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What does cracking a safe have to do with making smart decisions when it comes to cannabis? I wish I could explain, but the Social Changery booth in the gym at last week’s Sequoia Wellness Fair was too crowded with students for me to get a look at the fun activity they were facilitating.

Across the gym, crowds formed around tables from other community partners such as the San Mateo County District Attorney, the Star Vista Crisis Center, MyDigitalTAT2, and the Second Harvest Food Bank.

The center of the gym was a hub of activity hosted by Sequoia’s Health Careers Academy students and included CPR and bandaging demonstrations, disaster preparedness quizzes, and complimentary first aid kits for all 11th graders.

Near the north entrance, students from Stacy Wenzel’s MLE classes (mostly newcomers in their second or third year speaking English), presented to their peers on nutrition, sleep, and exercise—information they had researched and packaged independently as part of their English classes. 

When I enter the Sequoia Wellness Fair each year, it crackles with energy under the bright Gym 2 lights and I think about kids like this. Looking around and noting all the amazing resources curated by Sequoia Wellness Coordinator Judy Romero and the team in our Teen Resource Center, I wonder about our shyest students—those for whom the idea of walking into a large, crowded room and striking up conversations with strangers might not qualify as an act of “wellness”.  

Ms. Romero thinks about these students, too. A big part of her planning for the event is making sure our partners who table for the event are prepared to make a special effort to engage all kids. Likewise, when classes sign on to attend the Wellness Fair, all students are provided with a set of prompts to help them navigate the space.

Once again this year, I saw students asking questions, playing games set up by the presenters, and collecting “swag”.  I heard from community partners how impressed they were at the extent to which Sequoia students engaged in the topics presented and availed themselves of the resources at the event.

I love our Wellness Fair. It’s one of my favorite events of the year. I’m proud of how much our students recognize and appreciate the depth and richness of our community resources and the partnerships our school maintains with great people doing amazing work up and down the Peninsula. I hope your student was able to attend!

Have great week!

Sean

PTSA

March 31: Junior Achievement Award applications open

Calling all juniors! Applications for the Junior Achievement Award open on March 31. This award recognizes students for academic success, community service, and/or resilience. It’s a great opportunity to start your college essays, to be recognized for your hard work, and to earn extra money to continue your education. 

The deadline to submit is Monday, April 21, 10:00 p.m. Click here for more information and to apply. Email Erika Nelson for questions.

Give your gently used formalwear a new life… for Sequoia Prom 2025!

The Sequoia Family Center, SHSEF and PTSA are organizing our annual Sequoia Prom Gallery for March 31 & April 1.

Each year, Sequoia creates a "store" on our campus so students can "shop" for a prom outfit, completely free. Many hard-working Sequoia teens and their families are excited about Sequoia's upcoming prom but are worried about the huge cost of buying or renting formalwear. Sequoia is committed to making prom an inclusive, fun milestone event for ALL of our students. 

We need formal dresses (mostly long styles), modern suits (black or dark preferred), tuxedos, ties, dress shoes (women's and men's), fancy costume jewelry, small clutches, etc. CLEAN and stain-free in ALL sizes! 

Donate by:

• Leaving items at the organizer’s home: 43 Finger Ave., Redwood City, from 8:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. Send Ann a text at 617-835-9586, so she knows the items are arriving.
• Dropping donations off at the Sequoia Family Center on campus, Rm 129, 8:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Let Elvira know you’re coming at (650) 367-9780 ext. 63110

*Donations accepted until Saturday, March 29.

We also need volunteers to staff the Prom Gallery! Volunteer by signing up on the Prom Gallery Volunteer SignUp.

Thank you for your help making everyone feel and look great at prom!

April 29: Parents needed for 8th grade parent Q&A

To help our incoming families from smaller schools, SHSEF and the PTSA host a small parent orientation at the end of April. We are currently looking for parents whose students came to Sequoia from a non-feeder school to share advice with these 8th grade families on April 29, 9:00-10:00 a.m. 

Did your student join Sequoia from Roy Cloud, Connect Charter, Our Lady of Mt Carmel, Stratford, SVIS, San Carlos Charter, Tierra Linda, Lighthouse, or Redeemer, to name a few? Reach out and let us know if you can serve on a panel to help welcome our new, incoming families! Email president@shsef.org and let us know what kind of perspective you can share (i.e. experience with special education or academies or some other focus).

Thank you, Sequoia business partners

SHSEF thanks our generous Diamond, Platinum and Gold business partners: 



• Diamond: Gunderson Dettmer; Oracle 
• Platinum: Goetz Brothers; JM Lehman Construction, Inc. 
• Gold: County Consumer Plumbing; Geoffrey’s; Joyce & Tatum Real Estate Team; Peninsula Chemical Company; Rim Orthodontics. 

Please consider supporting these community partners! If interested in becoming a partner, please visit here.

