Growing Up in Santa Cruz January 2024

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Join us at our Gateway Middle School information night and taco party. It’s as much fun as being a student here. Middle school can be tricky. We’re here to help.

Our students learn to not only be themselves, but to become their very best selves. We connect with our students and our students connect with a love of learning.

Come see it all.

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TACO TRUCK! January 25th, 4:30 - 6:30 • Program begins at 5:15 • RSVP for taco tokens: kristin.lim@gatewaysc. org • Explore our classrooms • Meet our teachers • Learn about our curriculum • Most importantly, find out how we can help your child become their best self. • 255 Swift Street, Santa Cruz

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JANUARY 2024 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Features

Jim Booth Swim School

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Evenings • Saturday Classes • Birthday Parties

The BEST in Baby Swimming!

Start at 4 months in our 94° indoor pool!

On the Cover

16

Artist of the Month

22 Which Education is Best?

20 At Watsonville indoor and outdoor pools

Editor’s Note ......................................4 Community Impact............................6 Cover Feature.....................................8 Positive Discipline Parenting..............13 Grandmother’s View...........................14 Artist of the Month.............................16 Coloring Contest................................18 Coloring Contest Winners..................19 Calendar.............................................20 Annual School Guide..........................24 Your Health........................................26

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

(831) 722-3500

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EDITOR | PUBLISHER

Brad Kava and Steve Dinnen

ART DIRECTOR | MANAGING EDITOR

Nathan Mixter

DISTRIBUTION & SUBSCRIPTIONS

Susan Bernstein

CONTRIBUTORS

Addie Mahmassani Jaime McFaden, Sarah Savasky, Hannah Stubblefield, Kimberly Blaker, Christina Waters

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

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Editor’s Note Reb Leaves Behind Legacy of Generosity

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

If you passed by the intersection of highways 9 and 1 you’ve seen the sign on the Rebele Family Shelter. If you’ve seen Shakespeare in the Park, the Santa Cruz Symphony, or sent kids to the teen center at St. John’s Church, or Cabrillo College or UCSC, you’ve benefited from their generosity. Or if you’ve gone to Watsonville Hospital, or read this magazine, the Rebeles had a hand in your life.

It was a sad day November 25 when Rowland Rebele died at the age of 93 after a lifetime of service and philanthropy.

Many will be reeling from the loss for a long time.

Reb, as he preferred to be called, was a Stanford grad and Navy officer who made a fortune in what is today a dying industry–publishing newspapers. He scraped his way up from an internship in the Central Valley to owning more than a dozen publications, which he began selling as he neared retirement age.

He pledged to give away the money he amassed before he died and from his home in Aptos, and later Dominican Oaks. He did just that, writing checks for those in need.

When Watsonville Hospital fought to recover from bankruptcy and serve a county that desperately needed more medical care, he wrote a check for a million dollars. He gave another million to fund arts programs at UCSC. He’s given an endowment to Cabrillo College and Stanford University that will keep journalism students doing paid internships forever. And yeah, he kept this magazine alive when we faced bankruptcy because of Covid. He believed families needed the information we provide.

Notice the hat in the photo here? I ran into him at Safeway when he was wearing it, showing the colors for Santa Cruz’s only family magazine. I couldn’t resist the photo. It made me so happy and proud.

I never met anyone like him and he forever changed my life. He was a compassionate conservative at a time when conservatism seemed to mean amassing fortunes, and

not necessarily helping others. He didn’t buy so-called “trickle-down economics,” knowing that nothing trickles to those who can’t put a roof over their heads or feed their children.

“We are our brother’s keeper,” he said, a truly spiritual man whose deeds matched his words.

He not only donated, but he trekked down hillsides and along the rivers to take a census of homeless people to make sure they were able to get needed services. The first time I met him he was covered in mud from his work, well into his 80s.

I feel lucky that just two months ago I wrote a thank you note to him in this column, while he was still alive. I’m sad that we spent a long time preparing a cover story at Good Times weekly about him but it ran after his death.

