Growing Up in Santa Cruz November 2023

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At Gateway School, we embrace every child’s curiosity, we’re responsive to each of their needs, and help them become their best selves, in academics and as citizens of the world.

Visit Santa Cruz County’s only CAIS accredited K-8 school at one of our upcoming fall tours, Tuesdays from 9 - 11 am September 12 October 3 November 7 December 5 Register at Gatewaysc.org

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NOVEMBER 2023 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Features

Jim Booth Swim School

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Evenings • Saturday Classes • Birthday Parties

The BEST in Baby Swimming!

Start at 4 months in our 94° indoor pool!

David Bowie’s Wingman

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Student Directors

17 Three Generations at Cabrillo

At Watsonville indoor and outdoor pools

Editor’s Note ......................................4 Community Impact............................6 What Kids Are Saying.........................8 Always Amused...................................13 Birth Matters......................................14 Positive Discipline Parenting..............16 Coloring Contest................................18 Coloring Contest Winners..................19 Calendar.............................................22 Teacher’s Desk....................................24 Fashion Forward.................................25 Family Fitness.....................................27

Coming soon to to Toadal fitness in Watsonville, providing advanced classes and a non-compe��ve swim team to develop strength, endurance & technique

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EDITOR | PUBLISHER

Brad Kava and Steve Dinnen

ART DIRECTOR | MANAGING EDITOR

Nathan Mixter

DISTRIBUTION & SUBSCRIPTIONS

Susan Bernstein

CONTRIBUTORS

Laura Maxson, Addie Mahmassani, Elise Cline, Nicole Young, Suki Wessling, Colleen Murphy, Jaime McFaden Quin Sutherall, ,Dan Emerson, Matt Chipman, Erik Chalhoub, Ramona Pursley, Sarah Nofi, Steven Weiss, Todd Guild, Morgan Guerra

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NOVEMBER 2023 | VOL. 27 NO. 11

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From parenting to local events to monthly guides and everything in between.

GrowingUpSC.com | NOVEMBER 2023

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Editor’s Note We Love Our Local Community College

Even small changes can make a BIG difference.

Triple P is a scientifically-proven, world-renowned positive parenting program available to families in Santa Cruz County.

Triple P strategies address a wide range of parenting challenges by providing a toolbox of easy-to-use tips.

Find a full schedule of Triple P tips and classes at triplep.first5scc.org.

This program is made possible through a partnership between First 5 Santa Cruz County, Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency (MHSA – Prop 63 funds) & Santa Cruz County Human Services Department.

I n f o r m at I o n : first 5 Santa Cruz County 831.465.2217 triplep@first5scc.org • triplep.first5scc.org

On reviewing this issue, Managing Editor Nathan Mixter asked if we had too many stories about Cabrillo College. I hadn’t noticed as I picked the articles we would run. But yes, yes we do have a lot of stories about and by Cabrillo students.

Why shouldn’t we? It’s a measure of the success of our truly great community college that it is putting out so many successful students in all departments.

Have a look at this issue, starting with the cover, which is a first-person account of directing a student play that’s part of a showcase of eight original student plays running at the school from Nov. 3-19. The beauty of watching plays like this is you will forget immediately that these are by students. Their work, as well as the work we’ve seen in schools around the county, easily passes for professional.

Matthew Chipman, the writer of the article, is a Cabrillo Journalism student, as well as an arts scholar. Coincidentally, his mother, Shannon Chipman, has directed the International Academy of Dance’s “Nutcracker” and we are hoping for a first-person account of December’s upcoming performances…at Cabrillo.

Then there’s Ramona Pursley’s account of her three generations of family attending the college this semester.

It shows what a community school is really about…community. And lifelong learning. Keep in mind when you see the slight Ms. Pursley, she was a sheriff’s deputy who met her husband Bob while they were both on the SWAT team. When a teacher gets a student like her, they often learn as much from her life experience as they teach.

Erik Chaloub, who writes our regular column on amusement parks…yup, a Cabrillo grad who is now managing editor of several publications, including the Watsonville Pajaronian.

I’m really proud to introduce our new fashion column, keeping up with what young people are wearing in Santa Cruz.

Writer Morgan Guerra has her hopes on going to one of the big national fashion schools. She’s getting her start right now at Cabrillo.

Quinn Southall, 19, has two stories in this issue, one about AI and another about educating students about climate change. He also writes for Good Times.

And, I can’t help but mention he’s a Cabrillo student and also a great songwriter. He’s on his way to one of the state colleges soon.

I can go on…Todd Guild, a longtime reporter with the Pajaronian, got his start years back Cabrillo.

These people make me proud of our school. And when I say our, I say it both as a resident who moved here in part because of the lifelong educational opportunities and is a part-time journalism teacher at the college. My plan is to retire and study Spanish, music and world history at the school…if I ever get a chance to retire. I’m currently the editor of Good Times, the award-winning weekly newspaper that hired me to my first job when I was fresh out of college and was taking courses both at UCSC and Cabrillo. I also wrote for the San Jose Mercury News.

When I look at an issue like this with so many local success stories, I’m so proud of the school and this community for supporting it. I would be truant if I failed to mention one community member who has done so much to help writers and journalists. Rowland Rebele has a scholarship that pays students to work in the field and get experience, so they can devote their full-time to writing and reporting and afford to live here. He and his wife Pat, have been instrumental in growing a large crop of successful students for more than a decade with a grant that only Cabrillo and Stanford (his alma mater) get. He’s had a hand in so, so many successes I can’t thank him enough.

I’m leaving out plenty of other success stories and would love contributions from others of all ages in the Santa Cruz community Let us know the stories we need to cover and we will!

Thanks for reading!

Brad Kava, Editor and Publisher

Catch the Social Media Wave Don’t miss the Growing Up in Santa Cruz videos on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. To promote your business to thousands of viewers in the area each week, email editor@growingupsc.com or call (408) 656-1519.

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NOVEMBER 2023 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

LOCAL FEATURE Seymour Center Teaches Kids About Climate Change

BY QUINN SOUTHALL Devastating floods, fires, and drought - Santa Cruz county has directly felt the impacts of climate change in recent years.

To combat the growing crisis through public education and outreach, the Seymour Center has revamped their facility with interactive activities demonstrating research conducted through UCSC. While the dominant discourse of climate change is often seen through the lens of global impact, the Seymour Center’s focus is on Monterey Bay. They act as a megaphone of local scientific findings.

“One of the goals of this new center is to do community engagement and help advance local solutions,” said Executive Director Jonathan Hicken.

As a community we may not be able to solve climate change for the whole planet, but we can make this community more resilient to what is coming.”

After Hicken’s collaboration with individuals throughout the community, he understood it was a demand that many people shared.

UC Santa Cruz was willing to fund the new exhibit through the Center for Coastal Climate Resilience - which was allotted $20 million from California’s state budget.

While the Center kept its aquarium, rotating exhibits such as the photo exhibit and water cycle maze have been replaced with booths designed to engage people of all ages of the rapidly developing impacts of climate change on Santa Cruz county.

The newly designed facility was on full

Community Bridges WIC Program

South County/Watsonville 18 W. Lake Avenue Suite A 831-722-7121 North County/Santa Cruz 1105 Water Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 831-426-3911 Communitybridges.org/WIC WIC provides nutritious foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to health care and social services for millions of families, and it plays a crucial role in improving lifetime health for women, their infants, and

display with its opening Block Party on the Bluff.

This took place Friday, Oct. 6, at the Center - which is located at 100 McAllister Way in Santa Cruz.

One of the tables allows the user to propel a wave towards varying structures representing the danger of rising storm surges to more susceptible beaches.

Another displays local bio-friendly inventions including Cruz Foam, which is a styrofoam alternative made from chitin - a natural material found in shrimp shells.

Apart from the integration of the climate stations, the Seymour Center also features the new addition of a kids’ library, a terrarium of local plants, and even a publicly accessible microscope.

Jordan Boudreau, Associate Director of Community Engagement and Yale graduate of architecture, designed the Center’s new look.

The facility was created to help expand

community knowledge and involvement regarding the issue, as he explained how “over the past few years we’re seeing more and more the effects of climate change, which are global but manifesting in really clear ways. Like flooding in Pajaro, erosion in Santa Cruz, and fires everywhere.”

Production for the new facility began in March, and was poised to start for the beginning of the school year, as UCSC undergraduate students have free access to the Seymour Center.

The tables were designed to be easily rotatable so, in the case of a pressing climate issue of urgent importance such as a wildfire, it can be highlighted.

One point of emphasis for the Center was to make education of climate issues equally accessible to everyone in Santa Cruz county, so all materials are now bilingual with Spanish.

Impoverished communities are at particular risk at the brunt of climate

young children. Part of the nation’s nutrition safety net for over 45 years, WIC serves pregnant and post-partum women, infants, and children through their fifth birthday. Annually, Community Bridges WIC program serves over 500 pregnant women, 800 breastfeeding women, 1,100 infants, and 3,800 children offering a comprehensive range of services to promote healthy lifestyles both on-site and online.

Dientes Community Dental Care

“I have received so much help from WIC from nutritional classes to just being able to ask questions like is my child eating enough or are the eating too much and also with breastfeeding support.”

