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You might notice something different the next time you pass Sequoia’s tennis courts. This summer, a special dedication was made to longtime Sequoia coach and teacher, Claudia Giacomini. Coach Giacomini was a pioneering student athlete at Sequoia before earning a degree from San Jose State University. She returned to Sequoia in 1961, retiring in 1998 with league and sectional championships in badminton, tennis, volleyball, and softball—from JFK to Clinton eras.
She is the only woman in the Sequoia High School coaches’ Hall of Fame, a distinction based on anachronism more than anything—hopefully rectified in the years to come. In the meantime, it’s important to recognize how far women’s sports has evolved since Coach Giacomini cheered her first Sequoia teams onto the court. For starters, browsing the yearbooks showed outstanding women athletes recognized as part of “honor teams”. This is different, for reasons I can’t figure out, from the “varsity” distinction used for men’s teams.
Until changes, driven by Title IX, were signed into law in 1972 as an amendment to the 1964 Civil Rights Act, men’s athletics were given priority in most public institutions. Fifty-two years later, it’s hard to fathom what that even looked like. What were your iconic images from Paris this summer? Mine were Biles, Ladecky, and Thomas. The US women’s rugby bronze. More dominance from the US women’s soccer team. Taking my kids to a Bay FC game recently (and running into a few Sequoia students on the concourse) was as exciting as any pro sporting event I’ve been to.
Even closer to home, Sequoia’s girls’ volleyball, water polo, tennis, and cross country teams are among the hot tickets. The girls’ flag football team, in only its second season, had more participants than available spots on the team. Of course, we’re all counting the weeks until Coach Schmidt’s soccer team starts another run at a sectional championship, having solidified its place as a perennial power on the peninsula.
We can write about this transformation—from what women’s athletics looked like in 1972 versus what it looks like now—not because of Richard Nixon’s pen. I’m proud that Coach Giacomini’s name will adorn the tennis courts. I hope it is a reminder to our students that changing the world happens by focusing on how our talents align with the needs of our community and then showing up every day to get the job done—one drop shot at a time.
Have a great week!
Best,
Sean
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Reflections: Accepting Imperfection | Reflexiones: Aceptando la Imperfección | |
Explore the arts and express yourself in the PTA’s Reflections Program! Enter your artwork and reflection in one of six categories: dance, film production, literature, music composition, photography, or visual arts. First-place finishers advance to the district level, district winners move to the state level, and state winners compete at the national level. Learn more here, including how to enter. All entries will be recognized for their artistic achievement. Participation is a meaningful contribution to the Sequoia community. Entries are due by midnight on Sunday, Nov. 10. Questions? Email us.
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Have you joined the PTSA this year? | |
Click HERE to join online. Or, if you don't want the hassle of another online login, go old school! Fill out the membership form in English or fill out the membership form in Spanish. Put the form and your check in an envelope and drop it off at the school office. We'll take care of the rest! Ten minutes and $20 is all it takes to strengthen our Unaliyi spirit!
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SHSEF invests in student wellness | |
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Our Sequoia High School Education Foundation (SHSEF) invests in student wellness. We ensure that our campus lives by Unaliyi spirit and keeps Sequoia a “Place of Friends”. Your donation to SHSEF funds an additional full-time therapist, extra training for our counselors, and after-school tutoring. All of these help our Sequoia Ravens find a balance between work and wellness. Invest in SHSEF today and help us care for both the academic and emotional lives of our kids!
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News from the Sequoia Media Center | |
Parent helpers needed for shadow days and campus tours | |
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Please sign up here to provide your insight as a Sequoia parent for visiting 8th grade parents. On shadow days, you will join Corey Uhalde during the parent session and answer questions based on your experiences. On campus tour days, you will accompany two ASB student guides and provide a current parent perspective. It's an easy and fun way to get involved!
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Curious about IB ESS? Join as a chaperone for a science adventure! | |
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Sequoia's IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS) teachers Ms. Yeung and Mr. Rivera are planning exciting fieldwork and class projects to enrich Sequoia juniors’ and seniors' experiences in IB ESS. We are looking for field trip chaperones for these fun excursions. No preparation, training, or driving required—just a friendly, reliable adult is all we need! Volunteers will need to complete a quick clearance form with the district to participate. Please click this link to find out more and sign up. Thank you!
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Culinary & Hospitality Professionals wanted as guest speakers! | |
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Who: Chefs, pastry chefs, restaurateurs, food scientists, hotel professionals, dieticians
What: Speak to Culinary Arts
When: Wednesdays 9:27 a.m.-2:43 p.m. We’d love for you to stay the whole day, but if you can only come for one class, please attend 2nd period (9:27-10:17 a.m.).
