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If you’ve sat down with your student recently to review their grades, you may have noticed that some Sequoia teachers evaluate progress a bit differently than what many of us experienced growing up. Several of our educators practice some form of progressive or standards-aligned grading.
At its core, this method of grading is built on the idea that a grade should be an accurate reflection of a student’s level of mastery. Period.
To understand why this approach matters, it helps to look at how traditional grading often works. In a conventional system, everything gets thrown into a single hopper: homework completion, extra credit, class compliance, and test scores. Even if categories are weighted, this 100-point scale means an early "zero" can drag a student's average down so far that recovery becomes mathematically impossible.
That system penalizes the early struggle. It rewards the student who gets it right on day one, while leaving the student who stumbles early, but rolls up their sleeves, works hard, and masters the material by week six, at a disadvantage. Imagine taking a class on how to pack a parachute. On week one, you score 20%. On week three, you score 60%. By week six, after practice, feedback, and focused effort, you score 100%. You have mastered the skill.
In a traditional averaging system, those early scores are locked in, leaving you with a final grade of 60%—a D. But if you were about to jump out of an airplane, who would you want packing your parachute? The person who demonstrated 80% accuracy early with no change over time, or the person who proved they knew 100% of the material at the end?
Progressive grading measures mastery, not velocity. It honors the reality that human beings learn at different speeds. What matters most is what a student knows and can do by the end of the learning cycle.
In the adult world, rare is the meaningful task where you get one shot with no second chances. Drafts are revised, code is debugged, and presentations are refined. In our classrooms, retakes and revisions are not free passes—they are structured opportunities for growth. To earn a reassessment, a student must demonstrate new learning first. They learn that making a mistake isn't a dead end; it's just feedback.
When we remove the fear of early failure, something remarkable happens in a classroom. Students stop asking, "What do I need to do to get an A?" and start asking, "What do I need to do to understand this?" They stop playing the game of school and start engaging in the actual work of learning.
Many Sequoia teachers embrace progressive grading because they care deeply about fairness, accuracy, and the human growth of their students. They want every young person who walks out of Sequoia to hold a transcript that genuinely reflects their knowledge, underpinned by the confidence that comes from mastering hard things through persistence.
If this type of grading model is new to your family, here are three ways to spur conversation around the dinner table:
1) Ask what they are learning, why they think they’re learning it, and how they’ll know when they’ve mastered it.
2) Encourage the revision process: If a student is told they’re “approaching Standard”, remind them that the story isn’t over. Encourage them to look at the teacher’s feedback, visit FLEX, and ask about upcoming opportunities for reassessments.
3) Normalize struggle: Remind your child that struggling early in a unit is a natural part of building new neural pathways. The end goal is growth, not immediate perfection.
Thanks for being a part of this academic journey in positive, curious ways. Have a great week!
Best,
Sean
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💙 Join or Renew Your PTSA Membership | |
Your annual membership helps power so much of what makes Sequoia special – including mini-grants, junior scholarships, the Reflections art program, staff appreciation, and graduation activities.
But membership is about more than funding. It is about showing up for our students and our school.
Every parent who joins, every volunteer who gives an hour, and every voice in the room makes Sequoia stronger.
Join or Renew Your PTSA Membership!
| 🏈 Concessions + Grad Night Support | |
Come out to our home football games, cheer on our Ravens, and help support the Class of 2027 Safe & Sober Grad Night!
Our PTSA concessions stand will be serving up coffee, hot chocolate, Cup-O-Soup, popcorn, and plenty of school spirit. It’s a fun and easy way to connect with other families while helping make a memorable and safe graduation celebration possible for our seniors.
Grab a shift, bring your school spirit, and join us at the next home game!
| 🎨 Reflections Is Launching! | |
We are excited to launch Reflections, a national arts program that gives students the opportunity to explore their creativity and share their unique perspectives through the arts.
This year’s theme is “What My Culture Means to Me.”
Students can participate across multiple artistic disciplines, with submissions due November 9, 2026.
Lean More & Apply Here
| | 🎓 Help us make Grad Night 2028 great | |
Hey, Junior Parents! Interested in helping Sequoia become a more inclusive community?
We need your ideas and energy to help make Grad Night 2028 affordable and accessible. It seems like a long time from now, but we plan and raise funds for this event throughout the high school years!