Paloma, WIC participant

1830 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz 1500 Capitola Road, Santa Cruz 100 Pioneer Street, Suite D, Santa Cruz 1430 Freedom Blvd., Suite C, Watsonville dientes.org Dientes is a full-service dental provider located in Santa Cruz County. We practice whole family dentistry including kids, adults, and seniors; but children hold a special place in our heart – nearly half of our patients are kids seen by our experienced pediatric dentists.

First 5 Santa Cruz County

831.465.2217 First5scc.org

First 5 Santa Cruz County promotes the healthy development of children from birth to age 5.

Parents and caregivers of newborns can contact First 5 to receive a free “Kit for New Parents” with parenting videos, children’s books, information on caring for babies and local resources. First 5 also offers parenting support through the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program, a worldrenowned program that strengthens families by building positive relationships. To find Triple P classes or quick tips, visit triplep.first5scc.org or

disasters - as seen with the Pajaro flooding this year. Lower income areas are less likely to receive funding for maintenance, which often comes at the expense of those who call it home.

Recent climate catastrophes have played a significant role in the additions brought to the Seymour Center as it becomes evident that the only way to understand what to expect from climate change is to learn the science behind it.

“If you’re a family in Santa Cruz, come to the Seymour Center,” said Hicken. “Discover these solutions, and more importantly, discover how you and your kids can get involved and make a difference right now.”

Education Director Kevin Keedy is a firm believer and advocate of play-based learning and looked to involve kids in the open and free-flowing environment of the new look Seymour Center.

When Hicken stepped into the role of Executive Director in August of 2021, the Center only had 5 full time staff members due to deceleration during the pandemic.

Just over two years later, they have 11 employees with 16 working part time, and over 150 volunteers.

The public daily admission cost is $12 for adults, $11 for seniors, and $9 for children.

Yearly memberships are $80 for a family.

While climate change can often feel like an overwhelming and incomprehensible task, the Seymour Center localizes it for a fun and educational experience made for everyone in Santa Cruz County.

“Really what this is about is optimism and hope,” said Hicken. “If we come together and we advance these solutions, we can keep Santa Cruz safe.”

facebook.com/triplepscc

MusicalMe, Inc. offering Music Together™

Locations throughout Santa Cruz and Santa Clara County Call/Text: 831.332.9002 registrar@musicalme.com musicalme.com Learning begins in the womb - we’re here to help you provide a rich, stimulating & musical learning environment that starts now and will enrich both of your lives from now on. Babies, toddlers, and preschoolers—and the grownups who love them!—play and learn together in our Mixed-Age classes, for children from birth through age 5.

RC Fam | Raíces y Cariño

A Community Collective for Families 1205 Freedom Blvd, #3B. Watsonville 831.288.3105 www.rcfam.com

Raíces y Cariño (Roots & Love) believes the best way to ensure children’s livelihood is by empowering their family structure, however that may look. Our collective’s goal is whole family support from babies to grandparents.

GrowingUpSC.com | NOVEMBER 2023

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COMMUNITY IMPACT United Way’s Innovative 211 Program Delivers Free Meals and Much More Program partners with DoorDash to serve seniors and others who can’t leave home While everyone is familiar with calling 911 for emergencies, some may not know about another important resource that offers help with non-emergency issues.

The number to call is 2-1-1.

Established in 2010 by the United Way of Santa Cruz County, 211 connects individuals and families to social and health services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The 211 mission is simple: provide access to services to individuals and families in need.

Those needs could range from help with smoking cessation to obtaining lowcost broadband to assistance with taxes or even rent relief.

The service enables people to ask questions, understand their options, resolve problems, and ultimately improve their lives. It provides information that is easy to access, while providing referrals to a wide variety of social services.

In its latest innovative offering for 211 in the community, United Way of Santa Cruz County has partnered with DoorDash to bring Ride United Last Mile Delivery (RULMD) to local residents via the 211 hotline. The program reduces transportation and health barriers for neighbors by delivering food and essential items to their doorsteps.

The 211 and DoorDash partnership leverages DoorDash’s logistics to power deliveries from local food banks, food pantries, and other distribution points to senior citizens, low-income families, pet owners, and those who can’t leave home, providing food and essential items to those in need.

The program was designed in response to rising levels of financial hardship, food insecurity, and natural disasters.

Last year, United Way of Santa Cruz County delivered nearly 2,600 pantry items and meals to homebound residents, supporting the Second Harvest Food Bank’s participating food pantries.

RULMD is a home delivery program that brings food and essential supplies to vulnerable populations, to help address hunger and other complex community challenges. The “last mile” represents the

and rebuild after challenges, including those caused by systemic inequities, the COVID-19 pandemic, and our recent disasters, such as the Winter Storms,” said Keisha Browder, CEO, of United Way of Santa Cruz County.

“Too many neighbors face ongoing financial challenges, especially when it comes to putting food on the table and covering other basic needs. By partnering with DoorDash, we can make sure our community continues to have sustainable solutions and every person gets the support they need.”

During the 2023 Winter Storms, Ride United was able to deliver food pantry items and meals to those affected by the flooding, providing a total of 705 pantry items or meals delivered to those in need.

A VITAL SERVICE

211 is a vital service leveraged by thousands of people across Santa Cruz County. Every day, clients contact 211 to access free and confidential crisis and emergency counseling, disaster assistance, food, health care and insurance assistance, stable housing and utilities payment assistance, employment services, veteran services, and childcare and family services.

Additionally, last year, 211 responded to over 6,000 requests for assistance across the county and provided nearly 10,000 referrals for community resources.

Whether it’s day-to-day challenges or during times of crisis, disasters, or other difficult situations, 211 plays a critical role in connecting affected individuals with emergency services, shelters, food distribution, and other essential resources. The program seeks to reduce barriers to accessing services by providing information in multiple languages and through various communication channels. last hurdle in getting food to people who face challenges in accessing basic needs because of health considerations, lack of public transit, or other barriers.

RULMD launched in select cities in April 2020 and currently serves people in

35 states and over 500 cities. During that time, community members have received over 850,000 free deliveries, including 11.1 million meals.

“RULMD extends the ways we already help people respond to, recover from

People who need help finding available local resources, including food, can call 211 or visit 211.org for more information.

For more information about the United Way of Santa Cruz County, please visit, 211santacruzcounty.org

This column is sponsored by Comcast, a proud supporter of the local journalists at Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

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NOVEMBER 2023 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

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we understand that the first five years of a child’s life are crucial for their health and success. That’s why our six centers in Watsonville, Santa Cruz, and the San Lorenzo Valley are dedicated to providing nurturing and affordable early education programs. We believe that a good teacher is a guide and companion, traveling the winding road with the child. Our approach focuses on building relationships rather than controlling behavior.

Visit communitybridges.org/eed

Our values and services: • Low teacher-to-child ratios (1:8 for preschoolers and 1:4 for toddlers) • Outdoor, hands-on learning that inspires curiosity, exploration, and creativity • Developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate playbased programs • Free or affordable costs for most families on a sliding scale

GrowingUpSC.com | NOVEMBER 2023

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Open Houses What Are You Thankful For?

By Addie Mahmassani

As news of the loss of innocent lives to violence in the Middle East floods our screens this fall, it’s hard to know how to carry on here in a place so far away. I have found it helps me in times like this to take extra time to give thanks for core aspects of my life that are in no way guaranteed: security, health, home, family. While this perspective does not directly help others who are suffering at home or abroad, it seems like a good place to start regaining one’s footing as waves of bad news hit. The kids of Santa Cruz don’t seem quite as worried as I am about global affairs, but I still asked them to join me in my little gratitude ritual this month.

Santa Catalina Lower and Middle School Truly Catalina: PreK-Grade 8 Open House Friday, Nov. 10 9:15-10:45am 1500 Mark Thomas Drive, Monterey lmsadmission@santacatalina.org

Adrian, 9

Alexa, 8

I’m grateful for fast food. My favorite is Burger King.

I’m grateful for my mom.

Dalila, 5

Tyrone, 9

Tacos! Carne asada!

I’m grateful for dogs. I like any kind of dog!

Madison, 5

Sergio, 12

My car! It’s white. I ride with my mom and I like to go to the beach.

I’m thankful for my mom for all she does for me.

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NOVEMBER 2023 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Come see what is truly possible for your child at Santa Catalina Lower and Middle School. Join us on campus for our in-person admission open house on Friday, November 10 from 9:15-10:45 a.m. and for our Veterans Day assembly at 11:00 a.m.

Register today at santacatalina.org!

Santa Catalina School Truly Catalina: An Admission Open House Sunday, Nov. 12, 1-4pm 1500 Mark Thomas Drive, Monterey admission@santacatalina.org

Curious about Santa Catalina?

Come learn more about our signature programs, meet faculty, sample our academic and cocurricular offerings, and talk to students about clubs, activities, leadership, and campus life. Start following your dreams and register at santacatalina.org today! RSVPs are required.

More information at scms.org or call 831-476-1646

LOCAL FEATURE David Bowie’s Sax Player Finds Success After Aptos High

BY DAN EMERSON When Saxophonist Donny McCaslin and his New York-based band blazed through one of the best-received sets at the 66th Monterey Jazz Festival in September, McCaslin was standing on familiar turf.

As he told the audience at his Friday evening set on the West End stage, McCaslin has played the prestigious festival a number of times, starting at age 14. That year, McCaslin and his Aptos High School jazz bandmates won that year’s high school compeitition, and with it, a slot at the festival.

