Senior College & Career Newsletter
Week of 16-22 , 2021
Welcome Students & Families
Scroll through for important information regarding College/Career
How to reach us?
For general questions and inquiries please email us at sequoiaccc@seq.org
Student Appointments:
Ms. Ignaitis, All HCA and Study Skills Students and Last names A-L
Ms. Rocha, All DAA and ELD Students and Last names M-Z
Important Dates
- May 17th If you are interested in submitting artwork that represents Sequoia for the cover the GRADUATION PROGRAM, email Ms. Ignaitis (sorry no photography)
- May 21st – Last day to complete survey to have senior scholarships and academic awards in graduation program (see announcement below)
Class of 2021: FOUR IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS Students must use their Sequoia emails to complete the following assignments
#1 Mandatory Senior Exit Survey - Needs to Be Completed Before You Pick Up Cap & Gown
Mandatory Senior Survey
- Must have completed to pick up Cap and Gown
- Mandatory Senior Exit Survey is the only place to Request you Final Transcript
Directions for Mandatory Class of 2021 Senior Exit Survey
Before Starting the Exit Survey it is recommended that you Update your college admission decisions on Naviance’s “Colleges I’m Applying to” directions below
- Login to Naviance from SHS website, Sign on with Signal Sign On using your school email
- On the Homepage click on “About Me”, “My Surveys”, “Surveys Not Started” and then “Class of 2021 Senior Exit Survey” - Make sure you- Check both ATTENDING and FINAL TRANSCRIPT for one college!
Directions for Updating “Colleges I’m Applying to” List
- Login to Naviance from SHS website, Sign on with Signal Sign On using your school email
- On the Homepage click on “Colleges I’m Applying to”
- Edit by using the pencil icon and mark whether you were admitted, deferred, etc for each school.
- If you never applied to a college on your “Colleges I’m Applying To” change your results to “WITHDRAWN”
- If you never added your colleges, add now using the plus sign on the right side in red
If you need help watch. How To Video Clip Updating “Colleges I’m Applying to” on Naviance
#2 Do You Want to Be Recognized in the Graduation Program?
Due: May 21, 2021
May 21st is the ABSOLUTE deadline to submit any scholarships or senior academic awards you have received in order to be recognized in the graduation program.
Students can include or not include academic scholarships they received by a college they are not attending- some students want to add them and others do not.
If you (the student) have a question, please email Ms Ignaitis tignaitis@seq.org.
Link to the Recognition Form
# 3 Do You Want to Thank a Staff Member at Sequoia?
Which teachers or staff would you like to say thank you and why?
It does not have to be long and it is always appreciated
You can put them together or separately - THANKS
Link to the Thank You Form
# 4 From IB OFFICE: "We Are IB" Student Speakers AND Reminder Important Questions Answered
Please email Ms. McCahon with any questions. IB welcomes all students and values multiple perspectives. We would like to celebrate all the different types of IB students we have at Sequoia with “We Are IB” student statements. If you would like to speak in the IB Ceremony video, please prepare a brief statement. Consider these items:
Who you are. What makes you unique?
How did IB recognize and/or celebrate your culture and/or parts of your identity?
What have you been involved in at school? In your community?
What do you bring to the IB classroom and/or IB program?
How you (and/or your peers) embody what IB is.
What makes you IB.
How do you care about and respect others?
How IB has shaped you.
How you encompass the Learner Profile (thinkers, risk-takers, knowledgeable, caring, reflective, principled, communicators, balanced, open-minded, inquirers).
What perspective and experience you brought to IB.
You do not need to address all these points or any of them. They are just suggested ideas. Be creative. What makes you IB and what unique person do you bring to IB.
Speech Requirements:
A paragraph up to a page. No longer than one page.
Starting sentence must be “I Am IB”
Closing sentence must be “We Are IB”
Create your video following the requirements listed below and upload by May 14th to THIS LINK.
Videos will be reviewed and selected by the IB Office
Instructions for Video:
Record a video with a statement of one paragraph up to one page.
Horizontal (that means hold camera parallel to the horizon)
Avoid selfie cam. Set up the phone to record you using the regular camera because it turns out better than a selfie camera.
Upload your video to this drive folder via THIS link by May 19th
Contact Ms Snow if you need tech help recording.
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Do I need to inform my college that I did NOT sit for the May 2021 exams and instead have a score through IB's "calculated route"?