His wife of 69 years, Pat, was his partner in all of his efforts. She learned of his death on her 94th birthday. They had been separated because he had pneumonia and then Covid.

If you didn’t know him, I hope this lets you know of a man who did so much for our county. If you did, you know he and the whole family of three grown kids, deserve thanks and a big salute for their sacrifices.

Thanks, Rebeles, all.

Brad Kava, Editor and Publisher

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

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JANUARY 2024 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

What Is Your New Year’s Resolution?

By Addie Mahmassani As I start a new year taking the kid-pulse of Santa Cruz, maybe it’s time I admit that I’m not an expert on kids. In my life of reading and writing in windowless rooms, I’ve probably spent less time with the youth than your average person. I’m telling you this because, while I love interviewing the leaders of tomorrow, I sometimes ask the most foolish questions.

This month, the first of 2024, I thought I had a failsafe prompt. Come to find out, the kids are unfamiliar with the term “new year’s resolution”! Oh, to live so blissfully in the present! I explained the concept to them, saying most of us adults resolve to go on a diet and then quit by January 3…which did not get many laughs. Still, when they heard “hopes and dreams,” they lit up. As usual, I left feeling like the Cruz kids know more than I ever will.

Camille, 12 – Tierra Pacifica

Braden, 11 – New Brighton Middle

Lucas, 10 – Mountain Elementary

Robbie, 9 – Main Street Elementary

“My new year’s resolution is to get really good at surfing…and dirt biking. I have been surfing but I’m not very good at it, so I want to get better.”

“I think I want to get better at surfing, like popping up to my feet easier. I also like snowboarding, so I’m going to try to figure out a new goal this year. It’s probably going to be getting better at riding powder, just going through the powder and trying to not fall a lot because it’s hard to get back up.”

“I want to get better at my basketball skills and get my handles in better shooting form.

And we’re going to a new snowboard place, so I want to get to know that place and do really big jumps.”

“I want to do a 50-50 on the half-pipe!”

“Gault school encourages kids to exceed their potential.”

Nadia Krilonovich, Parent

“Santa Cruz High School has only made my goals seem more possible.”

Yuxuan Yan, Student

“Our son goes to school happy & comes home happy from Westlake.”

Alexis Ow, Parent

“B40 Middle is a place where people can be themselves.”

Aiden Parten, Student

“My has had an amazing start at Bayview. His spark is back. I couldn’t have made a better choice for him.”

Courtney Jones, Parent

See what all the fuss is about. sccs.net/ enroll

“Monarch feels welcoming & engaging & refreshing & secure.”

Jacquiline Johnston, Parent

“AFE has been a wonderful experience for my son.”

Christopher Campbell, Parent

“Mission Hill has provided a great transition into Middle School.”

Natalia Flechsig, Parent

“Our daughter wants to arrive early every day so she can spend more time at DeLaveaga.”

Jessy Beckett-Parr, Parent

“Harbor High is such a great community. You never feel alone.”

Natalie Blanco, Studnet

“Soquel High’s wondrous community has allowed me to forge friendships & wisdom sure to last.” Alex Pounds, Student

GrowingUpSC.com | JANUARY 2024

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COMMUNITY IMPACT Kids Learn Good Nutrition is Cool at Cooking Clubs Second Harvest Food Bank Programs Teach Eating Good Can Be Affordable “Ewww…it’s so green – I don’t want to eat that!”

When kids first join one of Second Harvest Food Bank’s Cooking Clubs, this can be a common reaction to the Vegetarian Pesto Pasta recipe. But rather than being an obstacle, it becomes an ideal learning opportunity.

“Our Cooking Clubs are all about exposure,” said Vanessa Arizmendi, Wellness and Nutrition Director for Second Harvest Food Bank. “They are designed to introduce young people to nutrition concepts, ingredients, spices, cultural dishes, and other food-related concepts that support a holistic approach to health and wellbeing. We want to open their minds and their taste buds!”