The effects-laden set McCaslin and his band played wasn’t the kind of music that would appeal to jazz purists, but it was atmospheric and high-energy, with plenty of dynamics and improvisational surprise.

If you wanted to design the perfect incubator for a jazz musician, it might look a lot like the Santa Cruz scene Donny McCaslin grew up in, circa 1980s. There was a percolating, local jazz marketplace in those days, with steady gigs for musicians, a renowned jazz program at Cabrillo College and in 1975, the opening of the Kuumbwa Jazz Center, providing an unshakeable stage for both local players and traveling icons.

McCaslin returns to familiar turf this weekend. Friday night at 7 p.m., He and his quartet will play the West End stage at the Monterey Jazz Festival. McCaslin played at the festival several times while still in high school. They’ll play music from his new Album “I Want More,” on Edition Records.

McCaslin’s late father, Don, was at the epicenter of the scene as a steadily gigging, dedicated pianist and vibraphonist who sometimes played as many as 13 gigs in a week, according to one former band member. Don McCaslin died of congestive heart failure in early 2020.

In those days, jazz people could hold down long-running, standing gigs, and Don McCaslin had a lot of them (according to a Good Times article from a few years ago): 17 years at the Cooper House before it was wrecked by the Loma Prieta earthquake, almost 20 years at the Wharf House in Capitola, and nearly 25 at Severino’s in Aptos. He also had long runs at the 2525 Club in Soquel, the old Bayview Hotel in Aptos, and the New Riverside in Capitola, along with steady bookings at places like the — Crow’s Nest, the Balzac Bistro, and many other clubs that live in memory.

The Santa Cruz nightclubs where his father’s bands worked regularly are long gone, for the most part. But Donny, now based in Brooklyn, has very early memories of going to his dad’s Cooper House gigs one day a week, “helping him set up and then sitting on the bandstand all day.”

He started learning the saxophone at age 12. Thinking back, McCaslin thinks

his interest in the tenor sax might have been sparked by his father’s tenorman, Jesse Braxton, “a very charismatic player.” Once he made the choice he started taking lessons from the stillactive sax player Brad Hecht and then Paul Contos, who has a prominent position in the education department at SF Jazz in the Bay Area.

Although McCaslin was not very old when his parents divorced, he has fond memories of his father bringing a Wurlitzer piano over to the Happy Valley home where Donny and his mother lived, and playing keyboard chords for Donny to practice over. He would do this on a weekly basis.

“My dad gave me so much info that was brand new to me, talking to me about players like John Coltrane and Michael Brecker, and I started exploring the jazz language.”

The younger McCaslin didn’t take long to achieve fluency. Living with his mother in Happy Valley after his parents divorced, McCaslin attended Aptos High School and got an early start with Aptos’ renowned jazz program, led by Don Keller. “He had all these Duke Ellington

charts, bequeathed to him by Bill Berry, who had a big band in L.A. and toured with Ellington.” McCaslin auditioned with the jazz band at Cabrillo College and found he wasn’t ready yet, but soon after started participating in Cabrillo band rehearsals several days a week.

He also learned a lot in a combo class at the recently opened Kuumbwa Jazz.

He also remembers seeing jazz titans like Elvin Jones. McCoy Tyner and others lead their bands at Kuumbwa.

He started sitting in with his dad’s bands several days a week. “All those elements gave me a real immersion in the music’; I had the opportunity to make some mistakes and learn from the best.”

His father “really worked hard at music, but for him it wasn’t just a job. He knew a million songs and the whole word of music was a huge part of his identity.”

McCaslin’s adolescence as a developing musical prodigy wasn’t always smooth sailing, with the emotional turmoil of his parents’ split.

But, “musically, it was an ideal environment.” Relying on scholarships he won in soloist competitions, McCaslin enrolled at prestigious Berklee College

of music in 1984. In his sophomore year, he turned down an offer from drum icon Buddy Rich to go on tour, deciding he wasn’t ready for the big leagues. In his senior year, he joined vibraphonist (and Berklee prof) Gary Burton’s quintet. In 1990, he moved to the center of the jazz world, NYC, where he freelanced with a long list of top players, among them Cuban pianist Danilo Perez, bassist Eddie Gomez and vibraphonist Mike Mainieri.

Along, the way McCaslin started composing original music and became a bandleader. “The composing happened organically because of the instrument I play,” he notes. “Sax is a lead instrument.”

McCaslin’s career took a major leap around 2015 when the late David Bowie heard him solo with the Maria Schneider Orchestra. Bowie’s people came to hear McCaslin’s combo “and the next day he emailed me asking to record some music.“ The music became Bowie’s epic’ final album, 2016’s “Blackstar.” The record won multiple Grammy awards, and McCaslin shared the spotlight. The experience also influenced his music; his first album introduced elements of altrock along with the jazz.

Dipping further into the pop music waters, McCaslin spent part of this summer touring with Elvis Costello and the Imposters, as part of a three-piece horn section.

Since the Bowie project, McCaslin says his phone has been ringing more often with front-man opportunities. He has been touring in Europe and japan with a new album he will perform at Monterrey with his quartet, which includes pianist Jason Lindner, bassist Tim Lefebre and drummer Nate Woods.

Using the music he helped Bowie create as “a jumping off point,” McCaslin has also developed a Blackstar symphony that debuted last year in Tel Aviv, with his band, a 75-piece orchestra and three vocalists.

He’ll start a Pacific Northwest tour in November, and play the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., early next year. He always looks forward to returning home to Santa Cruz, when his hectic schedule allows.

McCaslin last sat in with his father at a gig in January, 2020, when the elder McCaslin was struggling with health problems. Two months later he died of congestive heart failure at the age of 93.

He hasn’t forgotten what he considers the most important lesson his dad passed on to him. It wasn’t about riffs and chords, but rather the personal finance tightrope-walk of the jazz life. He often said to me “if you’re going to go into something, do it because you really love it, not to become affluent.”

GrowingUpSC.com | NOVEMBER 2023

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STUDENT’S VIEW Adventures in Student Directing

BY MATHEW CHIPMAN

In August of 2023 nine ambitious Cabrillo College students were selected by Professor Don Williams and his assistant producer Riley Hartmann to direct eight ten minute short plays for Cabrillo College’s “Authentic Creative Works” festival. A night of (mostly) student-written short plays put on by the school’s theater arts division.

Students include: Tamaya Okumura, AG, Alexandra Perez, Diana Torrez Garcia, Sebastian Hardison, Gill Baker, David Hamilton, Mitch Truong, and Mathew Chipman There’s an old saying in theater: “If the show fails, it’s because of the directors if it succeeds. It’s because of the actors.”

8/23/23, The sheer turnout for our auditions and the talent of the students who stepped in front of us with a monologue was mindblowing. Minutes before we opened the doors, my ears were ringing like a tea kettle left on for too long, stress boiling over with worries about whether or not I’d find what I needed—listening to the faint clamor of our future actors waiting beyond the doors of room 4111, filling out contact forms. Mr. Williams’s reminded us to remain unbiased and humble, knowing most of the actors coming in are our friends, and fellow community members, this brought me back to my time on the Football field when my coach would give a speech reminding us to put the team first before a scrimmage, when we knew we’d be facing kids from other schools who were our friends or family. When the actors filed in, we knew they would make our choices difficult in the best possible way. I was especially impressed by a kid who monologued about dungeons and dragons; he melted entirely into the character of a larger-than-life

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teen, his mannerisms shifted, and his eyes lit up. It was so fun to watch. The kid is gifted, and I will eventually cast him as my lead.

8/24/23, As we sat in silence after three days of auditions, I was beginning to panic because my phone had died, and it was notorious for taking whole days to charge, which is incredibly annoying when you need to send out a cast list in the morning. Looking around the green room of Cabrillo College’s VAPA building, our impromptu base of operations. A whiteboard with each of our cast lists written out on a grid, looming with an almost sacred air, akin to the inscriptions on the walls of the Lincoln Memorial in DC. I noticed that the deep eye bags, which had become a seemingly permanent fixture on my face in recent weeks, were commonplace among my fellow directors. In their tired yet giddy expressions, I realized we’re all fighting the same fight

NOVEMBER 2023 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

and grappling with wavering uncertainty about whether or not we could pull this off, each of us with our own shows intricacies and challenges. The reality was that while we were all happy with our cast choices, we had only taken the first step of a thousand. Our journey was barely beginning. A tremendous familial bond was forming between us, Something that would last a lifetime. We successfully cast a show together!

And for better or worse, our choices would impact our lives and those of the actors we were now responsible for for the next three months and beyond.

Interview with Dulyn W., Actor in Sebastian Hardison’s Human When I sat down with Dulyn In the VAPA hallway underneath a metal print of The Hunchback of Notre Dame the building was bursting with people wrapping up their rehearsals and going home for the night. I was very excited to have been able to interview him about his own experiences

as a student actor working with a student director.

Matt: What are some of the pros and cons of working with a student director rather than faculty.

Dulyn: Some of the pros are that students who wrote and are now directing their piece seem to have a more personal connection to the cast as it is their art and it comes from a place within themselves.

Working with a piece that has fluidity and can be changed is fun because oftentimes a small change can come about that improves a moment.