Tickets for Sequoia Drama's spring play now on sale

Tickets for Sequoia Drama's spring play, “Too Many Detectives at the Murder Mansion”, are now on sale! A cast of eccentric characters meet at a mansion, only to become suspects in a murder that a singular genius detective will eventually solve. But what happens when all the suspects are the detectives? Sherlock Holmes, Nancy Drew, the Scooby Doo group, Miss Marple, and Batman are just a few of the guests. “Too Many Detectives at the Murder Mansion” is a whodunnit that will leave you laughing and guessing right until the very end! 

Please visit our website to purchase tickets. Performances are March 21-23. Friday and Saturday at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 p.m.

The 2025 Senior IB Art exhibition is here!

This year's senior IB artists have been working hard for the past two years and are excited to share their art with the Sequoia community. If you would like some hope and joy in your life, please come visit the exhibition at the Powell Art Gallery during lunch from March 18-April 3. 

The artists would also like to invite parents and the public to join us on Open House night for our closing celebration from 7:00-8:30 p.m., April 3. Come celebrate the artists, their creative talents, and academic accomplishments.

Freshmen and sophomores: 2025-26 Course Selection

Freshmen and sophomores: Please check your SEQ email from the counseling office for an email sent to you on Friday, March 14, from sequoiacounseling@seq.org. Review the details for your one-to-one appointment and please communicate with your teacher about your appointment details. It is your responsibility to show up on time for your appointment and to communicate with the counseling office if you need to reschedule. A reminder that not all 9th and 10th graders were required to meet with their counselors since we completed next year’s course selection in your English classes.

Estudiantes del Noveno y Décimo Grado : Selección de Cursos 2025-26

Estudiantes del Noveno y Décimo Grado: Por favor, revisa en tu correo electrónico el correo enviado desde la oficina de consejería de SEQ sequoiacounseling@seq.org este viernes 14 de marzo. Este correo incluye los detalles de tu cita personal, revísalos y comunícaselos a tu maestro/a. Es tu responsabilidad llegar puntualmente a tu cita y comunicarte con la oficina de consejería si necesitas reprogramar. Te recordamos que no todos los estudiantes de 9º y 10º grado tendrán que reunirse con su consejero, ya que completamos la selección de cursos para el próximo año durante tus clases de inglés.

Grad Night tickets now on sale!

Seniors, get ready to celebrate Grad Night, June 6-7 at Boomers in Modesto! Celebrate with activities including go karts, laser tag, mini golf and bumper boats! 

Tickets are available for $90 until Mar. 10 and then increase to $100 through April 30. After April, tickets are $120 until the event. Ticket cost includes Boomers admission, activities (photo booth and casino games) and transportation. Purchase tickets here before the price increases!  

Class of 2025 yard or window sign

Do you have a graduating senior in your home? Celebrate their accomplishments by ordering a Class of 2025 yard or window sign! Visit the Sequoia's PTSA Webstore to order one for $15, and please feel free to donate a sign to a student in our community. You will receive an email in early April for pick-up location and times. For more questions, contact Julie Uiterwijk.

¡Letrero para el jardín o la ventana de la generación 2025!

¿Tiene usted un estudiante de último año por graduarse en su hogar? ¡Celebre sus logros ordenando un letrero de la Generación 2025 para el jardín o la ventana! Visite la tienda en línea de PTSA de Sequoia para ordenar uno por $15 y siéntase con toda la confianza de donar un letrero a otro estudiante de la comunidad. Usted recibirá un correo electrónico a principios de abril con la información de dónde y cuándo recoger su letrero. Para más información o cualquier pregunta, contacte a Julie Uiterwijk.

VIP graduation packages

The equivalent of courtside seats to your student’s shining moment! Bid on Sequoia's VIP grad package as part of the upcoming Boosters auction and celebrate the Class of 2025 from reserved VIP seats right on the field. Includes two premier parking spots, seating for 20, and a tented breakfast buffet. Click here for more information. 

Purchase tickets to the live event on March 29 and mark your calendar for the online auction March 26-April 2. Funds raised at the auction support ALL Sequoia athletic programs.

Home Games this week

• 3/17 Baseball vs Westmont - Varsity 4:00 p.m.
• 3/18 Badminton vs El Camino - Varsity 4:00 p.m.
• 3/18 Boys Tennis vs Capuchino - Varsity 4:00 p.m.
• 3/19 Track & Field vs Aragon/Hillsdale - 3:00 p.m. *Senior Night*
• 3/20 Boys Volleyball vs The King’s Academy - Varsity 6:15 p.m., JV 5:00 p.m.
• 3/21 Swimming vs Carlmont - 3:00 p.m.

HIGHLIGHTS

Visual Art students art show through March 28

Come see Sequoia student’s artwork on display at the Redwood City Main Library!

2025 Summer Summit STEM Fellowship

Applications for the Summit STEM Fellowship are now open! The Summit STEM Fellowship is a virtual summer fellowship empowering the next generation of leaders in STEM. Open to rising 9th-12th graders worldwide, the fellowship connects students with mentors from leading institutions including Stanford, MIT, and Harvard to explore diverse opportunities and career pathways in STEM. The fellowship is a flexible 10-15 hours/week commitment, and students may participate alongside other summer commitments. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and students are encouraged to submit their applications as early as possible. 

For more information, please visit the fellowship website or email info@summitstemfellowship.org.