Second Harvest’s overall mission is to address the root causes of food insecurity and health disparity. With the sharp rise of health concerns such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and other chronic diseases among young children and their families, this work has never been more important.

“Cooking Clubs are a great place to start,” Arizmendi said, “because nutrition education at a young age is one of the best ways to change these troubling health trends. We want to plant seeds about healthy eating at a young age.”

The Cooking Clubs are led by Delia Bernal, Second Harvest’s Nutrition Education Manager, who developed a curriculum and menus that make it fun for kids to learn about what they’re putting into their bodies, what they can cook at home and to give them the basic culinary skills that make it easy to prepare healthy, nutritious, tasty meals.

The Clubs emphasize hand washing and even incorporate age-appropriate knife skills to ensure the young chefs prepare clean food in a safe environment.

One of the Second Harvest team’s Cooking Clubs is currently hosted as part of the After School Program at Starlight Academy in Watsonville, which has a beautiful kitchen.

Third and Fourth graders join the sessions twice per month for the whole school year. The lessons seek to keep kids

interested and engaged, even when the topic is something like the importance of getting enough fiber.

“We base a recipe around that core concept and the kids get to prepare and taste the dish together,” Arizmendi said. “Then they are like, ‘wow, fiber is yummy’ – which is when we know they are really getting it.”

Feedback is fundamental to the Cooking Clubs. Ideally, the Clubs extend over a six-month period so the Second Harvest team can measure progress against key goals.

“We conduct surveys of Cooking Club members before and after their sessions to assess everything from opening their minds to new foods, flavors and ingredients to how the meals may be impacting their weight, blood pressure, insulin levels or other health measures,” Arizmendi said. “We want to give them all the tools, tips and tricks so they can apply healthy nutrition in their daily lives.”

The program also seeks to end a vicious cycle associated with food insecurity. Among the food insecure,

limited budgets often lead to poorquality food choices.

But over time, a less-than-nutritious diet can lead to more sick days, chronic illness or other long-term health issues.

This then can impact one’s ability to work and earn a steady income. Illness related to poor nutrition can also increase medical bills and healthcare costs. So those poor-quality food choices driven by a tight budget can come all the way back around to further straining one’s financial situation. It’s a terrible cycle.

“If we can help educate folks that eating healthy food doesn’t have to be more expensive, we can break this cycle,” Arizmendi notes. “We want our communities to understand that there doesn’t necessarily need to be a trade-off. It may take a bit of effort, but we are here to help. Because the fact is you can eat well, and it can still be affordable.”

In addition to Cooking Clubs, Second Harvest offers cooking demos, which are offered like a field trip to the kitchen at the food bank’s distribution

center in Watsonville. Kids can tour the facility, learn about healthy nutrition, and, depending on their age, perhaps even help with food distribution as a volunteer. High school age youth can also volunteer at the Cooking Clubs, serving as mentors.

Second Harvest has ambitious goals for the future and has already expanded to offer a Cooking Club for expectant mothers. “We’d like to start Cooking Clubs at apartment complexes, community centers and other locations so we can reach even more of our community,” Arizmendi said.

Arizmendi reflects on the program, “Whether kids are learning how much sugar is really in that sugary drink or tasting Bok Choy or Curry for the first time, you can see the light bulb going on over their heads. The experience is so heartwarming.”

Again, Arizmendi emphasizes, it’s all about exposure. “They learn something new every time they come to a Cooking Club. And sometimes they say, ‘I would never have tried this, but, you know, I think my whole family will like it.’ And when that happens, we know we’ve inspired them and they are on their way to a healthier future.”

For more information visit thefoodbank.org

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

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JANUARY 2024 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

ON THE COVER High School Chemistry Students Conduct Seasonal Experiment Recently, Mount Madonna School 10th grade students explored “redox reactions” – a high school chemistry class version of holiday crafting – during a lab activity.

