School Programs

Academic instruction provides the core of your child's experience at Sequoia, but many other programs enrich his or her experience here.

Art

Debbie Koppman, our Artist-in-Residence since 1997 supports literacy and social studies through hands-on visual art projects.  Students gain skills in drawing, painting, bookmaking, and sculpture, with an emphasis on puppet and mask-making.  Our end-of-the-year Mask Parade and poster contests connect our student artists with the Dimond Business District, and student art displayed in public places (in conjunction with Alameda County's Art is Education program) makes them ambassadors for art in education. (Parents concerned with art in schools can become an Arts Active Parent.)

Thanks to grants raised by our staff and parents, art thrives at Sequoia. Debbie teaches all 1-5 students, and MOCHA artist Amanda Lockwood works with kindergartners weekly.

Note cards featuring children's art are for sale in the office and at events. All proceeds support the art program at Sequoia. Students receive Art instruction weekly.

Band

See Music

Child Development Center (CDC)

The CDC provides before- and after-school care for students K -3.  This model program with certificated teachers presents a rich and challenging curriculum in a caring environment.  Each year CDC students showcase their talents and efforts. Call teacher Cathy Estell at 879-0406 for more information.

Choir

See Music

Computer Lab

3rd-5th graders receive instruction in our state-of-the-art Computer Learning Lab.  All students in school have their own personal page to post art and writing.  Teacher Evan Nichols leads the Web site club on Tuesdays and Fridays during lunch, which produces the Sequoia Sentinel, our online student 'zine, and provides teachers support for their classroom pages.  Parents with any skill level may come and volunteer!

Gardening

Sequoia students study ecology and biology in our school garden (on the corner of Hearst and Lincoln) by growing plants and composting, developing a connection to nature and a greater awareness of food and nutrition. Garden instruction is integrated with math, reading, and writing. Veggies sprout, flowers bloom, and children work up an appetite for the cafeteria’s new salad bar! We have wheelchair-accessible garden beds, a special kindergarten garden, a greenhouse for baby plants, and a native plant habitat.

If you have resources, ideas, or suggestions for Sequoia's garden, or would like to volunteer, please contact Sue Morgan at 879-1510.

Healthy Start

Sequoia Healthy Start is a collaborative program of staff, community members, parents, teachers, and administrators who provide educational and family support services at Sequoia. A model program in OUSD, their mission is to increase the academic achievement and social functioning of Sequoia students.  Healthy Start is separate from the school, but works closely with the full support of Sequoia teachers and administrative staff. Healthy Start works through three major areas of activity:

• After-School Program—Academic support and enrichment curriculum for students in grades 1–5.
• Mental Health Services—Social and emotional support for children and families provided by an on-site social worker.
• Family Engagement—Family Potluck, Events, and Workshops.

Inclusion Program

The Sequoia Elementary Inclusion Program is a special education program offered through the OUSD that places students with disabilities (such as Cerebral Palsy, Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome, Down Syndrome and Traumatic Brain Injury) in classrooms with their same-age, typically-developing peers.  This program provides these students with opportunities for both academic and social learning, and teaches all other students to be accepting of and value others regardless of their abilities and differences.

Library

Our school library provides a place where students meet with aides and/or visit with their classes to check out books. Library clerk Ruth Harteneck emphasizes how all knowledge is integrated through books by reading stories to children while playing related music recordings, or demonstrating science in the library. She tailors library activities to relate to classroom curricula, acquires new books for the kids, and even painted the exquisite mural above the bookshelves. Library volunteers are welcome! Search the library online!

Music Programs

4th and 5th grade students may study a musical instrument with band instruction by Bill Rayford, our music teacher, and students in 3rd through 5th grade can sing in our school choir, led by teacher Jackie Roth, and accompanied by Sequoia neighbor Amy Martin.  Please support all our school musicians by attending concerts throughout the year and appreciating their hard work and beautiful music.

Physical Education

P.E. teacher Jesse Inclán gets our kids in shape and builds skills and confidence through creative games and exercises such as Caroms, Field Hockey, Frisbee Golf, Greek Dodge, the Stinky Sock Game, Obstacle Courses and bowling. His goal is to have all Sequoia students exceed state and national averages, so they can all run a mile and still feel good. Students receive P.E. instruction weekly.

School Performances

All students get an opportunity to perform on stage annually in the Martin Luther King Oratorical Contest, which celebrates humanity's highest ideals of justice, peace, and equality.

Students also get to see professional music and dance performances several times a year during assemblies.

School Social Worker/Counselor

In keeping with our commitment to the healthy development of all students, our full-time social worker offers support to students and their families with one-on-one, group, and family counseling.  Services are free and confidential.  Call 290-7042 for more information.

Second Step

All of our classes teach inter- and intra-personal skills to help avoid and resolve conflicts. Developing Empathy for others, Anger Management, and Impulse Control, as well as Problem Solving and Conflict Resolution all are taught to help our students demonstrate positive behavior in the classroom, on the playground, at home and everywhere. Violence on the playground virtually disappeared after Second Step was introduced in 2000.

Parents are encouraged to watch the 20-minute Second Step video and implement these techniques at home. Please ask your teacher about organizing a showing for parents in your class.