Sequoia Sentinel
Sequoia PTSA's weekly eNewsletter in partnership with the Sequoia High School Education Foundation
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Hi Raven families,

We had our first PTSA/ELAC meeting of 2023 on Jan. 17. Mr. Priest shared information about the school’s tree damage from recent storms and encouraged us to ask our students for examples of JOY from their days. Also, three awesome ASB students joined the meeting, shared information on the Winter Formal, and gave examples of how they feel connected to Sequoia. ASB will join our meetings going forward.

On Jan. 20, SHSEF and PTSA hosted a well-attended Principal’s Coffee. Mr. Priest gave us more than an hour of his time and shared, amongst many things, the values he checks every day, and the intentionality the staff has on getting school life back to normal post-Covid and distance learning. Parents also shared their own stories, struggles, and celebrations in raising teens — it was a great, honest discussion!

On Jan. 24, I attended the Parent Advisory Council, a monthly meeting hosted by the District. During the meeting, they held breakout feedback sessions on the District’s LCAP. I sat at a Spanish/English bilingual table, which included Menlo-Atherton and Sequoia parents, SHSEF members, and Trustee Ginn. We had great discussions about the need to rebuild the connections students have with each other, and with their teachers, post-Covid. We also talked about how group work helps to reconnect all of us, and shared with our M-A friends how the Raven Circles contribute to this effort.

Go Ravens!

Karen Gebhart
Sequoia PTSA President
PTSA
Show some love for Sequoia teachers and staff
Let’s show some love for our fabulous Sequoia teachers and staff! On Valentine's Day, the PTSA will give each teacher and staff member a valentine in their mailbox and provide a selection of treats to choose from. Sign up to donate treats to show your love and appreciation. Contact Linda Solon with questions.
SAT exam volunteers — Parents and grandparents, we need you!
Curious what the SAT exam experience is like? Can you pitch in a few hours at school on Wednesday, March 22? Sequoia is hosting the SAT exam in Gym 1 this spring, for Sequoia juniors. 

**IMPORTANT**: Volunteers for the SAT exam cannot be relatives of any student taking the test that same day.

Please sign up HERE. For more info, contact Elisa Niño-Sears at elisa@atlashs.org or (650) 387-8390.

For information about participating in this SAT exam as a student, please contact Sequoia’s College & Career Center.
The staff room thanks you
Thank you to everyone who has donated items for the staff room over the past couple of weeks! I have one more request for ceramic cereal bowls. Email DeeDee Clarke if you have some to donate. Thank you!
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Join Sequoia's debate team!
We invite your student to join the Sequoia debate team! We are ranked 18th in the country and coached by a nationally ranked Stanford debater. The team meets every Friday from 4:00-5:30 p.m. in room 202. Snacks provided!

Debate gives students the opportunity to develop important skills for high school and beyond, in a friendly, community setting. Skills include critical thinking and analysis, evaluating opposing viewpoints, research under a time limit, and many more. While debate may seem daunting, no prior experience is needed to attend practice or tournaments. Everyone who enjoys challenging themselves is welcome!

For more information, visit the Sequoia debate website or email 806020@seq.org and 806134@seq.org.
January news from the Media Center
Check out our January newsletter, and click here to find out what’s happening at the Sequoia Media Center! We look forward to seeing you! Ms. Snow.
SEQUOIA ATHLETICS
Come watch us play

Support the Ravens by attending home games. Complete winter sports schedules are now posted at SeqSports.com.

Let’s go, Ravens!
Home games this week — QUAD BASKETBALL FRIDAY
Jan. 30: Boys Basketball vs. San Mateo — Varsity 6:00 p.m., JV 4:30 p.m., Frosh vs. Woodside 7:00 p.m.
Jan. 31: Girls Soccer vs. Burlingame — Varsity 4:30 p.m.,
JV 6:00 p.m.
Feb. 1: Boys Soccer vs. El Camino — Varsity 4:30 p.m.,
JV 6:00 p.m.
Feb. 1: Boys Basketball vs. Aragon — Varsity 6:00 p.m.,
JV 4:30 p.m.
Feb. 2: Freshman Boys Basketball vs. Aragon — 7:00 p.m.
Feb. 3: Girls Basketball vs. Woodside — Varsity 6:15 p.m., JV 3:15 p.m.
Feb. 3: Boys Basketball vs. Woodside — Varsity 7:45 p.m., JV 4:45 p.m.
Feb. 4: Freshman Boys Basketball vs. Burlingame — 12:00 p.m.
Call for auction items
Do you have access to items, services, or experiences to donate to the Boosters’ live or silent auction? Help us raise money for Sequoia athletic programs by donating:

