Sequoia Sentinel
September 12, 2021
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Sequoia PTSA's weekly eNewsletter in partnership with the Sequoia High School Education Foundation |
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As a parent, keeping my children out of harm’s way is top priority. As urgent dangers, real or imagined, diminish in frequency and intensity, a secondary priority emerges: securing whatever advantage we can give them so that they might thrive. Why would we want otherwise? Both impulses, ironically, veer us parents away from risk. This is problematic.
When we talk about “thriving,” we are talking about fulfillment and self-actualization. To arrive anywhere near either of these advanced states of being, healthy risk-taking is a central component of growth and development. A 2014 book by former Yale professor William Deresiewicz spotlighted the extreme risk aversion of Ivy League students as inhibiting any meaningful engagement with their education.
The book Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life raises an interesting question that is worth revisiting throughout high school: what is the value of the top education in America if there is no room to fail in order to obtain it? Pressures placed on students, real or imagined, to emerge from their 9-12 academic careers unblemished leads to increased fear, anxiety, and hesitation when it comes to taking healthy risks.
As we move deeper into this semester, I encourage families to dialogue about healthy risk-taking as essential to self-discovery. At Sequoia, participation in athletics, performing arts, our after-school enrichment program, and clubs/activities, provides students opportunities for healthy risk-taking. Approaches to feedback and assessment that reward growth, such as standards-based grading, do the same.
This Friday is Club Day at Sequoia. I will be encouraging every student I talk to between now and then to attend and engage with their peers representing the various activities on campus. I will ask younger students to envision themselves as future leaders of the clubs they learn about. I’ll suggest they identify issues and interests not yet represented by a club on campus, and prompt them to start their own club if they see a need to be filled. Many of our most active and exciting clubs have origin stories like this. Now is the time. Sequoia is the place. Helping our students find their passion should be a top shared priority for all stakeholders.
Trying something new, perhaps on a whim, is often the kind of decision that sets us on a path with far greater implications than the traditionally “big” decisions like where we go to college or whether to take the SAT or the ACT. A chicken/egg thought exercise I’ve always liked goes as follows: which had the greater impact on your life: where you went to elementary school or who you decided to sit next to at lunch?
Have a great week!
Sean
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Join us to appreciate teachers & staff |
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Several times a year the Teacher and Staff Appreciation team organizes lunches, coffees, grab-n-go breakfasts, and festive treats for our hard-working Sequoia teachers and staff. If you would like to find out about future volunteering and contributing opportunities, sign up to receive appreciation notifications via email. No obligation - just notification. We appreciate you!
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You know you've been meaning to… |
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...so click the purple button below and JOIN NOW!
With your membership, you can:
● Be a part of Sequoia's community of parents, teachers and students who make our school welcoming, united, and engaged!
● Empower the California State PTA to speak up on behalf of our families. Our State PTA has a long history of protecting and supporting California's most valued assets, our children. The greater our number, the stronger our voice.
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Students and staff: mini-grants are coming |
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The PTSA is able to offer financial grants to enhance education at Sequoia through the support of the Sequoia High School Education Foundation (SHSEF). The grants of up to $750 are designed to inspire creative initiatives to learning and/or to address a compelling need that might otherwise go unfinished. Applications can be submitted through October 4. Watch for further announcements in the Sentinel or Daily Bulletin. Students who have an idea for a project that will benefit the school but need funding are encouraged to apply. Additional information can be found on the PTSA page of the SHS website.
Parents: Would you like to be a part of Sequoia's innovative educational efforts? Consider joining our team to help with the grant selection process. If you have a few hours to review applications and meet with the other committee members (one to two evenings this year), we would love to recruit you. No experience is necessary. This is a great opportunity for returning and new Sequoia parents to learn about the constructive, beneficial projects happening at school. Contact mini-grants committee chairs Shannon Chi or Natalie Henderson to join the selection committee.
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Do you have questions for our Sequoia 2021-2022 PTSA Board? Reach Karen Eller Ha, PTSA President and the rest of the team at sequoiaptsa@gmail.com.
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Our mission is to positively impact the lives of all children and families. |
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Want to know about events and opportunities around campus? Watch this week's video announcements for more information!
This week on That's So Raven:
0:20 First home game of the year!
1:26 Peer Mediators and YAB
Thank you to our class of 2024 students for helping out this week!
“That’s So Raven” is a Sequoia ASB Production.