A redox reaction, also known as oxidation reduction, is a reaction that involves the transfer of electrons between “chemical species” or the atoms, ions or molecules involved in the reaction.

The students were transitioning between studying ionic compounds and chemical reactions and teacher Lisa Catterall offered them a “perfect experiment” to reinforce their learning and to prepare them for the next unit.

“As students performed a four-step reaction inside a glass ball, the result of the final reaction is that silver ions are deposited on the glass,” explained Catterall. “This was an early chemical method of producing mirrors, and it makes for lovely uneven silver deposits on the balls for a handmade ornament. This is a lab we have done in chemistry for the last decade. It works well because it combines arts and crafts with chemical reactions.”

For an upcoming unit on electrochemistry, students will try electroforming with copper. They have chosen small items from nature during a recent campus hike.

The items are currently drying and pressing. The students will create graphite paint in the lab and will paint the items, then submerge them in copper sulfate and run a current through the solution to make beautiful copper objects.

Creative K-6th lear ning on

14 acres. Now enrolling for the 2023/24 school year.

Call for a tour!

831.688.1074

orchardschoolaptos.org 2288 Trout Gulch Rd. - Aptos, California

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JANUARY 2024 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Free Park Access for Kids

BY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION Fourth grade students in Santa Cruz County will soon receive a free pass to visit national parks with their families as part of a new partnership to improve accessibility for students on the Central Coast.

The 3000 passes were delivered to the Santa Cruz County Office of Education early in December for distribution to the 10 school districts, and, ultimately, directly into the hands of 4th grade students and their families.

“Few experiences are as powerful and transformative as visiting our nation’s National Parks and Monuments,” said Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Faris Sabbah. “I am thrilled that we’ve been able to work with our regional partners and school districts to make access to these natural wonders easier than ever for all 4th graders in Santa Cruz County.”

Distribution is expected to take place from now through the end of January.

The passes are valid to access national parks, lands, and waters, through Aug. 31, 2024.

“We’re thrilled to have this opportunity to partner with the Bureau of Land

Management,” said Santa Cruz County 3rd District Supervisor Justin Cummings.

“This is yet another way we are helping families in our community to overcome barriers to accessing the outdoors and hope this program will help inspire future generations of environmental stewards. We want to thank the BLM Central Coast Field Office for extending this opportunity to fourth graders and their families in our community.”

The passes are provided as part of a regional partnership to increase access to the Every Kid Outdoors program.

Created in 2019 under the bipartisan Every Kid Outdoors Act, Every Kid Outdoors is a multi agency program that provides 4th graders and their families free entrance to national lands, waters, and historic sites, including national parks – a total of more than 2,000 sites.

Research on program participants indicates that without free access, 73 percent would never have visited a national park. Research also shows that students are more likely to visit parks throughout the rest of their lives if they experience parks with their family or school at age 10. home-school equivalent) students.

Middle School

Now Enrolling 2023-2024

Schedule a personal tour now.

We look forward to meeting you

T.E.A.

Challenge

Technology | Engineering | Art

January 24 | 9:00-11:30am Unleash your creativity! All middle school-age youth are invited to the Mount Madonna School campus for a morning of hands-on, collaborative activities. Students will be empowered to innovate solutions to several T.E.A. challenges.

Reserve a spot for your student, class or group: linda.manzur@mountmadonnaschool.org

Campus Tours January 17, February 12, March 20

Pre & K Discovery February 8

Embrace a journey of academic excellence, where rigorous learning meets boundless creativity! Get a glimpse into the power of engagement and learn how Mount Madonna students are inspired to excel.

FREE | RSVPS are required

Offering bus transportation and flexible tuition MountMadonnaSchool.org | 408-846-4042 admissions@mountmadonnaschool.org GrowingUpSC.com | JANUARY 2024

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EDUCATION Considering a Faith-Based School for Your Kids?

