Sequoia High School
Monday Focus
October 28, 2019
Sequoia High School and Arts Visalia
Arts Visalia presents Person, Place, Thing and In Between
VISALIA — In November 2019, Arts Visalia presents the Sequoia High School exhibition Person, Place, Thing and In Between. This is the third year the works of Sequoia High School students will be displayed in Arts Visalia’s gallery. Instructed by Sarah Coker, multiple art classes will be represented, approximately exhibiting a base of 140 students...
Peek at the Week
Tuesday: SSIP Meeting, YES Program; Jovben Noble; SILT; Reyes at Negotiation Meeting;
Wednesday: Site Visit by Mr. Waters; Tier 3 meeting.
Thursday: Finals
Friday: Finals; New Student Orientation.
I want to thank everyone for your patience and extra support as I juggled back and forth between Sequoia and Creekside.
Amazing Job
WASC Interim 3 year Visit October 20-22, 2019.
Sequoia High School
October 24, 2019
The following are the major commendations and recommendations, based on the report and the WASC two-day visit.
Commendations
- Family culture is evident across the campus. During the visit, many of the students and faculty stated this is a special place to work. The staff at Sequoia High School should be commended on creating the safe culture for students and staff to learn.
- Support services are being utilized extensively across the campus
- A school psychologist is available to assist in working with high-functioning students and opportunities to provide special education/support services to students in need.
- BSI Gang Intervention-Awareness and counseling are two areas, as paramount issues working with gang affiliated students. The students have the support they need to make wise educational and life decisions, as well as develop strategies to move away from distractions that impede their education.
- Social Worker-The social worker is available to triage many issues on campus and provide support where needed. The social worker role has already shown in the marked behavior data and the school’s response to intervention. The students feel they have a caring individual to reach out to in a crisis situation.
- Counselor-The counselor takes on many tasks and is the hub of Sequoia High School. The counselor provides support, i.e. senior portfolios, scheduling, and triage issues that arise from student behavior.
- Support Programs
- XL, Expanding Learning, after school program that provides services to students after school. Whether it be academic or behavioral support the XL program is an added advantage. Many Sequoia students are in need of support after school and need that key role model that will assist them in their life.
- Child Care- Is an advantage to the Sequoia program. Many students come to Sequoia as parents and need the support and assistance and not allow a child to be an excuse. Sequoia provides the support and assistance for teenage parents to still reach their goals.
- Homeroom- Homeroom is a great concept in theory. The students have thirty minutes a week to build relationships with the teachers while they are on campus. They cover graduation checks, grade checks, senior portfolios, lessons, and an opportunity to complete late or missing work.
- Rigorous Instruction
- Math Improvements in overall scores (dashboard)
- Graduation rate has improved tremendously (dashboard)
- During classroom observations it was evident by the visiting team the students were engaged, on task, and involved in the lessons. Whether they were working on math problems on the board, or discussing senior letters the students were on task and following instructions. The small class feel made it easier to develop that climate.
- Technology was evident during the visit. From using chrome books and using I-Inspire calculator’s technology was being embedded into the lessons. Furthermore, Pear Deck was being used in science class to show illustrations and share resources and student work, as the students work in pairs.
- Students are active participants in their learning
- Sequoia was clear in moving away from packets and pushing for core integrated curriculum and that is what they are moving towards, which was evident in the visit.
- PowerSchool: Data analysis is strong in the behavior, attendance and process data
- The team has a great understanding of what is happening on campus and are able to triage the student situations effectively. The leadership team is able to disaggregate data to fulfill questions they may have about student discipline and behaviors schoolwide. This action is a real plus.
- New Facility
- The design of the new facility is finally coming to fruition and is exciting for students, staff, and teachers. The visiting team recommends a strategic plan to be in place to ensure the results they are trying to receive are tangible and the transition is as smooth as possible.
Recommendations
- Summary of Data Implications Academically-Sequoia currently has final exams in every course and uses the STAR Renaissance system for reading. The school also uses Edgenuity and Illuminate. The tools and systems are present on site and are instituted in classes.
- A recommendation would be for intentional, schoolwide data analysis, across all content areas. The key would be to use triangulation and multiple measures of data to assess the whole student. Developing rubrics across subject areas or within subject areas could be a great source of local data. Furthermore, local data and final summative exams could be a great source of analysis.
- The ultimate goal would be to drill down and disaggregate the data to show multiple pieces of information for subjects and ask critical questions.
-How are my students doing on the multiple measures?
-What measures are inconsistent?
-What big ideas do I draw from this data and does it show what I see in class?
-How can I change my curriculum and/or instructional practices to drive student achievement, based on the multiple data measures? The state level tests should not be the only method being used. Local assessment will always point to a clearer picture, along with teacher observations, rubrics, portfolios, etc.
- Senior Portfolio could be a great data source
- STAR Reading/Math digging deeper into the data and scores. Furthermore, not looking at just reading scores, or grade equivalents but rather the learning strands and skills taught on the test that is weaker. Do they point to what is happening in class? Scores are indicators, but skills drive instruction.
- A sample schoolwide action plan goal could be, “Literacy across the grade level and what instructional strategies and curriculum you will use to drive this increase?
- PBIS Continue to Develop
- Minors versus major, with Sequoia culture reflected not the district. Involve all stakeholders in the process.
- Continue to use the schoolwide matrix for positive behaviors throughout areas on campus, and off campus activities. Access all stakeholder input, especially student groups.
