Sequoia Sentinel
May 9, 2021
|
|
Sequoia PTSA's weekly eNewsletter in partnership with the Sequoia High School Education Foundation |
|
Here’s to:
- The lunches prepped, packed, and discarded at the end of the week after being pulled out of an upturned backpack. Hey, there’s that tupperware you’ve been looking for!
- Racing across town on a work call to get from a music lesson to a basketball game.
- A hug, held for just a second or two longer than usual, leaving you wondering how many more of those you have left before childhood is entirely in the rearview mirror.
- Eleven errands before 11 a.m. on a Saturday to get prep for the best birthday party ever.
- Being too old for the kids’ menu but too young to understand the perils of the gimmicky upsell.
- Laughing at new memes via the family text chain.
- Your teenager making a date with you for a shared activity you both genuinely love -- YES we can go hiking this weekend!
- After a big-time screw-up, feeling your frustration disappear when you see your part in this scene calls not for you to scold but to hold.
Mother’s Day should be a week-long celebration this year. For the last twelve months, what is traditionally one of the harder roles humans play has been challenging like never before. This assertion is backed by statistics, particularly relating to working mothers, low-income households, and every other conversation you’ve had with your fellow parents over the past year.
To the mothers reading this morning who haven’t had all the answers, who’ve set aside their own fatigue or frustration to hold space for their childrens’, and who’ve generally spun gold from the mud puddle of 2020-21: we see you. We thank you. We know how integral you are to the success of Sequoia’s success. We know that for every time we saw you lift your child or another child up after they’ve fallen, there were at least ten others that went unnoticed. Happy Mother’s Day on behalf of the Sequoia community!
Have a great week!
Best,
Sean
|
|
Purchase a candy lei for your Sequoia 2021 graduate - a fundraiser for class of 2022!
Help your student celebrate their big milestone by purchasing a candy lei for them to wear during their graduation ceremony!
Candy leis are $15 each and all proceeds will go towards the class of 2022 grad week. See the flyer for ordering instructions. Please note - due to allergies and warm weather conditions, no chocolate candies or nuts will be used.
|
|
Spring 2021 mini-grants in action
Model UN: students leading real-world discussions
Model UN is a simulation where students perform an ambassador role while debating topics such as gender equality, climate action, global health, and more!
Sequoia High School's Model UN Club, led by Prerna Sharma and Arth Shukla, is comprised of 20 students -- all of whom help plan, lead and engage in impactful conferences across the U.S. Even under Covid restrictions, their club was able to meet once a week and participate as delegates in virtual conferences held by Stanford, the University of California at Irvine, the University of Southern California, and the San Francisco MUN.
Individual student contributions, along with funding through the PTSA Mini-Grants team, helped make their conferences a reality!
|
|
Let there be music: instructing a fully remote band
When the pandemic moved all students to remote learning, the amazing Sequoia High School band teacher, Ms. Jane Woodman, realized the need for instrument access for students at home. With help from the PTSA mini-grant fund, Ms. Woodman secured resonate bells for her students. These instruments will be used by the Sequoia High School band for years to come.
Ms. Woodman noted, “With these funds, I was able to purchase seven new bell sets for SHS Band. The immediate impact was that I could get bell sets to all percussionists in the program who did not already have bell sets at home.
|
|
Do you have questions for our Sequoia 2020-2021 PTSA Board? Reach Isha Bhatt, PTSA President and the rest of the team at sequoiaptsa@gmail.com.
|
|
Our mission is to positively impact the lives of all children and families. |
|
May 12: Mandatory IB Diploma sign up meeting for 10th graders
Attention 10th graders: Are you interested in doing the IB Diploma? If you would like to sign up as a full IB Diploma candidate, you are required to attend the 10th grade IB Diploma CAS (Creativity, Activity, and Service) meeting next week:
- IB Diploma CAS Zoom meeting on Wed., May 12 from 12:15 - 1:15 p.m.
-
Zoom link for meeting
-
If you are unable to attend the webinar due to COVID related issues, please email Ms. Galvan no later than May 10. You will be emailed the recorded webinar and instructions to demonstrate you watched the entire video.
-
Declare your IB Diploma status no later than June 1 (firm deadline). We will email out a Google form document after you attend this meeting.
- This meeting is just for students, not parents/guardians.
|
|
RSVP for May 14 movie night
Warm up your voices and join us on the small turf field at the front of campus to watch and sing along to the film “Pitch Perfect”. Remember you MUST RSVP by 12:00 Noon on Fri. May 14. This event is open to all grades and admission is free!
Light concessions will be available for sale. All social distancing protocols must be followed. All students must leave within 15 minutes of the conclusion of the film.
|
|
Sequoia sock club needs your help!
Our club sells socks to sponsor food and education for a child in Uganda. This year we are sponsoring a 10-year-old girl named Christine. She loves to sing, has a pet cow, and wants to be a police officer when she grows up. Learn more about Christine here.
You can help us reach our goal by buying awesome and affordable socks at this link. They make great gifts and are fun for everyday wear! We would really appreciate your help, thank you! Please email the Sequoia sock club for questions.
|
|
May 14: Java programming career symposium
Who: Software engineers, front-end programmers, mobile programmers, product managers, UX designers, startups and those that work closely with those roles.
