Welcome to the High School Family Updates! This newsletter is sent out every week to high school parents, students and Education Advisors with important news, reminders and upcoming events. Look for it every week! Upcoming Important Dates: April 10 April HS Hangout April 14-17 & 20 CAASPP Testing (11th graders) April 17 LP8 Ends April 20 LP 9 Begins 🗓️ 25-26 Academic Calendar 😎 Welcome Back! We hope you had a restful and enjoyable Spring Break and are feeling refreshed for the weeks ahead. As we head into the final stretch of the school year, now is a great time to refocus on your courses, stay on track with assignments, and finish strong. Be sure to check out our upcoming events and opportunities to stay engaged and connected. Let’s make these last weeks productive and rewarding! 📚 Content Support Study Hall: English Please be advised that the English Content Support Study Hall will be moved to Monday & Wednesday at 11AM for the week of April 13 – 17 to accommodate CAASPP Testing for 11th graders. For the links and other content support session information, click here! ♟️ Checkmate! Sage Oak’s First Virtual Chess Tournament a Success Sage Oak recently hosted its first-ever virtual chess tournament on March 27th, bringing students together for some friendly competition and strategic fun. Congratulations to 9th grader Siah E. Bishop, who claimed first place and earned a Jersey Mike’s certificate! A special thank you to 11th graders Elijah Moreno & Gabriel Rosales and 9th grader Jameel Lamen for organizing this exciting event. We look forward to hosting more tournaments in the future! Yearbook Cover Contest! The Yearbook Committee is looking for one incredible student artist to design the cover of our yearbook! Submit your entry here. All entries must be submitted by TODAY, Monday, April 6 📷 Submit Your Yearbook Photo Want to see yourself in this year’s yearbook? Submit your headshot using the Google Form linked below! This form is for 9th–11th grade students. Yearbook Submissions Google Form Note: Seniors should submit their photos using only the Senior Submissions form (see details in the class of 2026 section) Sage Oak Appreciation – Chance to win a gift card! Show Sage Oak some love! Appreciate your friends, teachers, and counselors on this Public Padlet! Do you have a favorite teacher? Now’s your chance to let them know! 🎉. Submit a short video message thanking a teacher — or our amazing staff as a whole — for a chance to be featured in a student-created film! Sage Oak High School Yearbook Your year, preserved forever! Get yours to remember all the fun events, friends, and special moments. We have soft covers available for $41.27 and hard covers available for $48.27 (before taxes). You can also customize your copy by adding custom pages! Don’t miss out! Order here!  Every week, we will highlight a Sage Oak High School student who has been nominated by their Education Advisor. This week, Sage Oak High School is celebrating… 🌟Ava Mendez (11th Grade)🌟 We are proud to recognize Ava Mendez for her outstanding achievements and leadership. A self-driven and dedicated student, Ava thrives in Sage Oak’s independent study program and even took the initiative to create our first-ever Club Rush, helping students connect and get involved. She serves as President of both the National Honor Society and ASB, as well as the Red Cross Club, while staying active in Child Development and theatre. With aspirations of entering the medical field and attending UC San Diego, Ava has taken extensive community college courses and volunteers at a local healthcare center—demonstrating her passion for science, service, and helping others.  Free College Admissions Support for Students Schoolhouse.world offers free, small-group virtual workshops to help high school students navigate the college admissions process. Students receive guidance on writing essays, building a college list, and completing applications. The program is designed to increase confidence and reduce stress while applying to college. Students can also build a Schoolhouse Portfolio, which is recognized by many colleges as part of the admissions process. Free Writing Support with Khan Academy Khan Academy’s Writing Coach is a free tool that helps students improve their essay-writing skills through guided, step-by-step support. It walks students through the entire writing process—understanding the assignment, outlining, drafting, and revising—while providing real-time feedback. The tool focuses on building strong writers by offering guidance without doing the writing for them. Teachers can also track student progress and provide targeted support along the way. Life Hacks Join “Life Hacks” every Friday at NOON! If you want to hang out and connect with some other high school students or get some helpful tips to navigate the teenage years, join Ms. Coral at Life Hacks every Friday at noon. Join the Zoom HERE! Here is the link to the HS Counseling Calendar – subscribe to this calendar to have all the webinars that the counselors are hosting with zoom links! Coral Prendergast (last names A-L) – cprendergast@sageoak.education Cheri Adame (last names M-Z) – cadame@sageoak.education   💰Financial Award LettersSeniors! You’ve been accepted to college, and now you are trying to figure out how much it will actually cost your family! Come to the webinar with the counselors this week on “How to Read Your Financial Aid Award Letter,” and they will walk you through it. Hope to see you on Thursday at 11:00. Zoom Link UC Acceptances: What’s Next? Congratulations to our UC-bound seniors! Be sure to submit your Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) by May 1 to secure your spot. After committing, don’t forget to apply for housing, review your financial aid package, and keep track of campus-specific deadlines. Final transcripts are due by July 1, with AP/IB scores due by July 15—so stay organized and check your student portal regularly for updates! UC Next Steps UC For Everyone 💵 STILL OPEN: Susan S. Steelman Bragato Scholarship The California Charter Schools Association is awarding ten scholarships of $2,000 each to graduating seniors from CCSA member charter schools – including Sage Oak! This scholarship honors Susan S. Steelman Bragato, a pioneer of California’s charter school movement, and celebrates the diversity of charter school students. Seniors of all backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. 