Aug 2020
Myths Busted WITH KARI BYRON
How to School IN A PANDEMIC READING FOR LOCKDOWN
Back to School GUIDE
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AUGUST 2020 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz
EDITOR/PUBLISHER
Brad Kava, Jennifer Ford, Steve Dinnen
Features
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Zelzi Belle
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Susan Bernstein CONTRIBUTORS
Dr. Nichole Brooks, Lisa Catterall, Erik Chalhoub, Bob Derber, Jhoneé Fillmore, Mary Gaukel Forster, Zach Friend,Karen Kefauver, John Koenig, Jennifer Mahal, Paul Marigonda, Laura Maxson, Jan Pierce, Bob Pursley, Ramona Pursley, Suki Wessling, Nicole M. Young PHOTOGRAPHER
Kevin Painchaud AD REPRESENTATIVES
Ann Fitts ann@ growingupsc.com Linda Kay linda@ growingupsc.com Sophie Veniel sophie@ growingupsc.com CONTACT US
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AUG 2020 | VOL. 25 NO. 8
7 Mythbuster's Kari Byron
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Parenting......................................................................... 5 Local News....................................................................... 6 Local News....................................................................... 7 Staff Bios.......................................................................... 8 Open for Business............................................................ 9 Your Health...................................................................... 10 Local Artist...................................................................... 11 Good Stuff....................................................................... 12 Be Organized................................................................... 14 Birth Matters.................................................................... 15 Parenting......................................................................... 16 Parenting......................................................................... 17 Teacher's Desk.................................................................. 18 Healthy Eating.................................................................. 19 Back to School Guide........................................................ 20 Coloring Page................................................................... 22
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Editor’s Note 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
As if our country wasn’t divided enough, we now have important questions splitting our local community every day. Should we send kids back to school as the president has firmly advocated? Is distance learning a valid replacement for classroom teaching? Should we find private schools that have found ways to do in-person teaching? Should we home school, or form pods and hire teachers to teach kids in small, safe groups? What can we do to keep education fair and available for everyone? Are only families with enough money for private schools going to be able to get their kids a good education? Should we be wearing masks? (That’s actually become a debate.) Should we spend $1 million to rename Cabrillo College and erase the legacy of a discoverer who enslaved indigenous peoples or spend the money on education? Should we build a railroad line from Watsonville to Santa Cruz or make it a bike and walking path? Growing Up tries to address many of these issues and give you information to make your own decisions. What we’d like for our September issue is to run extensive letters with your opinions on these questions. This is your chance to let our community of parents and families know what you think we should do. Your voice and knowledge has never been more important or needed. Drop a line to editor@growingupsc.com Our current Back to School issue has been a tough one in this time when nothing is normal. We’ve got some articles
suggesting answers and alternatives. In Behind the Teacher’s Desk Ann Goewert, the new principal of Mount Madonna School, suggests outdoor teaching is a way to fight the spread of the virus. Maybe that’s something more schools would like to try. John Koenig has a great story about a writing project that has kids producing books and even novels. It’s really giving kids an important talent and helping them reach the boundaries of imagination. Kari Byron is world famous for her role in TV’s MythBusters, but she’s also a concerned mom who has had to juggle career and family. We are going to have a Facebook Live discussion with her where you will be able to ask her questions? More on that coming up in our newsletter, website and Facebook page. Writer Suki Wessling has an important story suggesting ways to homeschool at a time when most kids are stuck at home. She has another one that helps you weigh your options for where you should school your children this fall. Like you, we at GUISC are swimming upstream trying to keep our business alive and provide you with local information and resources to help get through the COVID crisis and every other tough decision parents have to make. We thank all of you who have helped out, advertising, writing, donating and keeping the online dialogues going. We really are in this together. Thanks for your part. Brad Kava, Jennifer Ford and Steve Dinnen
About the Cover
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AUGUST 2020 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz
The Bay Area local, Kari Byron opens up about her time shooting Myth Busters, her new Discovery Network TV show and being a mother. She is kite land boarding in
Tempelhof Airport in Germany. Photo is by Tim Haber. Her interview is insightful and inspiring. Get to know Kari Byron on page 7.
PARENTING Staying at Home
Make Family Read-aloud Time the Highlight BY JAN PIERCE Watch out parents, having to stay at home with the family may force you to have quality time together. You may find that a family read aloud time becomes a family favorite. Reading good books together supports all kinds of learning—vocabulary building, communication and listening skills, expanding imagination, building logic and problem-solving skills, and the list goes on and on. Finding the just-right read for your family can be a bit of a trick, so here are some lists of quality chapter books designed to meet the needs of your clan. Remember that doling out the chapters is part of the fun and builds suspense. How will the story end?
For the young family with pre-schoolers up through grade one.
Remember that children can listen and understand stories much more elaborate than they are able to read themselves. Find a good story and young listeners will be all ears.
Here are some early chapter books for young children: • •
Star Jumper by Frank Asch Horace Splattly, The Cupcaked
• • • • • •
Crusader by Lawrence David Aliens for Breakfast by Stephanie Spinner Pee Wee’s Tale by Patience Bruster The Dragon’s Tale by Jenny Nimmo The Littles by John Peterson Ribsy by Beverly Cleary A Toad for Tuesday by Russell E. Erickson
For the family with primary to intermediate aged children
Stories for this age group often delve into authentic topics such as divorce, death, or trauma, but with great care to treat the reader kindly. They also may offer great adventure, mystery or escape into alternate worlds. • Where the Red Fern Grows • Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis • Old Yeller by Fred Gipson • Have Space Suit Will Travel by Robert Heinlein • A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park • Hatchet by Gary Paulsen • Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo • The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
For the family with intermediate to young teens (yes, teens will appreciate a good story) Teens who don’t often choose to read independently will enjoy a good read-aloud or an audio book with a compelling story. Don’t underestimate the power of a good read. • The Doorman’s Repose by Chris Raschka • The Outlaws of Sherwood by Robin McKinley • I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai • Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson • Dragon’s Gate by Lawrence Yep • Rocket Boys by Homer H. Hickam, Jr. • Jefferson’s Sons by
Kimberly Brubaker Bradley The Giver Quartet by Lois Lowry Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park If you don’t have the books you want to use for your family read-aloud there are many ways to access free literature. Go to one of the websites below to find free online reading. gutenberg.org bookbub.com manybooks.net bookboon.com audible.com openlibrary.com • • •
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LOCAL NEWS Now is the Perfect Time to Get Kids Writing BY JOHN KOENIG
Wendy Thompson wants you to know one thing. The Young Writers Program will be back for the fall 2020 semester— although online, not live. Now retired after a long teaching career, she will be leading the YWP into uncharted territory as schools learn to reopen in the time of COVID. Last spring, it survived the retirement of its founding director, the school lockdowns, and funding cuts that
left essential staff positions unfilled. As the new executive director, she is focused on returning with the projects that have been a part of Santa Cruz education and a part of her life—Word Lab, Cornerstone, and Hablamos Juntos (Together We Speak). “I need people to know that it’s happening—to be excited about it and to be part of it,” says Thompson. “I
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AUGUST 2020 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz
don’t want anyone to think there’s not a program to give to, and I don’t mean just financially.” Young Writers Program is an independent nonprofit that has served over 3,000 Santa Cruz students in grades 4 through 12 since its creation in 2012. It has survived and thrived for eight years with the help of private contributions and grants, volunteer writing coaches, and a staff of devoted teachers. Over 500 volunteers from the community have contributed to supporting students with their writing, by working in the classroom, in the after-school Word Lab, on the Advisory Committee, and in fundraising capacities. It’s a near certainty that school will begin in August totally online. If this is still the case in September, the Word Lab and Cornerstone will also be virtual. Writing Project Assistants will meet with young writers in “breakout rooms”— smaller sub-groups within online class meetings — to offer advice and encouragement as always. When the pandemic is over, Branciforte Middle School’s Dedicated Writing Room and Chamber of Heart and Mystery will once again be the creative centers of the program. The sudden loss of public funding from the Board of Education changed the playing field, but not the goal. Thompson calls Young Writers Program a mini-version of 826 Valencia, a San Francisco-based program for supporting student writers with a fourpoint mission that guides the YWP’s course: ?—to build confidence and pride through writing?—to promote leaps in learning with individualized support?—to cultivate wonder and inspire imagination and creativity?—to provide free services to those who would not otherwise have access. The students’ published work is the product of Cornerstone, a project that began at Branciforte and grew to include more than 150 eighth graders from other schools. Each semester’s Cornerstone students produce their own book, meticulously designed, edited and professionally printed. She plans to suggest “the poet as witness” as the theme of the fall project. Last semester’s focus was “our moral compass,” and produced “Path to the Unknown,” a journal of students’ poems and prose, that can be found at Bookshop Santa Cruz. “It offers a way for children to feel powerful, bring that power back, like, ‘I have some control over my life.’ We know that when children need to express themselves and they can’t do it verbally, they need to write about it,”says Thompson. “We have so many children who are second language learners who feel silenced every single day, and this is a way for them to not feel silenced. It’s a