No, you do not need to inform colleges. IB has put great efforts into ensuring colleges that the scores given to students actually sitting for May 2021 exams are fair compared to students on the calculated route. Colleges will just receive your scores on the official score report and will not be notified whether you took exams or your score was calculated with IAs and predicted grades. There is no requirement or expectation to inform them.
How do I send my final IB scores to my college?
IB will send one free score report to the institution you decide to attend. You need to complete the Google form called IB Official Score Report & IB Yearbook c/o 2021 that was sent to your school email. You can also access it HERE. This form is due May 5th. The college you report on this form is the one we will tell IB to send your final scores to.
What if I put down a college on this Google form but then I change my mind and want to attend a different institution (either decided on a different community college or got off a waitlist and accepted the offer at another 4 year institution)?
You must notify the IB Office by June 4th (the end of the school year) if you need us to make a change in IB's system. Please either email Ms McCahon at lmccahon@seq.org or Ms Galvan at mgalvan@seq.org. If you do not change the college with us by the end of the school year, you will need to order another score report on your own through the www.ibo.org website and pay them a fee.
When do scores get sent to colleges?
In July.
When can I get my scores?
They are released online to students on July 6th.
How will I be able to see my final IB score(s)?
IB will release your scores online. They do not get mailed to you. The IB Office will email you (to your school email) and mail home the specific codes you will need to log on and the website instructions. Please be on the look out for this document. You will be given log on codes unique to you and if you lose this paper, you will not be able to check your scores in July. You will then need to wait for the IB Office to reopen in August.
I thought I would receive an actual IB Diploma or IB Certificate. Is that true?
Yes, IB will send Sequoia High School the actual paper IB Certificates/Diplomas in August (usually mid to late August). This is a legal document with your official scores on it as well. We will contact you through your Sequoia email address at that time to inform you to come to the IB Office to pick them up so please continue to check your Sequoia email through August, 2021. If you are already out of the area at college, you can send a parent/ guardian or sibling.
Other: A Message from The Sequoia Sock Club:
The goal of our club is to sell socks to sponsor a child's education and food in Uganda. This year we are sponsoring a child named Christine, she is 10 years old, loves singing, has a pet cow, and wants to be a police officer when she is older. You can learn more about her at https://go.wehelptwo.com/campaign/?campaignid=10364.
We need your help reaching our goal by buying awesome and affordable socks at this link: https://go.wehelptwo.com/campaign/?campaignid=10364. They also make great gifts and are fun for everyday wear! We would really appreciate your help.
Interested in a Healthcare Management Career?
Interested in a Career in Medicine? Join VMC Medical Explorer Group
A group for high school students interested in medicine. Supervised by Dr. Enoch Choi, this Medical Post exposes students to numerous areas in the field of medicine such as pediatrics, psychology, and genetics. Group meets virtually once a month.
MedReach Mentorship Opportunity
May 29 10am - 12pm
MedReach is a volunteer outreach organization that aims to provide mentorship to high school juniors and seniors. Our goal is to educate high school students across California on various healthcare careers.
Seminar will include the following sessions
Section I: Healthcare Careers Presentation
Section II: Introduction to Medical Terminology
Section III: Patient Case Study
Section IV: College Advising
Students who are interested in attending one of our seminars may fill out our student interest form which will be provided below. A zoom link will be provided to students approximately 2-3 days prior to the seminar they sign up for and all students who attend our seminar will also receive access to a PowerPoint presentation that details various healthcare career options. Student Interest Form Link: (not a hyper link)
Interested in a Career in the Military?
Seniors interested in the Armed Forces please email Ms. Ignaitis for any information or questions you may have.
Other Virtual Events
Building A Warrior: Mind, Body & Spirit Series!
May 19, 23 and 24.
Join the Golden State Warriors in observing Mental Health Awareness Month with the Building a Warrior: Mind, Body & Spirit Series! Virtual events include Mindful Yoga, Art Therapy Sessions and more. Participate in one, or all four events, as we look to raise awareness and educate the public about the positive effects of maintaining strong mental health.
San Mateo County Youth Conference: Manifesting Good Days
May 17-21, with sessions each afternoon Monday-Friday
Manifesting Good Days: Building Resistant Communities will offer awesome sessions across a variety of topics - please distribute widely to youth and your networks who serve youth!
