Sequoia Sentinel
Sequoia PTSA's weekly eNewsletter in partnership with the Sequoia High School Education Foundation
PTSA PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
The wheels on the bus went round and round last week as all ninth grade students from Sequoia visited one of several local four-year colleges and universities. Destinations included UC Berkeley, Sonoma State, San Francisco State, and the University of the Pacific. The visits spurred discussion in 9th grade classes such as English and Life Skills and set the stage for the forthcoming introduction to Naviance and four-year academic planning with counselors.

This Wednesday, all Sequoia 11th graders will take the PSAT. The PSAT is a practical step for college readiness: great practice for the SAT itself, a determinant for National Merit Scholar status, and a helpful tool for students in identifying their best four-year college “fit”.  

Sequoia’s mission is predicated on the belief that all people want to succeed in what they set out to learn. Understanding the opportunities that are open to you is a vital part of being empowered as a learner. Our job is to prepare students, upon graduation, to attend and thrive in a four-year college/university setting. Achieving this goal requires commitment from all stakeholders, most importantly the students.

To this end, we work hard at Sequoia to foster a college-going culture. It is visible on the walls of the hallways, the classrooms, the guidance office, and the College Center. It informs staff collaboration, community development, work of the Sequoia HS Education Foundation, and the rigor of instruction for all students. College Day and the PSAT for all are funded 100% by the SHSEF.    

The work coordinating these endeavors is a true community effort. IVP Kristin Stout, AVP Sophia Olliver, administrative support personnel, campus aides, instructional paraprofessionals — everyone plays a role. Our College/Career Coordinator, Tessa Yeager, led coordination efforts for College Day along with Terri Ignaitis, both vital assets for our students and families. If they haven’t already done so, encourage your student to stop by the College Center and introduce themselves ASAP. Our counselors, in their four-year planning with students and support of individual academic programming, emphasize passing classes required for U-C A-G eligibility — another crucial practical follow-up step for being college ready.  

We appreciate your support of this tremendous annual undertaking — it lays a strong foundation for the student experience over the next four years. We also appreciate your role in helping our strong college-going culture to flourish — thank you!

Have a great week!

Best,
Sean
PTSA
Thank you 2021-22 volunteers!
Thank you to all the volunteers from 2021-22 who were part of the (under-counted) 4,144 donated hours to Sequoia last year. That translates to the $124,442.24 check the PTSA presented to Mr. Priest this week. From the Board, to the Sentinel team, to the Grad Night team, to Staff Hospitality, to Concessions, the list goes on. The volunteer community at Sequoia is a big part of what makes this school special. By the way, if you weren’t with us at the Principal’s Welcome, you missed out on a great hour-long discussion. Mr. Priest discussed everything from his thoughts on helping kids tip the balance to favor thriving over enduring (something we all need), to how LOUD his voice can get in the halls when passing time is almost over (my kids confirmed this!), to setting the tone to embrace mistakes as learning. What can I say? You had to be there! We are graced with words and a Q&A session from Mr. Priest at every PTSA meeting on the first Tuesday of the month in the Mult-Purpose Room (MPR), 7:00 p.m. See you at the next one.
Calling experienced parents
Shadow Days and Campus Tours for potential incoming eighth graders and parents are here! To make these events successful, we need veteran parents to spread the good word about life at Sequoia — academics, music, sports, theater, and social life. We have two opportunities and many dates to fill.

Parent Information Sessions will take place on eighth grade Shadow Days. Once eighth graders are off with their shadow hosts, Corey Uhalde, Director of Student Activities, will lead info sessions for parents. We appreciate Sequoia parents providing the adult perspective during this time. Saturday campus tours will be led by ASB students, but it is beneficial to have a Sequoia parent along so the “incoming” parents get another point of view.

Click here to sign up for either event on one or multiple days! Dates are listed on the sign up-page. Contact sequoiaptsa@gmail.com or cuhalde@seq.org with questions.
Subscribe to PTSA class lists
A reminder — especially for those with multiple students at Sequoia — to subscribe to the PTSA's individual class lists to make sure you are receiving our e-blasts, with news tailored for each student year. Self-subscribe using this link.
Haven't joined Sequoia PTSA yet?
Click HERE to join online or 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'll take care of the rest! Ten minutes and $20 is all it takes to make our Unaliyi spirit stronger! Forgot if you joined or have questions? Contact Membership Lead Dana Rechin for help.
EDUCATION FOUNDATION
SHSEF supports students in reaching highest potential
Did you know SHSEF supports staff, projects, and programs to ensure that every student has the opportunity to reach their highest potential? We raise funds for college services, academic enrichment programs, staff professional development, and student and family support. 
HIGHLIGHTS
That's So Raven Announcements
Follow the That's So Raven Announcements by subscribing to the Sequoia High School ASB YouTube channel or click on the Sequoia HS ASB link at the bottom of the newsletter!
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
News from the Media Center
Check out our most recent newsletter and click here to find out what’s happening at the Sequoia Media Center! We look forward to seeing you, Ms. Snow.
Seeking bikes that are ready to roll
Do you have a bike that is in good shape and in great working condition that you no longer need? We have a few students that would love to be able to get to school more easily. If you have a bike that is ready to ride, please email Scott Stalder-Skarmoutsos.