way for them to be able to write in both languages and be honored for that, and feel proud that they have made the effort to write in English and Spanish and have it be an OK thing instead of, ‘Oh no, you don’t want me to write in Spanish.’ That doesn’t happen in Young Writers Program, or in Word lab.” The Word Lab is a free after-school writing program that operates separately from school curriculum. It offers writing instruction a creative, low-pressure environment from community writing mentors, for students from elementary to high school age. Some are already prolific writers, and some are seeking support to improve their writing skills. “What I have found is, at least at the middle school level, many of these children are kids that are on the fringe. That don’t feel like they fit,” she says. “They go to Word Lab and they fit. And they have a group.” As a result, many of the middle school Word Lab kids continue into the high school Word Lab. “I believe that for students like that, Word Lab saves them. They’re not silenced.” Billy Butler began his time with YWP as a volunteer Writing Project Assistant, became Word Lab Coordinator in Fall 2018, and served until County funding was cut. He was constantly impressed by how some students who began the program as reluctant or slow-starting writers would finish a nine-week session in Word Lab with an impressive short story, and by the variety, skill, and imagination of their work. What surprised Butler most was the number of middle school students who were working on novels. Wendy Thompson encourages that kind of ambition in her students. Former director Julia Chiapell looks back on her time with the program with insight as to why it is so essential to continue. “Writers are crucial to an informed democracy,” she says. “Writers are thinkers who work to tease apart the particulars of an idea, create platforms for ideas, and transport us to places we’d never considered. We need those people more than ever” “What’s been most remarkable about this eight-year journey is the change in writing attitudes we’ve seen as students explore their thinking and creativity as they write. This is exactly what needs to happen for people to become writers.” For Chiapella, it is an act of hope to think about the students who passed through the Young Writers Program, and she wonders about their future. “Now that many of them consider themselves writers, how will they work to change the world?” Visityoungwriterssc.orgto learn more about the Young Writers Program, to volunteer and to donate. (This is an abridged version of the article. To read the full article, go to growingupsc.om)
LOCAL NEWS Mother Kari Byron Spent a Lot of Time Busting Myths Our Mythbuster Stumbled into the Greatest Job in the World BY KEVIN PAINCHAUD If you ever turned on the TV between the years of 2003 and 2018, I’m sure you had the opportunity to watch the Discovery Network hit show, MythBusters. It was one of the most popular TV shows ever produced by the Discovery Channel. One of the fun and quirky co-hosts of this show, was Kari Byron. I had the chance to chat with Kari and learn a bit more about her and her new show titled Crash Test World. KP: Hi Kari. So where did you grow up and go to school? KB: I was born and raised in Los Gatos. I graduated from Los Gatos High, then did some time at West Valley before transferring to San Francisco State University. I’m a Bay Area woman! KP: How did you get the job at MythBusters? KB: I wanted a creative career; something that involved making and creating. Since I was a kid, I loved the special effects industry. I think the making of “Thriller” changed me forever. In 2002 my good friend introduced me to Jamie Hyneman and M5 industries where they did toy prototyping and model making. I offered to work for free and the next day I had an internship. Turns out my first day at M5 was also the first day they were filming MythBusters at the shop. I helped out behind the scenes, chased them to shoots, and got quickly hired as a background builder. I wasn’t supposed to end up talking to the camera but they couldn’t make the episodes fast enough with just Jamie and Adam. The show was legit reality and the science, the builds, and the mess weren’t faked for camera. Since I am inherently shy, this is not the path I thought my life would take. KP: What skills did you have to allowed you to fit as a host for MythBusters? KB: Skills can be learned. What made me a MythBuster was my willingness to try anything and surrender to the mantra “there is no dignity in television”. Within the first week of filming, they needed a 3D scan of a butt for a myth. The legend was that a large woman flushed an airplane toilet while still seated and got stuck from the suction. I figured no one would see this weird cable show anyway, so why not. Besides, Jamie paid me $100 and as an intern, that was huge money. I never thought it would be the first thing you see when you Google my name. I think my “Why Not” spirit is my best skill. It has always created opportunities for me. KP: How long were you with the show? KB: I started in 2002. It aired 2003, and then I was with the show for over a decade. It seems to be eternally in reruns. KP: What did you do after MythBusters and for how long? KB: I have made so many different shows on several networks. My co-
One of the biggest problems any mega-city faces is how to handle waste. New York City produces 14 million tons of trash every year! The city has established programs to support reducing, reusing, and recycling. hosts Tory Belleci and Grant Imahara even teamed up with me for the White Rabbit Project on Netflix. It was when I wrote a book called Crash Test Girl that I found my next passion project in entertainment. I now have a new show called Crash Test World. Just as MythBusters was new and experimental for the industry when it started, Crash Test World is a whole different kind of entertainment too. Crash Test World is about big ideas. I travel the world looking for how history, technology, culture and people come together to make their world, and ours, a better place. It such a hopeful show. I finish everyday so inspired. KP: Who did it get picked up by? KB: Discovery picked up our full episodes. This show is different from the traditional format. We also stream the show in five minute acts on ProjectExplorer.org accompanied by lesson plans for parents and teachers. This is free high-production “edutainment.” Schools around the world use this site and our show to inspire conversations about global citizenry. We talk about everything from food sustainability to the science of skateboarding to Syrian refugees. You can see small episodes now on ProjectExplorer.org or you can wait until
this fall to see the full show on Discovery. In a time of remote learning, I highly recommend checking it out with your kids. Like MythBusters, it is a family show. There is something for everyone. KP: Where are you living now? Have any kids? KB: I am living in San Francisco. I’ve had such a wonderful opportunity to travel the world, but the Bay Area is my home. As far as kids, I have one incredible daughter. She is my light. She makes me want to make the world a better place for her to live in. I really love being a mom. I learn so much from my daughter every day. KP: With all your years on MythBusters and your other shows, what skills would you recommend kids know or learn? KB: Don’t be afraid to fail and learn. My biggest accomplishments have come from a series of risks and failures. When I tried to write my book the first time, it got turned down by every publisher I talked to. As a first-time writer that could have crushed my spirit. I asked for help from a professional. She helped me completely rearrange and change my whole proposal. I tried again using all the advice from my rejection letters and got a several offers. That book changed the trajectory of my life path.
KP: With this Coronavirus and shelterin-place, what can you recommend to parents that may aid them in homeschooling their kids? KB: There are so many wonderful resources online. I love Khan Academy and of course Project Explorer but mostly we need to remember remote learning is different from homeschooling. We don’t need to fill the same hours that are in a school day. I recommend baking and gardening and playing games, draw together, giggle, sing and dance. Show them what you love to do and share who you are. Parents are teachers at their best and worst moments. Give yourself room to not always feel perfect. You are enough by being there. KP: Thank you so much for your time Kari. Last question, what does the future hold for you? KB: The entertainment industry is the future for global education. Continuing to bring the world to the small screen, I want this generation to grow up feeling like we are global citizens. My dream is that a 9 year old girl in Houston can discover that she is just like a 9 year old girl in Deli that sees she is just like a 9 year old girl in Tokyo. We are more alike than different and that is what will create the empathy we need to find solutions to the world’s biggest questions. GrowingUpSC.com | AUGUST 2020
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Meet the Growing Up
Brad Kava - OWNER | EDITOR
Brad Kava is a lifelong journalist who got his start working for Santa Cruz weeklies and then spent many years commuting over the hill to newspapers in San Jose and Gilroy. When he had a son four years ago with Jennifer Ford, he found a way to stay in the county he loves and write about what he was learning: raising kids. He has two teenaged step children with Jennifer and together they are plugged into the spectrum of child rearing from birth to almost college. Their bold adventure together inspires them to put out a resource for local families and all the challenges they face.
Ann Fitts - SALES REP
Ann joined the Growing Up family in 2001 after working in the travel business for 20 years. Working for GUiSC gave her the wonderful opportunity to stay at home with her daughter as she was growing up, and also stay connected and involved with the amazing Santa Cruz County community. She enjoys traveling, playing tennis, long walks at the beach, sewing, and spending time with her family and grand-pups.
Christy Shults - ART DIRECTOR
Christy has been the art director for Growing Up for a year and is responsible for the rebranding of the paper. She is the owner and designer for Zelzi Belle. After years in the tech industry she decided to go back to school for graphic design to support her family while enjoying being creative. You can follow her on Instagram and Facebook @ zelzibelle, visit her website at zelzibelle.com or emaili her at zelzibelle@gmail.com
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AUGUST 2020 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz
Jennifer Ford - OWNER
Jennifer Ford grew up in Aptos and has three beautiful children ages 4, 13, and 16. Having been in the medical field for 20 years, her interest in journalism drew her to a writing career that started with classes at Cabrillo. She was a reporter for Santa Cruz Patch and developed a deep interest for family news and information. Thus, Growing Up in Santa Cruz became the logical choice for both Brad and her family to re-develop, nurture, and embrace.
Linda Kay - SALES REP
Linda has been working with Growing Up in Santa Cruz since 1998. In her free time she loves gardening, puzzles, reading, games and spending time with her family, in person and virtually. She volunteers with Operation Christmas Child, bringing Good News and Joy to children around the world.
Kevin Painchaud - PHOTOGRAPHER
Kevin have been taking photos for various publications for over 30 years. He has a deep passion for telling stories through the visual medium. Before being a photographer for Growing Up In Santa Cruz, Kevin was a successful TV and film producer for over 13 years. You may follow Kevin’s work at instagram.com/painchaudkevin
Steve Dinnen - OWNER
Steve Dinnen met co-publisher Brad Kava while the two of them were riding bicycles across Iowa. Steve has stayed back in Iowa (plenty of hills to pedal up, no mountains) and works remotely with Brad to publish Growing Up in Santa Cruz. A widowed father of three adult children who are spread out across three time zones, Steve has spent decades in journalism, in newspapers or magazines. His specialty has been on business news, and he focuses on service stories - those that readers can find useful.
Sophie Veniel - SALES REP
My name is Sophie Venniel. I am French. This explains the weird accent on my name. I have been enjoying and helping my clients at Growing Up in Santa Cruz for many years. What I love the most in life is family, the beach, exploring the simple beauty of nature, discovering new places, traveling, gardening, and cooking. All this beauty makes me smile.