More information is below and attached and registration can be found at:
https://linktr.ee/youth_conference
Santa Clara University’s oldest and largest co-ed business fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi: Resume Writing Workshop
May 27 7-8pm
will be hosting high school students for a virtual Resume Workshop! We will go over what a general resume should look like, how to market oneself to jobs and colleges, and provide individualized resume feedback to students attending! The event will run for an hour on Thursday, May 27th from 7 pm - 8 pm.
We welcome all high school students that are interested in learning how to build or develop their resume! To register here.
Mindfulness - Teen Resource Center
All students are welcomed to join Ms. Judy from the Teen Resource Center (TRC) for 15 minutes of Mindfulness on Wednesdays! Practice breathing exercises and guided visualizations!
When: Every Wednesday
Time: 12pm until 12:15pm
Zoom Link: https://seq-org.zoom.us/j/92956681963
General Four Year College Bound Information
SENIOR GRADES, DROPPING COURSES WARNING
Every year, college rescind HUNDREDS of students admission offers because of changes in what either was stated on the application or major predicted grades changes of seniors who have been admitted CONDITIONALLY
Possible Reasons to Take Away Admissions:
Conditional Status – EVERY STUDENT NEEDS TO READ
Each college could have very specific conditions for an individual student; it is important to carefully read the fine print of each school’s message. Some scholarships or programs have GPA requirements or provisions for no Cs on your transcript
Ds or Fs, Dropping a Course and Any Major Change
If you think you might be getting a D or F, or have dropped a course, plan on not taking an exam listed on application (remember you are submitting IB exam scores), or you need to contact the schools IMMEDIATELY. Please call the admissions office and find out what their process for reporting changes
Remember
Colleges do not want to find out when they receive your final SHS documents in July about low grades, changes in your schedule, and/or what you put on your application is different than what you originally told them when you applied (small activity changes are fine).
Admission officials often remind counselors to tell students the following; if they (college admissions) find out before a student tells them, his/her offer of admissions will be most likely taken away.
Please let us know where you have been admitted
Update your Naviance account by editing your Colleges I’m Applying To” See short How To Video if you need help
Get Help with College Applications, Follow Up and/or Financial Aid Applications
We want to support each and every one of you through this process! Below are ways to get help:
Students make Individual Appointments via Calendly with college counselors by clicking on their corresponding counselor’s name below. (if you have a free period, email your counselor directly and state the time you have a free period).
Check out the How-To videos (At the bottom of the Newsletter)
Student Appointments:
- Ms. Ignaitis, All HCA and Study Skills Students and Last names A-L
- Ms. Rocha, All DAA and ELD Students and Last names M-Z.
UC INFORMATION
From the UC Counselor Bulletin: Required Writing Exam and UC Merced and Riverside Extended SIR
Check Your Email from UC - You may be required to take a writing exam!
The online Analytical Writing Placement Exam (AWPE) will be held on Saturday May 22 for students who have not satisfied the Entry Level Writing Requirement and have submitted their Statement of Intent to Register to UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Merced, UC Riverside, or UC San Diego.
An exam notification email was sent to students selected to take the exam, and they will receive a second email with exam login instructions on May 19. The Entry Level Writing Requirement website provides additional information about the AWPE and other methods of meeting the requirement.
UC Merced and Riverside Extended SIR Until May 17th
UC Merced, one of the nation's top 40 public universities and #5 for social mobility for students, is also extending their SIR deadline for freshmen! Now students have until May 17 to commit to UC Merced.
For more on the SIR process, see UC Merced's page on next steps for admitted students.
Community College Information
IMPORTANT NOTE: Concurrent enrollment students MUST apply to Community College as a first time never attended college applicant.
For information on applying and other important information be sure to check out our Community College Tip Sheet!
Seniors: Will you be going to Foothill Community College next year?
PRE-STEM (Program for Readiness and Exploration in STEM) is a program for new incoming Foothill students which includes
the TechCore Summer Institute – a FREE readiness program in the month of August to get students ready for math and college as well as to work on projects using technology as a tool for social impact
a learning community with others pursuing STEM degrees at Foothill
counseling, mentoring, and support during their time at Foothill
There is a 6 minute informational video on the website for you to learn more. There will also be a few upcoming information sessions that students can attend as well as a video that they can watch to better understand the program.
