Sequoia PTSA's weekly eNewsletter in partnership with the Sequoia High School Education Foundation | |
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Unless you are a student of British rock music or a Van Morrison completist, you’ve probably never heard of Them. Them’s success was mercurial. Their best-known hit is a karaoke standard (“G-L-O-R-I-A…”). The Doors idolized Them. At one time, they were popular enough to be on the same bill as The Rolling Stones.
You’ve definitely heard of The Rolling Stones. You may have even seen a performance this summer, almost 60 years after Them disbanded. There’s a reason for this. The Stones show up. Despite their miscreant posturing, Mick, Keith, and Ronnie have long been known for their professionalism and discipline when it comes to attendance. Too often, it turned out, Them was absent, developing a reputation for missing gigs. Showing up, indeed in this case, separated the legendary from the obscure.
Such it is with school, now more than ever.
This semester, after suspending its attendance policy from March 2020 to last Spring, the Sequoia Union High School District reinstated its requirement that students attend a minimum number of class days in order to receive credit for coursework. If they have 12 or more absences in a class, Sequoia High School students will not receive credit if three or more of the absences are cuts (i.e., unexcused). This means an automatic N/A on the transcript and no progress towards graduation or A-G eligibility.
Suspending the attendance policy made sense with distance learning and COVID-19 variants over the past two years. It also meant that families may have gotten out of the habit of calling in to clear excused absences since, effectively, the consequences were minimal. With the policy once again in place, two things are imperative:
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Monitor your student’s attendance regularly: our attendance system generates automatic phone calls when students are marked absent, Infinite Campus (IC) also allows families to monitor attendance for their student (here is the Sequoia Family Center’s User Guide for IC).
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Call/email to excuse absences as soon as possible: The day of absence is best, but always please within five days. Lizeth Cornelio is Sequoia’s Attendance Clerk (650-367-9780 ext. 60000/60010; lcornelio@seq.org).
Additionally, speak with your student about the importance of consistent attendance. Everyone is going to miss school for illness, appointments, emergencies, etc. These are all valid reasons for an absence. Outside of these exceptions, however, the habit of being here every day is the most important habit students can build. Celebrate your student’s discipline in daily attendance. You are setting them up for success at Sequoia and beyond. Just ask Mick and Keith.
Happy Attendance Awareness Month and have a great week!
Best,
Sean
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Starting the day with gratitude for teachers and staff | |
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The morning after Back to School Night, the PTSA treated our wonderful teachers and staff to espresso drinks and tasty breakfast treats. Many teachers and staff pre-ordered for convenient in-class deliveries while others stopped in the staff lounge to order their own espresso drinks and select from a breakfast buffet.
THANK YOU to all of the families who donated breakfast treats. A big shout out to the parents and ASB students who helped assemble orders and make deliveries, especially Jessica Rosenberg who helped to organize the event! It was a special way to celebrate the hard work and commitment of teachers and staff, and they certainly seemed to appreciate the appreciation!
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Reflections Art Program kicks off with “Show Your Voice” | |
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The PTSA’s Reflections Art Program kicks off in September with the theme, “Show Your Voice”. Since 1969, this program has increased community awareness of the importance of arts in education.
Reflections encourages students to:
- be inspired and unleash creative talents.
- express themselves imaginatively through artwork.
- experience the joy of creating art.
- tap into critical thinking skills to create art inspired by a theme.
- receive positive recognition for original works of art.
Join us as we kick off our 2022-23 program in September. Contact Margaret Brockman or Meredith Park to get involved at sequoiareflections@gmail.com.
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PTSA mini-grants are coming soon | |
Through the support from the Sequoia High School Education Foundation (SHSEF), the PTSA is able to offer financial grants to enhance education at Sequoia. Grants of up to $750 are designed to inspire creative initiatives for learning and/or to address a compelling need that might otherwise go unmet.
Applications will be accepted Sept. 24-Oct. 8. Students who have an idea for a project that will benefit the school but need funding, are encouraged to apply. See HERE for additional information.
PARENTS: If you have a few hours to review applications and meet with the other committee members (one to two evenings in October), we would love to have you join our review committee. No experience necessary. This is a great opportunity to learn about the constructive, beneficial projects happening at the school. Contact sequoiaminigrants@gmail.com to join the selection committee.
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You know you've been meaning to… | |
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...so click and JOIN NOW!
With your membership, you can:
- be a part of Sequoia's community of parents, teachers, and students who make school welcoming, united, and engaged!
- empower the California State PTA to speak up on behalf of our families. Our State PTA has a long history of protecting and supporting California's most valued assets, our children. The greater our numbers, the stronger our voice.
Having trouble buying your membership through the PTSA store? Please email sequoiaptsatreasurer@gmail.com for help.
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SHSEF supports students in reaching highest potential | Did you know 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. | |
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"That’s So Raven”
Announcements Ep. 2
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The Edgenuity lab is open | |
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10th-12th grade students: If you are working on making up classes (D/F grades) for graduation and/or A-G requirements through our online credit recovery program Edgenuity, please know that the Edgenuity lab is now open for the 2022-23 school year. Contact your assigned counselor if you are unsure if you need to make up classes.