BY KIMBERLY BLAKER If you’re thinking about sending your child to a faith-based school, there are many factors to consider, just like shopping for any private school. You’ll want to weigh out academics, enrichment opportunities, location, and price, to name a few. But with faith-based schools, there are additional factors you’ll want to consider. This guide will help you to make an informed decision, so you can choose the school that best fits your family’s values and meets your objectives for your child’s education.

WHY DO PARENTS CHOOSE FAITH-BASED EDUCATION?

Many parents of various faiths and even of no faith contemplate the idea of sending their kids to a faith-based school. For those considering a private school, religious schools are sometimes a more affordable alternative. But there are many other reasons families may consider a faith-based school as well. Parents are often looking for a school that provides their child with one or more of the following: • a religious education that mirrors the families’ beliefs • teachings that instill faith and obedience to God • a better learning environment • the benefits of smaller class sizes • more individualized attention • a feeling of belonging in a community • better college preparation • a more convenient or safer location than alternative options in the area

IS A FAITH-BASED SCHOOL RIGHT FOR YOUR FAMILY?

If you’re considering sending your child to a faith-based school, you’ll want to consider several factors. Begin by making a list of the reasons, or the pros, for sending your kids to a faith-based school.

This may include any of the reasons mentioned above, among many others.

But in making a thoughtful decision, it’s also essential to consider the cons. For your family, these may include: • the amount of time spent on religious studies, prayer, and other faith-related activities that takes away from academics • admission policies that may exclude or not adequately assist children with particular learning, behavioral, or mental health disabilities, or other groups • fewer extracurricular activities • unaccredited textbooks and/or science and history curriculums based on the school’s beliefs rather than verified facts • lack of exposure to other faiths and cultures Keep in mind, every faith-based school is different. The above may apply to some religious schools and not others.

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HOW TO CHOOSE A FAITH-BASED SCHOOL THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOUR FAMILY

If you’ve weighed out the pros and cons and decided in favor of a faith-based education for your child, the next step is to determine which school is right for your family. You’ll want to ask many of the same questions you would for any private school, such as: • How much is tuition?

• Is financial aid available?

• What is the student-teacher ratio?

• What are the teachers’ qualifications, and how are teachers supported?

• How much homework is there?

• What help is available if my child is struggling academically?

• What is the grading system?

• Are uniforms required, or is there a dress code?

• What is the discipline policy?

• What extracurricular activities are available?

• What is the school’s culture like?

• What is the school’s system for accountability?

Regarding the last question, faithbased schools don’t have the same governmental regulations as public schools. So religious schools may not meet the exact stringent requirements. A few areas that may differ include teacher certification, curriculum, textbooks, special education, length of the school year, and health and safety requirements, among other aspects.

RELIGIOUS FACTORS TO CONSIDER

Whether your family is religious or not, there are several questions you’ll want to ask to determine if the school is right for your child.

If your family is religious, you may

JANUARY 2024 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

want to look for a school within your faith. Suppose your family isn’t religious or is considering a school of another denomination. In that case, you’ll want to find out how much of the curriculum and day is spent on faith-based activities.

Also, keep in mind that beliefs and practices vary widely even within particular religions and among denominations. You want to make sure the values instilled by the school you’re considering are in line with yours. To help you make that determination, talk to other parents whose kids attend the school. Also, ask the school staff the following: • How much of the school’s faith is embedded in the curriculum? What are the school’s teachings in science regarding biology and evolution? What about history, such as when life on earth began?

• How is religion taught in the classroom? Do students learn about other faiths as well? If so, are teachings about different beliefs positive and respectful?

Or does the school discourage learning about other religions?

• What does the physical setting of the school and classrooms look like? Is it adorned with a lot of religious symbols and statements?

• What are the school’s beliefs and teachings on gender, sexual orientation, race, and other religions? Does the school promote equality and acceptance?

