Sequoia Sentinel
January 17/18, 2021
Sequoia PTSA's weekly eNewsletter in partnership with the Sequoia High School Education Foundation
Editor's note: Again this week half our readership will receive the Sentinel on Sunday, the other half on Monday. We're running a test to see which day gets better open rates. Feedback is welcome and we’ll keep you posted on the results.
Principal's Message
We pause this week to honor the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This national holiday presents itself in a new light with all that's happened in the last twelve months. The bending arc of the moral universe seems to have slowed to a snail's pace. My gut tells me an awakening is underway. Perhaps the ideas of Dr. King will inspire us to extend our reach -- collectively and as individuals -- towards justice over the next twelve months and beyond.

The Triple Evils:
  • Poverty
  • Racism
  • Militarism

Dr. King's Fundamental Philosophy of Nonviolence:
  • Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people.
  • Nonviolence seeks to win friendship and understanding. 
  • Nonviolence seeks to defeat injustice, not people. 
  • Nonviolence holds that suffering can educate and transform 
  • Nonviolence chooses love instead of hate. 
  • Nonviolence believes that the universe is on the side of justice.

Dr. King's Six Steps to Nonviolent Social Change:
  • Information Gathering
  • Education
  • Personal Commitment
  • Negotiation
  • Direct Action
  • Reconciliation


Have a great week!

Sean
Announcements
Jan 19 - Graduation 2021 Activities Meeting
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Parents of seniors - please join us for a Zoom meeting Tuesday Jan 19, 7:00 p.m. to discuss ideas about how to celebrate the graduates! Send questions to sequoiagraduation2021@gmail.com.
Deadline May 28: Seniors - Edgenuity and Office Hours Reminder
Seniors needing to complete Edgenuity credit recovery course(s) required for graduation and/or A-G requirements need to complete their course(s) by May 28 for June 4 graduation. If seniors or parents/guardians have questions or need to sign up, please email your assigned counselor. Mr. Julio Calles is Sequoia's Edgenuity teacher. His office hours are every Tuesday and Thursday from 4:00-6:00 p.m. 
New eBooks for you!

Our eBook collection is now accessible through your browser. Log in using your @seq.org credentials and let Ms. Snow know how it goes!

Check out the Media Center’s latest newsletter and Follow us on Instagram to keep up with upcoming events, author talks, and more.
Highlights
That's So Raven

Check in next week for a new episode.
Education Foundation
Your contributions make an impact
The work SHSEF does is vital to the students, staff and families of the Sequoia community. Your contributions help ensure our students have what they need to succeed and make the most of this challenging school year. Contributions of all amounts create a direct and positive impact on our community. Click here to make a donation to SHSEF.
PTSA
Help needed with the PTSA website
PTSA is looking for a WordPress programmer that can help us develop a custom theme for a new PTSA website. We may select an existing theme and plugins to create the site, but would like the option to work with a programmer who can create a custom WordPress if needed. If you are a WordPress designer and programmer and would be interested in designing the new PTSA website, that opportunity is available too. Please contact Cynthia Wiggin.
Do you have questions for our Sequoia 2020-2021 PTSA Board? Reach Isha Bhatt, PTSA President and the rest of the team at sequoiaptsa@gmail.com. Have questions about mini grants? Reach Adrienne Heist & Shannon Chi at sequoiaminigrants@gmail.com.
The Parent Education Series
Parent Ed Logo Horizontal
Jan. 20: Prepared or petrified? How to be an askable adult for your ‘quaranteen’

Join Vanessa Kellam, Parent Engagement Manager at Health Connected, for a timely conversation aimed to inspire and equip parents to engage their 'quaranteen' in meaningful conversations about sexual health and relationships. Register here.
Jan 27: The art of the possible: Raising resilient children and teens

How is it possible to raise resilient children and teens, especially in such turbulent, uncertain times? 
 
In this special event hosted by San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE), Leah Weiss, PhD, an international authority in resilience and compassion, will share her expertise on the four "Pillars of Resilience."
Dr. Weiss is a researcher, lecturer, consultant, entrepreneur, and author. She is a lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business, and a founding faculty member of Stanford’s “Compassion Cultivation Program,” conceived by the Dalai Lama.

Wednesday, January 27, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., Live Event (Webinar)
Jan. 28: Digital media and COVID-19

Strategist, analyst, author, and speaker, David Kleeman, SVP at Dubit, has been a global thought leader in children’s and youth media for 25+ years. In this live (virtual) event, Kleeman will explore the impact of COVID-19 on kids’ media, best practices in playful learning, and the integration of child/adolescent development and research across media, technology, and games. Register here.

Drawing on nearly two decades of scientific research, this live (virtual) event will explore: What is purpose? Why does it matter? And, how can we — as parents — help our children and teens discover their purpose in life?

Kendall Cotton Bronk, PhD, is a professor of psychology in the Division of Behavioral & Social Sciences at Claremont Graduate University, and lead investigator at the Adolescent Moral Development Lab. Register here.
Questions? Contact Charlene Margot, MA, Co-Founder and CEO, The Parent Venture (The Parent Education Series).
Community Resources and Events
Applications for SUHSD Middle College program due March 19
The SUHSD Middle College program at Cañada College will start accepting applications in January for the Fall of 2021. Middle College is a collaboration between the SUHSD and Cañada College. Students earn both high school and college credits, enabling them to complete their high school requirements and earn college credit simultaneously. All classes are held at Cañada College.

Learn more by watching this brief informational video or flyer. Interested students should speak to their counselor and attend our Parent/Student information sessions.

All Q&A meetings will be held on zoom from 6:30-7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 27, Thursday, Feb. 11, Tuesday, Feb. 23, and Wednesday, Mar. 10.

Please check our webpage for Zoom links and more information: Canada Middle College.
All application components must be submitted by March 19.
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