Suki Wessline - WRITER
Suki Wessling writes about parenting, gifted children, and education. She homeschooled and schooled her two children, who are now “all growed up.” She teaches online courses for kids and adults at Athena's Advanced Academy, has a radio show with Brad Kava on KSQD, and keeps an active blog. She is also a performing musician and is on the board of the Jazz Society of Santa Cruz County. Read her work and get on her email list at sukiwessling.com
LOCAL NEWS Only the Best for Baby and Mama
Newsweek Recognizes Dominican Hospital as a Best Maternity Care Hospital breastfeeding support following birth are offered at Dominican Hospital through International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs), who are on-site daily to provide teaching and counsel.This recognition is the latest of several Dominican Hospital has received recently. In June, Dominican was awarded a second consecutive 'A' grade for patient safety from The Leapfrog Group. The hospital also recently received honors from Healthgrades as among the top 10 percent of hospitals in the nation for cardiac care, as well as recognition for excellence in critical care, pulmonary care, and gastrointestinal care. Learn more about Dominican Hospital's current awards for clinical excellence at dignityhealth.org/bayarea/ locations/dominican/about-us/qualityand-awards. About Dominican Hospital Dignity Health Dominican Hospital has been caring for the Santa Cruz County community for generations. Dominican offers emergency services and is a Certified Stroke Center. Dominican's services include the only comprehensive Cancer Center in Santa Cruz County, a Total Joint Replacement program, advanced neurological and endoscopic Distinction places the hospital among just 231 medical facilities nationwide recognized for superior maternity care SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (July 17, 2020) Dignity Health Dominican Hospital has been designated as one of Newsweek's Best Maternity Care Hospitals 2020. According to Newsweek, this honor recognizes Dominican for its extraordinary service to mothers, newborns, and families in our community.
To compile the list, a panel of experts set rigorous requirements and reviewed key data. They looked for hospitals with low rates of C-section, episiotomy, and early elective deliveries, and that follow crucial protocols to protect mothers and babies. Though these are standards aligned with medical research and best practices, not all hospitals achieve them. This list of the Best Maternity Hospitals 2020 represents 231 entries in 36 states, categorized by region. "At Dominican Hospital, we strive to provide a birthing experience that is truly unique,”all the advanced care of a leading medical facility within a welcoming and comfortable community hospital setting, said Dominican Hospital President Nanette Mickiewicz, MD. "We owe this recognition to our incredible Birth Center team, who is dedicated to providing the highest level of care and compassion for each and every birth.,This distinction is part of Newsweek's new health care ratings series, Best Health Care. Newsweek, a modern global digital news organization with a monthly readership of 30 million, is publishing the series on top-rated health care enterprises that excel in patient safety and quality. Ratings are powered by The Leapfrog Group,
an independent national health care watchdog organization, using data voluntarily submitted by health care facilities to the annual Leapfrog Hospital Survey and Leapfrog Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Survey. Leapfrog also deploys teams of experts and analysts to review available data and identify high performers. Dominican Hospital offers the most advanced maternity care available in the Monterey Bay area, combined with the comforts of home. Our highest priority is ensuring our patients' health and safety during this unprecedented time. To support that goal, we have implemented changes in our normal protocols to make our families' birth experiences as safe as possible. All new and expectant mothers should know that you may have a designated support person by your side throughout your labor, birth, and postpartum. Additionally, through a partnership with Stanford Children's Health,“Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Dominican offers a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) staffed by Stanford neonatologists and NICU-certified nurses. Families can rest assured that if their newborn needs extra attention, Dominican offers the highest level of care available in the region. As a certified Baby-Friendly hospital, newborns at Dominican are immediately placed skin-to-skin on their mothers after birth to bond and make their first feeding attempts. They also stay in the same room with their parents throughout their time in the hospital. Breastfeeding classes for expectant parents as well as
services, and an expert heart and vascular team treating some of the most complex cardiac cases in the Monterey Bay area. Dominican Hospital offers a comprehensive, Baby Friendlydesignated Birth Center, and provides an on-site Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) through a partnership with Stanford Children's Health. Dominican has received national recognition for superior patient safety, cardiac care, and stroke treatment from Healthgrades, a leading provider of comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals. Dominican also has received several awards for environmental excellence. Dominican Hospital is planning a $360 million renovation and expansion to ensure that the growing Santa Cruz County community can access world class health care well into the future. The project will allow for advanced technology, new state-of-the-art facilities, and even more innovative healing spaces. To learn more about Dominican Hospital, please visit dignityhealth.org/dominican. Join our community:
Facebook.com/DominicanHospital Twitter.com/DominicanCares Instagram.com/dominicanhospitalsc
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YOUR HEALTH A Doctor of Chinese Medicine BY JEANETTE PRATHER “From what we’ve seen in Chinese medicine, COVID-19 is really going to take root and be a harder disease for patients who have cold lungs and cold digestive systems,” local doctor of Chinese medicine, Dr. Nihal Kaur, offered freely. “This means no sugar, sweets, ice cream, drinks, etc., but rather hot drinks like tea, soups and broth are best. Make sure that your digestive system is warm, with a combination of ginger and licorice tea being the best.” This is just one of the small anecdotes that Dr. Kaur offers her patients via online sessions instead of her traditional in-person appointments. Dr. Kaur is fortunate enough to deliver prevention tips and services to her clients remotely. “I stopped meeting with patients once I heard Governor Newsom’s shelter-inplace mandate. I called my high-risk patients and asked them to stay home; I’m really happy that I made that choice for the safety of my patients.” Another bit of advice Dr. Kaur has been sharing across multiple platforms, is an article titled, Specific Applications of TCM in the Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19 & Integration of TCM into Educational Curriculum, that was released on February 10, 2020 from a
Chinese integrative medical institute named eLotus. “Before the virus got to the U.S. those of us trained in Chinese herbalism were really watching it,” said Dr. Kaur. “One hospital really put their policies in place, mandating their employees to take preventative Chinese herbal formulas for free. People right on the frontline were taking big early formula preventative measures specialized for them – preventing it from entering the body before it could take hold. The secondary lines would take more mild formulas with boosters in case they caught it. Non-patient-contact workers were taking a simple formula that anyone could get at the store.” The referenced article was derived from a blog post by Dr. Tang Ying, the director of the Infectious Disease Department at the county-level hospital in Henan Province, China. The doctor, hoping to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and providing guidelines to counsel other medical professionals, wrote this: “Since January 21, 2020, there have been twenty-five individual patients admitted to our hospital, each of them exhibiting a fever. Amongst them, four were confirmed to have coronavirus,
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seventeen returned from Wuhan, six were in close contact with locals, and two were from other regions (where there were confirmed cases). Today, all twenty-five of them have recovered and returned safely home. Seventeen people were discharged (including one of them with confirmed infection), eight others indicated as in normal, stable condition in the hospital under observation, to be discharged in a few days. None of the thousands of employees in our hospital were infected.” The article (located here: elotus. org/article/specific-applications-tcmprevention-and-treatment-covid-19integration-tcm-educational-curr) showed very specific images of the formula labels used to prevent any of the hospital’s thousands of employees from contracting COVID-19. “As a county hospital, these results are only possible given our specific training in and application of Traditional Chinese Medicine [TCM],” it wrote. “We believe that this strategy has protected more than 1,000 employees in our hospital from infection. Optimally, we should treat the patient with herbal medicine within two hours of learning of their diagnosis.” The hospital focused more on the prevention of spread and treated patients immediately upon diagnosis. They even went as far as opening a section of the hospital dedicated solely to preparing herbs for patients to consume on the spot, according to the article. The type of herb was allocated depending on the severity of the case. “If the body temperature is above 37.8 C, give Da Qing Long Tang (Major Bluegreen Dragon Decoction) immediately instead of waiting for the patient to develop a high fever,” read the article. “If the temperature is below 37.8 C, give Ge Gen Tang (Kudzu Decoction) with Fu Ling (Poria) and Bai Zhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae).” The article went on to explain how to treat patients with water in the lungs, a turbid cough, an irritating dry cough, nausea, and other symptoms.
“The reason the sharing of this information is so vital at this time in history [early February], is that county level hospitals have typically only used western medicine to treat these types of epidemics,” wrote the article. “Given the success of using Chinese medicinal herbs by this county hospital, we have learned that immediately adopting TCM methods to boost the efficacy of treatment is necessary and warranted.” The article referenced by Dr. Kaur accompanies many more resources to the public free of charge. One particular article that mirrors this one, is elotus. org/article/how-covid-19-2019-ncovcurrently-treated-china-tcm. It outlines the entire life cycle of an infected COVID-19 patient and explains the care procedure utilizing Chinese medicine within each stage. “When I was placing my orders at the beginning of all of this, the vendors had to put caps on all the orders because of high demand,” said Dr. Kaur. “I couldn’t get as many herbs as I had wanted, but they’re finally catching up.” Doctor Nihal Kaur, who continues to send her patients care packages with herbs they have been taking, or ones that she thinks will benefit them during this time, is balancing her now-virtual-only practice while raising her toddler son and continuing to care for her family. “It’s hard,” said Dr. Kaur, “But like everyone else, we’re making it work.”
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10 AUGUST 2020 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz
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LOCAL ARTIST Jovanna Vera When I was young, I loved arts and crafts and found out that I enjoyed being creative. However, it wasn't until I started high school that I began to pursue art passionately and started focusing on improving my technical skills. I've had the opportunity to work as an assistant art teacher a few times in different schools and teach arts and crafts at the Castroville Public library before the state lockdown began. I even got to work on an art website for six years. I love art, and I love to share my passion with others and to get others to enjoy it as I do. I am an art student at Cabrillo College, currently finishing up my general education classes, hoping to transfer to San Jose State and study in their animation and illustration department. I hope to become a character designer for animation after I graduate. In 2011, around the time social media started to become embedded in our society's culture, I jumped early at the opportunity and started posting my art on Instagram. However, it was never about gaining fame or becoming popular. For me, it was always about building a portfolio and an audience. Then, hopefully, I would improve my networking circle and get closer to my dream. I am passionate about animation and comics, and more specifically, I love creating illustrations. I choose to create comic-inspired art because it's what I love. My dream is to one day get the chance to work with an animation or art studio, such as Pixar or Disney. I am continuing to work hard to get there soon! ď ˝ You can follow Jovanna on Instagram @colorstarjo or email her at colorstarjo@gmail.com
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Do you have an uplifting story to share? We want to hear it! Send us your inspiring stories and images and we will post them on our website's Good Stuff page and maybe even in an upcoming print issue! We could all use some heartwarming tales and imagery right now. Send 200-500 words plus your pictures to christy@growingupsc.com.
