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: March 2-6 Read Across America Week March 5 Coffee with the Counselors March 6 High School Hangout March 6 Spring College Tour 🗓️ 25-26 Academic Calendar NEW Events! Don’t miss out! Head to the Events section to explore all the NEW opportunities and activities available for Sage Oak High School students! Read Across America Week – March 2-6th Today, Monday, March 2nd – Friday, March 6th, is the first day of Read Across America Week! Read Across America Week highlights the significance of literacy and inspires all students to engage in reading activities. To join the fun, we invite students and families to share photos with a favorite book—whether one you’ve read or are currently reading! We’ll be showcasing these snapshots on our social media to celebrate our reading community together. Click HERE to share what you’re reading! Discover your classmates’ favorite books and share the love of reading together! All-Staff In Person Event – March 3 All Sage Oak staff will be out of the office on Tuesday, March 3, for our annual Sage Oak Spring Summit. All teachers will be attending this event, so please note that communication will be delayed during this time. Staff will return to the office on Wednesday, March 4, and will respond to messages as soon as possible. Thank you for your understanding! 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 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… 🌟Emilee Jones (12th Grade)🌟  Emilee is a model Sage Oak student who truly exemplifies our Student Learning Outcomes. With an impressive 4.23 GPA, she balances academic excellence alongside a competitive dance career at her local studio, Dunamix. This year, her dedication and talent earned her the Lead Tap role in the studio’s production of The Nutcracker—an exciting achievement that reflects years of hard work since she began dancing at age nine. Sage Oak’s independent study model allows Emilee to successfully maintain a rigorous academic schedule while dedicating countless hours to practicing and performing. In addition to excelling in her coursework, she serves as a TA for Animation and plans to attend community college before transferring to Cal State Fullerton to major in Animation. Beyond her accomplishments, Emilee is known for her kindness and leadership. She coaches younger dance students and serves as a positive role model both in and out of the studio. Emilee truly represents the heart, dedication, and well-rounded spirit of Sage Oak students.  ☕️ Coffee With The Counselors Do you have questions for the Sage Oak Counselors or need some resources? Join all four Sage Oak counselors at Coffee with the Counselors this Thursday at 9:00 am. This is an informal time where the counselors are available for any resources, support, questions, or just to have a cup of coffee (virtually) and chat. Zoom Link. Hope to see you there! 🤩 NEW Scholarship Webinar with Jen Pham Check out this recorded webinar (passcode: .3s2Sli.) on scholarships and financial aid with Jen Pham. In this informative session, she shares expert strategies for starting the scholarship search early, maximizing merit-based opportunities, and positioning students to stand out in the competition for prestigious awards. Whether you’re just beginning to explore financial aid or looking to strengthen your student’s scholarship plan, this webinar offers practical guidance to help families prepare with confidence. Make sure to book your 1:1 with Jen at learningwithjen.as.me and use the coupon MRSKING at checkout! NEW Ms. Mackenzie – out on leave! Ms. Mackenzie will be out for maternity leave starting today, March 2nd. Cheri Adame will be the counseling sub. Cheri’s email is cadame@sageoak.education. Please reach out to Cheri for any students in the M-L alphabet that you need support with. 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 Mackenzie Akins (last names M-Z) – makins@sageoak.education   Now 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. 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 💰 FAFSA Assistance & Support The FAFSA priority deadline is TODAY, March 2nd! Please make sure your graduating senior has submitted their FAFSA. Reach out to Ms. Coral if you need help at cprendergast@sageoak.education. 📸 Senior Submission 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. Due by March 20th. Complete Your FAFSA or CADAA Today! If you need help completing a financial aid application (FAFSA or CADAA), please come to the Financial Aid Support and Assistance Open Zoom on one of the following dates! April 9, 2026 Understanding Your Award Letter“ 11:00 AM Zoom Link 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  🎈March HS Hangout Friday, March 6 Looking for a break from the screen? Join your Sage Oak crew at Irvine Lanes! It’s the perfect chance to catch up with friends, meet new people, and show off your (lack of) bowling skills. No pressure, just pins and good company. See you on the lanes! 