Some of the cons are there are Organization issues, Students are much less organized than faculty members and are less experienced with managing schedules and maximizing time so it is often chaotic.

for k’s!

Matt: What’s been your Favorite cast moment so far?

Dulyn: When Sebastian set up cast bonding between me and Ian (colead) to get us on the same page and make sure that the two of us are connecting and working well together. Cast bonding is a huge deal especially when you’re intimidated by your costar, I’m really glad Ian isn’t listening to this. (Points to ian who is sitting at another table) Ian: What?

Dulyn: Nothing!

“No one said this would be easy” 10/4/23, October 4, one of the hottest days in recent memory, and we weren’t spared from the heat in Cabrillos Design Studio, rushing out of that hot room after the weekly production meeting to run rehearsal was a blessing.

Combining the stress of the meeting with spilling coffee on my favorite shirt, I was in a cautiously excited mood for our first full-cast rehearsal. People had gotten periodically sick, and until then, the cast had only ever been together once at the start. I began by explaining why I wrote my story and where it came from.

I trusted my heart to the cast so they could better understand what they were performing. We ran through the entire scene and finished ironing out the actors’ movements. Their delivery was powerful, their chemistry precisely what I envisioned, and infinitely more. We still had a few bumps in the road but had come a long way from the initial reads. After sharing why I wrote a beat without a drum with my cast, I felt a deeper connection with them and Erik’s DeliCafé a shared duty to tell this story in Aptos the best way possible.

I feel ready and excited to share it with the Capitola rest of the cast and crew next week Santa Cruz on our “show and tell day.” in the Scotts Valley words of Obi-Wan Kenobi, “This is Watsonville where the fun begins.”

10/10/23 “Show and tell day,” as Mr. Williams referred to it, had arrived, our first opportunity to watch all eight shows unfold in running order. For many in the cast, this was their first time seeing anything other than their group’s short play, so it was exciting for everyone. “Show and tell day” was my first time working with my “backup “QB, an outstanding young actor named Andy who will be understudying the role of “The Phantom.” In a mountainous and inspirational display of courage and enthusiasm, he stepped up and read his character for the first time with my cast in front of an audience. When it was over, I hugged my friends and team, who had become a second family.

We congratulated each other and gave criticism. Looking into their eyes, I saw passion, love, and enthusiasm for something much bigger than ourselves. It reminded me of a video I watched once as

a kid where mission control at Johnson Space Center broke into celebration after successfully landing Apollo 11 on the moon.

While directing a show is not rocket science, that connection between the cast and crew, knowing we’re in this together, keeps me returning to the theater.

If successfully running the show for the first time was like landing a rocket on the moon, We still have a long road ahead of us, and if we keep moving forward with patience, passion, and precision When we open. It’s going to be like landing a rocket on Mars.

“Upward and Onward”

10/11/23 Throughout this project, I’ve often felt like Peter Parker writing a story on Spiderman for The Daily Bugle, and I’m excited for what the future holds. With tech week, when all the lights, sounds, and costumes come together on stage and opening night looming on the horizon like a sunrise over foggy mountains, I still have a gigantic amount of work to do before we open. However, I couldn’t be happier with the cast and crew of our show. If you want to know how this story ends, you’ll have to see us at Cabrillo College’s Black Box Theater this November!

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Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker Tickets at SantaCruzTickets.com More info at scbt.org

Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History 1305 East Cliff Dr., Santa Cruz 831.420.6115 info@santacruzmuseum.org https://www.santacruzmuseum.org/

Wonderland Toys & Classroom Resources 19-B Rancho Del Mar, Aptos 831-316-7261 info@wonderlandsantacruz.com

Experience the magic of the holiday season at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History. Immerse yourself in nature’s beauty while attending free events and exploring exhibitions. Shop locally or online at our museum store and find unique, educational gifts. Create unforgettable memories - visit the Museum of Natural History today!

Wonderland is your small, locally owned, one-stop shop for all your holiday gifts. At Wonderland you’ll find toys, games, puzzles, books, arts & crafts, science kits, outdoor/ active play items, stuffed animals, and so much more for every kid on your list. Thank you for shopping local this holiday season!

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Wolf at the Door Creative is a family business based in the Santa Cruz Mountains. We create handmade botanical candles with flowers from our garden as well as other nature based products.

SCBT presents The Nutcracker with live orchestra December 9th- 10th! Experience the holiday tradition that has captivated local audiences at Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium since 2002. Starring SCBT alumni, Houston Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet principal dancers Melody Mennite and Lucien Postlewaite with supporting cast featuring SCBT Senior Company dancers.

Kianti’s Pizza & Pasta Bar 1100 Pacific Ave, Downtown Santa Cruz 831.469.4400 www.kiantis.com

Shop early and local with Kianti’s gifts: Gift Cards, Sweatshirts, Blankets, Kianti’s Wine, Kianti’s Handcrafted Liquor: Tequila, Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka. Let Kianti’s cater your event! Enjoy Kianti’s Christmas Dance Friday & Saturday evenings Thanksgiving weekend til the New Year.

Advertise your event or business here in December by emailing advertising@growingupsc.com. Deadline Nov. 15.

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NOVEMBER 2023 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

ALWAYS AMUSED Easing the Pain of Ride Breakdowns

BY ERIK CHALHOUB I recently returned from a few days in Southern California to visit Knott’s Berry Farm and Six Flags Magic Mountain for the first time since 2019.

Being that it was my first visit since before the pandemic, I was thrilled to hit my favorite rides, after wondering three years ago if I would ever have the opportunity again.

The primary purpose of my visit was for both parks’ Halloween spectaculars.

Word of advice: try every other theme park Halloween event before going to Knott’s Scary Farm. Knott’s haunt is second to none, and will seriously ruin every other due to the impossibly high bar it sets.

If my trip, however, was just for the rides, I would’ve been sorely disappointed.

Two of my favorite roller coasters at Knott’s Berry Farm have been down for a combined total of nearly three years. At Magic Mountain, another two of my favorites were shut tight, while many others were running only one train, which automatically doubles the amount of time it takes to ride.

Even worse, I experienced multiple breakdowns while waiting in lines, including one coaster that “experienced a temporary delay” twice in the hourand-fifteen minutes I was standing in line. Maybe next year, Full Throttle.

The ride closures, breakdowns and overall uncertainty over operations got me thinking: how can parks handle this unfortunate reality better?

In a post on LinkedIn, Neil Wilson, a theme park industry veteran whose resume includes stints at Walt Disney World and Alton Towers, described a recent breakdown he experienced at the Bourne Stuntacular ride at Universal Orlando, an action show that combines virtual screens with real-life props and actors.

The stage manager took to the stage to address the audience, first to

At the very least, there should be benches and constant shade in line for those of us exhausted from being on our feet all day.

apologize to the crowd, but then took the time to describe all the complex technical aspects of the performance in an interesting way that gave the audience an inside look at how everything operates.

This interaction goes above and beyond what most other parks do when their attractions break down, oftentimes telling people they can leave or wait until things get back up and running.

Here, the audience can get some sort of entertaining experience for the amount of time they waited in line.

Time wasted is the biggest gripe most park-goers will cite when asked what frustrated them the most because of a breakdown. What else can be done?

Offering those in line food discounts or front-of-the-line passes would help ease the pain.

While most parks have TVs in line that screen advertisements or trivia, take it a step further by offering an app where people stuck in line can compete with their fellow park-goers for prizes through games on their devices.

Boardwalk introduces two new rides for 2024 In a previous column, I wrote that the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk was in the process of adding a new Ferris wheel after the ride’s six-year absence.

The Boardwalk made the news official recently, unveiling a name for the ride, Dream Wheel, and a targeted spring 2024 opening date.

The Dream Wheel, at 65 feet tall, replaces Rock & Roll, the spinning and swinging ‘50s-themed car ride that has been dishing tunes since 2002 near the first drop of the Giant Dipper.

The colorful ride, which is sure to make a splash in the Boardwalk’s skyline, will feature 15 gondolas that can sit up to four adults or six children at a time.

“Ferris wheels are as much a part of a classic seaside amusement park experience as wooden roller coasters, carousels and cotton candy,” Boardwalk spokesperson Kris Reyes said. “We are

thrilled to add Dream Wheel to our lineup of amazing rides, and I know our guests will love the stunning views.”

Also coming in 2024 around Memorial Day weekend is Surge, replacing the long-standing Cliff Hanger ride.

Surge is a spinning and tilting ride that can seat up to 24 riders on a dizzying 360-degree journey.

Save the Dates Holiday Season: Our regional parks are once again ready to get festive. Most events begin near the end of November.

Check their websites for dates and times.

New Year’s Eve Celebration: Gilroy Gardens will ring in the New Year with a dance party, food, fireworks and more.

May 17, 2024: The Giant Dipper at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk celebrates its 100th birthday. What will be in store for the momentous occasion?

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BIRTH MATTERS Ready or Not, Here They Come

BY NICOLE M. YOUNG, MSW There is so much to think about and do to prepare for a new baby.

Nine months of pregnancy can seem like plenty of time, but it can go fast.

Suddenly, the baby is here, and the to-do list goes out the window, exchanged for busy days filled with the many small demands of a tiny new person. Parents everywhere think, “What in the world did I do all day before this baby came?”

So, while there is still time to sit and focus, here are a couple of tasks to move to the top of the to-do-BEFORE-babyarrives list. One involves acquiring a skill you hope to never use, and the other is for one you hope to use day-in and dayout for months on end.