Local Teens Start Charity Local high school student, Mikayla Shults (right image), founded Happy Giving Hands when she was nine and left in the dust after a short time. She raised money to make "blessing bags" for homeless people in Santa Cruz. These bags included necessities like deodorant and toothpaste/toothbrushes. Now, with classmates Lucy Lillienthal (left image) and others, Happy Giving Hands will be the following: • Open to all schools in Santa Cruz (elementary-high school) • Donate period products and other necessities to menstruators in need • Be a safe place for all genders, races, sexual orientations; HUMANS • Educate youth in our community about periods and period poverty We are so happy to embark on this new journey where we build from the ground up, knowing everyone has equal opportunities to succeed with Happy Giving Hands. Their first donation of 5 Period Kits (blankets, pads, water bottles, tissues, and socks) + 54 tampons + 14 disposable discs were dropped off at Mountain Community Resources in Felton on July 2. 1 in 4 menstruators cannot afford period products every month. This lack of access to such a basic human
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need is called period poverty. Happy Giving Hands, lead by youth from SLVHS, provides pads and tampons for menstruators in need in Santa Cruz. Our goal is to create period justice by serving our communities with period products & educating both children and adults about period poverty. You have likely been in a meeting, on a bus, or friends with someone who was using cardboard or toilet paper as a pad. And if you are able to buy pads and tampons, there will be a tax, unlike ED meds. A few key beliefs in our organization make a safe space for everyone. Our first priority is to distribute supplies like pads and tampons, but education plays a massive part in the fight for period justice. When speaking about those who get their periods or those who do not, we use the terms "menstruators" and "nonmenstruators." It's important to know that not all menstruators are women. Many people get their periods and do not identify as women, female, or feminine. And many people identify as those things and do not get a period. Here at Happy Giving Hands, you are accepted just the way you are. You can follow them on Instagram @ happy.giving.hands or email for more information at happygivinghands.sc@ gmail.com
AUGUST 2020 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz
THE GOOD STUFF Beautifying Ben Lomond Local Paints Mailboxes Bright & Cheerful My name is Fern Meadow Quinn. I was born at home in the Santa Cruz mountains, I grew up on a small farm in Ben Lomond and was homeschooled by my parents. My mother is an amazing watercolor painter and started teaching me her skills at a young age. Growing up there were always plenty of inspiring art projects presented to me by my parents that always kept me busy and happy. I have always loved art but my other passion is caring for children. I was working at a wonderful preschool in Santa Cruz called Tender Blossom up until we had to close due to Covid. As much as I enjoyed working there, I wished I had more time to focus on art.
After we closed I was looking for new ways to pay the bills and my amazing Landlady ( fairy god mother) asked if I'd like to paint our mailbox as a way to lessen my rent for the month. After I painted it I shared it on Facebook and from there I started to get requests everyday for mailbox paintings! I never expected it to take off the way that it has but I am incredibly grateful! Now I am able to be doing exactly what I love everyday and it's all thanks for my amazing community. I paint whatever my clients ask me to and have so much fun sharing their love for art and learning about the colors and themes that make them happy. It's such a joy!
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BE ORGANIZED Backyard Camping Staycation JHONEÉ FILLMORE We then project a family movie onto the side of the garage in our backyard. We have our lawn chairs, blankets as well as our favorite snacks and beverages. Our cats are able to join in on the fun, which doesn’t normally happen on a typical camping trip.
Make your Own Lake
We don’t have a lake in our backyard but we do have a hot tub or a raft that makes a perfect pool for children when filled with water. My boys get their goggles on and go for either option for hours of fun. We also are a huge fan of running through the sprinklers and playing in mud. We have designated an area of our backyard where our boys can dig away with their muddy selves.
Make Your Own Wild Animals
I am not sure what type of vacation plans you had arranged for this summer but chances are you are rearranging. June is looking as if we might all need to get creative and plan something fun and
exciting at home. You and your family have been home a great deal these past couple of months so you ask…. “What can we do that is different?” I am speaking from personal
experience when I share this idea. My family has been living this fun every weekend for the past month. We have been using this as a weekend getaway but you can use however you see fit. Come Friday and here is our camping plan, which has already produced lifelong memories.
Campfire with S'mores
We can’t go camping without producing S’mores for our children. So we build a small fire in our fire pit and get right to roasting marshmallows. It is not only fun to eat these amazing nuggets of chocolate, marshmallow and graham crackers but the joy in setting up is part of the fun. My boys love hunting for the perfect roasting stick. They love building the fire layer by layer with insight of the mechanics of creating a good fire and watching it come to life.
BBQ
Cook your meals outside on your BBQ or on your campfire. Think about roasting veggies, hotdogs, hamburgers, potatoes, etc.
Tent
We pop up our family tent for four and make sure that we have the necessities for a warm and cozy night’s sleep. We have our air mattress, sleeping bags, pillows, lantern, deck of cards, water bottle and snacks. We normally spend Friday, Saturday and Sunday night sleeping in our haven under the beautiful stars. You don’t need a tent to sleep under the stars as you can sleep out in the open or you can get creative and build a blanket fort of some nature.
Movie
Our family loves our already established routine of a Friday night movie. Each of us enjoys rotating who gets to pick out the movie for that week.
14 AUGUST 2020 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz
Need to see some animals from the wilderness? Draw some animals, cut them out and tape them up in your backyard. Or you can use chalk and draw them on fences and sidewalks. Speaking of wild animals, this opportunity has given us insight on what our cats do outside in the middle of the night.
Hang Lights
What an awesome opportunity to hang some strands of lights that you have stored somewhere.
Camping Activities Campfire Stories
Reading books to the children or telling stories around the fire.
Scavenger Hunt
Set up a scavenger hunt in your yard and spend time not only finding these objects but also noticing the beauty of plants and small creatures that exist unnoticed sometimes.
Insect, Bird or Plant Journal
Inspect your surroundings carefully and find some interesting nature life. Make a note in your journal with details on what you see. Take a photo or draw a picture yourself.
Maps
Make a map of the layout of your yard and draw in sidewalks, trees, garden areas and structures.
Active Games
Enjoy a game of family tag, kick the can, ghost in the graveyard, capture the flag or duck duck goose.
Board Games
The possibilities are endless here. Bring out your board and card games. Need a more specific suggestion? Email me at hello@thedavenportcompany.com Be well. Best, Jhoneé Jhoneé Fillmore, Owner, Missplaced Organizing | thedavenportcompany. com/missplaced
BIRTH MATTERS Breastfeeding Month BY LAURA MAXSON, LM August is here and, like the rest of the year, nothing is business as usual. Normally, Santa Cruz County Breastfeeding Coalition and WIC (Women, Infants and Children) would be inviting everyone to their annual Breastfeeding Walk and Health Fair, but that is not happening this year due to COVID19.Although families will not gather together in the park to celebrate this year, they will be able to participate in virtual activities all month long during National Breastfeeding Month. Locally, families can connect with the Breastfeeding Coalition and their member organizations on Facebook to learn more about the benefits of human milk and local/virtual events. (facebook. com/SCCBFC) The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), created World Breastfeeding Week 1992. The United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) declared each August to be National Breastfeeding Month in 2011. The USBC’s theme for 2020 is, Many Voices United, (usbreastfeeding.org/p/cm/ld/fid=909) Here is how the month breaks down:
Week 1 (August 1-7)
WABA’s World Breastfeeding Week - Support Breastfeeding for a Healthier Planet. “Breastmilk is a natural, renewable food that is environmentally safe: produced and delivered without pollution, packaging or waste.” (waba.org.my/wbw)
Week 2 (August 9-15)
Native Breastfeeding Week - The mission of the Native Breastfeeding Week community is to reflect the diversity of native breastfeeding experiences and/or encourage and uplift visibility of native breastfeeding experiences. (facebook. com/NativeBreastfeedingWeek)
Week 3 (August 16-24)
Spotlight on Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies. “It is the position of the United States Breastfeeding Committee that emergency preparedness should include provision for the protection, promotion, and support of breastfeeding and safe infant/ young child feeding.” (usbreastfeeding. org/emergencies)
Week 4 (August 25-31)
Black Breastfeeding Week - Revive. Restore. Reclaim. Look to Facebook (facebook.com/BlackBreastfeedingWeek) for an all-virtual celebration this year. Another great resource with racial issues in mind is the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition, which is “committed to addressing racial disparities in breastfeeding. With that goal in mind, the KBC strives to use an ‘equity lens’ to inform and guide our external work and also an ‘equity mirror’ to examine our internal structures, culture, and policies.” (ksbreastfeeding.org/our-work/ racial-equity) For many, COVID19 has made
breastfeeding extra important, as well as extra challenging. Pandemic restrictions and cautions have cancelled many inperson helping situations. Hospital stays are shorter as families opt to quickly get back home. Family and friends still want to help but, in order to stay safe, many are not able to come by to lend a helping hand. It is a great time for everyone to gather resources and share them with new families, often in a perpetual state of overwhelm that limits them from reaching out to learn about what is available in the county. Nursing Mothers Counsel offers lactation help (nursingmothers.org) and La Leche League has a listing of virtual group meetings (facebook.com/ LaLecheLeagueUSA/events). WIC services have switched entirely to online/phone contact. WIC provides lactation help and nutrition resources to low-income families. Many outof-work families find that they suddenly qualify for this extra support (communitybridges.org/wic). Sutter (477-2229) and Dominican (462-7862) hospitals, as well as Salud Para Le Gente (728-0222) are seeing lactation patients in person, as needed. Birth Network of Santa Cruz County has a special listing of members providing COVID19 services (birthnet.org). The Breastfeeding Coalition has put together a list of many breastfeeding support groups in the county that are now virtual. As with everything these days, double-check, as things are apt to change. These listings below tend to use the term mom or mother as opposed to more inclusive terminology. Any lactating or pregnant person is welcome to partake in the events. • Virtual support groups - Mondays 1 0:00-11:30am, Sutter Maternity Postpartum Wellness Group, Call 831-477-2229 for log-in, Santa Cruz County Moms only. • Virtual support groups -Tuesdays 10:00-11:30am, Sutter Maternity • New Parent Support Group, Babies 0-9mo, Call 831-477-2229 for login.1:00-2:30pm • New Parent Support Group, Babies 0-1yr, Email Beththedoula@gmail. com for Zoom link 2:00-2:45pm • Taking Care of Mama, Pregnant & New Mom Support, Call (415) 544-2395 or Email, Barbara.Sheehy@ DignityHealth.org for meeting link. 5:30-7:00 pm • Dignity-Dominican Hospital Prenatal Support Group, Call 831457-7099 or visit dignityhealth.org/ dominican/pep to register. • Virtual support groups -Wednesdays 1:30am-1:00pm • Dignity-Dominican Hospital New Mom’s Support Group, Call 831457-7099 for more information, Email for Zoom Link: Journey@ Dancingbirth.com Hosted by:
•
•
Journey Talkovic, RN, CNM, WHNP 5:30-7:00 pm Dignity-Dominican Hospital Prenatal Support Group, Call 831457-7099 or visit dignityhealth.org/ dominican/pep to register. Virtual support groups -Thursday 12:00-1:20pm, Luma Yoga Mom & Baby Circle, Call 831-325-2620 or
FREE EVENT
visit lumayoga.com for more info. Kellymom offers a summary of COVID19 breastfeeding related recommendations (kellymom.com/ covid19/covid-19-summary). Information can change, as research on this new virus is better understood. Be informed and know that there isn’t a better time to appreciate and celebrate breastfeeding.