📅Friday, March 6 from 10am to 1pm. Sign up HERE! Spring College Tour 2026 Friday, March 6 Come join us for a full day of touring the Los Angeles area colleges including Cal State LA, UCLA and USC. Students and their parents will meet AVID teacher Mandy Bates on March 6th, 2026 at 9am at CSULA to start the day! Sign up HERE! Children’s Literature Festival Friday, March 6 Each year, the festival brings together educators, librarians, parents, students, authors, illustrators, editors, and those interested in children’s literature for a unique combination of full conference and small group sessions. This year our faculty is once again chosen from the “best of the best”. Sign up HERE! NEW Christian Club Hangout Friday, March 13 Connect with your Sage Oak peers and members of the Christian Club for an afternoon of play at an old-school arcade with your favorite retro video games! Sign up HERE! CuppaPug Social Friday, March 13 CuppaPug is a one-of-a-kind experience where you can sip coffee, snuggle pugs, and support a great cause. Spend an hour surrounded by lovable rescue and resident pugs, each with their own personality and charm! Tickets are $20 per person. There is also a small cafe with drinks and snacks for purchase. Parents and guardians are welcome to purchase tickets to attend as well, or students may be dropped off for the event. Sign up HERE! CTE Cinema Makeup School Wednesday, March 18 Give students a behind-the-scenes look at Hollywood with a guided tour of Cinema Makeup School in Los Angeles. Students will explore the campus, see professionals in action, and learn about exciting careers in film, television, special effects, and entertainment artistry—an inspiring experience for creative students exploring arts and industry pathways. Sign up HERE! Newport Bay Outrigger & Kayak Tour Friday, March 20 Get out on the water and explore the Back Bay by kayak! Sage Oak students will enjoy a guided kayak tour at Northstar Beach, spotting wildlife like herons, migratory birds, and marine life while learning about this unique coastal ecosystem. With expert guides from the Newport Bay Conservancy, this hands-on adventure is perfect for beginners and experienced paddlers alike. 🛶 Sign up HERE! NEW Chicano Park: Mural & Photography Walk Thursday, March 26 Join us for a walk around Chicano Park in San Diego, which boasts the largest concentration of Chicano murals in the world (over 100 paintings)! We will begin by visiting the work of Ramsés Noriega, a pioneering artist/activist of the ’60s and ’70s, at the Chicano Park Museum & Cultural Center. Afterwards, we will walk around the park grounds to enjoy and photograph the historic murals. Bring a sack lunch for a picnic in the park! Sign up HERE! NEW 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. Join us as we transform The Observatory in Santa Ana into a botanical wonderland filled with enchanting charm and ethereal vibes. 🎟️Buy tickets here! 🎶Song requests 👉🏼fill out this form!  A Sneak Peek at the Math CAASPP Sample Math CAASPP test questions help students and families become familiar with the format, question types, and online tools used on the assessment. They highlight the math skills and level of reasoning expected at each grade level while helping reduce test anxiety. Get a sneak peek at CAASPP-style Math questions to practice problem-solving, build confidence, and feel ready for test day. Click here to explore the skills and concepts you’ll need to succeed. Oakschool Join us this Friday for an exciting session of The Breakfast Club! We will be chatting with Workforce Specialist Ashley Dixon about her career journey in Manufacturing & Product Development! Sage Oak Showcase Do you have any friends or family that are interested in learning more about the amazing programs Sage Oak has to offer? Invite them to attend one of our upcoming Sage Oak Showcases taking place at an Art in the Park near you! There, they will have all their questions answered and have the opportunity to participate in a fun art project! Sign up form March 6th @ 10:30am @ Los Alamitos & San Diego March 13th @ 10:30am @ High Desert & Simi Valley Already a Sage Oak student? Register for Art in the Park here. Sage Oak students must register to attend. Sage Studio Podcast – “Testing Season Survival: Advice from Education Pros” In this episode of Sage Studio, host Tiffiny Webster is joined by Bethany Burgos, Sage Oak’s Assessment Facilitator, and School Counselor Allie Whalen to share practical tips for navigating testing season and easing student anxiety. The conversation covers the CAASPP, including the Smarter Balanced and California Science assessments. Click HERE to watch now!  Sincerely, Traci King High School Principal |