First- learn CPR. Of course, your little one is unlikely to have a heart attack, but an obstructed airway is one of the most common reason parents to need to provide lifesaving action. A complete adult, infant, child, CPR, AED (defibrillator), and first aid class may take the better part of a Saturday, but it will provide great peace of mind – not only around a new baby, but maybe around the grandparents as well. Life

tends to only get busier as children and families grow. Take a class now – ask anyone who has been around a near drowning or choking situation – it is a skill set to have readily available.

A course that includes an instructor to check your technique is highly recommended, but there are on-line and mail order versions that also impart

S hop Local

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NOVEMBER 2023 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

valuable skills. Some classes provide education only, while others offer a certification. Courses can range from free, to well over $100. Check out some of the many options for CPR instruction in our community: • American Heart Association (AHA) “Infant CPR Anytime” kit can be ordered for about $45.00. This includes an

inflatable infant manikin (with extra lung for another user), DVD and more in English or Spanish - shopcpr.heart.org/ courses/cpr-anytime • Defib This, in Santa Cruz offers AHA classes - defibthis.com • Above the Bar – Friends & Family CPR for $20-40 - abovebarcpr.com • The American Red Cross online class

starts at $37. A variety of local in-person classes are also offered. - redcross.org • Central Fire District offers a monthly, free “bystander” CPR class. www.centralfiresc.org/2221/CPR-Classes • Our local family support centers, such as Circle Family Center, RC Fam/ RC | Raíces y Cariño, Full Moon Birth & Family Wellness Center, as well as local hospitals and clinics periodically offer these classes.

They are often interest-driven, so asking for a class may prompt one.

Second, start learning about infant feeding before baby arrives. While many parents wait until baby is born to attend one of our community’s many feedingsupport groups, many find they aren’t ready to get out of the house during those first tender weeks after birth. It can pay to get a head start on building skills while still pregnant to help things go more smoothly.

While exploring a few different options in-person while pregnant, make a list of contacts including when each feeding-support group meets, to put on the fridge for after the baby arrives for easier scheduling. We are lucky to live in a community with many wide-ranging options for support.

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A special evening of ALL ORIGINAL SONGS. Lots of locally inspired tunes, audience interaction and humor.

michaelgaither.com GrowingUpSC.com | NOVEMBER 2023

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POSITIVE DISCIPLINE PARENTING An Effective and Unique Parenting Approach Tools are specifically designed to meet the need for safety

BY SARAH NOFI AND STEVEN WEISS. Growing Up In Santa Cruz recently featured Positive Discipline articles discussing the differences between punishment and discipline.

These are the key take-aways: punishment is something that usually stems from adults getting angry with children and mistakenly believing that it is the effective option to change their behavior. Over the long term, however, punishment results in resentment, revenge, rebellion, and retreat. Positive discipline, on the other hand, is expressed not with anger but with compassion, and it is exercised with a balance of kindness and firmness (the authoritative parenting style) so as to help children feel better (the relationship-focused approach) and in turn do better (what we all think of as respectful, positive behavior).

Traditional parenting approaches are behavior-focused with the short-term goal of gaining compliance; however, such approaches ultimately undermine the very safety, connection, and true discipline we want to provide for our children. In this article we will outline the main reasons that Positive Discipline is not only unique but effective over the long term.

Many of us have heard before that humans are social beings. For more than a century, people have explored the implications of that, if for no other reason than to improve our understanding of human behavior.

Alfred Adler and Rudolf Dreikurs are the psychologists whose ideas/theories are most prevalent in and relevant to the Positive Discipline approach.

They believed that human behavior is best motivated by something more meaningful than rewards and punishments.

Their work culminated in the idea that all human beings (especially children), have three fundamental social needs: physical and emotional safety, a sense of belonging and connection, and what Adler referred to as gemeinschaftsgefühl, a feeling of significance emanating from the positive contributions that people make with and for one another.

When these needs are met, children are more likely to discover and develop their capabilities, experience intrinsic motivation (the desire to make good choices for their own reasons), and enjoy positive relationships with themselves and others.

Adults play a critical role in helping children get their needs met both through our own behaviors (modeling) and our interactions with them. At the same time, we recognize that Positive Discipline concepts, while easy to understand, require patience, empathy, and lots of practice.

Based on the extensive research conducted both in the world of neurobiology and trauma-informed care, Positive Discipline

16

recognizing and honoring the uniqueness of each child (e.g., appealing to their individual temperaments) and having reasonable expectations of children based on what they can and can’t do.

To learn more about Positive Discipline, download free parenting tip sheets, and sign up for workshops and trainings, please visit Positive Discipline Community Resources online at www.pdcrcc.org.

considers safety as a top priority. When our safety is compromised, our brains tend to go into a fight, flight, or freeze mode. When we feel safe, however, our brains are better prepared to think, learn, and problem solve.

Positive Discipline tools are specifically designed to prioritize and meet everyone’s need for safety. One of the Positive Discipline tools that best demonstrates this is the positive time-out. In contrast to the traditional, punitive time-out, the positive time-out offers caregivers and children alike the time and space they need to cool off when a conflict becomes heated and then regroup once everyone is feeling better to attempt to work out a solution.

Positive Discipline takes Abraham Maslow’s concept of belonging in his hierarchy of needs to the next level through its focus on enhancing and preserving the long-term relationship between adults and children.

While other parenting methodologies promote a power over (as opposed to power with) approach, Positive Discipline helps parents practice connection before correction (an extension of what Dreikurs referred to as discovering the beliefs behind the behaviors).

As a way of synthesizing those two concepts, consider Adler’s and Dreikurs’ assertion that behavior is a purposive form of communication that conveys met and unmet needs, and that unmet needs lead children to feel discouraged and thus behave accordingly.

Connection before correction can be as simple as asking children curiosity questions to ascertain how/what they are feeling, offering empathy and validation, or providing them the encouragement they need to feel better before we attempt to address their challenging behavior(s) and uphold our limits. Thankfully, there are times when unmet needs are easier to address due to the fact that they are more biological in nature.

For example, sometimes children are uncooperative simply because they’re hungry and/or tired. In those cases, giving children something to eat and/or

letting them rest are the best solutions.

Finally, unlike so many other approaches, Positive Discipline is developmentally appropriate as it takes children’s ages and stages into account.

As such, while sharing common core elements, the Positive Discipline tools that are designed for toddlers are quite different from those that are designed for school-age children and adolescents. Being developmentally appropriate also entails

This article was co-authored by Sarah Nofi and her husband Steven Weiss.

Sarah is a Certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator, a former Montessori teacher, currently an educator at the Cabrillo College Children’s Center, and a proud parent of her now adult son.

Steven Weiss is a Certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator, a former child welfare social worker and clinical therapist, and currently an alternative education instructional aide for the Santa Cruz County Office of Education.

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LOCAL FEATURE The Family That Studies Together Three generations are at Cabrillo at the same time

BY RAMONA PURSLEY For the past couple of years, I have watched and supported my husband Bob in his quest to earn his Bachelor’s Degree.

I have always admired his tenacity and skill to learn something new. He has been retired for several years, but is always busy. In addition to his schoolwork, he also coaches’ football, wrestling and track.

I have three older children who are in their mid to late thirties and we have two high schoolers at home. In addition, we have grandchildren who range in age from Elementary school to early twenties.

Since my retirement from Law Enforcement, I have obtained my certifications in massage therapy and personal training. Other than working a few hours a week, I have mostly been taking care of home tasks and supporting the kids with their school and sports activities.

I have recently dealt with health issues and decided I needed to refocus and give myself a goal.

This fall semester, my older daughter Elizabeth, my grandson Raymond, my high school daughter, Sophie, and I decided to enroll at Cabrillo College.

My older daughter Elizabeth has been attending Cabrillo since last year. Her long-term plans are to receive a degree in social work. She is a true success story and inspiration.

For years she struggled with drug addiction and homelessness. Beth (as I call her) has been clean and sober for almost four years (in October), has a home and a wonderful job that she loves.

Cabrillo has been an amazing place for her and I have no doubt that she will fulfill her dreams. Beth is a very compassionate human being and would give someone the shirt off her back. She has extra clothing in her car that she gives to needy folks on the street. Beth is very caring, and I am sure she will have a lot to offer in her chosen field of study.

My daughter Sophie is a senior at Aptos High. She also decided to register at Cabrillo this fall and take English and Kinesiology classes. From the time she was 5 years old, she has always said she wanted to be a doctor. Sophie plans to go to a four-year university when she graduates next year, her first choice is Stanford. Sophie plans to be a pediatrician, specializing in Orthopedics.

My 20-year-old grandson Raymond, who attended Cabrillo in the past, is also attending this fall. Raymond is a talented artist and is taking graphic design and 3-D art classes. Although Raymond has had some learning challenges, he continues to push forward to realize his dream of becoming a graphic artist and I know he will.

Inspired by my family’s motivation, I

decided to challenge myself and register at Cabrillo this fall. I thought it would be a good idea to start with one online class.

I chose Kinesiology because I have always been an athlete and I thought it would be something relatable. I have not been in school for over 20 years, and I rarely use a computer, which is only going to add to the challenge.

