Note from the Editor:
As I began gathering photos for this newsletter, I couldn't help but smile and be thankful for all of you, the wonderful volunteers that work with our students throughout Sequoia Union High School District (SUHSD)! We are so appreciative of you sharing your time and expertise. And, as we enter the holiday season, I wanted to take this moment to express my deep gratitude for your passion, commitment, and resources. I also want to wish you a very happy and holiday season with your family & friends. We look forward to continuing our work together in 2023 and beyond! Cheers, --Faith Velschow, Work-Based Learning Specialist.
What is Work-Based Learning?
Work-Based Learning (WBL) is an educational approach or instructional methodology that uses the workplace or real work to provide students with the knowledge and skills that will help them connect school experiences to real-life, work activities and future career opportunities. A quality work-based learning program, when feasible, should be an integral part of a more comprehensive program that integrates academic courses and career technical education. Students benefit from work-based learning that connects to classroom instruction. EC 51760 (a) (d) 51760.1 (e) (4-6)
We are excited to share many of the exciting events that have taken place this fall but wanted to start with pictures from two of the mentor programs in our district. Students in one of eight small learning communities are paired up with a professional for career exploration and to develop their business communication skills. The eight programs include:
- Carlmont's Biotech Institute
- Menlo-Atherton's Computer Academy
- Sequoia's Digital Arts Academy
- Sequoia's Health Careers Academy
- TIDE Academy Computer Science pathway
- TIDE Academy Graphic & Interactive Design pathway
- Woodside's Graphic & Tech Academy
- Woodside's Green Academy
*Pictured here are mentor, Jim Lamascus, and his students at TIDE Academy.
Mentor Programs
TIDE Academy -- First Mentor Meeting, November 10th, 2022
Woodside's Green Academy students working with their mentors!
Work-Based Learning can come in a variety of forms!
Here professionals were invited to taste and evaluate Redwood High School's culinary capstone projects.
Thank you to hospitality expert, Robert L. Carney, and personal chef, Stacy Plackowski, pictured to the right for providing student feedback. As well as Adrian Farmer, Teaching Kitchen Executive Chef, not pictured.
Field trips are back!
Pictured on the cover: Woodside High School's engineering students visited the Apple main campus for a brief tour, a presentation from a design team, as well as a teardown (disassembly) of a couple of MacBook Pros.
Pictured right: Carlmont's business students participated in a job shadow hosted by Franklin Templeton and organized in coordination with Junior Achievement.
Guest Speakers
An excellent youth speaker inspires, motivates, and empowers students. --teentruth.net
Conan Low, Creative Services Manager at San Mateo County Transit District pictured at right shared his work and career journey with Sequoia's Digital Filmmaking students.
Inspired by professionals, students create their own work
Current Volunteer Opportunities
Sequoia's BUILD Program - Ongoing Mentoring
- Who: Professionals with an entrepreneurial spirit, willing to share time with students.
- What: BUILD helps students become the CEO of their own lives; using entrepreneurship to ignite the potential of youth from under-resourced communities and propel them to high school, college & career success. Share your own business experience with a team of students.
- Where: Sequoia High School, 1201 Brewster Ave., Redwood City, CA 94062
- When: Weekly meetings on Mondays from 10:30-12:05 or Thursdays from 10:20-11:40 from Mid-Jan to Mid-May
- How: Check out the BUILD website for more information, Email Faith Velschow to discuss the next steps
TIDE Academy Career Round Tables
- Career Round Tables - professionals will speak in a small group format about their career, and educational background, give a brief job description and offer the pros & cons of their field. Students will have ~20 minutes with each professional and then rotate to the next. Ideally, professionals from a wide variety of careers will be represented.
- What: Technology, Innovation, Design & Engineering are the focus at TIDE; a small public high school offering a STEAM-focused program via Career Technical Education (CTE) & Dual Enrolled classes with Foothill College. There are 2 pathways: Computer Science or Graphic & Interactive Design
- When: Friday, February 17th, 2023
- Time: 9:30-11:00
- Where: 150 Jefferson Dr, Menlo Park, CA 94025
- How: Sign Up Here for TIDE!
Guest Speakers Wanted in:
- Animation
- Architecture
- Building & Construction Trades/Woodshop
- Digital Filmmaking
- Digital Journalism
- Engineering
- Food & Nutrition/Culinary Arts at Menlo-Atherton
- Food & Nutrition/Culinary Arts at Sequoia
- Graphic Design
- Health Careers
- Mobile Apps/Intro to Coding
- Photography
Contact Faith Velschow, Work Based Learning, SUHSD, to get involved!
- Email: fvelschow@seq.org
- Mobile/Text: 650-464-1162