PEP/Steps to Enrolling at Community College
PEP (Priority Enrollment Program) allows current seniors to complete all the steps to attend college in the fall WHILE in high school: Check your emails/portals for more information for upcoming PEP events.
Update on Community College Next Steps:
If you missed your college’s Priority Engagement Program (PEP) please be sure to complete your next steps as soon as possible (online orientation, counseling appointments and course registration).
Check your school’s admissions office web page for assistance or email Ms. Ignatis (tignaitis@seq.org) or Ms. Rocha (nrocha@seq.org).
College of San Mateo PEP Online
Priority Enrollment Program (PEP) is OPEN. A wonderful group of Counselors and Staff are here to help students with the steps to enrollment and registering for classes for summer/fall 2021. Students sign up for (PEP) Priority Enrollment Program to complete the matriculation steps and receive Priority Registration. Once students sign up for PEP, you will get an email with a link to register for a Group Counseling Session and their English and Math course placement.
You will receive an email providing you with your priority registration date (April 2021). Log onto WebSmart to register for courses online. School fees are also payable on your WebSMART.
Lastly, this is the Promise Scholars Program promotion video, which includes more information regarding the program:
Cañada College has scheduled ONE more PEP Event Wednesday, June 23, 2021 at 3:00 pm!
Our PEP event is for high school seniors that will be attending Cañada College for the first time in the Fall 2021 semester. This event is virtual and will satisfy both orientation and counseling requirements for incoming students. These two requirements need to be completed before a student can register for classes.
The deadline to register is Monday, June 21 at 4:30pm by clicking and completing this form.
If you applied to Canada Community College, here are resources to help you with next steps:
Instructions to log in to your student portal: https://smccd.edu/student-tutorials/mysmccd-login-portal/login-mysmccd.php
YouTube Tutorial Video on How to Register for classes: https://youtu.be/4USXWMjt8ac
Specific Instructions on How to Register for classes in PDF format are available, email Ms. Rocha (nrocha@seq.org) to get a copy
PEP Handbook: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AME72o6rkT8n3npauaWnPKSStlNRc2rd/view?usp=sharing
If you need live assistance, you can always drop in to their zoom link here:
https://canadacollege.edu/outreach/onlinehours.php
Did you know that there are two types of federal student loans included in financial aid packages?
Federal loans fall into two categories: subsidized and unsubsidized.
- Subsidized student loans are reserved for students that have financial aid, and the federal government pays the interest while you’re in school.
- Unsubsidized student loans are available to all students, regardless of financial need. However, students are responsible for paying all interest on the loans.
To be eligible for both of these loan options, students and their families must submit a FAFSA their senior year. Check out this article from Fastweb to learn more about what you should know.
Missing Financial Aid Award Information for Four Year Colleges
FAFSA
TWO AND FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE BOUND SENIORS, COMPLETE THIS FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID ONLINE TODAY REGARDLESS OF YOUR FAMILY INCOME.
CA DREAM ACT
CSS PROFILE
Scholarship List for May Available Now
If you find a scholarship you're interested in, get more information on your Naviance account under Paying for College then Scholarship List!
For help accessing all scholarships available to you in Naviance, watch our ‘How to Access Scholarships in Naviance.’
Featured Scholarships
Due May 31
The PB&J Scholarship is for students who have experienced personal challenges that may not have allowed them to perform well academically, but who still have the drive to succeed. Examples of personal challenges include, but are not limited to:
medical issues
peer issues: bullying, change of school, minority status, etc.
family issues: divorce, death, lack of income, homelessness, foster care, abuse, etc.
When in doubt, students are encouraged to apply; this scholarship is meant to be inclusive.
June 15
The California New Car Dealers Association and its Scholarship Foundation are thrilled to announce the launch of our new Car Careers Scholarship Application – 2.0. Together we have powered a vision to fill the fierce demand for the auto technician and management roles critical to the industry. We are honored to have awarded scholarships to over 1,300 students, totaling over one million dollars.
Applicants to the CNCDA Foundation’s Car Career Scholarship must:
Be a resident in California.
Be high school seniors or graduates, or current college undergraduates who plan to enroll in part-time (minimum of 6 credits) or full-time undergraduate study at an accredited two-year college or vocational-technical school for the upcoming academic year. If a student is selected as a recipient and will not be enrolled for the entire academic year, the award amount will be prorated.
Be pursuing an Automotive Technology degree.
