el bienestar de los adolescentes.
Miércoles, 19 de enero, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., evento en línea (en vivo)
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Smoking on Snapchat? Talking About Vapes, E-Cigarettes, and Tobacco with Teens |
How has teenage use of tobacco (nicotine), e-cigarettes, and vapes changed during the pandemic? How does social media influence the health behaviors of adolescents?
Join Erin Vogel, PhD, USC Keck School of Medicine, to learn answers to these questions and more.
This online session will cover vaping, youth tobacco use, e-cigarettes, and the impact of social media on teenagers' health and well-being.
Wed., Jan. 19 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., Online Event (Live)
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Foro para padres #12 (inglés) – Lo único que puede hacer para ser un padre aún mejor |
Comienza bien el Año Nuevo! ¿Qué es lo único que puede hacer para convertirse en un mejor padre? Únase a nosotros para un nuevo foro de padres (inglés) con Eran Magen, PhD, experto en comunicación entre padres e hijos y fundador de Paternidad para humanos.
Viernes, 21 de enero, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m., evento en linea (en vivo)
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Parent Forum #12 (English) – The One Thing You Can Do to Be an Even Better Parent |
Kick off the New Year right! What is the one thing you can do to become an even better parent? Join us for a new Parent Forum (English) with Eran Magen, PhD, communication expert and founder of Parenting for Humans.
Fri., Jan. 21, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m., Online Event (Live)
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Valedictorians at the Gate: destacándose, entrando y manteniéndose cuerdos mientras se postulan a la universidad |
En Valedictorians at the Gate, Becky Munsterer Sabky, una ex directora de admisión de la Ivy League, mira más allá del humo y los espejos del guante de admisión a la universidad y coloca el poder firmemente donde debería estar: en las manos de los propios estudiantes.
Miércoles, 26 de enero, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., evento en línea (en vivo)
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Valedictorians at the Gate: Standing Out, Getting In, and Staying Sane While Applying to College |
In Valedictorians at the Gate, Becky Munsterer Sabky, a former Ivy League admission director, looks beyond the smoke and mirrors of the college admissions gauntlet and places the power firmly where it should be: in the hands of the students themselves.
Wed., Jan. 26, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., Online Event (Live)
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Diferencias visibles e invisibles: promoción de la bondad, la empatía, la inclusión y la conciencia de la discapacidad |
¿Alguna vez ha oído hablar del término "conciencia sobre la discapacidad"?
Únase a un educador reconocido a nivel nacional Sam Drazin, fundador y director ejecutivo de Changing Perspectives, para un debate esclarecedor sobre la concienciación sobre la discapacidad.
Jueves, 27 de enero, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., evento en línea (en vivo)
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Visible and Invisible Differences: Promoting Kindness, Empathy, Inclusion and Disability Awareness |
Have you ever heard of the term "disability awareness"?
Join nationally recognized educator Sam Drazin, founder and executive director of Changing Perspectives, for an enlightening discussion on disability awareness.
Thurs., Jan. 27, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., Online Event (Live)
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COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND EVENTS |
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Recruiting for Stanford’s Center for Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Youth Advisory Group |
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In July 2021, Stanford’s Center for Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing formed their first-ever Youth Advisory Group located in Southern San Mateo County to participate in mental health training, facilitate listening sessions/events, and develop youth-led projects to support their peers.
We are actively recruiting youth who represent the diversity of the Bay Area across race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, lived experience, ability, and socioeconomic status (with a focus on youth coming from underrepresented communities, such as first-generation and immigrant families) to talk about and engage with youth mental health efforts.
As a valued partner working directly with youth, we wanted to share this exciting news with you and humbly ask if you might be willing to help us spread the word within your network.
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Jan. 18: Tutor training for Healthy Cities tutoring |
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Interested in helping a child succeed in school? Have a free hour to volunteer each week?
Attend Healthy Cities tutoring orientation and training on Tues., January 18, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. in the upstairs community room of the San Carlos Library, 610 Elm Street, San Carlos. You will learn how simple it is to apply and help a local student with reading, writing, math, and study skills.
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En Español:
¿Quieres traducir este boletín ahora?
En Español
- 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.
- Abra una página nueva del navegador web y vaya a google translate
- 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.
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Sentinel Newsletter:
The Sentinel is distributed every Sunday at 8 a.m., except during school breaks. Our readers enjoy hearing about activities, events, and accomplishments of Sequoia students, staff and community.
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