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Sequoia‘s 2026 Prom takes place next Saturday night at the San Francisco Academy of Sciences. We’ve held the event at this venue before and it’s always a happy time. The Steinhardt Aquarium, the African dioramas, and the multitude of large, accessible areas mean that there’s an activity at all times that every student can enjoy—even if they’re not dancers. We will sadly miss Claude, the albino alligator, who passed away earlier this year.
While the Academy is an incredible backdrop for the evening, any seasoned observer of our school community knows the success of such an event is a collaborative effort by teacher supervisors, campus aides, our RCPD resource officer, and our administrative vice principals. Keeping the event safe and fun is a big job. It’s also an important one. Families need to feel confident sending their students to the city on a night that is notorious with risky behavior. We’ve already committed several parents to help as additional chaperones, but this is an open invitation to any parent volunteers interested in chaperoning the 2026 Prom next weekend.
Chaperoning is a unique opportunity to witness our students at their best—graceful, spirited, and genuinely extraordinary. I always walk away from Prom with a renewed appreciation of how positive and kind our students are. I’m also forever amused that Flo Rida’s “Low”, 19 years on, still fills the dance floor. It’s something worth seeing first-hand.
Having additional eyes and ears to monitor the Academy’s various nooks and crannies allows our staff to ensure every student has a secure, worry-free environment. For those willing to spend the evening with us, please reach out directly to Mr. Corey Uhalde at cuhalde@seq.org. We promise a memorable evening—plus bottomless Shirley Temples!
Have a great week!
| | Tips for financial literacy for teens | |
Thank you to Amy Koo for her engaging presentation 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.
| | 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
| 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 29: How to Live a Meaningful Life: Using Design Thinking to Unlock Purpose, Joy, and Flow | | In How to Live a Meaningful Life, Stanford's Dave Evans takes on the most profound design problem of all: What makes a life feel worth living, day to day? Drawing on the latest research, he shows how to bring wonder, coherence, flow, and community into our everyday experiences. Register here. | 29 de abril: Cómo vivir una vida con sentido: usar el pensamiento de diseño para descubrir propósito, alegría y fluidez | En Cómo vivir una vida con sentido, Dave Evans de Stanford aborda el problema de diseño más profundo de todos: ¿qué hace que una vida se sienta digna de vivirse, día a día? Basándose en las investigaciones más recientes, muestra cómo incorporar asombro, coherencia, fluidez y comunidad en nuestras experiencias cotidianas. Registro aquí. | | 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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