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Does the photo app on your phone create slideshows that show your children “through the years” in a way that occasionally catches you offguard, staring at your high schooler back when they were in elementary school? Their arms are wrapped around your neck as they grin from ear to ear, poking their small head out from behind you. Is it just me?
It’s hard to look away. The feelings these experiences elicit are deep and complex: joy, nostalgia, reassurance, longing. Our children grow up. They don’t look back. How nice for them. It would seem we parents couldn’t “not look back” even if we tried.
So it goes as we enter the last 6 weeks of the school year. I’ve made it a tradition to pull the yearbook for the current seniors’ 9th-grade year right around Spring Break. We’re gearing up for celebrations, awards, proms, and graduation.I’ll be seeing a lot of these kids over the next month. It’s a fun way to be reminded of how they arrived four years ago.
It’s also a fun way to gear up for all the awesome events we have on the calendar in the coming weeks where we’ll welcome incoming families: New Student Welcome this Wednesday, our “Little Fish, Big Pond” Coffee for families joining Sequoia from smaller schools on April 27, into the summer where our Compass students arrive on campus in June, and the rest of their classmates begin their Sequoia journey at Orientation in August.
I’m very grateful to share in this cycle with our incredible community of educators, families, and, of course, the students. I know there are a lot of feelings at this time of year, whether because your 18-year old is moving away in 5 months or because your 15-year old won’t move from the couch. We see each other, I hope. We’ll celebrate together over the next few months and maybe catch each other wiping a tear. It’s the fourth quarter in the Place of Friends – happy Spring.
Have a great week!
Best,
Sean
| | Tips for financial literacy for teens | |
Thank you to Amy Koo for her engaging presentation earlier this week on financial literacy for teens. She emphasized the importance of building strong money habits early and leading by example, while outlining practical ways families can involve teens in everyday financial decisions. From budgeting and banking to understanding taxes and credit, her insights highlight how early exposure and real-world experience can help set teens up for long-term financial success.
Tips for financial literacy for teens:
- Be a good role model—kids watch what you do
- Start early by involving teens in family budgeting, shopping, expense tracking, and filing taxes
- Set up youth accounts; by age 13, teens can get a debit card—show them how you use cards responsibly
- Once a teen has a job or side gig, review their W-2 or 1099 with them, file taxes together, and consider contributing to a Roth IRA.
Practice these skills in high school so teens are set up for success in college with strong financial habits
Open a credit card to begin building credit history; learn concepts like the Rule of 72 to understand compound interest.
To continue learning, families can attend free financial literacy workshops (via Zoom or in person at their financial centers). Workshops 1 and 2 are great starting points for teens. With a shortage of licensed financial professionals and many expected to retire in the next decade, this is also a meaningful career path for young people interested in helping others and making a positive impact in their communities.
For more information, please contact Amy Koo at amykoo.wsb@gmail.com.
| Help Students Shine This IB Exam Season | | |
- Want to help students feel calm and confident during IB exams?
- Wonder what IB exams are like for students?
Sign up here to assist during an IB Exam
3 reasons you’ll love it:
YOU’LL MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE: A friendly face quickly eases a student’s nerves.
YOU’LL BE PART OF SOMETHING BIG: Help over 430 students to conquer 1,600 exams. The IB requires a 1:20 adult to student ratio for exams. We really depend on our "village" to pull this off!
IT’S SUPER EASY: No prep, no expertise needed, no stress-- we’ll show you exactly what to do. Help pass out pens and exam materials, watch students' brains do awesome work, and enjoy the peace and quiet.
| | Spring into Action—AVID, Parent Panelists and DONATE! | | Every spring, our AVID students embark upon an unforgettable multi-day adventure, exploring a variety of California's college campuses. This year’s recent trip included visits to Cal Poly SLO, UC Santa Barbara, CSU Long Beach, and USC. The immersive experience gives our AVID students a firsthand look at different colleges and what college life is all about! SHSEF is grateful for the funding of this impactful opportunity. As a special addition this year, students also participated in the “Teamwork the Disney Way” workshop at Disneyland! | | Seeking SEQ Parent Panelists: New Family Q&A | | |
Coming to Sequoia from a private or non-feeder school can feel like a big leap. To help our newest families find their footing, SHSEF and the PTSA are hosting an informal orientation on April 27 from 9:00–10:00 a.m.
