Principal's Message
January 7, 2019
Good Morning CMS Families,
I would like to begin this newsletter in this new calendar year by wishing each and every one of you a happy new year. Building memories is an integral part of the holiday season so I hope you found some time to relax and have some fun with your family during winter break.
After spending some quality time with your children this break, you may have noticed that they still have a lot of growing up to do. Adolescence is such a special age because our kids are growing into the people they are going to be. They begin to develop strong personalities with their own individual interests, hobbies, strengths and weaknesses. They also still have a great deal of life lessons to endure.
I mention this because I would like to write about our goals in teaching our Social, Emotional Learning Curriculum (SEL). Many of you are aware that we teach Second Step to help develop social skills, and to demonstrate important life lessons. If you ask one of our students what Second Step is about, they are likely to say, “It teaches empathy.” While this is true, it is only part of our goal. According to Second Step’s website, “The new Second Step Middle School Program is SEL that brings together today’s technology, the latest in developmental research, and feedback from actual classrooms. The result: a program that helps build a culture of connectedness and empowers middle schoolers with the skills and concepts to succeed socially, in academics, and in life.” I have included a link to Second Step’s website if you are interested in diving into the program a bit more.
We believe very strongly in building a school community that is safe and welcoming for all of our students. When students feel connected to their school, they perform much better in their academic classes, but they also develop into becoming more healthy teenagers and adults. Having a SEL curriculum allows us to have difficult conversations with students that help them grow both emotionally and intellectually.
Having said that, I would like to stress the “difficult” part of our SEL curriculum. I am sure you can imagine that teaching SEL to middle schoolers is not easy. Many of our students dislike Second Step precisely because it is challenging. Some of the topics that are introduced can be uncomfortable, or can hit a little too close to home. But it is important to understand that social skills can be learned. It was once thought that our social skills are innate and fixed. Childhood Development experts now believe that our emotional intelligence continues to develop throughout our entire lives.
SEL does not just teach empathy. A large focus on Childhood Development research lately has been on what children need to thrive in today’s world. It is not surprising that emotional intelligence continues to be the most important factor that people need to be successful. To break it down even further, students need: grit, optimism, self-awareness, (and yes) empathy, to make it as a productive human being.
Next week, I would like to write about what children need to build grit, and what we can do as supportive adults to help our children develop the fortitude and perseverance to grow into adults with both the endurance to work through difficult situations and the tenacity to build strong relationships.
Tom Domer
Principal
_________________________________________
T.I.D.E. is a small high school part of the Sequoia Union School District opening in the fall of 2019. If you are interested in learning more about what T.I.D.E. is all about there are several presentations you can attend. Please click this link T.I.D.E. Academy Presentation
___________________________________________
Mustang Roundup
Science Fair Registration and Workshop
Interested in participating in this year’s Science Fair. It’s not too late. Registration is still open at https://goo.gl/forms/sBvkJKPA42JUdpuh1. The 23rd Annual Science fair will be held January 26th. More information can be found here
The final workshop to receive feedback and suggestions on projects will be held at the CMS/Arroyo Library at 7:00pm on January 16th. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].
ROPES Presentations are Coming and Judges Are Needed
We are looking for parents and community member that would like to serve as a judge for the ROPES (Rite of Passage Experiences). ROPES are challenging projects that 4th, 6th and 8th grade students have completed which allow them to learn about their world and themselves in deeper but fun way.
There are 3 opportunities to judge:
- Monday, February 4th, 6:00PM – 8:30PM (arrive at 5:30PM)
- Tuesday, February 5th, 6:00PM – 8:30PM (arrive at 5:30PM)
- Wednesday, February 6th, 6:00PM – 8:30PM (arrive at 5:30PM)
We would not be able to maintain this valuable program without the support of our community. We are asking for you to join district staff and other community members by volunteering to serve as a judge on one of our judges panels. Typically we have two to three judges per room and they judge four to six student presentations in an evening.
I hope that you will be able to join us in this worthwhile event. If you are able to judge on any of those times, please contact Christina Carrier either via email at [email protected] or by phone at 650-590-5935.
SCSD Athletics
Please use the DISTRICT LINK https://www.scsdsports.org for information on SCSD Athletics. Call 415-334-3333 or email [email protected] with any questions.
SCEF
Gala Tickets Available January 8 at 10am!
Don’t miss out! Join us for dinner, dancing and a fabulous night out in support of our kids on March 9, 2019 at the Sharon Heights Country Club.
Go to www.scefkids.org/events on January 8th at 10am to buy your tickets!
Double the Donation
Thank you to donors who submit donations to SCEF for employer matching. The Foundation had a family make a Leadership Circle donation that was double matched by both of their employers. $5,000 turned into a $25,000 gift to our schools. Use our double the donation tool to see how you can maximize the impact of your gift at:
www.scefkids.org/donate
Community Partners
STEAM Fest on the Square 2019
Save the Date: Saturday, April 27, 2019, from 11-3 at Redwood City Downtown Courthouse Square
All Bay Area students, families, and friends are invited to the Redwood City Library Foundation’s 4th annual free STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) Festival. Attendees will experience a day of hands-on STEAM activities, including projects in construction, robotics, art, coding, forensics, and much more, with a closeup look at the latest energy-efficient automobiles.
High School Happenings
Sequoia High School
International Baccalaureate (IB) Informational Meeting
January 15, 2018 - 6:00 PM - Carrington Hall (Spanish Presentation @ College Career Center)
Presentation from IB Program Coordinator about IB: an honors program that challenges students to reach their fullest academic potential, while developing both as students and global citizens
See sample course loads for 9th-12th grades
Campus Tours
November 10, 2018 and January 26, 2019, Front of School
Approximately 30 minute tours led by current Sequoia Leadership students
Tours will depart between 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM. No advanced sign-ups necessary
Highlights points of interest on campus and provides answers to frequently asked questions
Performing Arts
Fall Musical The Drowsy Chaperone: November 10, 11, 16 and 17 @ Carrington Hall
Spring Play The Children's Hour: March 8, 9, & 10, 2019 @ Carrington Hall
Fall Concert: October 23 @ Carrington Hall (7:00 pm)
Open House
Thursday, March 28, 2019 -7:00-8:30 PM
Open to Current and Prospective Students
Sequoia Day/Sequoia Stampede
Saturday, April 13, 2019 (9:00 AM)
Freshman Welcome Night
Wednesday, April 25 @ MPR 6:30-8:30 PM
Also, for more information about Sequoia and all of our programs, please visit our website at http://www.sequoiahs.org/index.html
Carlmont High School
Attached please find the October Carlmont Corner & a detailed flyer about Shadowing at Carlmont. Shadow registration will be available through our website beginning on October 8th.
http://www.carlmonths.org/Parents/8th-Grade-Transition/index.html
INFORMATION
• Carlmont High School website: http://carlmonths.org/
• Sequoia Union High School District website: http://www.seq.org/
MIDDLE SCHOOL LIAISONS
• Central, Charter, & Tierra Linda: Chris Cook [email protected]
• Nesbit, Ralston & Non-Feeder: Carol Castro [email protected]
• For non-feeder school ONLY: email [email protected] to join mailing list
Summit/Everest High School
For more information go to summitps.org
Design Tech High School