PTSA

Job Shadow Day 2025 will be on Monday, October 13. Check out this flyer for more information. We would love to have you as one of our hosts!

Job Shadow Day 2024 was on Monday, October 14. Hundreds of students had the opportunity to witness firsthand what a day in the life of a professional in their career area of interest is like. We had students shadowing in many different fields, from education and childhood development, to engineering, computer science, veterinary sciences, graphic design, journalism, law, and more. We also held a panel discussion with professionals from several fields in the medical sciences for those interested in healthcare.

HHS PTSA is proud to host this program every year. Our hope for next year’s edition is that many more students will take advantage of this fantastic opportunity! We greatly thank all the hosts –many of them HHS parents or alumni– who made this possible!

For questions, please email us at: hhsjobshadow@gmail.com

The Reflections Art Contest is a National PTA art program that encourages students to be creative in six art categories: Visual Arts, Photography, Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, and Music Composition. Winners at the school level can continue on to compete at district, council, state and national levels. Prizes are available to the winning students! 

HHS PTSA runs this program in the Fall. For more information, please see our flyer.

This year’s theme is “I Belong”. You can review the past Reflections themes in English & Spanish.

Each year PTSA awards scholarships to the winners of the Senior Essay Contest. The essay theme is announced around the start of the second semester and students have roughly a month to prepare their submissions. The prompt is selected by the PTSA Board, who also selects the winners of the contest. The winners are announced during the semester and recognized during the Senior Awards Night.

The GNP is an all-night celebration for seniors following the graduation ceremony.

The Grad Night Party is held at a secret off-campus location, where the students can participate in fun activities all night with their friends and not have to worry about driving or organizing their plans. The location is kept secret until right before the party to keep the party secure. The party is held in a different spot each year, but it's always a safe, secure, chaperoned environment for our seniors to enjoy one last big night with their graduating class. A great send-off for our wonderful students!

Homestead’s Grad Night Party is patterned after a nation-wide movement established by MADD (Mother’s Against Drunk Driving). Known as “Project Graduation,” parents come together to host an all-night celebration free from alcohol/drugs. The elimination of separate graduation parties keeps our community safe at a time when our grads are most at risk of becoming drunk/impaired driving victims. 

Check out the 2025 GNP flyer.

PTSA provides hospitality and support for the Career Day, held every other year at Homestead High School. At Career Day, parents and community members give presentations and demonstrations to Homestead students, offering them the opportunity to learn about various careers.

PTSA loves showing appreciation to HHS staff for all the amazing things they do for our students. They go above and beyond for our students, and we go above and beyond for them!

Typically we host a large staff appreciation event during the holidays, as well in February (around course selection time) and May. These events are sponsored and staffed by PTSA volunteers. Families are invited to donate food items and their time as volunteers. 

The PTSA Honorary Service Award Program recognizes the service and dedication of individuals or organizations who have gone above and beyond for our school.

A donation to the HSA Program Funds is contributed on behalf of each winner. These funds support the California State PTA scholarship and grant programs. Since the program was founded in 1965, the California State PTA has awarded more than $4,000,000 in student loans, scholarships and grants.

The HSA program runs in the Spring. It begins with a call for nominations from the HHS community. Staff, parents and students can be nominated for their exemplary contributions to the greater good of the community. Awardees are recognized in the May PTSA General Attendance Meeting.

These are the different award alternatives:

• Very Special Person Award (VSP) – This award is given to recognize an individual or organization for their service to PTSA. 
• Honorary Service Award (HSA) – This award is given to recognize an individual or organization for outstanding service to children and youth in your community, going above and beyond what is asked of them. 
• Continuing Service Award (CSA) – This award is given to recognize an individual or organization for ongoing or long-time service to children and youth, providing support year after year. 
• Outstanding Teacher Award (OTA) – This award may be given to recognize a teacher for outstanding service to children and youth through PTA, school, or community. 
• Outstanding Administrator Award (OAA) – This award may be given to recognize an administrator for outstanding service to children and youth through PTA, school, or the community. 
• Elected Official Honorary Service Award (EOHSA) – This award may be given to recognize an elected official for outstanding policy work and/or legislation that positively impacts the lives of children. This award may be given at the local, state or federal level. This award is not to be used as an endorsement of any elected official, but to celebrate the work of the elected official.
• Golden Oak Service Award (GOSA) – This award is given to recognize, as the most prestigious of the Honorary Service Awards, an individual or organization that has made significant contributions to the welfare of children and youth in a school or community.

In addition to PTSA Scholarships, students compete for a host of other awards and honors. The PTSA is honored to sponsor a reception for the graduating seniors and their families.

Parent Education Zoom talk with Leila Lurie, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) was presented by HHS PTSA on Jan 29th, 2024 at 7 pm on Zoom. Link to the presentation here.

Guest speaker Jeannie Burlowski's talk on how to write compelling essays for scholarship and other opportunity applications is available HERE.

The Nov 16 2022 Guidance Department presentation on Naviance is available HERE. 