We hope to plan a large-scale bike drive later in the year where we can take bikes needing a little tune up to get back on the road again, but at this time, we are hoping to connect a few students with something ready to roll. Thanks a million for your time and support!
Are you a computer graphics or video production professional? Please come speak to students.
We are looking for professionals to share their career pathways with students. We would love to hear from you if your current or past positions have included:
  • Graphic Design
  • Visual Design
  • UI/UX Design
  • Interior Design
  • Exhibition Design
  • Environmental Graphic Design
  • Fashion Design
  • Illustrator
  • Animation
  • Videographer/ Video Production / Editor
  • Motion Graphics Design

Class is offered Fridays from 8:45-10:10 a.m. or 1:30-2:40 p.m.; dates include Oct. 21, Nov. 4, Nov. 18, and Dec. 2. Email Faith Velschow with the dates & times that work best for you.
Sequoia's Academy Mentor Program looking for mentors!
Would you like to transform the trajectory of a Sequoia student? Become a Sequoia Academy mentor. For less than two hours a month from November-May, Sequoia High School Academy mentors work one-on-one with students from the Digital Arts Academy or Health Careers Academy on career-related skills. Adults can support a student by sharing their knowledge and experience about how to take steps towards a successful and rewarding career. Join our team! Whatever professional stage you are in, our students can learn from your career journey. Please refer to our website or contact our coordinators Greg Stein or Gregory Schmid for more information about how to participate in this year's hybrid program.
SEQUOIA ATHLETICS
Come watch us play
Support the Ravens by attending this week’s home games. Check seqsports.com for complete home and away fall schedules.

Let’s go, Ravens!
Home games this week
  • Oct. 11: Girls Volleyball vs. Carlmont — frosh 4:00 p.m., JV 5:00 p.m., varsity 6:15 p.m.
  • Oct. 13: Girls Waterpolo vs Terra Nova — JV 4:00 p.m., varsity 5:00 p.m.
  • Oct. 13: Girls Volleyball vs Burlingame — frosh 4 pm, JV 5:00 p.m., varsity 6:15 p.m. — SENIOR NIGHT!
Oct. 31: Winter sports tryouts – make sure your athlete is cleared to play!
Is your student interested in playing a winter sport at Sequoia? Tryouts for soccer, basketball and wrestling begin Monday, Oct. 31. New and returning athletes must register on SportsNet and submit an updated Physical Form to be eligible. Contact the head coach for more details and follow individual SEQ sports teams on Instagram.
THE PARENT EDUCATION SERIES
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Oct. 13: The Stolen Year: How Covid Changed Children’s Lives, and Where We Go Now. The cost of closing our schools for so long during COVID, made with good intentions, has not yet been fully reckoned with. NPR education reporter Anya Kamenetz shows how the pandemic disrupted children’s lives — and how our country failed to put our children first.

El año robado: cómo el covid cambió la vida de los niños y hacia dónde vamos ahora. El costo de cerrar nuestras escuelas durante tanto tiempo durante COVID, hecho con buenas intenciones, aún no se ha calculado por completo. reportero de educación NPR Anya Kamenetz muestra cómo la pandemia interrumpió la vida de los niños y cómo nuestro país no puso a nuestros niños primero.
¡Padres/cuidadores, educadores, profesionales de la salud mental y miembros de la comunidad son bienvenidos! Habrá interpretación simultánea en español disponible. Enlace de zoom.
Oct. 19: Fentanyl Prevention Education: How to Help Teens Make Healthy Decisions. Join Stacey Wisniewski, Senior Prevention Specialist, Prevention Solutions, Hazeldon Betty Ford Foundation, to understand the risks of intentional and unintentional fentanyl use among adolescents.

Educación sobre la prevención del fentanilo: Cómo ayudar a los adolescentes a tomar decisiones saludables. Únase a Stacey Wisniewski, especialista sénior en prevención, Soluciones de Prevención, Fundación Hazeldon Betty Ford, para comprender los riesgos del uso intencional y no intencional de fentanilo entre los adolescentes. Enlace de zoom.
COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND EVENTS
Let's plant more trees for Redwood City!
CityTrees, a Redwood City nonprofit volunteer-run organization, has recently received a $90,000 grant through Cal Fire and the California ReLeaf network. We would love for volunteers ages 14+ to join us as we grow our local urban canopy.

Fall/Winter 2022-23 Planting Dates:
  • Saturday, Oct. 15, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. — Register here! 
  • Saturday, Nov. 19, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. — Register here! 
  • Saturday, Dec. 17, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. — sign ups will open closer to the date.
  • Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. — sign ups will open closer to the date.

Please visit CityTrees with questions or for more information. Volunteers under 18 years old require a parent/guardian signature on our waiver.
CONTRIBUTE TO THE SENTINEL
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Email sequoiasentinel@gmail.com with questions, or to unsubscribe. Click here if you would like to subscribe to the Sentinel. Click here to view issue archives.

Thank you for keeping the Sequoia High School community updated. Go Ravens!
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