Cabrillo is a few blocks from our home. The staff has been amazing, helping us navigate through enrollment and answer any questions. Everywhere

I have been on campus, I have met people who are more than willing to help and guide me. Cabrillo is an extremely comfortable and inclusive campus.

I am so very blessed and proud of my husband and children who continue to further their educations and work towards their educational and professional goals. Three generations of my family are at Cabrillo this fall and looking at the picture we took reminds me that it is never too late to follow your dreams.

My hope is that by sharing our story, we will inspire others to challenge themselves and follow their dreams.

I am not sure what I want to be when I grow up, but I am sure I will figure it out by my 63rd birthday next year.... GO SEAHAWKS!

Finding Joy: The Joys of Mama Bear-ing MICHELLE LEWIS

findingjoycartoons.bigcartel.com and Instagram @FindingJoyCartoons

GrowingUpSC.com | NOVEMBER 2023

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COLORING PAGE

Name_____________________________________________________________ Age _____________ Address _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Submit your coloring entry to editor@growingupsc.com for a chance to be in our next issue! You can also mail them to Box 3505, Santa Cruz, 95063 Submissions due by Nov. 15.

Please include the child’s name, age and address so we can send out a prize.

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NOVEMBER 2023 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Submit your coloring entry to editor@growingupsc.com for a chance to be in our next issue!

You can also mail them to Box 3505, Santa Cruz, 95063 Submissions due by Nov. 15.

Arabella Age 9

Aroh Age 6

Aryana Age 6

Bailey Age 8

Cate Age 5

Conrad Age 5

Eliana Age 2

Emilio Age 7

Emma Age 7

Enzo Age 6

Grace Age 6

Hugh Age 6

Ivy Age 8

Leonardo Age 8

Presley Age 8

Vida Age 7 GrowingUpSC.com | NOVEMBER 2023

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LITERACY Berry, Berry Fun

BY TODD GUILD Dozens of Radcliff Elementary School students on Monday got a dual surprise: a berry feast from Driscoll’s, along with a free children’s book recently produced by the Watsonville-based company.

The book—“A Sofia Special”—tells the story of a young girl whose bad day at school improves once she gets home and shares a berry treat with her father.

The visit included a read-aloud by the book’s author, award-winning children’s book author Julie Falatko.

Driscoll’s, which grows and sells its ubiquitous berries around the world, partnered with Washington, DCbased Reading is Fundamental (RIF) in making the book.

In addition to Radcliff, the company brought its berry-fest to Starlight Elementary in Watsonville and to Virginia Rocca Barton School in Salinas.

Radcliff Elementary School student Mathew Aguire shows his English copy of the book “A Sofia Special.” Photo: Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian “This is a wonderful opportunity for the schools,” said RIF President and CEO Alicia Levi. “Driscoll’s is a local organization, and they are investing in children’s literacy in the communities that they serve.”

In addition to “A Sofia Special,” the children also chose another kids’ book to bring home. Such advocacy of placing books in children’s hands is particularly important in communities where many may not have books in their homes, Levi said.

“Reading is about engagement, it’s about frequency and it’s about motivation,” she said. “Every child should have the opportunity to read. And how do we make sure that they can read? We engage them, we make reading fun, we create joy, and that is really what RIF is all about.”

Alejandra Sanchez, Driscoll’s Sustainability and Social Impact Marketing Manager, said that one focus area for the company’s philanthropy arm is childhood development.

The entire marketing team had a hand in developing the book, which was inspired by Driscoll’s “Sweetness Worth Sharing” campaign.

“It’s a big part of our philanthropy and charitable giving focus areas in the communities where we operate, and we really looked at this opportunity as a way to focus on literacy with the partnership with RIF,” she said.

“A Sofia Special” is available in English and Spanish in bookstores and on Amazon. It will soon be translated into other languages.

20 NOVEMBER 2023 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Radcliff Elementary School student Mathew Aguire shows his English copy of the book “A Sofia Special.” Photo: Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian

LOCAL Watsonville Teen is County’s First Student Trustee

BY TODD GUILD The Santa Cruz County Board of Education has for decades made innumerable decisions that affect the lives of students.

Oscar Alvarez-Delgado, a 17-year-old senior from Pajaro Valley High School, was chosen from five applicants.

Santa Cruz County Office of Education Board President Bruce Van Allen said the new appointment reflects the board’s mission of putting students first.

“We care so much about the lives and the health and the learning and the futures of the students of this county,” he said.

County Superintendent of Schools Faris Sabbah, who swore in AlvarezDelgado, agreed.

“The why of education and the why of the County Office of Education is students, and having a voice as part of the decision making process is absolutely fundamental,” Sabbah said. “It just seems so right and appropriate for us to have a student representative.”

Before he took his seat for the first time, Alvarez-Delgado said he was “excited and nervous.”

“Now that I’m here and I was chosen, I feel like this is an opportunity,” he said.

“I can come forward and do a lot for the students here in the county and as well as some teachers who can have their voices be heard here too.”

Among the things he hopes to address is the inequities between schools.

“I want there to be equity so that

everyone can be on the same level and everyone has the same resources,” he said.

Alvarez-Delgado is involved in the Youth Led Leadership Alliance, a student leadership network facilitated by the Santa Cruz County Office of Education, and is a current member of both Youth for Environmental Action and the Youth Mental Health Leadership Council.

His appointment coincided with the swearing-in of a new Area 4 Trustee, Edward Estrada.

Alvarez-Delgado said his decision to apply for the position stems from a commitment to serving as a voice for underrepresented students.

“I want to bring awareness of the issues faced by the Latino community and the underrepresented and begin to address why we have such a lack of resources, and then to be able to build those up,” he said. “I believe that if we are willing to face the underlying issues, then we can begin to resolve some of the inequities across Santa Cruz County.”

Student trustees are recognized and seated as part of the Board and may present motions, make comments and

ask questions of presenters.

While they cannot make votes that determine the outcome of board business, they can cast preferential votes.

The Santa Cruz County Board of Education adopted Board Policy 9150, creating the role of student trustee, in October 2022.

Estrada has held a number of positions advocating for LBGTQ+ youth. He previously served on the board of GLSEN San Diego, was a member of San Diego Unified School District’s LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee, and was a youth ambassador for San Diego Pride.

Estrada said he applied for the position to advance an educational system based on equity, growth, community development and innovation.

“I am deeply passionate about equity,” said Estrada, who works as a Housing Navigator at Housing Matters where he assists unhoused veterans.

Trustee Area 4 encompasses Live Oak, Soquel and Capitola. The Area 4 trustee seat was vacated by Rose Filicetti, who resigned from the Board on Aug. 31 citing personal health reasons.

CAMP AT THE MUSEUM WINTER | SPRING | SUMMER Exploration, experimentation, and experiences outdoors.

santacruzmuseum.org GrowingUpSC.com | NOVEMBER 2023

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person admission open house and for our Veterans Day assembly at 11am Register at santacatalina.org.

SAT 11 FRI 3 First Fridays Santa Cruz 5-8pm On the first Friday evening of every month, Santa Cruz galleries, shops, and cultural venues open their doors to showcase the works of Santa Cruz County artists. With a block party-like vibe, the multi-venue event provides an opportunity to discover local creative talent in a fun and festive setting. firstfridaysantacruz.com/event Cabrillo Youth Strings 7-9pm This Fall Concert will feature String Orchestra Selections. Celtic, International, and Contemporary Music will be performed: Soon Hee Newbold, Pharrell Williams, Dmitri Shostakovich, and others. Local youth will perform with a Violin Soloist and guest artists. cabrillo.edu/cabrillo-youthstrings

SAT 4 Hot Rods at the Beach 8am-5pm Check out hundreds of sweet hot rods, street rods, vintage, muscle, custom and classic cars in the Boardwalk Parking Lot. Free admission. hotrodsatthebeach.com Sea Glass & Ocean Art Festival 10am5pm The Santa Cruz Sea Glass & Ocean Art Festival features genuine sea glass and artist-made creations while benefiting our local marine environment. This year the festival celebrates its 15th anniversary.

More than 50 talented artists are bringing their boutique works to the Bay View room & Sunroom in the Historic Cocoanut Grove at the Santa Cruz Beach boardwalk. sites.google.com/view/santacruzseaglassoceanartfest Early Bird Tour 1:30-11:30am Amateur and expert birders alike will find a place on the Early Bird Tour at Elkhorn Slough.

Local guides lead these 2-3 mile walks, sharing the life histories of the birds that call Elkhorn Slough home, and giving tips on identifying species. elkhornslough.org/ visit/calendar Gateway K-1st Open House Gateway invites you to a Kindergarten - 1st Grade Open House + Playdate. Classroom

activities for children, and play on Gateway’s own Kindy Island. Resources for parents, expert teacher talk, and information about our programs. gatewaysc.org.

Waldorf Tour 9-10:30am Visit the campus in the redwoods and learn all about the early childhood programs, including Parent Child Classes, Preschool and Kindergarten, for ages walking to 6 years.Email enrollment@santacruzwaldorf. org or call 831.824.2161 to register.

TUES 7 Gateway School Tour 9-11am Visit us on one of our monthly Tuesday tours.

Hang with our kindergarteners on Kindy Island, see what’s growing in our Life Lab outdoor classroom, join our middle schoolers for a science experiment, and see first hand the unique benefits of a K - 8 education. gatewaysc.org.