Virtual Meet the Doulas
Saturday, September 19, 4pm
Learn about how doulas support families though the birth and postpartum experience during our current COVID19 situation. Preregister to join our free live zoom event: BirthNetSantaCruz.EventBrite.com
One-stop-shopping for pregnancy, birth & parenting services
www.BirthNet.org
GrowingUpSC.com | AUGUST 2020
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PARENTING Six Ways to Care for Kids During the Pandemic BY SUKI WESSLING also—we were not ashamed to say— childcare opportunities. Each parent would take one shift per week to share something that they loved. For example, in our nature club we walked from my home into the redwood forest and studied plants. The two to three other parents got time that day to work. The next day, a new parent would take over. How you structure a group like this can vary depending on which resources each family has to offer. Some families hire a teacher/babysitter to lead the group some of the time. Other groups pay one of the parents who has special skills. During times of pandemic, of course, group learning will require a certain amount of planning and trust. Your families will have to agree on your level of security and quarantine before you begin. You might agree on morning health checks by text before children arrive. You might hold the groups outdoors only, which will mean getting ready to haul out the rain gear.
Work on your family culture
Throughout the time that I homeschooled my children, I also worked. Most of the homeschooling parents I knew also worked, at least part-time. A few of them were wealthy enough to afford professional childcare, but they were the exception to the rule. Most of us took part in the informal childcare economy that homeschooling often requires. In this article, I’ll attempt to lay out a framework for a variety of ways to get care for your children during this pandemic, but of course, it will be necessary for you to look at your own household and think creatively. Perhaps these suggestions will help you put together a system that will not only provide you with the childcare you need, but also provide your children with education, friendship, and fond memories for their lifetime.
Childcare doesn’t have to be professional or institutional
Before large numbers of women entered the workforce starting in the 70s, plenty of families needed childcare, but there was little in the way of institutional childcare outside of the public school system. We have all grown up in a world that has a wide system of professional, institutional childcare, where lots of
children are cared for in institutional settings. But this doesn’t have to be the case. Our grandparents—and modern homeschoolers—find childcare in a number of unexpected ways.
Work and study on flex-time
One of the most common ways that homeschoolers get care for their children is by changing their schedules to adapt to their families’ needs. Traditionally, we assume that work and school have to happen during the day. But many families have a lot of flexibility in that regard. During my homeschooling years, I knew families where both parents worked shift work and so they would hand off the primary care and education of the children depending on who was working when. The beauty of this system is that children get direct parenting from both parents and form deeper bonds with them. In my house, when I was working in the evening my only answer to any question was, “Go talk to your dad!” Lots of families I knew did their focused educational activities during evenings and weekends, leaving the kids to explore creative free time during work hours. No one ever said that school has to happen at a certain time!
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Use online courses for breaks
Every working homeschooler I know uses the time afforded them by classes for work. I used to haul my laptop everywhere, from Santa Cruz Gymnastics to Henry Cowell State Park! Now that most of these activities will be closed or curtailed, online courses are another choice. A couple of caveats: You can’t ignore your student during online courses. Online teachers can’t provide tech support or soothe an emotional child. That’s why I always recommend starting with fun, engaging courses in topics that your students love. You may get more focused time for work if you enroll your budding artist in a painting class than if you ask them to focus on an academic subject that they struggle with. You will also have to retrain yourself and your management. If you’re used to being able to focus for long periods of time at the office, you might have to set up new systems that allow you to take up where you left off after an interruption.
Create a homeschool pod
Small group learning is the best way for kids to learn deeply and creatively. During my homeschooling years, our family joined with other families to create learning opportunities. These were
People often say things like, “That won’t work for my kids.” And maybe they are right. Some children have special needs that will have to be accounted for. But a lot of the success of this system will depend on your family culture. If you are the parent who always did things for your children, it’s time to set up a chore list and a system of accounting for activities throughout the day. If your children are used to being able to interrupt you for any reason, it might be time to set down some firmer rules and enforce them through family meetings and collaborative problem-solving.
Focus on flexibility and creativity
This isn’t necessarily going to be easy. As of this writing, our local public schools suddenly announced that all courses would be remote for all students, throwing families into yet another round of confusion. Private schools have announced plans that may have to change with the epidemiological data. We are all having to make choices when none of our options seem to be good ones. But generations of homeschoolers say that this can be done. Not only can it be done in a way that allows you to do your work, but it also can be done in a way that benefits your child and your family. Our family has many fond memories created with our friends out in the forest. Personally, I’ll always remember the camaraderie, learning, and fun that came from trying to find childcare so that I could get some work done. Suki Wessling is a local writer and teacher. Her two children, now grown, homeschooled and attended private and public schools during their education. She teaches online courses for gifted homeschoolers and writes about education, homeschooling, parenting, and gifted children. Read more atSukiWessling.com.
PARENTING Private School? Homeschool? Public School? Let’s Look at the Options for 2020 BY SUKI WESSLING
Distance and Alternative education programs: *Compiled by Heddi Craft
At the time of this writing, one month before school starts, a lot of school parents are in limbo, not knowing what school will look like for their students. Some are considering alternatives to their neighborhood schools. So what are the options?
Move to private school?
Most local private schools have announced plans to reopen site-based instruction part- or full-time. If you’ve been thinking about trying private school anyway, this may be a good time to explore the options. Smaller schools do have more flexibility. However, all schools will have to change their plans if the county is moved back into Phase 1 due to rising virus numbers. Also, a new bill for full-time education/childcare might not be in the budget for a family that lost part or all of their expected income this spring. Another option is to move to private online schools or classes. There are some private online schools that offer fulltime, credentialed education. There are also many providers of a la carte online classes that can be taken as part of any of the following educational plans.
Use a public independent study (IS) school? Santa Cruz County is home to a number of special programs that serve students with low- or non-sitebased options, including Davenport School, Branciforte Small Schools, and Ocean Alternative. These are triedand-true low-residential programs with experienced local teachers. These programs are currently enrolling students, though they may restrict enrollment to students in-district. Santa Cruz also offers a number of non-site-based IS programs, such as
Oasis Charter School. Ocean Grove is a popular one for homeschoolers, but they already report a long waitlist. Online virtual academies offer a more traditional self-paced public school curriculum. California Connections Academy Monterey Bay reports open spots, and most of the districts are working on plans for starting their own virtual academies. The functioning of independent study programs is going to be largely unaffected by public health concerns. However, enrollment in these programs is expected to be restricted for two reasons. First, the state has frozen spending at 2019-20 levels for public schools. Unless the state passes a fix, these schools will not be able to take more students than they did last year. Another factor is AB-1505, the restrictive charter school law passed in October. AB-1505 froze the development of new IS charters due to the negligence of a few bad actors in the industry, a decision that now restricts schools serving at-risk families during a pandemic.
And then there’s homeschooling…
Three important facts to keep in mind: • California is one of the easiest states to homeschool in • Homeschooling done right is one of the most effective modes of education • Homeschooling may or may not be the right option for your family In order to legally homeschool in California, families need to do two things. First, file a Private School Affidavit (PSA) in October. It’s free and online: cde.ca.gov/sp/ps/affidavit.asp. Second, families need to keep a small amount of simple paperwork. Homeschooling works best with
community support, especially during a pandemic. Homecruzers is a lively Facebook group that’s a good local source for online information. The Discovery Learning Center offers community support for homeschoolers. Homeschooling is the most flexible mode of education, and studies have shown that students homeschooled by supportive parents have excellent outcomes. Especially in the K-6 years, there are no drawbacks to “living a learning lifestyle” and following your children’s interests if you have flexibility in your schedule. (See accompanying article Six Ways to Care for Kids During the Pandemic.)