Email Andy Kitt at vice-president@sequoiaptsa.org to learn more about the kinds of help we're looking for.
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💼 8th Grade Shadow/Tour Parent Volunteers NEEDED!
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Please volunteer to help with 8th grade shadow days and tours. We’re looking for current Sequoia parents to support prospective 8th grade families as they explore our school.
This role involves answering questions, sharing your experience as a parent, and helping new families feel confident about their transition to Sequoia. Sign up HERE!
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💡 Apply for a Mini-Grant!
| Click here or visit the PTSA website for more information on how to apply. Email sequoiaminigrants@gmail.com if any questions. | |
As a reminder, please follow and like the PTSA on social media to stay connected:
• Facebook: Sequoia High School PTSA
• Instagram: @sequoiaptsa
If you are not currently receiving our email blasts, please make sure to re-subscribe to both the General PTSA and e-blasts here:
https://www.sequoiaptsa.org/mailing-lists-and-newsletter
| | Beyond the Classroom: Supporting Student Clubs and Mental Health & Wellness | | |
SHSEF raises funds from parents, community members and grantors to close the gap in state and local funding. The funds raised touch each of our students.
- Sequoia is home to 70+ active clubs—and they can apply for mini-grants to help support their purpose.
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We invest in student wellness. SHSEF funding supports an additional, full-time therapist.
Our fundraising goal is $650,000 for the 2026-27 school year and our recommended ask per student is $1,800, or any gift that is meaningful to your family. Learn more and DONATE TODAY!
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Looking for a way to get your SHSEF information and news and engage with our community? Follow us on Instagram: @SequoiaEdFoundation
| | Upcoming Schedule Modifications | |
- September 28: No School
- October 12: Holiday – Indigenous People's Day
| | Mentor a Student. Make an Impact! | | |
Have You Considered Mentoring?
Want to make a difference in a teenager’s life? Had a mentor yourself—or wish you'd had?
Sequoia High School is seeking career mentors to pair with juniors to support their academic and career goals. Students explore interests ranging from graphic design and marketing to health care and emergency services.
Commitment: 90 minutes per month, October 2026 – May 2027. Activities include SMART goals, elevator pitches, resumes, mock interviews, and a job shadow.
Interested? Contact shsmentor@seq.org.
| | Still Time to Join Boosters | | Did you know that for only $10, you can join Boosters and be part of the community to support all Sequoia athletes. All levels of membership will receive 2 Sequoia Boosters magnets. Look for us at the entrance of the Meet the Ravens game and we can sign you up on the spot. | | |
Visit our new Athletics site. All home and away games have been added to the Sequoia High School Calendar – and don't forget to follow @seqboosters on social media.
| Aún estás a tiempo de unirte a los Boosters | ¿Sabías que por solo 10 $ puedes unirte a los Boosters y formar parte de la comunidad que apoya a todos los atletas de Sequoia? Todos los niveles de afiliación incluyen dos imanes de Sequoia Boosters. Búscanos en la entrada del partido «Meet the Ravens» y podremos inscribirte al instante. | |
Visita nuestro nuevo sitio web de deportes. Todos los partidos, tanto en casa como fuera, se han añadido al calendario de Sequoia High School; y no olvides seguir a @seqboosters en las redes sociales.
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To sign up for the free Parent Venture newsletter, click here.
Questions? Contact Charlene Margot, MEd, Co-Founder and CEO, The Parent Venture, at cmargot@parentventure.org.
¿Preguntas? Comuníquese con Charlene Margot, MEd, co-fundadora y Directora Ejecutiva de The Parent Venture, al correo electrónico cmargot@parentventure.org.
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Human Raised: Nurturing Connection, Curiosity and Lifelong Learning in the Age of AI
Dana Suskind, MD, Pediatric Surgeon, Professor, and New York Times Bestselling Author
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Wednesday, September 23, 2026, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. PT, Virtual Event (Live)
Register: https://danasuskind2026.eventbrite.com
Dana Suskind, MD, author of Human Raised, explores how parents and educators can protect the essential “human raised” elements of childhood that help children learn, grow, and thrive.