- Lessons in the classroom on positive behaviors you want to students to exhibit (Strong Lessons for example and the three R’s)
- Action Plan
- Three to five action plan items are a suggestion from WASC, but there is no magic number
- Possible to collapse two action goals the PBIS Tier 1 through 3, work smart not hard on this one. Just add tasks to encompass both overarching goals.
- Add resources needed to the action plan, so you know what monies, staff development, technology, etc., you may need to execute the action plan.
- Number the tasks for reference and it makes it easier to scaffold them.
- Goal: The action plan is detailed, so that you could hand it to someone and they could execute the plan.
- Intentional in monitoring the action plan PLC time, etc.
4. Senior Portfolios-Refine this process so all staff and students know the expectations and who is in charge. Expectations are clear and the end result will be measured more effectively. Results will probably increase. All staff members like the system.
5. CTE: Examine dual enrollment and articulated courses through the college level to add electives and will assist in the dashboard criteria, “college and career ready.”
- WASC Visits and Training
- Might be helpful for faculty and staff members attend WASC trainings and visit like demographic schools, i.e. continuation programs.
- Gives the understanding of what is expected when visitors come to your school
- Learning process overall
- Training is valuable, especially the data analysis criteria
- Review other programs and practices that could be helpful in your development
- Appreciation of your own campus, as you return from the visit
Mr. Edward Shevlin
Dr. Jeffrey VanderNoor
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Sequoia High School Academic Updates
From the desk of SHS Assistant Principal: Yolanda Monsivaiz
From the desk of SHS Academic Counselor: Salud Cobarruvias
Monday Focus: End of Session 2 November 1, 2019
October 14, 2019
· De La Cruz’s & Chap’s classes: Monday Review transcripts with students
· Singh’s & Morton’s classes: Tuesday Review transcripts with students
· Oliver’s class: Wednesday Review transcript with students
· Burgess class: Thursday Review transcripts with Students
Tuesday: FAFSA Workshop for Foster Youth
Wednesday: COS will be here to meeting with the Foster Youth
Thursday: Supportive Girls Group (Participate List will be established)
Friday: 5th Year Senior Meeting Homeroom
· Preparing for Letters to be sent out to the Parents of All Senior
o Process: Reviewing all Transcripts
o Identifying whether or not their students is on track for graduation
o And/Or provide academic insight based off of their student’s academic needs (Suggest, Edgenuity/ Community Services/ Tutorial Services/ Saturday School)
o Will Encourage parents to follow up with me
Students Graduating Session 2:
Christian Aguilera: On Edgenuity, Senior Portfolio Needed
Destiny Argueta: Senior Portfolio Needed
Maria Tapia: On Edgenuity, Senior Portfolio Needed
Jade Butler: On Edgenuity, Senior Portfolio Needed
Michael Cotharn: Senior Portfolio Needed
Dario Muniz: Senior Portfolio Needed
Nicholas Pruneda: Senior Portfolio Needed
Javier Reyna: On Edgenuity, Senior Portfolio Needed
Pearl Smith: Senior Portfolio Needed
Ryan Williams: Senior POrtfolio
From School Site Council President: Zack Morton
School Site Council (SSC) meets once a month on the second Thursday of each month.
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Sequoia High School Social and Emotional Updates
From the desk of SHS Social Worker: Theb Manivanh
We have been busy working to help our students move forward. Our interns have done a great job in meeting Sequoia High Students to help alleviate concerns and issues. Our interns are also playing a big role in helping Sequoia High school tap into community resources. We are looking to connect with community partners to secure monetary and in-kind support for our up coming Thanksgiving luncheon for our students. This will help us jump-start our shared vision of developing “Friends of Sequoia” program that will help us obtain resources to assist our students in a variety of ways.
Please be on the look-out. We are implementing a new group that will help our students improve their self-esteem. We would like to start the group this coming week, starting out with a boys group, and hopefully, a girls group by next session.
From the desk of SHS Psychologist: Kelley Wasnick
From the desk of SHS Gang Interventionist/BIT: Kellen Kennedy
This week SSIP program has a successful meeting really digging deeper into what student's concerns are and life struggles. We have increased our parent contact and working on a partnership with Foodlink and Goshen elementary.
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Sequoia STRONG Updates
From the desk of the STRONG Team: Megan Tarango
"Hi, all! The STRONG team met last week and one of the topics we discussed was cell phones. We have been looking at the data regarding electronic device violations, and the conversation led us to a place where we are going to be connecting with Mission Oak High School in Tulare. This school implemented the Yondr pouches this year, and we want to pick their brains and learn about how they rolled out the system, how students are responding, and how the staff feels about the pouches. Notes will be taken and shared via the Teacher Share about this visit.
Secondly, please do not forget to submit positive referrals for session 2! I have sent a reminder email along with the link to the form we are using for the 2019-2020 school year. Students are very appreciative of these awards, and it motivates them when they are recognized for upholding the three R's."
From the desk of XL After School Director: Adriana Cabrera
SHS High School New Building Project
Sequoia High School
Yolanda Monsiviaz, Assistant Principal
Salud Cobarruvias, Counselor
Emily Ramirez, Lead Administrative Assistant
Kelly Wasnick, School Psychologist
Theb Manivanh, Social Worker
Adriana Cabrera, XL Director
Kellen Kennedy, Gang/Behavior Interventionist
Email: areyes@vusd.org
Website: http://www.vusd.org/Sequoia.cfm
Location: 901 N Mooney Blvd, Visalia, CA, United States
Phone: 559-730-7649