Maybe I should just stick with our public school No one can tell you what’s right for your family, and of course, most families will stick with their public schools. The Legislature’s decision to award neighborhood public schools their same allotment of funding regardless of their enrollment this year was a necessary step in stabilizing the system. Even if there is a full-scale exodus from the public schools this fall, neighborhood schools will need secure funding in order to keep providing the services they are required to provide. However, it’s unlikely that there will be a full-scale exodus from the public schools. Most families do want teachers to guide their kids. And many parents need the childcare aspect of school to restart, in order to get back to their own jobs.
We are all in limbo
It’s easier for some than others to be flexible. But at least we know this: We are all in this together. No matter what mode of education your family decides on this fall, remember that your positive support of your students, their teachers, and your educational community is what makes education successful. Suki Wessling is a local writer and teacher. Her two children, now grown, homeschooled and attended private and public schools during their education. She teaches online courses for gifted homeschoolers and writes about education, homeschooling, parenting, and gifted children. Read more at SukiWessling.com.
• Alternative Family Education, Santa Cruz, K-12 (bssc.sccs.net/ schools/afe) -- Enrolling K-5 in district students only, and 6-12 can apply for interdistrict transfer • Ark Online Learning Program, Santa Cruz, 6-12 (//jangelacos. wixsite.com/sccs/option-3) -taking enrollment in district • 100% Online Learning Program, Santa Cruz, K-5 (//jangelacos. wixsite.com/sccs/option5) -- in development, more info to come • Ocean Alternative Education Center, Live Oak, K-8 (oc-losd-ca. schoolloop.com/) -- only enrolling in district students at this time • Ocean Grove Charter School, San Lorenzo Valley, K-12 (ogcs.org/) -not enrolling new students but can get on waiting list • Pacific Elementary School, Davenport, K-6 (pacificesd.org/ independent-study.html) -- the independent study and 100% home study still accepting students • Pacific Coast Charter School, Watsonville, K-12 (pccs.pvusd. net/) -- not taking new students at this time • PVUSD Virtual Academy, Watsonville, K-12 (//pps-pajaro-ca. schoolloop.com/pf4/cms2/news_ themed_display?id=1594288375160) -- proposed program, taking interest info only • SLVUSD Charter School, Ben Lomond, K-12 (charter.slvusd. org/) • Programs include: • Quail Hollow Homeschool, K-5 • Fall Creek Homeschool, K-5 • Coast Redwood Middle School, 6-8 • Quail Hollow Integrated Arts, 6-8 • Nature Academy, 6-8 • Coast Redwood High School, 9-12 • Mountain Independent Study, K-6 • California Virtual Academy, California, K-12 (cava.k12.com/) • California Connections Academy, Monterey, K-12 (// learn.connectionsacademy.com/ california/) -- currently enrolling • Virtual Prep Academy, Monterey, K-12 (//info.monterey. virtualpreparatoryacademy.com/) • Private Programs (paid enrollment fees): • Branson Academy (bransonacademy.net/) K-12 • Silicon Valley High School (//svhs. co/) 9-12 • Pacific Sands Academy (pacificsandsacademy.com/index. html) K-12 GrowingUpSC.com | AUGUST 2020
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TEACHER'S DESK Why Outdoor Learning?
Mount Madonna School Prepares for a Fall 2020 Return to Campus BY ANN GOEWERT, PH.D. There is something magical about learning outdoors, and Mount Madonna School’s (MMS) 375 acres of land includes groves of coastal redwoods and live oaks, mountain meadows, chaparral, and ponds. The ecological tapestry of biomes, rich with diverse life forms, provides an unmatched outdoor laboratory for our educators to engage students in a broad variety of learning experiences and opportunities, from the art of crafting stories to scientific inquiry and experimentation. Immersing students in nature and outdoor learning develops the whole student. Outdoor learning fuels the mind and ignites all of the senses. Through exploration and discovery, students naturally problem solve and build confidence. The sights, sounds, and evidence of life stimulates curiosity and creativity in students, and these firsthand experiences strengthen students’ connections and their sense of responsibility to be good stewards of Earth. Meaningful educational experiences encourage students to solve complex problems, think critically about nuanced problems, and communicate ideas effectively. Many of us read Shakespeare’s Hamlet sitting in rows in a
classroom. Now, imagine reading Hamlet in a shady redwood grove surrounded by the sights and sounds of the outdoors. This type of learning experience captures the imagination of students, encourages discussions geared to critical analysis of the text, and facilitates the creative expression of ideas. MMS is investing in quality education to strengthen the mind, body, and hearts of our students. While many schools are grappling with space limitations, our school community is blessed by small class sizes and generous outdoor acreage. We have dedicated indoor classrooms for each grade, and currently, we are designing and building seven additional outdoor classrooms as well as an outdoor amphitheater. Educators and students will have choice and flexibility in where they learn. Like indoor classrooms, our outdoor classrooms will be furnished and equipped with shade structures, whiteboards, Wi-Fi technology and data projectors. We are living in a historic moment in time, and Mount Madonna is committed to making a return to in-person, five-days per week school as safe as possible for students, faculty and staff. Likewise, we are
determined to ensure that students thrive in our program, work daily on practicing mindfulness, and develop grit and resiliency.
to sit on the wooden benches, or prop themselves against a nearby tree trunk.
What Does Outdoor Learning Look Like?
Our weatherproof outdoor classrooms will be equipped with Wi-Fi, waterproof covering, traditional desks and chairs, whiteboards, and data projectors. For inclement weather, we have the ability to provide shelter by adding walls and space heaters.
MMS has offered outdoor learning for decades. At present, we are expanding the opportunities for outdoor learning by creating a variety of spaces equipped with the comforts found in indoor classroom settings.
Learning Under the Big Oak Tree
This space provides ample room for students to physical distance, with flexible seating options. Using some recently felled redwoods, we have milled stumps for seating. Extra desks and chairs will be ordered for students who prefer to sit at a desk and chair. Studentsupplied, personal camp-style chairs could also be an option for students who prefer to bring their own seating.
Existing Upper Campus Outdoor Classroom
The existing upper campus outdoor classroom has been a favorite of students for years. In this learning environment, many students choose to sit on one of the tree limbs as teachers lead class discussion or supervise quiet reflection. Others choose
Semi-Permanent Outdoor Classrooms
Progress on the Amphitheater
Work is happening every day on the mountain. This week, wall blocks are being installed in the amphitheater to create seating for our enthusiastic performing arts supporters. This space will also serve as an outdoor classroom: MMS Amphitheater Work Summer 2020 (youtu.be/D5JFYWMBOyM )
Outdoor Learning Through the Years
Take a look at how our students and faculty have and will continue to pursue learning opportunities utilizing our beautiful, expansive, redwood forested mountain top campus: Outdoor Education at MMS (youtu.be/ B48HBNrEXs4) Outdoor Learning at MMS (youtu.be/ IlngovckjjA)
We are back!
We have new protocols to keep everyone safe, including social distancing and prescreening every visit. Our front office is working hard to rebook missed appointments. New patients: we are booking appointments after September.
Call Us!
18 AUGUST 2020 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz
HEALTHY EATING Summer Stone Fruits The Advantage of Seasonal Eating
Recipe
Plum Sauce
for Topping Meat, Salmon, or Stir-Fried Veggies
BY GRETCHEN HEIMSOTH
This is a versatile sauce in both use and ingredients,�swap both stone fruits and herbs for different flavor profiles and dishes. Like a delicate white peach and mint sauce would be amazing on some local caught black cod.
INGREDIENTS:
Summer is upon us! The time of year that stone fruits make their appearance in the farmers’ markets and local produce purveyors. The family of stone fruits includes cherries, plums, pluots, apricots, nectarines, and peaches. Lesser known in the family are avocados, which are also in supply at the local markets with a wide variety, and mangoes, which sadly for Northern California are not local. Mangoes are delicious and rich in nutrients. But for this feature, I am going to focus on locally grown stone fruit and save avocadoes for another conversation. Stone fruits offer rich flavor and appealing texture. They are equally rich in nutrients and nurturing compounds for the immune system. Glowing skin, sharp eyes, healthy hearts, good guts and metabolism, stone fruits help support all of these. Some can even help aid sleep and reduce muscle pain. With all these benefits and delectable flavor, we can also add community benefit when we shop local and support local growers and business owners. Lowered emissions due to less shipping involved, a fresher product coming directly from the farm to you, Local growers and markets sell what is seasonal. Seasonal produce is more affordable due to less shipping, more nutrient-dense, and in step with seasonal digestive changes. Stone fruits truly sing their song as soon as you take your first juicy bite! Who does not love a luscious summer peach or a deep scarlet cherry? I am a complete fanatic for the many wild hued and equally fierce flavored pluots that appear at the markets this time of year. Stone fruits are loaded with vitamin C, such as a natural compound, but not underrated. Vitamin C helps build an h3 immune response, which in very lay terms is involved and can help block tumor growth. It helps the body with the methylation processes in DNA. DNA methylation is a biological process that can change DNA, good or bad depending on the direction, again, very lay terms. Vitamin C also bolsters the body against infection. C ties in with glowing skin
because it has a key role in collagen production. Studies have shown the potential for vitamin C to protect against UV light damage. The orange-hued varieties especially can nourish your eyesight due to their high carotenoid content, which is the precursor for vitamin A. A precursor is a compound the body needs to manufacture an essential nutrient. Stone fruits support the heart in multifold ways. The fiber content helps reduce cholesterol levels while the various micronutrients found in these fruits protect against arterial damage. Stone fruits hold anti-inflammatory properties, which can assist in lowering blood pressure. Fiber nurtures the gut by feeding healthy bacteria. Eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables is the best way to nurture a healthy microbiome. Fiber helps with regularity, reduces hemorrhoid risk, and can even protect against cancers associated with the digestive system. Stone fruits help protect against other cancers of the body with their varied phytochemical compounds. Cherry juice has been touted to reduce muscle pain and help with gout. With its anti-inflammatory properties, it is a great post-workout recovery drink. Cherries are also rich in melatonin, which aids in sleep. Cherry juice is safe for anyone who can eat a cherry, so a small glass an hour before bed can help send you to sweet dreamland! Back to the point of seasonal and local. A win-win for the community by keeping money within it, supporting our friends, families, and neighbors. Friendlier on Mama Earth with a reduction in shipping and emissions. Summer is the warm time of year; our bodies spend more energy on keeping our systems cool. Summer fruits are easy on the digestion and full of the nutrients we need to assist in those processes. Funny, Nature kind of knew what it was doing! With all of the benefits and the knockout range of flavors, try to get to the local markets and pick up some stone fruit to bless you and your loved ones this week!