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Human Raised: Fomentando la conexión, la curiosidad y el aprendizaje a lo largo de la vida en la era de la IA
Dana Suskind, MD, cirujana pediátrica, profesora y autora superventas del New York Times
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Miércoles 23 de septiembre de 2026, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. PT, evento virtual (en vivo)
Registro: https://danasuskind2026.eventbrite.com
Dana Suskind, MD, autora de Human Raised, explora cómo los padres y educadores pueden proteger los elementos esenciales de una infancia “criada por humanos” que ayudan a los niños a aprender, crecer y desarrollarse plenamente.
| Raising an Organized Child: 5 Steps to Strengthen Executive Function Damon Korb, MD, Author and Behavioral/Developmental Pediatrician | | |
Thursday, September 24, 2026, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. PT, Virtual Event (Live)
Register: https://damonkorb2026.eventbrite.com
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81251763737?pwd=Q9jX5R6xlTP0WOkGNAZfwk2MuPJRPz.1
In this Neurodiversity Education Series event, developmental pediatrician Dr. Damon Korb shares five steps parents can use from infancy through adolescence to build their child’s executive function skills.
Parents/caregivers, educators, and community members welcome! Simultaneous Spanish interpretation will be available. Free admission.
The Neurodiversity Education Series is presented by The Parent Venture, Children’s Health Council, REEL2e, and The RILEY Project, with major funding from Sequoia Healthcare District and Peninsula Health Care District.
For more information, visit www.neurodiversityeducationseries.org, or contact Charlene Margot, MEd, Co-Founder and CEO, The Parent Venture, at cmargot@parentventure.org.
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Cómo criar a un niño organizado: 5 pasos para fortalecer la función ejecutiva
Damon Korb, MD, autor y pediatra del desarrollo y del comportamiento
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Jueves 24 de septiembre de 2026, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. PT, evento virtual (en vivo)
Registro: https://damonkorb2026.eventbrite.com
En este evento de la Serie de Educación sobre Neurodiversidad, el pediatra del desarrollo Dr. Damon Korb comparte cinco pasos que los padres pueden utilizar desde la primera infancia hasta la adolescencia para fortalecer las habilidades de función ejecutiva de sus hijos.
¡Padres/cuidadores, educadores y miembros de la comunidad son bienvenidos! Habrá interpretación simultánea al español. Entrada gratuita.
La Serie de Educación sobre Neurodiversidad es presentada por The Parent Venture, Children’s Health Council, REEL2e y The RILEY Project, con financiamiento principal de Sequoia Healthcare District y Peninsula Health Care District.
Para obtener más información, visite www.neurodiversityeducationseries.org o comuníquese con Charlene Margot, MEd, cofundadora y directora ejecutiva de The Parent Venture, en cmargot@parentventure.org.
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Ms. Snow, the Library Media Specialist, sends a newsletter to students on the first of each month filled with book highlights, research links, and more. Click here to read the current newsletter.
| | Costa Rica Youth Exchange | | |
Dear Parents,
My name is Ilba Prego, and I am the Director of the Costa Rica Youth Exchange Spanish Immersion Program in Tilarán, Costa Rica.
For more than 20 years, our program has provided students with a meaningful opportunity to experience Spanish and Costa Rican culture while becoming part of the local community. This is much more than a tourist experience. Students use Spanish every day, interact with Costa Rican students, participate in community activities, and develop greater confidence, independence, and cultural understanding.
I personally live in the community where our program takes place, and our staff members also live here. We know the community, the schools, the families, and the people who work with our students. This local presence allows us to provide personal attention and support throughout the students' stay.
We also understand that every family has different summer schedules. We are flexible with program dates and will do our best to accommodate your family's schedule whenever possible. We are happy to discuss different arrival and departure dates and find an option that works for your student.
I understand that sending your child to another country is a very important decision. Parents naturally want to know about safety, supervision, accommodations, activities, and who will be responsible for their child.
I am always happy to speak directly with parents and answer any questions. I can also provide references from parents of students who have participated in our program, so you can speak with them directly about their family's experience.
Please feel free to contact me at any time by WhatsApp or phone, or we can arrange a Zoom meeting at a convenient time.
My goal is for every parent to feel comfortable, informed, and confident about the program before making a decision. I am always happy to take the time to speak with you personally.
Warm regards,
Ilba Prego
Director
Costa Rica Youth Exchange – Spanish Immersion Program
Tilarán, Costa Rica
ilba@youthcr.org
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