If your student joined us from a school like Roy Cloud, Connect, St. Pius, or any other non-feeder, we’d love for you to join our parent panel. Whether you can speak to navigating specialized programs or simply offer tips on making the transition smoother, your perspective is invaluable. Interested? Contact Bethany at president@shsef.org and let us know what experience you’d like to share.
| The purpose of our education foundation is to raise funds from parents, community members, and grantors to help close the gap in state and local funding. Our fundraising goal for the 2025-26 school year is $650,000, and our recommended ask per student is $1,500, or any gift meaningful to your family. Learn more and DONATE TODAY! | | Looking for a way to get your SHSEF information and news and engage with our community? Follow us on Instagram: @SequoiaEdFoundation | |
Class of 2026 yard or window sign
| Do you have a graduating senior in your home? Celebrate their accomplishments by ordering a Class of 2026 yard or window sign! Visit the Sequoia PTSA webstore to order one for $15, and please consider donating a sign to a student in our community. You will receive an email in early April for the pickup location and times. For questions, contact Amy Schwartz. | ¡Letrero para el jardín o la ventana de la generación 2026! | ¿Tiene usted un estudiante de último año por graduarse en su hogar? ¡Celebre sus logros ordenando un letrero de la Generación 2026 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 cualquier pregunta, contacte a Amy Schwartz. | |
Grad Night is right around the corner! Join us June 5–6 aboard the luxurious San Francisco Spirit for an unforgettable night. From the comfort of the yacht, take in stunning views of the San Francisco skyline, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Alcatraz while enjoying activities across three decks—including dancing, casino tables, karaoke, and a photo booth.
The price is $125 in April and May, and $135 for last-minute purchases in June, so buy early! Each ticket includes admission, all activities, food, beverages, and transportation. Students will check in at Sequoia on June 5 at 9:00 p.m. and return the following morning around 4:00 a.m. Tickets can be purchased online HERE.
| | Boletos para la Fiesta de Graduación de 2026: ¡Cómpralos ya! | |
¡La fiesta de graduación está a la vuelta de la esquina! Acompáñanos del 5 al 6 de junio a bordo del lujoso San Francisco Spirit para una noche inolvidable. Desde la comodidad del yate, disfruta de impresionantes vistas de San Francisco, el Puente Golden Gate y Alcatraz, mientras participas en actividades en tres cubiertas—que incluyen baile, mesas de casino, karaoke y una cabina fotográfica. ¡Es una noche que no te querrás perder!
El precio es de $125 en abril y mayo, y a $135 para las compras de última hora en junio, ¡así que compra con anticipación! Cada boleto incluye la entrada, todas las actividades, comida, bebidas y transporte. Los estudiantes se registrarán en Sequoia el 5 de junio a las 9:00 p.m. y regresarán a la mañana siguiente alrededor de las 4:00 a.m. Puedes comprar boletos en línea AQUI.
| | Upcoming Schedule Modifications | | - May 25 - Memorial Day, No Classes
| Sequoia High School Dance '26 | |
Sequoia High School Dancers present Dance '26 on Friday, April 24 and Saturday, April 25 at 7:30 p.m. in Carrington Hall. Join the advanced dance class and guests for an evening filled with styles in contemporary, jazz, musical theatre, hip-hop, and much, much more. Don't miss out and purchase your seats now!
TICKETS: $15 - https://cur8.com/624/project/132353
| Junior/Senior Prom Volunteers Requested | |
To the Sequoia Community, We are so excited to host the annual JR/SR prom at one of our favorite venues—the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. We will have school staff and administration on hand to manage the event, but we are also hoping to enlist additional adult support to help cover the Academy's expansive layout.
If you are interested in attending the event in a chaperone role, please send a quick email note to Sequoia Director of Student Activities, Corey Uhalde. You may also direct any questions to him, and he will follow up with messaging to confirmed volunteers with additional information regarding food, parking, etc. Thank you!
| | Judy Carmona Memorial Scholarship | | |
Boosters is proud to offer up to six (6) $500 scholarships for seniors who participated in varsity-level sports at Sequoia this year.
Seniors should use the Judy Carmona Scholarship Google Form to submit their two-paragraph application highlighting their experience as a Sequoia Varsity athlete. Applications are due by Thursday, May 7.
| | April 22: Autonomy-Supportive Parenting: Reduce Parental Burnout & Raise Competent, Confident Children | | How do we support our children’s autonomy while maintaining boundaries? In Autonomy-Supportive Parenting, psychologist Emily Edlynn, PhD offers a flexible parenting framework that can apply to every family and every parental relationship. Register. | | 22 de abril: Crianza que apoya la autonomía: reduzca el agotamiento parental y forme hijos competentes y seguros | | ¿Cómo apoyamos la autonomía de nuestros hijos mientras mantenemos límites? En Autonomy-Supportive Parenting, la psicóloga Emily Edlynn, PhD, presenta un enfoque flexible de crianza que puede aplicarse a todas las familias y a todas las relaciones entre padres e hijos. Registro. | | April 28: How to Get the Most Out of College (Starting Now) | | In this session, Louis E. Newman, PhD, former Dean of Academic Advising at Stanford University, will explore how you can take advantage of the opportunities that college offers—before you even get there! Register. | | 28 de abril: Cómo aprovechar al máximo la universidad (empezando desde ahora) | | En esta sesión, el Dr. Louis E. Newman, exdecano de Asesoría Académica en la Universidad de Stanford, explorará cómo puede aprovechar las oportunidades que ofrece la universidad, ¡incluso antes de llegar! Registro. | | |
What will you learn in the Media Center?
The Spring 2026 Sequoia Media Center Newsletter is here!
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