The Sequoia Spotlight
September 3, 2019
Principal's Message
Dear Sequoia Families,
Welcome to the 2019 - 2020 school year! In order to promote communication and provide you with updates on what is happening around campus, I will be sending out monthly newsletters, "The Sequoia Spotlight".
There are three main focus areas that we will be working on this school year. 1. School Culture: We will be forming a committee to make adjustments to our school's vision, mission statement and mascot. In addition, we are encouraging school spirit by promoting COTY (CREW Class of the Year dress days and activities) and Renaissance (recognizing students for academic achievements, work habits and citizenship). 2. Social Emotional Learning: Sequoia is in our second year of the implementation of a school-wide program, CREW. CREW builds up positive character traits (compassion, responsibility, empowerment and our well-being) and school connections through activities on Mondays and Fridays. 3. Student Learning: As a school we are placing a large emphasis on strengthening math skills. Students in each grade level will spend time on a regular basis reviewing targeted skills. Students will also be involved in the learning process through the use of exit tickets so that they can determine whether or not they are learning concepts that are being taught in the classroom. As a staff we are focusing on Universal Design for Learning and will be discussing and learning more about removing barriers to learning so that all students can learn. This will be a goal for our administrative team as well as observed in regular classroom visits. The majority of our staff will be participating in the first or second year of Impact Team implementation. Impact Teams work together to strengthen their belief that together they can help all students learn and that students need to be involved in the learning and assessment process. New the year, we have three pairs of teachers participating in co-teaching math. Co-teaching involves two teachers in a classroom who plan, instruct and assess together.
Celebration time! Next time you are on campus, check out our brand new lockers! Thanks to Measure I for the funding that made this purchase possible! Our KA_19 is getting rave reviews for their Livestream and community based podcasts! Check-out the interview they did with me in the next few weeks!
We kicked off our year on the first Friday with a Welcome Assembly. We reviewed the rules at Sequoia and students got to see a film starting my Administrative and Counseling team. We can't forget to mention the dance segment; thank you to Mrs. Turman, Ms. Burge, Mrs Kittinger and Mrs. Fischer for participating and a huge shout out to Mrs. Stevenson for filming and editing.
We also held our first emergency drill where we practiced a lock down and shelter in place and reviewed the different types of emergency drills. Our School Resource Officer, Deputy Ramirez works closely with us on school safety. He also paid a visit during our Welcome Assembly to introduce himself and show his support for our students.
Our staff had a great opening staff meeting before the school year began. We had a lot of competitive fun with a scavenger hunt. Congrats to the science department for winning the coveted "We are Sequoia" trophy.
I wanted to end my Principal's message with our school theme for the 2019 - 2020 school year: We are Sequoia. Our theme promotes school spirit and unity in that we all belong and that we are a team. It can be used in several ways... We are: awesome, compassionate, respectful, inclusive, a team... the possibilities are infinite. We review our theme on the morning announcements and it is embedded into many facets of our school life.
We are Sequoia!
Mrs. Chambers
Welcome Assembly
Staff Scavenger Hunt
Admin & Counseling Team
Assignment Notebook
Back to School Night
Back to School Night is scheduled for Thursday, September 12, 2019. The General Association PTA meeting and Back to School Night Presentation will begin at 6:30 PM with classroom visits starting at 7:00 PM.
CREW
CREW is a school wide initiative that promotes Social Emotional Learning through school connections and positive character traits. Students have the opportunity to provide feedback on CREW and suggest activities by visiting Sequoia's Website and accessing the Google Form. In August, students learned about CREW through a video starring students and staff members, created norms for their CREW classes and participated in "getting to know you activities" to build connections with their CREW class peers and teacher.
Student Connections
Our 6th grade students participated in a rally type opening event at WEB (Where Everyone Belongs) camp before the school year began. Students were able to meet their WEB leaders, take a tour of the campus and participate in numerous games. A special thank you to our 7/8th grade WEB leaders and Mrs. Hochevar for planning this awesome welcome event. Orientation was a huge success, even with a lock mishap where we were mistakenly delivered 600 locks... all with matching combinations. Thank you to our Sequoia staff, ASB leaders and parent volunteers for their support at orientation. ASB hosted the first COTY (CREW class of the Year) dress day of the year. It was great to see all the Sequoia apparel and Blue/Gold clothing on Friday!
Student Learning
"NOTHING WILL WORK UNLESS YOU DO.” –MAYA ANGELOU
Our students and staff hit the ground running and were definitely "doing" work. As we visited classrooms throughout the first few weeks there were endless examples of connection building activities so that our students and staff were able to get to know one another. One of my favorite lessons was an "All about Me" math activity. I happened to enter the classroom just as students were figuring out how many months old they were... I declined to answer. :) Other getting to know you activities included: team building with paper chains, building structures out of sticks, and unraveling a human knot. Procedures and routines were emphasized as teachers worked with students to set expectations for the year. There was evidence of growth mindset with goal setting activities and introductions to learning style. Some classes promoted public speaking and writing by encouraging students to reflect on and share about their summer adventures. In English class, students were given a choice on what style of writing domain they wanted to use to demonstrate their writing skills.