Have a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent).
Directions to Request an Official Transcript for a Scholarship or Program
- Log in to your Sequoia Naviance account
- Click the Colleges Tab (Right top corner)
- Scroll down
- Click on Manage Transcripts (Left hand side)
- Click on the Red Plus Icon and choose Other Transcript
- What Type Requesting? (Unless after graduation, click either Initial or Mid-Year)
- What For? (Scholarship or Other)
- Note: We do not send unofficial ACT/SAT
- Click to watch a short How To Request a Transcript for a Scholarship or Program
Summer Volunteer Opportunity
Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula
BGCP is seeking high school students who might be interested in supporting their in-person summer programs by interning. For more information contact Remi Sobomehin at remi@bgcp.org.
Interested in Asian Art and Cultural Traditions?
Deadline May 17
Asian Art Museum’s Art Speak internship provides career training and monthly stipends to public high school students in grades 10–12. Interns discover Asian art and cultural traditions, and learn from local artists and arts organizations, conduct informational interviews with museum staff to explore careers in the arts, and develop their leadership skills by creating and facilitating virtual art activities. This is a paid ten-month experience that runs from August to May. Interns will meet virtually.
California Through My Eyes Photo Contest
Submission Due: May 31st
How do you envision California? What represents California to you? Poverty? Wealth? Technology? Farms? Water? Mountains? Towns? People? Cities? Cars? Hiking Trails? Family? Community? Landscapes?
These are just some of the images that students are invited to photograph for LegiSchool’s annual photo contest. The photo can be of a person, place or anything―big or small. Open to all current high school students in California. For complete details: LegiSchool Photo ContestInterested in a Trade Apprenticeship?
All about Trade Apprenticeships
More than 80,000 women and men working in one of more than 800 occupations in California construction trades began as apprentices. To enter the building trades, you must start as an apprentice.
An apprenticeship is an excellent career choice if you
like to work with your hands
are willing to serve an apprenticeship for up to five years, depending on the trade
have dexterity, mechanical ability, problem-solving skills and the ability to work collaboratively with a team
want to earn a living wage and good benefits
want the opportunity to advance in your career
If you are interested in pursuing a trade apprenticeship, the following are great resources to begin your search and/or learn more about opportunities within California:
California Apprenticeship Coordinators Association website
Division of Apprenticeship Standards
Or if you are planning to do community college first, the following colleges have Career Technical Education and Certificates or trade apprenticeship partnership programs that offer instruction in several trades:
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Summer Job: City of RWC’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department
The City of Redwood City’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department is looking for Camp Leaders, Assistant Camp Directors, Camp Directors who are interested in working 25-40 hours per week during the summer, planning, organizing and conducting basic recreation activities in a variety of settings
Summer Job Opportunity at Wizbot
Wizbot, a robotics and JAVA coding after school and summer camp program is looking for students to work for their summer programs. Click on the link below to read the complete job description, Each flyer has a link to the Wizbot website.
- Flyer for Wizbot Summer Assistant Job Must be 16 years old
- Flyer for Wizbot Lead Instructor Inventor Mentor Job - Must be 18 years old
How To Videos for students available on our website!
All Newsletters Available Online!
Click here to view this week 's College & Career Newsletter/ Haga clic aquí para ver el boletín de la oficina de Colegios y Carreras de esta semana. (seniors) Senior Newsletter Contents Upcoming Events and Deadlines Four Important Announcements: Required Senior Exit Survey, Recognition in Graduation Program, Thank You Opportunity, IB Information and a Message from our Sequoia Sock Club Virtual Events: Mindfulness TRC Financial Aid - Selective Service Information, Missing financial aid offers? Career Information - Interested in a career in the Military?, Facebook helps Students and Parents Explore Computer Science Careers General 4 Year - Senior Grades - think before you drop, conditional admittance, Let us know where you were admitted and where you are going! Private/Common Application - N/A UC - Report any changes, Waitlists and Kolozsi Scholarship CSU - N/A Community College - Foothill bound seniors opportunity and Ongoing PEP events at community colleges Student Opportunities - Asian Art and Culture Internship BGCP Summer Interns, Boys and Girls Club Volunteer Opportunity, Trade Apprenticeships Scholarships/Contests - Woodside Terrace, Kaiser Health, Car Careers Scholarship, How to Request a Transcript for Scholarships