📸 Senior Submission – deadline extended! Submissions are still open for graduates to submit a headshot, quote and baby pictures that are used for the ceremony slideshow. The headshot will also be used in the yearbook. If you do not wish to submit one or more of the items, please indicate that on the first question. Extended Due Date 👉🏼 April 10th The application deadline is Thursday, April 17 at 9:00 AM PST. Visit the CCSA Bragato Scholarship website for details and to apply. Don’t miss this opportunity! 👉🏼 CCSA Bragato Scholarship Website Complete Your FAFSA or CADAA Today! Visit these slides for more information on how to apply, or visit FAFSA.gov or dream.csac.ca.gov. ⭐️Class of 2026 Resources⭐️ Grad Central P.R.F Save the Date Jostens Cap & Gown  April HS Hangout Friday, April 10 Attention Sage Oak High Schoolers! It is time to step out of the classroom and into the arena. We are descending upon Lazer Legacy in Yucaipa for an afternoon of high-stakes strategy, neon lights, and heart-pounding fun. Friday, April 10 3pm to 5pm Sign up HERE! CalArts Campus Tour Friday, April 10 High school students are invited to attend a walking tour of the California Institute of the Arts. Founded in 1961 by Walt Disney, CalArts is an internationally renowned art school that offers BFA and MFA degree programs in the visual, performing, media and literary arts. Sign up HERE! FREE! CPR + First Aid Training Friday, April 10 Save a life! Come learn basic first aid skills, CPR and AED for infants, children, and adults. Participants will earn certification for two years. Session will be led by American Heart Association Basic Life Support Instructor, Angeline Windmiller. This CTE Event is FREE for students so make sure to sign up! Sign up HERE! LA’s Olvera Street Field Trip Friday, April 10 Come join Señor Steenhausen and his Spanish 1 students to check out a variety of (free!) sites of Mexican cultural interest in the historic Olvera Street in Downtown LA! With tons of interesting shops, tasty restaurants, museums, and MORE, you won’t want to miss this opportunity! We will even get a free, guided tour of the LA Plaza Museum de Artes y Cultura! Everything is located within easy walking distance of LA’s Union Station. Sign up HERE! Casey’s Cupcakes Entrepreneurship Hangout Friday, April 24 Join Sage Oak’s Entrepreneurship Pathway for a fun and inspiring field trip to Casey’s Cupcakes in downtown Riverside! Students will hear from a business manager about real-world entrepreneurship, learn about job opportunities at the Mission Inn, and get insider tips on applying for holiday positions. Afterward, enjoy time exploring downtown: grab a cupcake, visit local coffee shops or bookstores, and connect with other small businesses in the area. Sign up HERE! Crafton Hills College Public Safety Labs Friday, April 24 Did you ever wonder what it takes to provide care for emergencies like car accidents, heart attacks, drowing, and other injuries? Join us on a tour of the Fire, EMT, and Paramedic Labs at Crafton Hills College. Sign up HERE! Comic Con Museum Friday, April 24 Students have an exciting opportunity to explore creativity at the Comic-Con Museum, part of the world-famous Comic-Con convention! This interactive experience celebrates comics, film, anime, gaming, and all things pop culture. During a hands-on Comics Creation workshop, students will get to learn the art of visual storytelling and began creating their own original comics. Sign up HERE! 💃Prom 2026Saturday, April 25 You’re invited to an evening of magic and mystery at Prom 2026. Last Chance tickets still available! 🎟️ Buy tickets here! 🎶 Song requests 👉🏼 fill out this form! 💃 Prom Style Guide For any questions about any of the events listed, please email ASB Coordinator, Danny Levin, at dlevin@sageoak.education  Ready, Set, CAASPP! The Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments are part of California’s state testing system (CAASPP) and provide one measure of your child’s academic progress. Along with report cards, i-Ready diagnostics, and daily observations, these results help show readiness for future grades, college, and career. During testing week (April 14 – 17 & April 20, 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.), 11th-grade students will complete assessments in English language arts, mathematics, and the California Science Test (CAST). Tips for Success:Get a good night’s sleep (aim for 8+ hours) Eat a healthy breakfast Charge your device and bring headphones (if needed) Read directions carefully and use scratch paper Stay positive and do your best If your child feels anxious, our counseling team is here to help: counselingteam@sageoak.education. You’ve worked hard. Now it’s time to show what you know! Sage Studio Podcast Sage Oak Success Story: Miryna Ortega’s Inspiring Path  In this episode, Sage Studio Podcast host Tiffiny Webster interviews Sage Oak High School 10th grader Miryna Ortega, who has attended Sage Oak for about three years. Miryna shares how Sage Oak’s flexible schedule, supportive teachers, and recorded live sessions help her balance online coursework, dual enrollment economics at Crafton Hills College, and competitive girls’ NFL flag football. Watch now!  National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society Applications Are Now Open! Sage Oak is now accepting applications for the National Honor Society (NHS) and National Junior Honor Society (NJHS). These esteemed organizations recognize and promote excellence in scholarship, leadership, character, and service. To be eligible, applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 and demonstrate a strong commitment to community service and leadership. The application deadline is May 8th, and selected candidates will be notified of their acceptance in June. NHS Application: 10th-12th Grade for the 2026-27 School Year NJHS Application: 7th-9th Grade for the 2026-27 School Year Hear from our NJHS members! Students who are already members do not need to reapply. For questions please contact Kayce Betzel at kbetzel@sageoak.education for NHS and Amy Elwood at aelwood@sageoak.education for NJHS.  Sincerely, Traci King High School Principal |