6 to 10 fresh, ripe plums (or cherries, peaches, pluots, apricots, you get me?), washed, pitted, and quarter chopped. 1/4 cup granulated cane sugar (sub monk fruit sugar or raw sugar) 1 cup dry white wine 1 cup plum wine (or mead, a dry cider) 1 tsp very finely minced fresh rosemary or herb of choice for other fruit. (Peaches-mint, cherries-thyme, pluots-tarragon) 1 tbsp butter or vegan butter
DIRECTIONS:
Take a large skillet, sprinkle the sugar and plum wine, or substitute into the pan and stir for 1 minute. Add wine and rosemary (or another herb), stirring until smooth. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil until reduced about half and slightly thickened, about 10 minutes, stirring regularly. Add the plum (or another fruit) pieces and cook, stirring regularly, about five more minutes or until the sauce has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon. Taste and adjust seasonings with salt, pepper, and sugar. Take the pan off the heat and whisk in the butter (or vegan butter) just before serving to smooth out the sauce, making it even more delectable. If you are making the sauce ahead, cool it before adding the butter and refrigerate. Rewarm it over medium-low heat before whisking in the butter (or vegan butter).
Recipe by Biscuits & Beets
GrowingUpSC.com | AUGUST 2020
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BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE SCHOOLS AND PRESCHOOLS Gateway School, K-8
255 Swift Street, Santa Cruz 831.423.0341 ext 302 gatewaysc.org Gateway School, founded in 1970, is an independent, co-ed day school in Santa Cruz, CA for students in grades Kindergarten through 8th. We are a community dedicated to nurturing academic excellence and intellectual curiosity, high character and personal compassion, and individual agency and engagement. We seek to prepare children to care for themselves, each other, and the world. We are the only K-8 school in Santa Cruz accredited by the California Association of Independent Schools. We invite all families interested in Gateway School to visit, ask questions, and get to know our community! For more information and to schedule a tour, please call or visit our website. Orchard School K-6
2288 Trout Gulch Road, Aptos 831.688.1074 orchardschoolaptos.org Orchard School, established over 30 years ago, provides a unique, yet comprehensive K-6 education. At Orchard, we weave together the magic of an extraordinary faculty, a 14-acre campus and a down to earth philosophy that nourishes and honors the natural growth and development of children. Small class sizes, an organic garden and an animal farm create enriching “whole child” learning experiences that are hands-on and individualized. We provide Strong Core Academics, Excellent Science Curriculum, Art, Music, Physical Theater/ Circus Arts, Electives, Ceramics, Archery, Swimming, Leadership, Field Trips, Drama Productions, and more. Mount Madonna School
Pre/K-12th grade 491 Summit Road, Mount Madonna 408.847.2717 MountMadonnaSchool.org For 2020-21, MMS features small class sizes and outdoor classrooms, with oncampus and remote learning options. MMS strives to prepare well-rounded human beings who get into and succeed in college, learn to value collaboration, form meaningful relationships and engage with their local communities, nation and the world. The CAIS and WASC-accredited program features a Montessori-influenced Pre/K program, a 375-acre campus, science and technology labs, life skills,
marine biology, oceanography, athletics, and visual and performing arts. Since 1979, students preschool through grade 12 have received an education based on academic excellence, positive character development and creative self-expression, and where each person is supported in becoming a caring, self-aware and articulate critical thinker, who is prepared to meet challenges with perseverance, creativity and integrity. Rocking Horse Ranch Preschool
Lic #444400117 4134 Fairway Dr, Soquel 831.462.2702 Rocking Horse Ranch is a play-based preschool located on 3 beautiful acres in sunny Soquel. We are open from 9-5:30 and offer morning, afternoon, and full day sessions. Our outdoor space offers lots of room to explore, including our gardens and many different kinds of animals. Come visit us! Rose Blossom Nursery School
Preschool, T-K, Kindergarten Lic #444403616 6401 Freedom Blvd, Aptos 831.662.8458 roseblossom.org Register now for Summer and Fall 2020. For boys and girls starting at 2.5 years old. Register by the week or the month for the Summer Fun Program, Aug. 3 - Aug. 28. School year starts Tuesday, Sept. 8th. Fun and loving environment. Play-based and emergent curriculum. Individualized instruction, age-appropriate activities, circle time, and free play. Rose Blossom is a compassion-based school. Beautiful, country setting in Aptos. See website for intro video, and link to Facebook page.SharonRose, director email:roseblossomschool@me.com Santa Cruz Montessori
Ages 18 months – 15 years Main Campus (Primary and Elementary) 6230 Soquel Drive, Aptos Winston Campus (Young Children’s Community and Jr. High) 244 Cabrillo College Drive, Soquel 831.476.1646, Enrollment: ext. 12 scms.org Established in 1964, Santa Cruz Montessori is a non-profit school serving children 18 months to 15 years. Our beautiful classrooms and outdoor environments engage the children’s senses as they learn. Based on a deep understanding of child through adolescent development, our programs meet the interests and needs of our students, engaging and challenging them to do their best. We offer a supportive community of learners and an exciting Montessori curriculum including humanities, math, sciences and
20 AUGUST 2020 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz
There’s never been a tougher time to decide on your kids’ schooling and never has after school education been as important. Schools have been changing policies by the day, as they reflect government decisions about the pandemic. Those who run after school activities are taking steps to trim class size, sanitize and meet safety guidelines. We suggest you call or email them to get the most recent information. arts. Our mission: as a Montessori learning community, we inspire life-long learning and a more peaceful world by nurturing the natural development of the whole child. Tara Redwood School
Elementary Campus 4746 Soquel Drive, Soquel 831.475.0201 Preschool Campus 5810 Prescott Road, Soquel 831.462.9632 tararedwoodschool.org Tara Redwood School will open its doors for Fall 2020. We are in close contact with CDCregulations and we are very grateful to be able to offer small size outdoor & indoor classroom spaces for our students and educators. Since 1989, Tara Redwood has been empowering children to make a positive difference in the world by educating the heart & mind with mindfulness practices. Our curriculum is an integration of Creating Compassionate Cultures (CCC) and a strong focus on global studies, sciences, nature, creative arts, social emotional learning and compassion in action.Preschoolfor ages 2 – 5 years andElementaryfor children ages 6–11. Classes are multi-age with low student – teacher ratio. Learn more here:tararedwoodschool.org VHM Christian School
427 Capitola Rd Ext., Santa Cruz, CA 95062 831-475-4762 vhmchristian.org VHM Christian School provides K-8 Christian Education for families in the Santa Cruz area. Students’ safety is paramount. Planning consistently with California State’s document “Stronger Together,” our goal is to re-open in-person classes on August 19th. 12 students per teacher will form stable groups. Limited spaces still available. Contact:principal@vhmchristian.org
AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT Adventure Sports Unlimited
303 Potrero Street, #15, Santa Cruz 831.458.3648 asudoit.com Adventure Sports Unlimited (ASU) is Santa Cruz’s premier swim school. We teach infants through adults the joys of water and adventure. Our Ocean programs introduce families to our magnificent marine environments through the Big Sur Camping Trip and Kelp Pickling Class. We explore the world-renown underwater landscape of Monterey Bay through our Open Water Scuba courses. It all starts in our custombuilt aquatics facility with our tropically heated pool. We want to make your entry into the water world truly enjoyable. ASU – Come Play With Us! The Bookakery
BookakeryBoxes.com Check out our Bookakery Boxes, monthly subscription boxes filled with picture books, recipes, baking tools and activities, curated to foster a love of reading and baking in kids and encourages parent-child activities. Bookakery Boxes facilitate activity based
learning of reading, following instructions, counting and more. Bookakery Boxes are perfect for preschoolers and early elementary age children as they head back to school or stay home this year. Guitar Lessons with Nathan Bessara
831.566.1250 nathanbessara@gmail.com Nathan is trained in classical guitar and will teach your child the foundation techniques to becoming an excellent musician. His personality is encouraging and your child will enjoy their experience as they learn to play the guitar. Nathan is available via Zoom during shelter in place. JimBoothSwim School
Santa Cruz at Harvey West Pool and Watsonville at Duncan Holbert Pool and Fitness Evolution 831.722.3500 jimboothswimschool.com Be a water wonder! From our Little Otters swim class for parents and their babies to Aquaphobics, our adult beginner class, the whole family splashes together atJimBoothswim school. Little Otters beginning at age 4 months is a gentle introduction to our 94-degree pools that will make you confident that you are guiding your infant to a happy water experience. Our group lessons emphasize quality swimming in an exciting class taught by our caring, well-qualified teachers. The whole family can swim atJimBoothSwim School. Junebug’s Gym
3910 Portola Drive, Suite 2, Santa Cruz 831.464.BUGS (2847) junebugsgym.com JuneBug’s Gym is a place where your child can experience a fun-filled adventure in movement. We have a caring, respectful, and supportive staff that encourages every child in their growth of large motor skills and gymnastics along with social, emotional and cognitive development. Our goals for our students are to help them feel control and empowerment in their bodies, to build self-esteem through success, to open up imaginations, and to feel confidence and joy in their exploration of movement. Music Together & Canta y Baila Conmigo w/MusicalMe, Inc.
