Things to do on “Picnic Weekend” Smoke Signals See page 2 Vol. XXXI, No. 1 Sequoia High School Alumni Association Summer 2017 including the alumni of San Carlos High School CHANGES ON CAMPUS Grand Opening of “A” Wing and new Tea Garden The new classroom “A” wing, on the former basketball courts, recently opened and is a new home to English classes previously in adjacent modular classes, and two science classes previously sharing classrooms in the main building. Students are starting to discover its charms as an alternative setting for lunch/brunch, and foot traffic patterns have shifted significantly during passing periods between classes. The new wing is also a temporary home to the Band, Or- chestra, and Choir classes as the performing arts wing under- goes a massive (and long-overdue) renovation and upgrade. Four of the classrooms in the A-Wing were built with retract- able walls to expand into two large rooms which turned out to be a perfect solution for our transitional housing needs of our student musicians. A concern about how the thundering timpani and a hot brass section would disrupt neighboring classes, but the new rooms are virtually sound proof. Principal Sean Priest said, “I was surprised a few weeks ago when I visited the class to speak with Ms. Woodman about the noise and learned, only when I opened the door, the band was in full swing. The A-wing is well-built.” Measure A projects such as the A-Wing and the new performing arts wing (scheduled for completion in Spring 2018) are already changing the dynamic of our campus. We doubled the number of student parking spots. We also doubled the electrical capacity of the campus. We have a new Cu- linary Arts classroom, the flexible learning space in Room 128, and the majestic re-imagining of the Tea Garden. Tea Garden Renovation Because water runoff from the Tea Garden had for years been draining under the school, it was decided to do a ma- jor renovation of the Tea Garden. The drainage has now been fixed, the dead shrubs (after the drought) were re- moved, and the Tea House repainted to match the bright red Andirondack chairs that are interspersed throughout the garden. The Tea House before (left, 2016) and after (right). Vote for Board positions Come to the Annual Meeting Help at the Picnic! Candidates, p. 19; Ballot, p. 21. July 28. See p. 24 for details 8:30 setup; 3 p.m. cleanup; or, help with sales Page 2 Smoke Signals Summer 2017 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Sequoia High School - Now, and Then equoia High School was featured in the January, ater, presently the Fox Theater on Broadway, followed 2017, edition of Climate Magazine. Climate Maga- in 1904 by the construction of its very own building on Szine is a very well done local magazine published by Broadway between Middlefield and Jefferson, students Eric and Lori Lochtefeld of Redwood City’s Fox Theater. did not attend the current campus until 1924, with con- The article was ably written by former writer of the long- struction being completed in 1923. defunct Redwood City Tribune, Bill Shilstone. That should The headline just below the masthead reads, “Red- be a familiar name to many of our readers, harkening wood City Schools Among State’s Best” followed by an back to the days of when Redwood City had a compre- article touting the Redwood City School District written hensive daily newspaper and there never was a wanting by none other than Roy Cloud, who was then its Superin- for local news. tendent, having been a member of Sequoia High School’s The article makes mention of the time some years first graduating class in 1898 and later, nationally ac- back when Sequoia had hit a decline but quickly seg- claimed Executive Secretary of the California Teachers Association. ues to the renaissance that the school has experienced Also on the front page, just above a glorious picture in its more recent history. Helping facilitate the renais- of the main school building with its majestic bell tower, sance, a number of plant improvements and additions is a caption that reads, “Beautiful Sequoia High School have taken place such as a new 10-classroom building Rears Its Head in Pride”. One can only imagine the im- where the outdoor basketball courts used to be, a new pact that this beautiful new school and its beautiful cam- culinary arts kitchen and classroom and a renovation of pus must have had on the citizenry of Redwood City the Japanese Tea Garden. Academically speaking, the and the surrounding area. Articles abound regarding the article goes on to point out that the main catalyst for comprehensive and well cared for educational needs of Sequoia’s turnaround was the rigorous International Bac- the students, student government, the campus grounds, calaureate program that began in 2002 which explained athletics, student health, campus buildings and depart- by Sequoia Union High School District Superintendent, ments, the architecture, the history of the site and music James Lianides, “teaches core curriculum at an honors instruction (Otis Carrington was then head of the Music level in a