  • Hosted parties — Dinner & drinks, bowling night, theme parties
  • Vacation homes, excursions, or airline miles
  • Sporting event tickets & memorabilia
  • Gift cards to your favorite local business

To donate an auction item, please fill out our Crab Dinner & Auction Donation Form 2023, or contact BoosterSequoia@gmail.com for more information.
Jan. 30: Spring sports tryouts begin
Tryouts for baseball, softball, lacrosse, badminton, swimming, track & field, stunt, boys tennis, boys golf, and boys volleyball are coming up, and many teams are holding pre-season conditioning sessions. See SeqSports.com/SpringTryouts for tryout schedules and details. New and returning athletes must register on SportsNet and submit an updated Physical Form.
Let's get cracking!
Planning for Sequoia’s Crab Feed Dinner (Saturday, March 11) is in full swing. To make this event a success, we need volunteers to help in the following areas: procurement and event logistics. We also need Sequoia athletes to help serve. Email to get involved. 

For donations: If you love hosting parties or you're just looking for a reason to hang out more with your Sequoia community members, how about offering to host a party? It's a great way to bring together Sequoia families and make new friends while benefiting our athletes. Parties can be adult-only gatherings, teen/kid events, or fun for the whole family.

Do you own a business or have items and services to donate? We'd love to have them! To donate an auction item, please fill out our Crab Dinner & Auction Donation Form 2023. 
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. 
THE PARENT EDUCATION SERIES
Dr. Ross W. Greene, renowned child psychologist and New York Times bestselling author of Lost at School and The Explosive Child, explains how to cultivate better parent-child relationships while also nurturing empathy, honesty, resilience, and independence.

Dr. Ross W. Greene, renombrado psicólogo infantil y New York Times autor superventas del Lost at School y The Explosive Child, explica cómo cultivar mejores relaciones entre padres e hijos y, al mismo tiempo, fomentar la empatía, la honestidad, la resiliencia y la independencia. Enlace de zoom.
Join us for a special conversation with Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell, author of Her Honor: My Life on the Bench (2021). As the first female African American judge in Northern California and the first female African American Superior Court judge in Santa Clara County, Judge Cordell was a trailblazer in the courtroom and beyond.

Únase a nosotros para una conversación especial con la jueza LaDoris Hazzard Cordell, autora de Her Honor: My Life en el banquillo…(2021). Como la primera afroamericana en el norte de California y la primera jueza afroamericana del Tribunal Superior en el condado de Santa Clara, la jueza Cordell fue una pionera en la sala del tribunal y más allá. Enlace de zoom.
STAY ON TOP OF THINGS AT SEQUOIA
There are many communication resources at Sequoia besides the Sentinel. Here are a few of our favorites:

Sequoia High School Website
  • Home page: Includes the Bell Schedule.
  • Calendar. Note: Sequoia only posts schedule abnormalities here, so unless otherwise noted, assume a normal week:
  • Mon. - A Day
  • Tues. - B Day
  • Wed. - Collab. Day
  • Thurs. - A Flex Day
  • Fri. - B Flex Day
  • Infinite Campus: Includes a student-specific daily calendar.
  • Sequoia 101: information on all things Sequoia.
  • Staff and Student Bulletin: everything from student announcements, to the sports schedule, to all the available clubs. Read it on the website, or subscribe to get it twice a week in your email.

PTSA Resources

Student News
  • That's So Raven Announcements: subscribe to Sequoia High School ASB's YouTube channel and set up alerts so you'll know when these fun and informational vlogs post.
  • Raven Report: The student news site of Sequoia High School.

Quick Links:
CONTRIBUTE TO THE SENTINEL
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