FRI-SAT 10-11 Goat Hill Antique Festival 10am-4pm Find items for your home, jewelry, clothing and collectibles at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville. With more than 100 vendors, you can find gardens, rusty, French, farmhouses, industrial and more. There are food and beverages sold onsite. goathillfair.com

NOV 10-12, 24-26 Natural Bridges Tidepool Tours Explore the ocean without getting your feet wet on this exciting tidepool tour!

Join an interpretive docent to climb up the rocky trail and out to view the amazing animals that make their home in Santa Cruz tidepools. parks.ca.gov/Events/ Details/15021

Second Saturday on the Farm 11am3pm The Agricultural History Project’s 2nd Saturday events are like taking a step back in time. Grab your cowboy hat and put on your boots and come and enjoy a fun-filled afternoon on the farm! In addition to Summer Fun special activities, you’ll be able to milk a “cow”, drive-a-tractor, and enjoy crafts, hayrides, puppet show, antique engines and museum exhibits. Bring your lunch and enjoy a picnic. aghistoryproject. org/2nd-saturday-on-the-farm

SUN 12 Castro Adobe Open House 10:30am3:30pm This 90-minute tour is led by State Park docents who will share the history of the Castro family, and the twostory adobe hacienda built over 170 years ago. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon touring Rancho San Andres Castro Adobe State Historic Property in Watsonville. Learn about the Vaquero culture and living during the Mexican Rancho Period of California History. santacruzstateparks. as.me/CastroAdobeOpenHouse Antiques Faire 8am-6pm The Santa Cruz Antique Faire is on the 2nd Sunday of every month. Vendors offer an eclectic blend of antiques and unique items, vintage clothing, collectibles and more.

Visit the Antique Faire on Lincoln Street between Pacific and Cedar.

Santa Catalina Upper School Open House 1-4pm Curious about Santa Catalina in Monterey? Come learn more about our signature programs, meet faculty, sample our academic and co-

curricular offerings, and talk to students about clubs, activities, leadership, and campus life. Start following your dreams and register at santacatalina.org today!

RSVPs are required.

NOV 14-19

The O’Neill Cold Water Classic North America’s Longest Running Surf Contest is back for again, providing unique content and marketing longevity beyond the onsite experience. Since 1987, The O’Neill Cold Water Classic has been northern California’s premier professional surfing event held at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz. worldsurfleague.com/events/2023/ qs/206/oneill-cold-water-classic/main

SUN 19 Makers Market 10am-5pm Visit the Downtown Santa Cruz Makers Market featuring 40+ local makers & artists in downtown Santa Cruz. This monthly market hosts a wide range of locally handmade goods.scmmakersmarket.com

OPENING NOV 23

Winter Wonderland Enjoy festive holiday decorations and lights, treats, photos with Santa, fire pit and holiday shopping at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk beachboardwalk.com/winterwonderland

FRI 24 West Cliff Holiday Outdoor Market 10am-6pm Come enjoy the outdoor market with unique artisans and food trucks while taking in the spectacular view of the ocean.

This one of a kind market will be held in along West Cliff Drive. The market will feature hand crafted gifts and admission is free. brotherspromotions.com/product/west-cliffthanksgiving-outdoor-market-2023

CONTACT US TO ADVERTISE! Deadline November 15 Advertising@growingupsc.com

FRI 10 Santa Catalina Lower School Open House 9:15-10:45am Come see what is truly possible for your child at Santa Catalina Lower and Middle School in Monterey. Join us on campus for our in-

GUiSC will attempt to update the calendar listings as needed; however, it is the responsibility of the organization listed to provide updated information. GUiSC assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Readers are encouraged to check the accuracy of the information provided. Events that are free or cost less than $10 can be submitted for inclusion in the calendar. GUiSC does not guarantee that a submitted event will automatically be included. Preference is given for events of interest to children and/or parents. Calendar entries must be received by the 15th of the month prior to the month of the event. To find out more about promoting your event further or include a paid event, email advertising@growingupsc.com.

22 NOVEMBER 2023 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

DECEMBER 2023 ISSUE

STUDENT’S VIEW Robot Bees and AI Cars Teach Tech

BY QUINN SOUTHALL Students across Santa Cruz county will be learning computer technology from the most unlikely of teachers robotic bees and artificial intelligence toy cars.

As computer technology becomes more of a necessary skill in the classroom, teachers throughout Santa Cruz county are finding unique methods of teaching these skills at a young age.

Dozens of educators and industry partners from across Santa Cruz county gathered on Thursday, Sept. 14 at the Santa Cruz Office of Education to discuss new exciting methods of teaching students computer technology.

Many of those attending are members of the CSTA - Computer Science Teachers Association - who strive to encourage and assist the rapidly modernizing field of computer science.

Just like many others in the room, Stephanie Sumarna (a former third grade teacher herself) works with the Santa Cruz County Office of Education.

She acts as a distance learning TOSA - Teacher On Special Assignment - with the objective of teaching the fundamental principles of computer science to impoverished regions of Santa Cruz county.

“The idea is that we want to make computer science accessible to all students in our county,” said Sumarna.

“We want to eliminate the barriers.”

At the beginning of the K-12 education spectrum, Bee Bots give building blocks for more advanced levels of computational thinking for kids ranging from Kindergarten to Second Grade. It’s the starting hive toward mastering computer skills.

The way her Bee Bots work is with buttons at the top that move the robot six inches in either direction that allow the kids to tackle the concept of cause and effect in controlling computer technology.

Early-aged technology activities including Bee Bots are designed to enhance social and emotional learning skills, which is the biggest difference that Sumarna sees in the students that use them.

“One of the skills I always tried to get my students to do was how to work together and share the load when solving problems,” she said. “I think computer science has students doing that naturally.”

One step more advanced than the Bee Bots is Luma - a programmable robot designed for grades 4-6.

Much like the Bee Bot, Luma also builds student collaboration and identification of problems while building upon elementary tools for coding.

C.J. Runyon works for Pitsco education to build student’s strength in STEM, and allows kids to have invaluable hands-on experience working with robotics.

“You have some students who’ve had exposure, and others who haven’t,”

said Runyon. “One of my goals is to get teachers more comfortable using coding because they have a lot on their plate.”

The room full of county educators walked across the street for a tour of Joby Aviation.

With some of the greatest engineers and computer scientists in the country working for them, Joby designers were hard at work creating drones whose mission it is for them to save a billion people one hour every day as the Uber of the sky.

Many schools send their students to similar tours to witness the limitless possibilities.

Jack Michael, who helps establish career pathways for K-12 students through the Santa Cruz County Office of Education, believes students should pursue the field of computer science “Because it’s interesting now as a teenager and there are a lot of opportunities for good paying jobs down the road.”

Michael helps students receive financial aid, as well as funding school technology services such as Robotics Clubs in which students get to work together and expand upon their curiosity for computer technology.

Teaching students the basics of this technology through simplified games will form an early understanding of computational thinking - which expands into more complex coding such as Python and C++ as they enter high school

and college level courses.

Chris Miller, CEO of a local software developing company, works with the County Office of Education for a pilot program that teaches artificial intelligence to K-12 students by programming a toy car to drive itself.

“It’s an easy and approachable way for kids to get into computer science and artificial intelligence through gamification,” said Miller.

This is done after school through a virtual program that allows students to utilize

Python coding to train a computer model.

In a world where AI is becoming more prevalent in the lives of many for functions that oppose creative learning, these skills become increasingly important.

While technology will continue to improve and methods of teaching along with it - educators across Santa Cruz county will find ways to ensure every student has access to learning skills of computer technology - one bee bot at a time.

MINDY ABRAHAM

TEACHER’S DESK 8 Easy Steps to Build Strong Study Skills

BY SUSAN TATSUI-D’ARCY

Now that students are back in school, let’s set them up to build strong study skills. I’m teaching these skills to students of all ages – even my high school seniors – to improve their grades and to reduce their stress.

To start, they’ll need to get organized so they don’t stress out when facing their long lists of things to do. By using Google Calendar (GCal), they’ll see how and when each homework, paper, or test prep will be done. I like GCal because it’s easy to use and it’s right on their cell phones so they have it with them all the time.

Here are the 8 steps to building strong study skills using GCal: Set up GCal Enter each class in GCal for the entire week, and make it repeat (recurring feature) for the school year. Some schools have the same class schedules Monday through Friday. Others have block days with longer classes. Refer to your school’s bell schedule to get the approximate times for each class. Then look at the school’s minimum days, teacher inservice days, and school holidays. Make sure that their GCals are accurate for the entire school year.

Enter Due Dates Looking at each class’s syllabus or online homework reminders, enter homework, test dates, and other deadlines on the dates that they are due (not the days they are assigned). This will help your child prioritize what should be done first, and allow enough time to complete all necessary steps. If teachers don’t give students official due dates ahead of time, your child will need to adjust the study plan daily.

Add Extracurricular Activities Next enter in all extracurricular activities and include time for transportation. They might block off 2 hours for practice plus 15 minutes of driving to and from the game. Remind them about sports, music lessons, doctors’ appointments, and social activities. Consider dinner time; do you have a set time for dinner each night? Block off time for all after-school activities including showering after games.

Plan When to do Homework Now that you know when homework is due, your child could block off time to do each facet of the assignment. If they have to complete all math problems on page 8, have them block off one hour to complete it at a time that works for them.

