Learning is a social endeavor. Authentic relationships lay the foundation for the exchange of knowledge and wisdom. We talk to each other constantly. Sequoia – Place of Friends – is filled with human voices during the school day. You hear students providing evidence of reasoning in classrooms, pursuing perfect pitch in Carrington Hall, calling off a volleyball teammate in Gym 2, and, of course, gossiping about the weekend in the quad.  

If we take for granted that speaking and listening skills are either innate or fixed, we do ourselves and our students a disservice. Likewise, if we discount the role voice plays in building empathy, we miss a huge opportunity to empower our students to thrive in their relationships and, therefore, their learning.   

Last Thursday, if you were a ninth grader at Sequoia, you attended an inaugural Raven Circle. You went to a part of campus you’d perhaps never been to, met a staff facilitator you may have never met, and sat beside 15-18 students you may or may not have ever seen before. Over the course of the subsequent 40 minutes, you learned the names of the students in your Raven Circle, you heard about things that are going well (roses), things that are worrisome (thorns), and things they’re looking forward to (buds).  

If you were a part of my Raven Circle, you did some mindful breathing, watched our invisible awkward turtles wiggle around on the floor, and heard some amazing classmates, whom you’d never met before, be brave and vulnerable. You walked away with a slightly broader perspective than the one you arrived with.

Much, MUCH, more to come…

Ten consecutive Raven Circle sessions will take place for all ninth graders to be held during flex over the next few months. Each circle is co-facilitated by at least one staff member and one of our cadre of amazing tenth grade student facilitators. The tenth graders were identified as stellar participants in our trial run of Raven Circles last spring.

One of Sequoia’s greatest features is the enriching experience spending four years enmeshed in a community which demographically resembles California strikingly. To ensure that our students don’t have parallel or adjacent experiences to their classmates, the goal of Raven Circles is to provide everyone with a shared, unique experience of building community, learning empathy through listening and sharing, and connecting to Sequoia’s shared values.  

Raven Circles are an initiative unique to Sequoia and exist because our SHSEF has funded training and coordination and a huge percentage of our staff has committed, voluntarily, to the extra work of planning and facilitating. Why? Because we believe in our students and we believe in this place. Unaliyi!

Best,

Sean

Our fall membership drive is off to a great start with parents, teachers, and students standing up to support our Sequoia High School PTSA.

Haven't joined yet? Sign up on-line HERE or stop by the PTSA table at Back-to-School Night this Thursday.

By having a PTSA at Sequoia, we are part of a national organization that has been around for more than 100 years advocating for stronger schools, teacher support, and legislation that ensures all kids get a chance at a quality education. The greater our numbers, the greater our voice, and we need to be heard!

Even if you choose not to join, everyone in our parent community is welcome to come to our meetings, volunteer for activities, and be a part of this wonderful school! But we'd love your membership, too!

Questions? email sequoiaptsatreasurer@gmail.com

How many times do you ask yourself, “What is the deal with this or that policy at Sequoia? If it were up to me…”  Well, stop asking and be a part of the solution!

Sequoia’s Site Council, a team of Sequoia’s teachers and staff, administrators, parents, and students who meet throughout the year to develop and implement plans to improve school instruction, services, and the school environment is looking for more members. How about you?

Do you have a couple of hours once a month to be a part of this important committee that discusses topics like: student stress, teacher and student involvement in school policy such as tardiness and class size, school cleanliness, and many others? Then Sequoia’s Site Council might be just what you’re looking to be a part of!

Contact Karen Gebhart with your interest

A huge thank you to PTSA rockstars who hit the ground running before school even started!

• Liz Min for chairing the Freshman/New Student Ice Cream Social
• Linda Solon for running a fabulous Staff Luncheon Monday before school started, and
• Natalie Henderson for making and delivering New Teacher Gift Bags to all new staff at Sequoia.

Thank you, you made the start of school special for many people!

The Sequoia High School Education Foundation (SHSEF) supports staff, projects and programs to ensure that every student has the opportunity to reach their highest potential. We raise funds for college services, academic enrichment programs, staff professional development, and student and family support.

Looking for an occasional volunteer opportunity on campus? Join the Media Center Volunteer crew. Duties include textbook and media check-out and check-in, lunchtime support, and other various library tasks in a welcoming, student-facing environment. Email Jessica Rosenberg to be added to the list.

Check out our most recent newsletter and click here to find out what’s happening at the Sequoia Media Center! We look forward to seeing you.

Ms. Snow

Support the Ravens by attending this week’s home games. Check SEQSports.com for complete home and away fall schedules. Let’s Go Ravens!

• Varsity Girls Tennis vs. Los Altos - Tuesday, 8/30, 4:00 p.m.
• Varsity Girls Tennis vs. Crystal Springs - Thursday, 9/1 4:00 p.m.
• Varsity Football vs. Bonita Vista - Friday 9/2, 7:00 p.m.

Sequoia Football hosts San Diego-based Bonita Vista on Friday 9/2 and our fans will be hungry and ready to cheer! Boosters would love to open the BBQ stand, but we need volunteers to make it happen!

Sign up for a shift in the concession stand or on the BBQ and help us kick off the home opener right.

There will be a 4-year college bound and IB informational meeting on ZOOM for seniors and their parents/guardians from 6:00-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 30. This meeting will provide both general and Sequoia specific information about the college process for students going to a four-year college along with important IB information for seniors in one or more IB classes.

English Presentation Zoom Link

Or

English Meeting ID: 933 3097 6617 Pass Code: 242415

Spanish Meeting ID: 924 5558 4418 Pass Code: 871948

There will be a grade level ZOOM meeting for students and parents/guardians in the 11th grade from 6:00-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 8. This meeting will provide information about the college process for students going to a four-year college along with important IB information for juniors in one or more IB classes. A meeting with the same information for Spanish speaking parents/guardians will be held at 7:00 p.m. Zoom links are available on the school’s website calendar.

English Presentation Zoom Link

Or 

English Meeting ID: 933 3097 6617 Pass Code: 242415

Spanish Meeting ID: 924 5558 4418 Pass Code: 871948