The Sequoia Spotlight
January 7, 2019
Principal's Message
Dear Sequoia Families,
Happy Near Year! I hope that your winter break was filled with fun memories and a lot of rest too! As we gear up for the second part of the school year there are many things to be grateful for as well as to look forward to!
As a School Site Council we approved our new goals for the current school year at our meeting before winter break. We will be reviewing these periodically throughout the year to track our progress.
We had a great turnout at our Future Sequoia Parent Information Night. We tried a new format this year with a shorter opening presentation, followed by four smaller breakout sessions. Thank you to the many staff and students who helped make this event successful!
Our 6th grade math and 7th/8th Grade math Impact Teams met right before the break to determine next steps in terms of creating greater collective efficacy and co-constructing student rubrics together. Both teams have a plan of action moving forward and we are eager to implement some new practices in the new year as well as participate in follow up training in January and February.
Finally, PTA is sponsoring a spring musical, Seussical Junior. More information is available at the following link.
Your principal,
Mrs. Chambers
Changes to Schedule - IMPORTANT
Also, the schedule for the last day of school, Friday, June 7 has been changed. 6th/7th graders will attend school from 8:20 - 9:20 AM. 8th Grade Promotion will be moved up to 10:45 AM. This will help with the heat that is regularly a concern during 8th grade promotion and will also allow more time between Sequoia's Promotion and high school graduation at NPHS.
CREW
Throughout the month of December, we focused on responsibility and gratitude during CREW. Students created pages that will be made in to a book to gift our feeder elementary schools about the importance of being responsible. In addition, Sequoia's students participated in a live stream by KA_19 that focused on having an attitude of gratitude. We played Holiday Bingo and did a STEAM based paper airplane contest too. Students also discussed qualities that make them unique and cut paper snowflakes too. Our students also created cards and letters for first responders. We continue to have Mindful Moments on Mondays and Fridays during CREW which are led by our counselors, Ms. Meador and Mrs. Martens. There is typically a character trait focus to our mindful moments. Finally, we continue to use iReady as an English and math support and intervention program.
Student Connections
December was a short month but was packed full of events. We held a parent ELAC meeting for our English Language Learner families where students discussed holiday traditions, our Sunrise Singers performed and we enjoyed eating breakfast together. We also held our first meeting regarding Battle of the Books. This is a new program at Sequoia where teams of students read a list of 10 books and then compete in a game show type trivia competition in the spring. Our big event this month was Sequoia's annual 5K run! We had over 90% of students and staff participating this year! The new addition of an inflatable arch was definitely a hit for the finish line! I held a principal lunch for 7th grade students in December and was able to connect with 15 students. Our band, chorus and strings performers amazed us all in their winter concerts. I was fortunate to have a crash reminder course in how to play the flute and was able to join in on a few of beginning bands songs! Many talented Sequoia students participated in our PTA sponsored Talent Show. We have amazing musicians, singers, dancers, magicians, athletes and so much more! Our staff even managed to put together an act with their dancing "talent"! Our trimester 3 Renaissance honorees from the spring of 2018 were provided a barbecue lunch in December too. These students were recognized based on grades, work habits and citizenship. The Thousand Oaks Teen Center Outreach Workers provided some of our 6th grade students with a Bullying Education Seminar during December too. Also this month, we celebrated Inclusive Schools week with daily announcements, a fingerprint pledge activity, a paper link activity and some great pictures! Our very own KA_19 podcast interviewed Mr. Brian Mercer, Director of High Schools, and Mr. Kenny Loo, Director of Middle Schools, on restorative justice. Our ACES, GATE after school activity, involved origami and paper cutting this month. The Builders Club sponsored a Candy Cane Gram to raise money for different charitable organizations and we ended the month with the very popular COTY pajama dress day.
Student Learning
Here's what happened in Sequoia's classrooms this month!
In math, students plotted the best line of fit to determine the appropriate length for their Bungee cords. Mrs. DiDomizio and Mrs. Chambers carefully went on the roof to drop the action figures and dolls to determine whether or not their calculations were accurate. We are happy to report that no toys were injured in this process meaning that the students' calculations were on point!
Our 7th grade students attended a field trip to the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Center to watch a performance of A Christmas Carol. This was a culmination of the unit after they finished reading the play in class. 8th graders finished their unit on The Outsiders and 6th graders finished up Tuck Everlasting. There was a lot of discussion on theme in all levels as students reflected on the message of the novels they have been reading. In several English classes students learned about connotations and denotations and participated in a hands on activity determining where different words fell. Our English Language Learners went on a nature hike around campus to learn new vocabulary too.
In history, students used the GRAPES (Geography, Religion, Achievements, Politics, Economics and Social Structures) to learn more about Medieval Europe and Africa. 8th graders also learned more about our first president and the Bill of Rights.
The second trimester of Careers/Elective classes began. In computer class students used a word processing system to interview their peers. In Mini-societies, students learned about economics and examined where the apparel that they were wearing is made.
Physical Education was spent on preparing for the 5K run, learning basketball techniques and ultimate Frisbee as well!
In science, students explored Newton's Laws of Motions with hands on experiments. The Cornish Game Hens continued in their state of mummification as our scientists determined which solutions were best used in the mummifying process. In 6th Grade, Discover students also created a geologic timeline using chalk in our quad.
Upcoming Events
- First Day Back after Winter Break: Monday, January 7
- Battle of the Books Lunchtime Meeting: Tuesday, January 8 @ C-7 (11:30 AM)
- Minimum Day/Early Dismissal: Tuesday, January 8 (1:30 PM)
- Step it Up Fundraiser Party: Tuesday, January 8 @ Field (1:45 PM)
- Musical Tryouts: Wednesday, January 9 @ Auditorium (3:00 PM)
- Musical Tryouts: Thursday, January 10 @ Auditorium (3:00 PM)
- PTA Executive Meeting: Thursday, January 10 @ Staff Lounge (6:00 PM)
- Rules Review Assembly: Friday, January 11 @ Auditorium (AM)
- Spelling Bee: Monday, January 14 @ Auditorium
- Geography Bee: Tuesday, January 15 @ Auditorium
- School Site Council: Wednesday, January 16 @ Library (7:30 AM)
- Secondary Teacher Prep Day - No School for Secondary School Students: Fri., Jan.18
- No School - Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Monday, January 21
- Minimum Day/Early Dismissal: Tuesday, January 22 (1:30 PM)
- Musical Rehearsal: Tuesday, January 22 (TBA)
- Incoming Student Tour: Wednesday, January 23 (9:00 AM)
- Musical Rehearsal: Thursday, January 24 (3:00 PM)
- COTY Crazy Sock Day: Friday, January 25
- ASB Winter Event: Friday, January 25 (TBA)
- Trimester 2 Progress Reports Sent Home: Friday, January 25
- 6th Grade Principal Lunch: Tuesday, January 29 (Lunch)
- Musical Rehearsal: Tuesday, January 29 (3:00 PM)
- Trimester 1 Renaissance Reward: Wednesday, January 30 (Lunch and CREW)
- Musical Rehearsal: Thursday, January 31 (3:00 PM)