Dear High Tech High Families,

As we enter 2024, I want to extend my heartfelt wishes for a year filled with learning, growth, and meaningful connections. January at High Tech High is not just the beginning of a new semester, it’s a time rich with reflection, remembrance, and a renewed commitment to compassion. As I reflect on the lessons of my ancestral people, we found a way to live and live well with great joy by working with the land around us. The respect and understanding that a commitment to hardy gardens requires nurturing, hard work, time, and lots of attention. A great mentor of mine always looked to the work of Thich Nhat Hanh who talks about the seeds we have in us to grow and transform. With that said, as I enter this year, in my leadership, my hope is to tend to my seeds to embrace learning, growth, vulnerability, and healing to nurture a garden of learning and work environments for our students, their families, and our phenomenal HTH team.   

In this month’s edition of ‘The Backpack’ newsletter, we delve into how our school community comes together to honor significant events and uphold our values and our shared commitments to one another. 

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 15, 2024)

This day offered us a moment to honor Dr. King’s legacy, “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” His unwavering dedication to justice and equality is a beacon of inspiration for our community. At High Tech High, we see his dream alive in our classrooms, encouraging us to continue fostering an environment of inclusivity, respect and shared purposes.

The Great Kindness Challenge Week (January 22-26, 2024)

This week is a vibrant reminder of the power of kindness. Our participation in The Great Kindness Challenge aligns with our mission to nurture empathetic leaders. This week, and every week, we strive to create a culture of inclusivity and understanding, reinforcing that kindness is a fundamental part of our daily life at High Tech High. May the Mayan In Lak’ Ech philosophy continue to remind us of our oneness and our responsibility to ourselves and others. 

International Holocaust Remembrance Day (January 27)

Our commitment extends beyond remembrance. It embodies the principle of preventing atrocities and fostering a deep understanding of diverse histories and experiences. At High Tech High, we recognize that current global events, such as the war in Gaza, further emphasize the importance of this commitment. In our curriculum and community, we strive to cultivate an environment where students learn from historical events and contemporary issues alike, understanding their roles and responsibilities in a complex and interconnected world. Our focus is on educating for empathy, informed awareness, and thoughtful engagement with all facets of global history, current affairs, and our neighbors all around us each day. 

Each of these observances forms an integral part of our January journey, reminding us of our collective responsibility to shape a future guided by respect, understanding, and kindness. As we navigate this month, let’s embrace these opportunities to reflect on our past and inspire our present actions, fostering a compassionate and inclusive future for all.

I invite you to read more about our initiatives and reflections in the full issue of ‘The Backpack.’ Your engagement and support make a world of difference in our continuous journey of growth and community building.

As an educator, my happy place is at our schools: in the classrooms with our students and our school teams, so you will often find me there. If you ever need some time to connect with me, please do not hesitate to reach out to Elizabeth Martinez, elmartinez@hightechhigh.org. Here’s to a January filled with reflection, learning, and acts of kindness that resonate beyond our school walls. 

Warm regards,

Diana Cornejo-Sanchez, Ed.D.
Interim CEO, High Tech High