Sequoia Sentinel
September 19, 2021
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Sequoia PTSA's weekly eNewsletter in partnership with the Sequoia High School Education Foundation |
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The Friday night football game is perhaps the most vivid example of how large public high schools transcend their primary function in communities across this country. Last Friday, for the second week in a row, Sequoia’s Terremere Field was awash in purple (or, for part of our student section on Friday, tropical print). Football fans, families, boosters, and community stalwarts have returned en masse to pack the stands and participate joyfully in this ritual. What a blast.
Schools like ours thrive in these peripheries of the educational experience almost as much as in the meat and potatoes of academic engagement and college/career readiness. Whether the camaraderie of the cross country team, the inspiration from a community service project, or the glow of the footlights in Carrington Hall, we know that it is in this periphery that students often find inspiration to succeed in their academics in ways previously unimaginable. Character develops on its own bell schedule.
And so it is with enthusiasm that our administrators, teachers, and volunteers make events like Friday night’s football game happen. Likewise why I proudly bring my own children to dance shows, plays, games, and other events whenever possible.
The school has added another ad hoc dimension to its operational span this year: public health agency. Having been handed a comprehensive set of guidelines and protocols from the county and state, Sequoia and other area high schools are now responsible for rapid investigation and notification to staff and families in the event of reported symptoms, possible exposure, or positive cases. These protocols often require our staff to make 50-100 individual phone calls to students and staff on a given day in an effort to determine the nature of a COVID-positive individual’s contact with others on campus. It is a massive mobilization of staff resources, possible only because of the work ethic and personal integrity of people like our veteran health clerk, Claudia Rendon.
As you may know from our district dashboard, new cases are reported to school staff every week (along with daily reports of students absent with symptoms, many of which require follow-up). Based on our contract tracing data, we are unaware of any on-campus transmission of COVID. This is encouraging and our students deserve a pat on the back for the cooperation in adhering to indoor mask mandates. Likewise, our classroom teachers for finding creative ways to engage learners despite covered mouths and noise air purifiers in the room.
Starting next week, Sequoia will be offering community COVID testing on site twice weekly as part of our efforts to even more effectively ensure public health while simultaneously limiting interruptions to school operations for students and staff. There is a similarity to these efforts and the Friday night football game. In both, it is the school serving as a nexus for the community and a beacon of the public good.
Last week, Superintendent Williams and our trustees sent an open letter to Governor Newsom appealing for the statewide codification of vaccine mandates for students pursuant to CA Health and Safety Code Section 120335(a)(11). This appeal is done in the hopes streamlining this massive task and helping school staff focus on what we do best: preparing young people for citizenship through academic rigor and socio-emotional development. It’s time. As a colleague said recently, “If not here, where?”
As I’ve said many times, I am grateful to the Sequoia community for how we’ve lifted one another up over the past 18 months. I look forward to continuing to bear witness to and spotlighting this phenomenon as we move into the next phase of pandemic life.
Have a great week!
Sean
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Reflections 2021-2022 them: I Will Change the World by... |
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Don't ignore your inner artist! It's time to start working on your Reflections project for this year's Reflections theme I Will Change the World by....Tema: Cambiar El Mundo…
Enter your artwork and reflect about its meaning to you in one of six categories.
- Dance Choreography
- Film Production
- Literature
- Music Composition
- Photography
- Visual Arts
All entries will be recognized for their artistic achievement. Participation itself is a meaningful contribution to the Sequoia community! First-place finishers in each category enter the district competition, district winners move on to the state competition, and state winners move on to compete nationally.
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PTSA membership is growing…Grow with us! |
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Click HERE to join online or use the purple button below.
Don't want the hassle of another online login? Go old school and fill out the membership form in ENGLISH or SPANISH. Put the form and your check in an envelope and drop it off at the school office. We will take care of the rest! Your $20 fee goes a long way at Sequoia.
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Mini-grant applications due by Oct. 4 |
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Through the support of the Sequoia High School Education Foundation (SHSEF), the PTSA is able to offer financial grants of up to $750 to staff and students to enhance education at Sequoia. Click here for more information.
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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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Football games are back and better than ever!
This week on That's So Raven:
Thank you to our class of 2023 officers for hosting this week!
“That’s So Raven” is a Sequoia ASB Production.
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Congratulations to our Sequoia National Merit semifinalist Alisha Gupta! |
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Alisha has qualified as a semifinalist in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program. She is one of 16,000 seniors who have the opportunity to compete for National Merit Scholarships and advance to a finalist standing. Congratulations Alisha! |
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Registration is open 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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9/21 Boys’ Water Polo vs. Half Moon Bay - 4:00 p.m.
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9/21 Girls’ Varsity Tennis vs. Mills - 4:00 p.m.
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9/21 Girls’ Volleyball vs. Burlingame - Freshman 4:00 / JV 5:00 / Varsity 6:15 p.m.
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9/22 Girls’ Volleyball vs. Cupertino - Freshman 4:00 / JV 5:00 / Varsity 6:15 p.m.
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9/22 Girls’ Water Polo vs. Menlo-Atherton - JV 3:00 / Varsity 4:00 p.m.
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9/21 Girls’ Varsity Tennis vs. Capuchino - 4:00 p.m.
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9/25 Girls’ Water Polo Tournament - 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
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Varsity girls’ golf has three matches ahead of them this week:
- Woodside on Monday 9/20
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Back-to-back El Camino on Wednesday 9/22 and Thursday 9/23.
There are no spectators at our golf games, but if you spot one of our Raven golfers around town, we know they would appreciate a good golf clap! Learn more at Sequoia Girls Golf.
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Boosters meeting Tuesday Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. |
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Join our virtual meeting to connect with our athletic director, hear the latest on Sequoia sports programs, review grant requests from coaches, and learn how you can help support Sequoia Athletics. Click here to join on Zoom.
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Shout out to the Sequoia Cheerleaders |
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Thank you to the junior varsity and varsity cheerleaders for bringing BIG school spirit to our first two home football games! Our Sequoia Cheerleaders put on fun halftime shows and helped the Ravens rally to some great wins. They are working hard on new routines, more exciting stunts, and prepping for the Homecoming rally. Look for them at upcoming home games and away games vs El Camino & Carlmont.
Let’s Go Sequoia!
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THE PARENT EDUCATION SERIES |
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Foro de padres #13 - De Regreso a la Escula y la Socializacion de los Hijos
Edwin Fernandez, LCSW, One Life Counseling Center
Martes, 21 de septiembre de 2021, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m., Evento en vivo (seminario web)
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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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#ReachOut: Community resources for mental health and suicide prevention
Jenny Bratton, SHD; Dr. Karen Li, SHD; Brook Pollard, StarVista; Sylvia Tang, SM County Health
Tuesday, September 28, 2021, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., Online Event (Webinar)
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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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