SCHOOL SYNOPSIS

The Sequoia tree was first brought into cultivation in 1853, when a large shipment of seed arrived in Britain.  The first seeds for Sequoia Middle School were planted in 1969 when it opened its doors in Newbury Park, California.  Much like the Sequoia tree, Sequoia Middle School has grown tall and strong amid the beauty of the surrounding mountains.

The strong roots of Sequoia Middle School are firmly planted in the Conejo Valley Unified School District.  Sequoia is proud to be one of the four middle schools serving a population of 1,107 in grades six through eight.  Newbury Park is a strong, diverse community comprised of lower to upper middle-income families.  The majority of families have one or both parents who attended college and work outside the home as professionals, middle management personnel, executives, and manual laborers.  Sequoia receives students from five outstanding feeder elementary schools, and promotes them to the outstanding Newbury Park High School.  Communication is a key factor in the success of the Newbury Park schools.  Sequoia enjoys relationships with the academic departments of the high school, as well as the five area elementary schools.  Although Sequoia is not designated a Title I school, it does receive students from our Title I elementary feeder schools.  Sequoia takes pride in the fact that it serves the most diverse population of all the middle schools, with the highest student population of Hispanic, ELL, and Economically Disadvantaged students.

      
A Sequoia tree has many branches supporting its growth, as does Sequoia Middle School.  Parents play an active role in Sequoia's development with representation on School Site Council, PTA, the Bilingual Advisory Committee, Career Speakers, Band and Chorus Booster Clubs and volunteers in the office.  The teachers represent the solid, strong trunk that has allowed Sequoia to flourish over the years.  The teachers are committed to a student-centered program with high expectations for their students' behavior and their academic rigors.  Along with high expectations, the staff has a strong focus on standards based instruction.  Our block schedule provides many opportunities for a variety of teaching methods, techniques, and assessments to determine mastery of standards.  Sequoia has a rich curriculum ranging from honors, college prep, special education and ELL classes all designed to meet academic standards.  Regardless of academic level, the Sequoia teachers believe that all students will rise to the high expectations set for them.  Among one of the highest praises for Sequoia are the numerous students returning from high school to thank their Sequoia teachers for the preparation they received and ease of transition they experienced from middle school to high school.

Sequoia's motto, "Take care of yourself, take care of each other, take care of this place", is truly reflective of the philosophy of the school.  Like the first seeds planted back in 1853, our students passing through the doors of Sequoia have been nurtured with the strong and caring hands of the community, parents and staff.  Like the mighty Sequoia, always reaching upward, the spirit of our students continually helps create a campus that stands tall, strong, and proud.