Locations throughout Santa Cruz and Santa Clara County 831.438.3514 MusicalMe.com Discover your Family’s Rhythm!Make music an exciting & enriching part of your child’s life. In our online classes, babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and the grownups who love them come together for fun-filled, learningfilled, bonding-filled family time. You’ll have so much fun singing, dancing, playing, and laughing together that you may not realize just how much learning is taking place.We help your child grow into a confident musicmaker by teaching YOU – because YOU are your child’s most important teacher. As you discover fun ways to play with music and rhythms both in & out of class, you’ll be supporting your child’s music-learning and overall development. Classes are offered throughout the year, with a new song collection each season.Contact us today and bring the joy of music into your family’s life.
Santa Cruz Soccer Camp
SantaCruzSoccerCamp.com 831.246.1517 Santa Cruz Soccer Camp has witnessed over 30 years of making sport fun, entertaining, and empowering for boys and girls ages5-15. At this camp, they are taught by skillful educators, who have graduated in Leadership Development ages 13-15 and have participated as young campers immersed in the philosophy of Making Soccer Fun. Santa Cruz Gymnastics Center, Inc.
2750 B Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz 831.462.0655 scgym.com During the summer we will be offering themed Preschool and Recreational Gymnastics Camps at the same time to give parents a safe place for children ages 4 & up. Our camps will be offered all summer long starting in June. Beginning through advanced gymnasts will participate in all Olympic gymnastics events as well as daily trampoline, tumbling, strength, fitness and flexibility exercises. We’ll be filling our camps with lots of other out of the sun fun!!! Visit our website or contact our office for complete details & registration. Come flip with us! Teach MeFrench
831.295.3556 sophieveniel@hotmail.com I offer customized French tutoring for elementary,middle school,high school students, homeschoolers and adults. Learning French can be one of the most rewarding educational opportunities. As a French native, I am passionate about teaching and sharing my language skills. I offer simple steps to understand grammar, pronunciation and build vocabulary to gain confidence in speaking. I can teach at any level. I offer virtual private lessons.
HEALTH AND WELL BEING Alison K. Jackson, DDS
Children’s Dentistry 7545 Soquel Dr, Aptos 831.662.2900 santacruzkidsdentist.com We provide comprehensive dentistry in a caring environment for children of all ages. We are preventive-dentistry oriented and very thorough in our evaluations and consultations. We have a pediatric anesthesiologist on our premises and are able to treat special, challenging children safely and comfortably under a general anesthesia. We have a 24-hour emergency service available for all of our patients.
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Dientes Community Dental Care
1830 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz (near Marshalls); 31.464.5409 302 Riverside Avenue, Santa Cruz (near the Boardwalk); 831.464.5411 1430 Freedom Blvd, Suite C, Watsonville (near Cardenas); 831.621.2560 dientes.org Dientes Community Dental Care is a full-service dental clinic with offices in Santa Cruz and Watsonville. We practice whole family dentistry including kids, adults and seniors; but children hold a special place in our heart – half of our patients are kids. In our Santa Cruz clinic, we have a dedicated pediatric wing where Dientes’ dentists excel at making parents and children comfortable and offering preventive education with each visit. As a non-profit dental clinic, our focus is on high-quality, low-cost dental services, including exams, x-rays, fillings, sealants and root canals. We accept Medi-Cal and have affordable rates for uninsured patients. We offer bi-lingual services – Se habla Español! GrowingUpSC.com | AUGUST 2020
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COLORING PAGE
Jim Booth Swim Schools in Santa Cruz and Watsonville are teaching one on one classes: “We’re still swimming! Give us a call 831-722-3500. Come hop in!”
22 AUGUST 2020 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz
OPEN FOR BUSINESS Adventure Sports Unlimited
an exciting class taught by our caring, well-qualified teachers. The whole family can swim at Jim Booth Swim School
303 Potrero Street, #15, Santa Cruz 831.458.3648 asudoit.com Adventure Sports Unlimited, where Santa Cruz learns to love the water! Come play with us!
Junebug Gym
Fun and educationalGymnastic classes for children walking-8 years. Classes start July 1..Call 831-464-2847 to enroll. Visit Julybugsgym.comfor summer schedules.
Birth Network of Santa Cruz County
Kianti’s Pizza & Pasta Bar
1100 Pacific Avenue, Downtown Santa Cruz kiantis.com 831.469.4400 New! Kianti’s delivery, online ordering and ordering through Kianti’s app for the entire menu. Curbside available including bar drinks. Delivery also through DoorDash, UberEATS and Doorbell Dining.
BirthNet.org Many birth network members are still providing services during Covid-19. Check our website for updated availability of doulas, childbirth education, breastfeeding support, and more. The Bookakery
BookakeryBoxes.com Looking for activities to do with your kids at home? Try Bookakery Boxes! Includes a picture book, kid-friendly recipe card, baking item and an activity.
Kirby School
Alison K. Jackson, DDS Children’s Dentistry
Mothers’ Milk Bank
KirbySchool isopenand has been conducting a high quality distance learning program since March 16, 2020. For more information, please see our websiteKirby.org
(877) 375-6645, For Spanish: option 4 mothersmilk.org Donate your extra breastmilk. Save lives!Our mission is to help fragilebabies thrive by making donated Human milk safe and accessible. Call us today!
santacruzkidsdentist.com We are seeing patients again! We missed you! Check our website for updates and changes. Please don't hesitate to call us.
Mount Madonna School
Encompass Community Services Youth & Family Counseling
831-429-8350 encompasscs.org/youth_services_ counseling Encompass Community Services offers FREE comprehensive mental health and substance use counseling for Santa Cruz County residents. Telehealth and limited inperson group, individual and family services available. Gateway School K-8
gatewaysc.org The Learning Continues … Gateway School will continue to provide a robust Kindergarten through Middle School educational experience whether on campus or in Distance Learning. Join us.
GATEWAY SCHOOL 1970
Music Together & Canta y Baila Conmigo w/MusicalMe, Inc.
MusicalMe.com Join us online for both Music Together & Canta y Baila Conmigo. Our interactive Zoom classes are a great way to bring the joy of family musicmaking into your daily life (and to fulfill our musical mission). Also offering unique virtual birthday celebrations! Ocean Alternative & Independent Study
Good Shepherd Catholic School
Preschool - 8th grade gsschool.org Spots are still available to enroll for the 2020-2021 school year beginning August 10. We are prepared to offer interactive and engaging distance and/ or in-person learning!
oc-losd-ca.schoolloop.com/ Supports your homeschooling adventure. We also offer an independent study program with direct teacher support. Our optional sitebased classes include literacy, math, science, and art.
Holy Cross School
150 Emmett Street, Santa Cruz 831.423.4447 holycsc.org/ Offering vibrant and responsive in-person and distance learning programs. Students benefit from 1:1 technology, daily live communications with teachers and small class sizes where they’re known individually. Jim Booth Swim School
(408) 846-4040 MountMadonnaSchool.org Mount Madonna School (MMS) is operating remotely at this time. MMS remains committed to serving our students and has implementedRemote Learningas of March 16
Jim Booth Swim School
Santa Cruz at Harvey West Pool and Watsonville at Duncan Holbert Pool and Fitness Evolution 831.722.3500 jimboothswimschool.com Be a water wonder! From our Little Otters swim class for parents and their babies to Aquaphobics, our adult beginner class, the whole family splashes together at Jim Booth swim school. Little Otters beginning at age 4 months is a gentle introduction to our 94-degree pools that will make you confident that you are guiding your infant to a happy water experience. Our group lessons emphasize quality swimming in
Santa Cruz Gymnastics
scgym.com SCGC will be opening in a limited capacity. We are offering small camps abiding by all County safety guidelines. See you soon! Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
Santa Cruz SPCA
spcasc.org/covid19/ Please see the website for up to date information on foster, adoptions, donations, foodbank and summer camp. Special Parents Information Network
831-722-2800 spinsc.org Providing parent and family support groups, referrals to community aid, trainings, workshops, IEP support and our mentor parent program all through zoom. One on one counseling/support available by phone. FSA Survivors Healing Center
Survivorshealingcenter.org eventbrite.com/e/parentingfor-healthy-attachmenttickets-109181851858 In Attachment Parenting, we will look at our parenting goals, attachment theory, and explore how we can be emotionally healthy parents raising emotionally healthy children. Rocking Horse Ranch Preschool
Lic #444400117 4134 Fairway Dr, Soquel 831.462.2702 Rocking Horse Ranch is a play-based preschool located on 3 beautiful acres in sunny Soquel. We are open from 9-5:30 and offer morning, afternoon, and full day sessions. Our outdoor space offers lots of room to explore, including our gardens and many different kinds of animals. Come visit us! Tara Redwood Summer Camp
tararedwoodschool.org/summercamp-2020/ Tara Redwood School’s summer camp, Into the Heart of Nature, is located in an extraordinary setting nestled in the Nisene Marks Forest. We offer cooperative games, creek exploration, habitat studies, playful skits, and naturethemed arts. For children 3 to 5 years old. See our website for more information and registration. Ultraderm | California Skin Institute
3311 Mission Dr., Santa Cruz 95065 831.272.0936 californiaskininstitute.com/locations/ ultraderm-santa-cruz/ We treat everything from eczema to skin cancer. Our team is here to support your family in-office or virtually and provide you excellent, safe care. VHM Christian School
427 Capitola Road Extension Santa Cruz, CA 95062 831-475-4762 VHM is committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment for families looking for a fully accredited Christian Education. Small stable groups are still available.
santacruzmuseum.org Engage with nature wherever you are! Explore our online store, download free nature-based activities, and join us for weeklong Nature Explorers day-camps July 29 through August 7! Santa Cruz Public Library
224 Church St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060 831-427-7713 santacruzpl.org Curbside pickup, free outdoor WiFi, live online tutoring and FAFSA help, storytimes, STEAM, book groups, community discussions, teacher concierge services, downloadable books, movies, and more.
Visit Our Website GrowingUpSC.com
GrowingUpSC.com | AUGUST 2020
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