Sequoia PTSA's weekly newsletter in partnership with Sequoia High School Education Foundation |
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“Would it be possible for my son not to have his math class first thing in the morning?”
Well…
Sequoia’s 2023-24 schedule is in its construction phase, its building blocks include:
1940 projected students with
~130 full-time and part-time teachers assigned to
205 Courses in
106 classrooms (plus gyms, dance studios, woodshops, etc.)
From there, priorities are set, including:
- Students’ desired courses (i.e., which classes our kids request in order to fulfill their graduation and UC A-G requirements)
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Equity: making sure every student gets the resources they need to succeed — true to our mission
- Remediation for students below grade-level in Math and English (e.g., students who come to Sequoia reading at a 3rd-grade level)
- English Language Development for newcomer students
- Making sure teachers are assigned to the best possible courses in terms of credential, experience, and collaborative teams
- IB Diploma requirements
For the schedule to function in practice, it must:
- Have balanced class sizes
- Align with the availability of part-time staff, instructional aides, rooms, and
- Minimize the number of students with “open” periods in the middle of the day
- Provide all teachers with at least one free period per day for planning
What does the “solution” to this puzzle look like? By August: a daily schedule for every student that sets them up for success. It’s not an endeavor that can be hurried. Work on next year’s schedule began almost as soon as this year’s was completed. Around March, however, schedule building begins to eclipse other aspects of IVP Kristin Stout’s job. The 2023-24 will be her sixth.
Like any puzzle, there is software that simplifies the computational tasks. I always chuckle when my programmer friends ask why someone doesn’t just let code do all the work. Consensus-building and relationships are what really fuel the process. Problems with multiple solutions and diverse stakeholders require a clear set of guiding principles and shared vision. Fortunately, we have broad shared leadership contributing to the endeavor in the form of department chairs, counselors, and district support. A school’s master schedule is its DNA or, as one colleague once said to me, “Show me your school’s master schedule and I’ll tell you what your core values are.”
I’ve always appreciated the extent to which our students and parents have understood the complexity and fragility of the master schedule — how moving one or two students from one class to another can really throw a whole bunch of things out of whack. I hope folks understand that this balance is maintained not for some sort of bureaucratic end, but instead to make our master schedule at Sequoia reflect what we value as a school and community.
Despite the scope and complexity of the endeavor, it’s one we embrace. As we approach the middle of May, it’s a good feeling to watch the pieces falling into place for next year.
Happy Mother’s Day and have a great week!
Best,
Sean
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Congratulations 2023 Junior Class Achievement Award winners
The PTSA is proud to announce the recipients of the 2023 Junior Class Achievement Awards. This award is given to those students who have demonstrated resilience, academic excellence, and/or community service. Congratulations!
Teresa Alvarez
Cassandra Chin
Carlos Chiquete
Emily Christman
Ashlee Landin Pacheco
Adylene Moran
Chelsy Nava
Natalia Reyes
Elizabeth Romero De La Rosa
Joyana Saha
Joey Corea
Nelson Cross
Tessa Folan
James King
Taylor Kodl
Ella Satterwhite
Allison Wang
Ela I. Weintraub-Velazquez
Sophia Tabarez
Gaia De Nault
Aleyah Hernandez
Annika Gupta
Genevieve Tatola
Owen Leung
Zachary Tyson
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Help our students get ready for summer break
Our AVP team needs your help to supervise, troubleshoot, and cheer on students as they clear out of their lockers later this month. No training or skills needed! We'll give you a handout with all the info you need to feel successful helping students check this important task off of their to-do list. SIGN UP HERE. Questions? Contact Grace Horton (650) 367-9780 ext. 60031.
¡Ayude a nuestros estudiantes a prepararse para las vacaciones de verano!
Nuestro equipo AVP necesita su ayuda para supervisar y animar a los estudiantes mientras limpian sus casilleros a finales de este mes. ¡No se necesita capacitación ni habilidades! Le daremos un folleto con toda la información que necesita para sentirse exitoso al ayudar a los estudiantes a tachar esta tarea de su lista de tareas pendientes. REGÍSTRESE AQUÍ. ¿Preguntas? Comuníquese con Grace Horton (650) 367-9780 ext. 60031
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Double your donation to SHSEF thru May 30 |
Thanks to a group of generous donors, we have a $70K match for all gifts through May 30. All gifts, no matter the size, support the Sequoia community. Donate at shsef.org.