Edgenuity teacher: Mr. Calles, jcalles@seq.org, Room 210.
When: Mondays and Thursdays, 4:00-6:00 p.m.
**Seniors must complete Edgenuity classes by June 2, no exceptions.
| Volunteer to work with newcomers | |
I am looking for two volunteers to help out weekly on Tuesdays from 10:30 a.m.-12:10 p.m. with an ELD class of recent immigrants. Volunteers will lead a small group of the same students over time (when possible). We meet three times a month, however, the schedule is dependent on Sequoia's schedule.
Some teaching experience and/or intermediate/advanced Spanish language proficiency is helpful, but not necessary. Previous volunteers with no Spanish or teaching experience have been successful. Support and materials for activities will be provided. Clearance to volunteer requires a TB test and paperwork.
I am also looking for ‘substitutes’ for the 10:30 a.m.-12:10 p.m. sessions, and for my 8:30-10:10 a.m. sessions.
Lastly, I am hoping to find a Vietnamese-speaking volunteer for this opportunity.
Please contact Stacy Schmidt Wenzel if you are interested.
| Volunteer in the Media Center | |
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Support the Ravens by attending this week’s home games. Check SEQSports.com for complete home and away fall schedules. Let’s go Ravens!
Home games this week:
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Sept. 15: Boys Water Polo vs. Burlingame: JV 3:00 p.m., varsity 4:00 p.m.
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Sept. 15: Girls Water Polo vs. Hillsdale: JV 5:00 p.m., varsity 6:00 p.m.
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Game tickets and Boosters benefits | |
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Single game football tickets can be purchased at GoFan.co, but Boosters platinum, gold, and silver supporters receive free admission to all regular season sporting events. Look for an email from GoFan with your football season pass link and swing by the Boosters table at home games to pick up your magnets and other donor-level gifts.
Still need to join or renew your Boosters membership for 2022-23?
Visit SequoiaBoosters.org to help us support Raven athletes all year long!
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Become a barista for the Class of 2023 | |
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Help the Class of 2023 prepare for a Safe and Sober Grad Night next June by signing up to help with concessions! We are making and selling coffee, iced & hot mochas, hot chocolate, cup-o-soup and popcorn at all home football games.
Sign up here for one (or more) of these dates to have fun being a barista!
- Sept. 30
- Oct. 21
- Oct. 28
- Nov. 4
Contact Katherine Schembri at 650-766-2586 or kathandnora@aol.com with any questions.
Thank you! Katherine Schembri & Gaby Milani, Class of 2023 football concessions coordinators.
Note: SignUp does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact us and we can sign you up manually.
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Sept. 15: 10th grade 4-year college and IB meeting | |
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There will be a grade level Zoom meeting for students and parents/guardians in the 10th grade from 6:00-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 15. This meeting will provide information about the college process for students going to a four-year college along with important IB information for sophomores. 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: 929 7370 4386 Passcode: 242034 and Spanish Zoom Link
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THE PARENT EDUCATION SERIES | |
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Sept. 22: The Upside of Stress: Why Stress Is Good for You, and How to Get Good at It. While most of us do everything we can to reduce or avoid stress, Stanford health psychologist
Kelly McGonigal, PhD, delivers a startling message: Stress isn’t all bad. New research shows that stress can make us stronger, smarter, and happier — if we learn how to embrace it.
El lado positivo del estrés: por qué el estrés es bueno para usted y cómo volverse bueno en él. Si bien la mayoría de nosotros hacemos todo lo posible para reducir o evitar el estrés, la psicóloga de salud de Stanford Kelly McGonigal, PhD, entrega un mensaje sorprendente: el estrés no es del todo malo. Una nueva investigación muestra que el estrés puede hacernos más fuertes, más inteligentes y más felices, si aprendemos a aceptarlo. Enlace de Zoom.
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COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND EVENTS | |
Volunteer now with Healthy Cities Tutoring | |
Become a Healthy Cities tutor and join our community of volunteers providing one-on-one tutoring and mentoring to public school students. Your time can help a student improve academic performance, increase engagement in learning, and increase self-esteem. Tutoring sessions are held in person, once a week for 45 minutes-1 hour, on the school campus or at a public library.
No previous experience required, we provide training. Eighth grade and high school students are welcome. Students can receive community service hours and use the experience for resume building and college applications.
Reach a child. Touch a family. Build a community.
To learn more or to sign up, visit our website Questions? Contact Janelle Gibson, HCT 415-793-1064 or Janelle@healthycitiestutoring.org.
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En Español
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Sentinel Newsletter:
The Sentinel is distributed every Sunday at 8 a.m. during the school year. Readers enjoy hearing about activities, events, and accomplishments of Sequoia students, staff and community.
Submit articles by the Wed. before desired publication. Space is at a premium so we run articles for two weeks maximum. If you have any questions reach the editors at sequoiasentinel@gmail.com.
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