Academics were also evident through our classroom walk-throughs. I observed: math fact review, the reading of a Greek play about Medusa, note taking on Mesopotamia, science safety practice, GEMS order of operations, fitness and trust building activities in Physical Education, CER (Claim Evidence and Reasoning) writing, learning how to play various stringed instruments, exploring future career opportunities, and outlining a peer interview on the computer.
Thank you to Sequoia's ASB Sponsors
Baskin-Robbins
Dave and Buster's
Harley's Camarillo Bowl
Lazertag Extreme
Upcoming Events
- Project 2 Inspire: Tuesday, September 3 @ Library (8:30 - 11:30 AM)
- Minimum Day/Early Dismissal: Tuesday, September 3 (1:30 PM)
- ASB Fundraiser Assembly: Wednesday, September 4
- 7/8th Grade Renaissance Reward: Wednesday, September 4 (12:05 - 12:45 PM)
- ASB Fundraiser E-mail Collection: Thurs., Sept. 5 @ Upper Quad (7:45 - 8:45 AM)
- PTA Reflections Student Info Meeting: Thurs., Sept. 5 @ Auditorium (12:50 - 1:20 PM)
- ASB Fundraiser E-mail Collection: Friday, September 6 @ Upper Quad (7:45 - 8:45 AM)
- Sequoia Spirit Dress Day: Friday, September, September 6
- ASB Elections: Friday, September, September 6
- Boys' Basketball Tryouts: Monday, September 9 @ Gym (3:15 - 4:45 PM)
- Minimum Day/Early Dismissal: Tuesday, September 10 (1:30 PM)
- Battle of the Books Student Info Meeting: Tuesday, September 10 @ C-7 (11:45 AM)
- Girls' Volleyball Tryouts: Tuesday, September 10 @ Gym (3:15 - 4:45 PM)
- 7/8th Grade Renaissance Opportunity Drawing: Wed., Sept. 11 (AM Announcements)
- ASB Fundraiser Opportunity Drawing: Wednesday, September 11 (AM Announcements)
- Boys' Basketball Tryouts: Wednesday, September 11 @ Gym (3:15 - 4:45 PM)
- PTA Restaurant Night at The Habit: Wednesday, September 11 (4:00 - 9:00 PM)
- Girls' Volleyball Tryouts: Thursday, September 12 @ Gym (3:15 - 4:45 PM)
- Back to School Night & Gen. Association PTA Meeting: Thurs, Sept. 12 @ Aud (6:30 PM)
- ASB Fundraiser Opportunity Drawing: Friday, September 13 (AM Announcements)
- Sequoia Spirit Dress Day: Friday, September 13
- 6th Grade WEB Ice Cream Social: Friday, September 13 @ Auditorium (12:50 - 1:20 PM)
- COTY Banner Contest: Monday, September 16 - Friday, September 20 (12:50 - 1:20 PM)
- ASB Club Fair: Monday, September 16 @ Quad (12:05 - 12:45 PM)
- Boys' Basketball Practice: Monday, September 16 @ Gym (3:15 - 4:45 PM)
- Project 2 Inspire: Tuesday, September 17 @ Library (8:30 - 11:30 AM)
- Girls' Volleyball Practice: Tuesday, September 17 @ Gym (3:15 - 4:45 PM)
- GATE Parent Info Night & Odyssey of the Mind: Tues., Sept. 17 @ Auditorium (6:00 PM)
- School Site Council: Wednesday, September 18 @ Library (7:30 - 8:30 AM)
- Boys' Basketball Practice: Wednesday, September 18 @ Gym (3:15 - 4:45 PM)
- 7/8th Grade Renaissance Opportunity Drawing: Wed., Sept. 18 (AM Announcements)
- ASB Fundraiser Opportunity Drawing: Wednesday, September 18 (AM Announcements)
- Girls' Volleyball Practice: Thursday, September 19 @ Gym (3:15 - 4:45 PM)
- COTY Dress Day: Neon/White: Friday, September 20
- ASB Fundraiser Opportunity Drawing: Friday, September 20 (AM Announcements)
- ASB Blacklight Social for 6th Graders: Friday, September 20 @ Aud. (3:15 - 4:45 PM)
- ASB Blacklight Dance for 7/8th Graders: Friday, September 20 @ Aud. (5:15 - 6:45 PM)
- Boys' Basketball Practice: Monday, September 23 @ Gym (3:15 - 4:45 PM)
- Boys' Soccer Game: Monday, September 23 @ Conejo Creek South Fields (TBA)
- Minimum Day/Early Dismissal: Tuesday, September 24 (1:30 PM)
- Battle of the Books Info Meeting: Tuesday, September 24 @ C-7 (11:45 AM)
- Girls' Volleyball Practice: Tuesday, September 24 @ Gym (3:15 - 4:45 PM)
- 7/8th Grade Renaissance Opportunity Drawing: Wed., Sept. 25 (AM Announcements)
- Boys' Basketball Practice: Wednesday, September 25 @ Gym (3:15 - 4:45 PM)
- Girls' Volleyball Practice: Thursday, September 26 @ Gym (3:15 - 4:45 PM)
- Sequoia Spirit Dress Day: Friday, September 27
- PTA Reflections Entries Due: Friday, September 27 @ Upper Quad (8:00 - 8:45 AM)
- No School: Monday, September 30