They could plan homework around commitments so they could see how they might juggle homework and baseball practice.

Steps for Test Preparation (not cramming) Test preparation will take a little more planning than homework. First, make a list of each step needed to prepare for the test. They may need to read a chapter, review lecture notes, make a study guide or flash cards, meet with a study group, and research other sources (Khan Academy, Google searches).

By blocking off time to do each of these tasks over a week in GCal, they’ll learn the concepts at a deeper level than cramming the night before a test.

This also gives them time to ask the teacher for help if they don’t understand something before the test.

Organize Writing Papers Writing a book report or research paper will take even more planning than for tests. They’ll need to select the topic, research the subject, write a thesis statement, make an outline, write a rough draft, edit the paper, add a bibliography, include other required materials, and submit it.

Some of these steps may take several hours over several days. Like preparing for a test, make a list of all of the steps they’ll need to take to complete the assignment a few days before it is due, and then block off time for each task in their GCal. This will reduce the stress and give them plenty of time to write their report or paper.

24 NOVEMBER 2023 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Reschedule for a Healthy Balance Review the GCal to see how much time is dedicated to school and afterschool activities. Some students create different calendars (school, extracurricular activities, friends, college prep) with different colors so they can quickly see how balanced their lives are.

If there isn’t enough time to relax and have fun with friends, then your child could move tasks to another day to ensure that there is a healthy balance of academics, exercise, and social activities. Just check deadlines and test dates and prioritize accordingly.

Prepare for Finals Now Once a week, have your child review everything covered in classes to date.

They can glance over previous quizzes and tests, flashcards, and lecture notes over the weekend.

Simply block off time to study “Alls” each week. This will help build a deeper conceptual understanding of the material and improve long-term memory. That way, when they need to prepare for midterm or final exams later in the year, they won’t have to cram because they’ll already be prepared.

Highlight the Activity When it’s Done After your child goes to class, does the task, or participates in an activity,

they could highlight with their favorite color. That way, they’ll see what they’ve accomplished throughout the day.

Success begets success.

If they didn’t go to class or do an assignment, they just need to move it to another time or day so they can still meet the deadline. If they know it’s going to be late, they could email the teacher to let them know ahead of time. This teaches responsibility and good etiquette.

Spend a weekend teaching your child these valuable skills. It’s easy to do and your child will appreciate knowing how they’re going to juggle school, extracurricular activities, and their social lives. This is a skill they’ll use in high school, college, career, and beyond.

Susan Tatsui-D’Arcy is the founder of Merit Academy (one-on-one classes) and Merit Educational Consultants (college and educational advisory). She has written books on projects, free child care, education, and parenting. Susan hosts TEDxMeritAcademy for students to present their innovative projects and solutions. In 2019, she was California Mother of the Year. meritworld.com

FASHION FORWARD Cool Clothes Seen on the Streets and in Schools

BY MORGAN GUERRA

In downtown Santa Cruz, we talked to the most stylish people on the street. From linens closing out summer, to pinstripes making an early fall appearance, classic trends have taken over Front Street. Let’s take a look at the self-expression the Santa Cruz residents choose to communicate through their personal styles.

My name is Morgan Guerra and I am a current student at Cabrillo College. I’ve been enthralled in fashion since being a little girl playing dress-up in my mother’s closet and have longed to work in the fashion industry since. My goal is to shine a spotlight on the diverse fashion in Santa Cruz, as it’s something I’ve always taken notice of, but have never seen anyone truly talk about.

Bella

Kailey

Lennon

Alex

Linen dress (Thrift Store) Ballet Flats ( Forever 21) Fuzzy Bag (UNIF) Lace Bandana (Urban Outfitters)

Grateful Dead Vintage Tee (Thrift Store) Striped Patchwork Overalls (Record Store) Black Loafers (Thrift Store)

Pinstripe Blazer (Nautuca) Lightwash Baggy Fit Jeans (Thrift Store) Black Wedge Boot (Diesel)

Age: 25

Age: 16/17

Age: 19

Occupation: Student/Barista

Occupation: Student

Hometown: Los Angeles

Hometown: Sunnyvale

Hometown: Santa Cruz

Occupation: Vintage Store Sales Associate

Like her namesake, Bella opts to get her inspiration from the Hadid supermodel’s look. With white socks and her kitten heels, she makes stylistic choices some would never think of.

Bella’s defining pieces in this outfit are from second-hand shops. Dressed in a soccer jersey from Virgo Vintage and a mini skirt found at a Goodwill thrift store, Bella is turning heads to both the fashion keen eye and the everyday dresser in an eclectic but “cool girl” style.

Kailey prides herself on an effortless look with vibrant details. With an elegant linen dress, furry bag, and rainbow jewelry Kailey captures multiple textures and colors in one outfit. Zoe Kravitz, her biggest muse, inspires her to lean into her personal style. She finds “Funky” pieces from small businesses, like her beaded necklace from a local vendor, but not being afraid to hop on the trends. Kailey has created her own style based on her likes in this Sunday afternoon look.

We spot Lennon in a unique outfit displaying her personality for all to see.

With overalls found at a record store, a vintage Grateful Dead tee shirt, and a dancing bear backpack, you can only guess what she enjoys listening to.

Lennon’s outfit is a callback to an era we’ve seen before, a practical outfit with a distinct “hippie” look. Lennon thinks outside the “trending” box and gives us a view of the staggering styles we see in Santa Cruz.

Headband (Amazon) Soccer Jersey (Virgo Vintage) Skirt (Goodwill) Pink Kitten Heels (Virgo Vintage) Age: 20 Occupation: Vintage Store Sales Associate

Hometown: Anaheim Alex is clad in an early 2000s businesswear look but with a fashionforward twist. Pinstripes for fall are a classic pattern, but small details like a lace-up side tie and an interestingly constructed diesel boot spice up a casual look. Alex’s outfit was mainly acquired secondhand. Both thrifted pieces from Goodwill and boots bought straight off the Diesel catalog, Alex calls back to Y2K pop princesses for his fashion. Bringing back fun touches on otherwise casual pieces, Alex represents a chic take on a business casual look.

GrowingUpSC.com | NOVEMBER 2023

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YOUR HEALTH Healthy Family Habits for the Holidays

BY JAIME MCFADEN do all the things, look at your calendar and pick and choose what you really want to do.

Carve out time to do the things that truly bring you joy with your family Instead of getting sucked into the consumerism of holidays, lean into some of the healthier habits you enjoy with family and friends Create your own family rituals which enhance bonding If you have kids, this is a perfect time to create some of your own family holiday rituals - arts and crafts, baking or cooking together and embracing Family fitness is a great way to burn off some of those extra holiday treats - it can be as simple as planning a daily walk with your family Take time off electronics - cant stress this one enough, we are using electronics both adults and kids WAY more than we need to collectively and it is not good for our brain/body - come up with other activities you can do together this holiday season to bond and let go of the screens

Holiday season is here and whether you are the type who loves all of the seasonal celebrations or not, it’s a time to reflect and focus on wellness as the year comes to an end. The holidays tend to be filled with fun and family, yet can also be incredibly stressful and overindulgent for many.

Instead of waiting for the New Year to create some wellness goals, why not start now so you can enjoy the seasonal favorites without feeling crummy after.

One of the biggest calls I get as a health coach towards the end of December from people feeling awful in their skin and self-care has gone out the window, hoping to jump into action in the new year with resolutions.

Unfortunately, most new years resolutions fail by January 15th and people are left feeling frustrated and discouraged. We are creatures of habit and we act from behaviors that are comforting to our brain.

Raising awareness to these holiday behaviors can help us make simple shifts this year. Four holiday hacks you can use this season to avoid the stress of putting your health on the back burner are: Be mindful with your food Instead of grabbing at every holiday sweet, make a commitment to enjoy in smaller amounts (on average people gain up to 5lbs during the holidays) Color your plate - just by raising awareness to your food you will make

healthier choices Pace yourself at parties, snack on healthy stuff first and drink 1 glass of water per cocktail

Create boundaries with your time The holidays are a great time to say “NO” to the things you really don’t want to do- instead of feeling the pressure to

Voted #1 Toy Store in Good Times Best of Santa Cruz County

Year end reflections Take some time as we near the end of this year to reflect on 2023, what were some of your favorite memories, what were some challenges you faced.

Celebrate where you are today and all that you have accomplished in 2023 Create some end of the year intentions - have your family participate with you to support each other in goals and staying healthy Once again, holidays come with so much joy and happiness for many and also can be surrounded with lots of stress. Prepare yourself before the holiday’s hit so you can avoid some of the hooplah that can take away from the true meaning of holidays!

The holidays are traditionally about quality time with people we love, let’s remember WHY we are celebrating this holiday season and spread the love and cheer to those around us.

Holiday guide Here is my holiday guide to NOT stuffing yourself this holiday season. After 15 years in the fitness industry, I see the same patterns repeated by those who want to feel better but struggle to shift habits before the new year. This guide will give you some tangible tools and action steps to stay healthier this holiday season. stan.store/Jaimemcfaden/p/get-myultimate-holiday-health-guide-now

19B Rancho Del Mar Aptos | (next to Safeway off State Park Dr.) 26 NOVEMBER 2023 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

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GrowingUpSC.com | NOVEMBER 2023

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