What: One-day symposium to offer students insight into various roles leveraging their skills in Java. Career round table presenters will speak to small groups of students.
Where: Zoom
When: Friday, May 14, 2:05 - 2:50 p.m.
|
|
May 14, 29 and June 4: Parents needed to chaperone events |
|
As the school year winds down, there are several FUN events coming up that require adult chaperones and we need your help! There are three chances to sign up to chaperone:
- School-Wide Movie Night on May 14,
- Senior "Prom" on May 29, and
- Grad Night on June 4 (at SportsHouse).
We need volunteers from families of 9th-11th grade to chaperone the senior events to ensure graduates are able to celebrate without their own families chaperoning. All adults over 21 years are able to participate (parents, guardians, grandparents, aunts & uncles, etc.). Sign up today!
|
|
Sequoia Student Poetry Anthology - submit by June 5
Submit a poem for an opportunity to get published in a Sequoia-only student anthology! Everyone will have an opportunity to be published and three contest winners will receive cash prizes.
Submit art for a chance to be on the cover or in the anthology!
|
|
Calling all books to the Media Center
What is our wish? For all of our books to be returned, even ones from last year! There are no fines for overdue books.
Did you find a book with Sequoia stamping? We will take it back anytime, without question.
Did you receive a notice from 'Destiny', our catalog system? If you're still using a book, no need to email us. Textbooks are DUE WHEN YOU'RE DONE.
Have books to return? Please use the BOOK DROP located at the top of the steps to the Media Center entrance, on the left.
|
|
Mandatory class of 2021 senior exit survey - complete in order to pick up caps and gowns.
Please encourage your seniors to complete the senior exit survey on Naviance. The survey is the only place seniors can request their final transcripts, and students will not be allowed to pick up their graduation caps and gowns until completed.
|
|
May 12: Pick up cap and gown
Graduation is almost here! Pick up caps and gowns from the Student Activities Center on May 12. Students who submitted measurements will receive a package labeled with their name on it.
If you did NOT submit measurements, we ordered extras, and you can still pick one up. Please plan to attend on May 12.
Students unable to attend on May 12 may pick up their cap and gown on Friday, May 14 between 1:00 - 3:30 p.m.
|
|
Upcoming activities for seniors
Our one and only Corey Uhalde and team have created events for the class of 2021. Seniors can celebrate graduation and still following current COVID recommendations!
|
|
June 3: Celebrate during brunch
The Class of 2021 will gather for a brunch celebration on June 3 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., which leads into the graduation ceremony practice. Volunteers and donations are needed to help make this event a success. Sign up to volunteer for a little bit or all morning! Questions? Contact Jen Pedrotti.
|
|
June 4: Grad Night -- tickets on sale NOW
Don't forget to buy your graduating senior a ticket to Grad Night! The celebration will begin at 10 p.m. on Friday, June 4 at SportsHouse in Redwood City and end at 2:00 a.m. on June 5.
|
|
Senior IB questions answered
Class of 2021 IB students and families: we know many of you have questions about IB final scores - how to check them, how to send them to your college etc.
|
|
Boosters news
Sequoia’s baseball and softball seasons are in full swing! Get your Ravens rally caps and other fan gear at Sequoia Sports Boosters.
Looking for a low-key way to get involved with Boosters? Consider being a Team Liaison and help us shine the spotlight on your student’s team. Email the Boosters to learn more.
|
|
LIVE sports feed for LAX, basketball, soccer, water polo
Did you know you can watch LIVE FEEDS for Sequoia Sports teams this spring? Lacrosse, soccer, basketball and water polo all have live feeds for games! Catch them LIVE or watch previously recorded videos. THANK YOU BOOSTERS for buying the cameras to do this!
|
|
“That’s So Raven” is a Sequoia ASB Production. |
|
This week on That's So Raven:
(Vogue Inspired)
|
|
A photographic record of student lives
Take a peek at the world through the eyes of the students.
|
|
Double your impact through May 31 - donations matched dollar for dollar
This school year, Sequoia High School Education Foundation (SHSEF) contributions have helped to optimize quality education; stabilize families; support students’ health; and build college dreams. We are ever more committed to supporting an education that empowers all Sequoia students. Contributions from our generous community make this possible.
Double your impact through a $70,000 challenge grant. Donations received by May 31 will be matched dollar for dollar. Donations of any amount make a difference. Donate today and double your impact!
|
|
THE PARENT EDUCATION SERIES |
|
Join local group Menlo Together for an interactive exploration and reflection on how the laws that segregated America affected Menlo Park.
|
|
How has teenage use of e-cigarettes and vapes changed during COVID-19? How does social media influence the health behaviors of adolescents? Is tobacco use rising or falling?
|
|
What do teenagers really think about vaping, e-cigarettes, tobacco, and other health risk behaviors? Their answers may surprise you.
|
|
|
|
|
Sentinel Newsletter:
Our readers enjoy hearing about activities, events, and accomplishments of Sequoia students, staff and community.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