cross-cultural context”. Department). Seeing Sequoia in print and back in the limelight as So the impression I am left with, having had the op- a favored place to attend and portrayed as a source of portunity to read publications over 90 years apart, is pride for the community it serves, prompted me to look that our beloved high school and its current campus is at a copy of another treasured publication I have in my as fresh and relevant now, as it was then. possession, a July, 1925, edition of the Redwood City Tribune featuring the then almost new, Sequoia High In the Spirit of Sequoia, School campus. While Sequoia began in 1895, first oc- cupying upstairs rooms in the old Central School building Ken Rolandelli, President which was razed for construction of the Sequoia The- Sequoia High School Alumni Association PICNIC WEEKEND ENTERTAINMENT OPPORTUNITIES Coming to the Picnic? Here are some entertainment Courthouse, has many great exhibits featuring the history venues you might like to check out: of San Mateo County, including Nature’s Bounty, Journey Redwood City Community Theatre: “Sister Act” in to Work, California Dream, Entrepreneurs, San Mateo Carrington Hall, 7 p.m. Aug. 18 & 19, with a matinee at County Sports Hall of Fame, and the special exhibit during 3 p.m. Aug. 20. Live musical theater produced and per- picnic time will be “Peninsula at War: San Mateo County’s formed by local community members. Check www.rwc- WW II Legacy”. and “Redwood City in Bloom.” Open 10 theatre.com a.m. - 4 p.m.. Small admission. (www.historysmc.org) Shakespeare in the Park: “Hamlet”, the Sequoia You can also visit historic Woodside Store on Sun. campus, front lawn, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 19, and 4 p.m. Aug. from 12 - 4 p.m., 3300 Tripp Rd. 20, free! www.redwoodcity.org/events/stage.htm If you’re here earlier in the week, then enjoy Music In Music On The Square (Courthouse Square, down- the Park (Stafford Park, Corner of King and Brewster) town): Fri., Aug. 18, Whiskey Dawn. 6 - 8 p.m., free. from 6 - 8 p.m. Wed., Aug. 16, with “Top Shelf” (Motown San Mateo County Historical Museum in the Old and Classic Soul). Summer 2017 Smoke Signals Page 3 “CELEBRATE SEQUOIA” PICNIC AND BARBECUE featuring The Treble Clef Alumni Treble Clef is 110 years old in 2017! Bev Shutz Morgan has been contacting as many Treble Clef Alumni as possible. Once again enjoy Otis Carrington’s lovely songs, “Beautiful Sequoia” and the “Sequoia Hymn” sung by these talented alumnae! Jay Selby is also planning to be at the picnic! Treble Clef Alumnae--if you haven’t contacted Bev yet, please get in touch with her right away! [email protected]. Saturday, August 19, 2017 • 10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Lunch served between 12:15 and 2:15 Catered by Emergency BBQ Deli & Catering (meats, salads, roasted vegetables, drinks, desserts) $35 per person (Children under 10, $25). • 2 Campus Tours morning and afternoon • Purple Patriot Awards: • Sequoia’s National Champion Cheerleaders Carolyn Livengood and Grace Schutz • Silent Auction; Disneyland Tickets! • Mini Car show • Sequoia Class of 1967 honored as Golden Grads • Sequoia Alumni Merchandise for sale Reservations required by Aug. 15. Pick up reserved tickets on the day of the picnic at the registration table. (Limited number of tickets at door for $40) Reservation forms (included with Smoke Signals) were mailed or e-mailed to all members. For additional copies, check sequoiahsalumniassoc.org, or e-mail [email protected] or call 650-592-5822. Inside this issue Smoke Signals Alumni in the News .................................................... 14 P.O. Box 2534, Redwood City, CA 94064 Calendar ......................................................................... 7 Alumni Board of Directors: Century Club ................................................................ 18 Ken Rolandelli (‘63) - President Leah Schmuck (‘54) - Vice President Cherokee Chatter ......................................................... 20 Nancy Lebkicher Oliver (‘57) - Recording Secretary Donations ...................................................................... 5 Sally Coelho Newman (‘56) - Treasurer Marian Aragon Wydo (‘64), Rosemary Filippi Fischer (‘67), Dons’ Doings ................................................................ 12 Beverly Schutz Morgan (‘67), Janice Jennings Abidi (‘70), Election Information ........................................6-7, 19, 21 Tim Juhasz (‘70), Dan Lara (‘70), Melissa Quinn Utecht (‘74) Smoke Signals, the publication for alumni of Sequoia and In Memoriam .....................................................16-17, 19 San Carlos high schools, is published by the Sequoia High Legacy Society .............................................................. 5 School Alumni Association. It is mailed to every member of the Alumni Association and distributed to reunions and New Members ............................................................. 10 friends of Sequoia High School, Redwood City. Membership Application ............................................