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May 19: Drama I and II Showcase |
May 19 at 7:00 p.m. in Carrington Hall, Drama I will perform the one-act play "How to Overthrow Your Student Government," and Drama II will perform the one-act play "Citizens United." Admission is free with a suggested donation of $5 at the door. |
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Last week to pre-order the yearbook |
Head over to jostensyearbooks.com ASAP to reserve the 2023 yearbook. We will have limited extras and they will go fast. Send any questions to Ms. Bray. |
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- Exam Calendar
- Exam Tips & Rules
- Code of Conduct
- Items Not Permitted
- Answer Booklet Guide
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Celebratory graduation leis and flower arrangements |
The end of the school year is almost here, which means graduation is right around the corner! Show support for the students' accomplishments throughout high school with the purchase of a lei! Blue, purple, white, and mixed-colored orchid leis, candy leis, kukui nut leis, and more are available for preorder at signatureleis.com. Proceeds will benefit the Class of 2026. Congratulations to the Class of 2023!!!
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Seniors: June 9 is Grad Night! |
Tickets are selling fast! Buy yours before they sell out! Tickets are $100 and include food, dancing, games, views, and FUN! Grads will meet at Sequoia at 10:00 p.m., board buses to Hornblower Pier for an evening cruise and return to Sequoia at 4:00 a.m. All attendees must sign a waiver; students over 18 can sign for themselves. Event is for class of 2023 Sequoia grads ONLY. If purchasing a ticket for another student, please check with that student first. No refunds. Purchase tickets here. To pay by check, email us.
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Seniors: Join Sequoia High School Alumni Association |
Congratulations on achieving this special milestone in your life — we wish you much success in your future. Take advantage of this special limited offer to join for the price of your grad year — just $20.23! Order a Sequoia Alumni pin for an additional $5. Membership allows you to keep in touch with fellow grads, participate in association and school events, including reunions. Go to the SHSAA website to find the special membership form and pay online, email us, or call (650) 592-5822.
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Our final Boosters event of the year will be held on Monday, May 15, at 7:00 p.m. Join the May social and meeting where we will recap 2022-23 sports, announce the Judy Carmona Scholarship winners, introduce new board members, and mingle with the Boosters community. Email BoosterSequoia@gmail.com for the event address. All Sequoia sports fans are welcome!
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SEQ Sports - Summer training information |
Sequoia offers summer training and workouts for most athletic programs. Details and contacts are now posted on SEQSports.com. Summer training is open to current and new athletes. Most programs do not require a commitment all summer. Athletes can attend when they are available.
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Thursday, May 18, 2023, 5:30pm – 6:30pm PT, Online Event (Live)
What is plant-based nutrition? And can a plant-based diet help improve the health of your family? Join Kaiser Permanente pediatric physicians Dr. Kathryn Gopez, Redwood City Medical Center, and Dr. Elizabeth Nadiv, Daly City Medical Offices, to learn more about the health benefits of plant-based nutrition.
Jueves, 18 de mayo de 2023, 5:30pm – 6:30pm PT, evento en línea (en vivo)
¿Qué es la nutrición basada en plantas? ¿Y una dieta basada en plantas puede ayudar a mejorar la salud de su familia? Únase a los médicos pediátricos de Kaiser Permanente Dr. Kathryn Gopez, Centro Médico de Redwood City, y Dra. Elizabeth Nadiv, consultorios médicos de Daly City, para obtener más información sobre los beneficios para la salud de la nutrición basada en plantas.
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Tuesday, May 23, 2023, 5:30pm – 6:30pm PT, Online Event (Live)
What is "immigration grief" and how does it impact generations of newcomers Immigration Grief Expert and RCSD Community Liaison joins us for an important conversation on immigration grief and the mental health challenges related to working or living abroad.
Martes, 23 de mayo de 2023, 5:30pm – a 6:30pm PT, evento en línea (en vivo)
¿Qué es el "dolor de la inmigración" y cómo afecta a las generaciones de recién llegados? Michelle Remond, experta en duelo por inmigración, enlace comunitario de RCSD se une a nosotros para una conversación importante sobre el dolor de la inmigración y los desafíos de salud mental relacionados con trabajar o vivir en el extranjero.
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The Sentinel goes out to 3,500 members of the Sequoia High School community on Sundays at 8 a.m. during the school year. Submissions are due on Wednesday — click the purple button below. Email the editors or click here to subscribe.
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