The recording of Dr Ram Rao's presentation, "Reclaiming your Health: The Mind-Body Nexus" is now available on the PTSA Youtube Channel HERE. Please note that a few seconds of the presentation are missing from the beginning of the recording. 

A recording of the Jan 19 workshop by Impact Teen Drivers is available HERE.

A recording of our Nov 10 speaker (Let's Talk About Sex (Because Your Kids Are) is available now on HHS' YouTube channel.

Video of Dr. Ronesh Sinha presentation now available

The video of Dr. Ronesh Sinha's presentation "Science Based Lifestyle Strategies to Reduce Risk for Families During Covid-19" from the Sept 14 GA meeting is now available. Watch the presentation here.

Dr. Ronesh Sinha, author of The South Asian Health Solution, is an internal medicine physician for Palo Alto Medical Foundation who runs a lifestyle clinic focused on reversing insulin resistance.  He is also an expert in corporate wellness and serves as the Chief Medical Officer for Silicon Valley Employer Forum where he is a global adviser to over 55 major Silicon Valley companies on health and wellness strategies.  He blogs actively on health at culturalhealthsolutions.com and recently launched the Meta Health podcast where he uses creative storytelling to teach listeners about health and metabolism.  His free Covid-19 survival guide has been used by families worldwide to guide lifestyle strategies to reduce the risks from COVID.

Watch the Marijuana & Vaping webinar recording - Expert Debbie Berndt explains marijuana and vaping use, current scientific understanding, and specific strategies for middle and high school parents, guardians, and adult family members. Recorded on 2/9/2021.

Watch the The How of Happiness webinar recording - We all want our kids to be happy. But can teenagers managing academic and social pressures, not to mention hormones, during a pandemic find happiness? And is it possible to build habits that will support long-term happiness? Sonja Lyubomirsky, Ph.D., is an expert on happiness and the author of three books on the subject including, The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want. Recorded on 2/1/2021.

Optimizing Family Emotional  Health and Fitness During Covid-19

6:45-8 pm September 16, 2020

At this event, we will share with you what was already sponsored this year and ask you to approve further funds release (10 min) then we will introduce our guest speaker - Dr. Ron Sinha. (45 min. presentation & 15 min. Q&A). 

The Topic is - Optimizing Family Emotional Health and Fitness During Covid-19

Dr. Sinha is bringing his popular Covid-19 health and fitness seminar to local schools, where he covers some of the following topics:

• Understanding Covid's basic operating system
• Exercise tailored to reduce Covid-19 risk
• How to improve posture and fitness while you study and work from home
• Techniques to help lower stress and improve resilience in a pandemic
• Specific eating strategies, nutrients, and resources to help combat Covid-19

Dr. Ronesh Sinha is a physician for Palo Alto Medical Foundation who leads corporate wellness for major Silicon Valley companies.  He is author of The South Asian Health Solution and blogs actively on health and wellness at culturalhealthsolutions.com where he has created Covid-19 resources being used worldwide, such as his free Covid resource guide.  

To join this meeting, please register and we will email you a Zoom link by 9/14/2020. Please check your spam folder if you can't find the link in your inbox. Questions? Email HHS PTSA

Screenagers 2 - Uncovering Skills for Stress Resilience Movie Screening & Discussion,

7-8:30 pm October 21, 2020 Registration information coming soon!

The screening of this new and important movie is a collaborative effort between the PTSAs of HHS, MVHS, LHS and the FUHS Foundation - we are proud to work together to bring information and resources to our community. 

This film examines the science behind teen’s emotional challenges, the interplay of social media, and what we can do to help them build crucial skills to navigate stress, anxiety, and depression in our digital age. Watch the movie trailer.

Following the movie, we will have a panel with FUHSD Associate Superintendent Trudy Gross, Homestead HS Principal Greg Giglio, Ms. Sarah Lloyd Homestead HS school based therapist, and Dr. Ronesh Sinha about the challenges our students experience and how can we better support them.

HHS PTSA is hosting Superintendent Bove - please join us on Sep. 23rd

The Homestead HS PTSA invites you to join us for a virtual conversation with FUHSD Superintendent Polly Bove on September 23rd, 7-8 pm. 

Superintendent Bove will provide general information about the parcel tax renewal that will be on the ballot in November and will be available to answer questions about our district and future plans.

To address the things that are most interesting to our community we invite you to submit questions in advance and we will try to get to as many questions as possible during the meeting.  

"University of California Undergraduate Admissions process" with UC Davis admission 

4-5 pm September 2, 2020 Reserve your spot.

How do you fill out the UC application so it best reflects you and your accomplishments?

Learn about the University of California Undergraduate Admissions process, what the UC Application requires and tips how to best represent your true self. Hosted by Melanie David, Bay Area Regional Representative for UC Davis Undergraduate Admissions. Register HERE

Melanie David works for UC Davis Undergraduate Admissions for six and a half years. She has been the Bay Area Regional Representative for the last three years and looking forward to helping you.