Please contact: fvelschow@seq.org
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Would you like to transform the trajectory of a Sequoia student? | |
Become a Sequoia Academy Mentor. For less than two hours a month from November-May, Sequoia Academy Mentors work one-on-one with students from the Digital Arts Academy or Health Careers Academy on career-related skills. Adults can support students by sharing their knowledge and experience in pursuing a successful and rewarding career.
Join our team! Whatever professional stage you are in, our students can learn from your career journey. To learn more, and sign up, visit our website or contact Greg Stein or Gregory Schmid.
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See SEQSports.com for complete home and away schedules and don’t forget to follow @seqboosters on social media.
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10/7 Boys Water Polo vs Hillsdale - Varsity 4:00 pm, JV 5:00 pm
- 10/9 Girls Tennis vs Mills - 4:00 pm
- 10/9 Boys Water Polo vs Burlingame - Varsity 5:00 pm, JV 4:00 pm
- 10/10 Girls Tennis vs Menlo-Atherton - 4:00 pm
- 10/10 Boys Water Polo vs Pioneer - 4:00 pm
- 10/11 Girls Flag Football vs Emerald High School - JV 6:00 pm
- 10/14 Girls Water Polo vs Notre Dame - Varsity 5:00 pm
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Nov. 4: Winter sport tryouts begin | |
Tryouts for the Sequoia basketball, soccer, and wrestling teams begin Monday, Nov. 4. New and returning athletes must register with SportsNet and upload a current medical clearance form. Make sure your athlete is cleared to play! Please contact the coach with questions and follow individual SEQ sports teams on Instagram for updates. Emails and social media links can be found on SEQSports.
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Oct. 8: Academic Success: How to Help Students Build Critical Foundational Skills
In this talk, academic advisor Ana Homayoun will explain how foundational skills—including organizing, planning, starting and completing tasks, and being cognitively flexible—are key to academic success, social connection, and emotional well-being. Register.
Martes 8 de octubre: Éxito académico: cómo ayudar a los estudiantes a desarrollar habilidades fundamentales críticas
En esta charla, la asesora académica Ana Homayoun explicará cómo las habilidades fundamentales, entre ellas organización, planificación, inicio y finalización de tareas y la flexibilidad cognitiva, son clave para el éxito académico, la conexión social y el bienestar emocional. Registro
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Oct. 9: Why Joy Matters and How to Choose Joy Every Day
What if joy isn’t something you have to wait for but something you can choose? Stanford health psychologist Dr. Kelly McGonigal will introduce a fresh perspective on how joy works, and practical strategies for harnessing the power of joy in everyday life. Register.
Miércoles 9 de octubre: Por qué es importante la alegría y cómo elegirla todos los días
¿Qué pasaría si la alegría no fuera algo por lo que tengas que esperar, sino algo que puedas elegir? Psicóloga de la salud la Dra. Kelly McGonigal de Stanford presentará una nueva perspectiva sobre cómo funciona la alegría y estrategias prácticas para aprovechar el poder de la alegría en la vida cotidiana. Registro.
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Oct. 10: A Sense of Control: Lowering Student Stress and Improving Academic Success
Students at every achievement level are experiencing acute levels of stress and anxiety. In their groundbreaking books, The Self-Driven Child and What Do You Say?, Bill Stixrud, PhD and Ned Johnson reveal how you can raise children who are self-driven, self-confident, and not unduly stressed and anxious. Register.
Jueves 10 de octubre: Una sensación de control: reducir el estrés estudiantil y mejorar el éxito académico
Los estudiantes de todos los niveles de rendimiento experimentan niveles agudos de estrés y ansiedad. En sus libros innovadores, El niño autónomo y ¿Qué dices?, el doctor Bill Stixrud y Ned Johnson revelan cómo criar niños que sean autónomos, seguros de sí mismos y capaces de manejar estrés y ansiedad. Registro.
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Oct. 10: Hear from Sequoia District Board of Trustees candidates! | |
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Join us at the Menlo Park City Council Chambers for an in-person forum on Oct. 10 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. with candidates vying for a spot on the Sequoia District Board of Trustees. The event is hosted by The Almanac and allows you to hear directly from the candidates about their visions for the district. Take advantage of this chance to be informed and make your voice heard! Learn more here.
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The Sequoia Sentinel is emailed to 3,500 members of the Sequoia High School community on Sundays at 8 a.m. during the school year. Contributions are due on Wednesday—click the purple button below to submit. Email the editors or click here to subscribe. | | | | | |