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Sept. 14: Find out how to support Sequoia's Drama program |
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Attend our upcoming family meeting! Parents/guardians of students involved with Drama at Sequoia, particularly students in the cast/crew of our fall play, are encouraged to attend a Zoom meeting on Tue 9/14 at 6 p.m. to learn more about upcoming volunteer opportunities and ways to get involved in supporting the Sequoia Drama program.
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Sept. 7: Registration opens for Sequoia 8th grade virtual shadowing |
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Sequoia will NOT be able to offer 8th grade shadowing during the 2021-22 school year. However, Sequoia will offer virtual 1:1 shadowing and on-campus tours in the winter and spring.
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March for Our Lives Sequoia Union is an organization at Sequoia High School that seeks to empower young people to change the world and end the national gun violence epidemic for once and for all. Come to our weekly lunch meetings in Room B-4.
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IB diploma parent support group |
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If you are interested in joining our new support group for parents/supporters of IB diploma students, this is the place for you. We hope to provide opportunities for parents to connect, share information and resources, and provide diploma students an opportunity to meet outside of school. If you are interested, please contact Roopa Rayadurg by email or 650-274-8719.
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Spanish-speaking volunteers needed in Sequoia's Family Center |
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The Sequoia Family Center is looking for Spanish-speaking volunteers. Volunteers will be helping our families and students-in-need complete paperwork to assess funding needs to qualify for additional benefits. You will be helping ensure that Sequoia students' and families' needs are accounted for and funding resources are allocated to our school to serve those in need.
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Make a huge difference in our community and school by supporting our migrant, homeless and low-income students and families.
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Other than the ability to speak Spanish, no experience is necessary to volunteer. Elvira Macias, our Family Center Coordinator, will tell you everything you need to know.
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Shifts are two hours long and available on different days.
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Spread the word! Please share this opportunity with a Spanish-speaking friend, neighbor, or relative interested in community service and supporting our school and kids.
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9/14 Girls Volleyball -vs- Aragon - Frosh 4:00/JV 5:00/Varsity 6:15 p.m.
9/16 Girls Water Polo -vs- Notre Dame Belmont - JV 4:00/Varsity 5:00 p.m.
9/16 Girls Volleyball -vs- Carlmont - Frosh 4:00/JV 5:00/Varsity 6:15 p.m.
9/17 Football -vs- Hillsdale - JV 4:00/Varsity 7:00 p.m.
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Don’t miss the latest sports news |
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Want to learn more about Sequoia Athletics and Boosters? Join our email list for news on athletic events and tryouts, Boosters meetings, fundraising events, scholarships, and all the ways to support our student athletes. Follow @SeqAthletics and @SeqBoosters for game updates and other news. Text SEQBOOSTERS to 22828 to be added to our mailing list.
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Class of 2022: Sign up to help with varsity football concessions |
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MEET ME IN THE MEDIA CENTER |
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Summer Literacy success stories |
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It is great to be back!
-Ms. Snow
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THE PARENT EDUCATION SERIES |
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Disaster Preparedness: Fire Safety and Prevention
Town Hall Meeting hosted by Sequoia Healthcare District
Tues., Sept. 14, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m., Online Event (Meeting)
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"The Twisties": Youth Sports, Competition, and Mental Health
Steve Smith, PhD, Clinical and Sports Psychologist, UC Santa Barbara
Wed., Sept. 15, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m., Online Event
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Beyond Being Admitted: Making the Most of the College Experience
Frank Bruni, Author, NY Times Columnist, and Endowed Professor of Journalism, Duke University & Alice Kleeman, Award-winning Former College Advisor
Wed., Sept. 22, 5:00 - 6:00 p.m., Online Event (Webinar)
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Community Resiliency Model (CRM)® Training: Part 1
Mary McGrath, Executive Director, Safe & Supportive Schools, SMCOE
Shana Karashima, Coordinator, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, SUHSD
Thurs., Sept. 23, 5:00 - 6:30 p.m., Online Event (Webinar)
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En Español:
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En Español
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- Coloca el cursor en la caja y mantenga presionada la tecla Control y haga clic en la tecla V para pegar el boletín completo en el cuadro de traducción.
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Sentinel Newsletter:
The Sentinel is distributed every Sunday at 8 a.m., except during school breaks. Our readers enjoy hearing about activities, events, and accomplishments of Sequoia students, staff and community.
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