Santa Clara District Attorney Community prosecutor Angela Alvarado at HHS to discuss Internet Safety – What Parents & Students NEED to know

Wednesday, January 29, 6:45 pm @ the Homestead HS I-hub.  

A career prosecutor serving as a Deputy District Attorney for Santa Clara County for the last 18 years. As a trial prosecutor, she has tried juvenile crimes, violent felonies, domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, crimes against children and 3 Strikes life cases.

Angela is a regular lecturer, presenter and instructor in the areas of digital safety, sex crimes, technology, and juvenile law expert in Internet Safety, She will share with students and parents how to be safe on the internet and what you should NEVER post. Some of the topics covered will be:

• "Digital reputation".
• How can this information be used by colleges, coaches, and employers
• Social media activity, reality check, and dangers.
• Safeguarding yourself in group chats and social media groups
• Consequences & laws in legislation around sending, sharing, snapping, and receiving inappropriate texts/pictures as well as engaging in public forums and more

 This event is open to all parents and students.  

Safe Teen Driving Event 
November 20
 
SPONSORED BY HOMESTEAD PTSA  In conjunction with the West Valley Patrol Division Traffic Unit , Cupertino Safe Routes To School, and Homestead HS Administration

Join us for an event on Traffic Safety, sponsored by Homestead PTSA and in conjunction with the West Valley Patrol Division Traffic Unit, Cupertino Safe Routes To School, and the Homestead HS Administration. Learn about:

• Teen driving
• Sharing the road
• Updates from the Homestead Corridor Task Force
• Safe access to campus and upcoming traffic improvement projects around school

Stop by the information tables to ask questions and learn more:

• City Representatives
• HHS Safe Routes to School
• Homestead Corridor
• Biking Club

More past events in school year 2019/20- 

9/25 Author Harlan Cohen Join New York Times Bestselling Author and College Life Expert Harlan Cohen as he delivers 5 Simple Rules For Parents.  During this interactive, humorous, and engaging event, Harlan will help parents and students know what’s coming in college and how to prepare in high school.  Cohen shares the latest facts, stats, and strategies to reduce stress and prepare families for all the changes ahead.  All high school parents and students are welcome.   As sitting is restricted please Reserve your spot(s).

9/18 Roadmap to College - an event for seniors and their guardians

10/2 Roadmap to College - an event for 9-11th graders and their guardians

Roadmap to College  will help you understand the college application process can be overwhelming and intimidating for both parents and students. There are myriad decisions and conflicting information that can be extremely stressful. Join us for a workshop that will provide an understanding of the application process for the senior class, and help reduce the stress of getting through it all.

The session will focus on topics that are important to seniors:

• Profiling/Selecting the right college
• Submission strategies
• Writing effective essays
• Selecting a Major/Career
• College interviews
• Insights on how to manage the stress of the process
• List of useful resources

8/29 College Students Panel - application advice from HHS alumni

College Transition Panel for seniors and their families

Sharing advice from the College Transition Panel 

Panelist Traci Oberman shared with us tips for dorm shopping, health and privacy forms, and other things we should all know! See her Transition Tips Doc

Seniors, Parents and Supporters - please join us for a College Transition Panel 

Moderated by: Principal Giglio 

When: April 10, 7 to 8:30 p.m. 

A panel of HHS alumni parents with experience of navigating through UCs, CSUs, public and private Universities will help you plan and understand the transition into college life.  

This panel will respond to question submitted through the PANEL FORM, some of the topics are;

• How to choose dorms and meal plans 
• Getting along with a roommate - what is acceptable, what to do if it is uncomfortable. 
• What to prepare - HIPPA, Power of Attorney forms, medical information authorization, credit card, and credit history.
• What should I pack/not pack?
• Academic supports, changing a major, tips for a successful transition
• Concerns and advice for dealing with parties, alcohol, and drugs. 

Vapes & Teens - What Parents, Students & Supporters Need to Know!

Please join the HHS PTSA & Principal Giglio/Administration for the Speaker Series discussion on Vapes & Teens - What Parents & Supporters Need to Know!

Note: This is a repeat performance of the morning Speaker Session held in February. If you missed the presentation you can find the Slides HERE.

When: March 20, 2019, 6:45pm - HHS Cafeteria

Did you know - In Santa Clara County:

• Over 20% of youth (8th grade and younger) have tried or currently vape, smoke marijuana and/or use e-cigs.
• The number rises to 37% by the time students are seniors nationwide. 
• Devices and products used are so discreet that many parents/supporters don’t know what to look for.  

During this presentation, we will review the following: 

• New product trends, health effects, addiction risks, and more.
• Why youth are using, and what parents/supporters can look for to know if their teen is using. 
• Prevention resources and tactics to help parents, supporters, and students prevent or help stop any of these substance abuses. 

Parent/Supporter Q&A session 

Parents, Students, Supporters, Guardians, School Staff and the Community are encouraged to attend this free event.
Brought to you by the HHS PTSA