• If your family isn’t of the same faith as the school, what are your child’s options? Can your child opt out of religious classes, chapel time, prayer, and faith activities? Are students allowed to instead meditate, quietly express their own spiritual beliefs, or do homework?

• Can students of other faiths celebrate their own religious holidays at school instead of the school’s religious holidays?

• Does the school discourage kids from mixing with those of other faiths outside of school?

Whether your family is of the school’s particular faith or not, make sure you’re comfortable with the answers. Also, ask for a school tour, which can provide additional insight into many of these questions.

HOW TO PAY FOR TUITION

If the tuition cost for a faith-based school is out of your budget, there are several options for covering tuition costs, similar to non-faith-based private schools.

• Ask the administrative office of the school you are considering what type of financing options it offers.

• Search online for private scholarships and grants in your state.

• Consider a loan program.

• Look into your state’s voucher program.

• Visit scholarshipfund.org/apply/ other-sources-of-tuition-assistance/ for a selection of funding sources.

Choosing the right school for your child requires leg-work and can be a tough decision. But by making an informed decision, you can alleviate significant stress for yourself and your child. It will also ease your child’s adjustment to the new school and reduce the likelihood of any regrets.

Kimberly Blaker is a freelance writer.

She also owns an online bookshop, Sage Rare & Collectible Books, specializing in out-of-print, scarce, signed, and first editions; fine bindings; ephemera and more at sagerarebooks.com

Delivering humankindness.

Make peace of mind part of your birth plan.

Holding your baby for the first time—it’s a moment you’ll cherish for the rest of your life. And Dominican Hospital’s Family Birth Center is here to help make it as special as your new bundle of joy. Our team of doctors, nurses—even midwives—will guide you every baby step of the way. And they’re supported by the only Level III NICU in the Monterey Bay area should you need it. We even have classes to help you prepare for the big day. See for yourself. Take a virtual tour of our Birth Center at DominicanBaby.org.

Pacific Elementary School Small public school, quality programs, close diverse community, preschool through 6th grade.

Choose preschool, traditional TK-6 classrooms, full-time home study, or a hybrid independent study program with 3 classroom days and 2 home school days/week.

Award-winning school lunch program featuring organic and local food. Students help cook from scratch daily.

Experiential learning emphasis: year-round garden program, hands-on science, drama, field trips, high-tech innovation lab, annual student film festival.

Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) Program, including enrichment classes and accelerated math. Graduating students often place above grade-level in math.

Just 10 miles from Santa Cruz, attracting students from around the county. After school programs available.

Pacific Elementary School 50 Ocean Street, Davenport (831) 425-7002 www.pacificesd.org

Enquire now: www.pacificesd.org/new-family-enrollment.html

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JANUARY 2024 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

POSITIVE DISCIPLINE PARENTING 2024 Parenting Goals

BY HANNAH STUBBLEFIELD New year, new parenting goals! Positive Discipline has so many great ideas for nurturing the relationship between the parent and child. A healthy, mutually-respectful relationship is the greatest parenting tool we can have. There are so many ways to improve our relationship with our children (connection before correction, using kindness and firmness at the same time, understanding the belief behind the behavior, etc.) and there are just as many ways to hurt this important relationship (using punishment, shame, humiliation, blame, etc.)

It can feel daunting to try to implement many new parenting techniques at once. With this in mind, here’s a month-by-month guide with a different Positive Discipline parenting tool or concept to try out each month. Cheers to making 2024 the year we create respectful relationships with our children!

JANUARY- LONG-TERM GOALS LIST

First, make a list of all of the problems/ issues that you are currently facing with your child. When I facilitate parenting classes, some of the things that parents typically put on this list include: bedtime struggles, whining, sibling rivalry, tantrums, etc. Next, make a list of all of the qualities you’d like to see in your child when they are grown (in 20 years or so). Parents often list things like: kind, happy, healthy, proud of themself, social, successful, etc. Now look at these two lists side-by-side and think about how we get from where we are now to where hope our children get to in 20 years.

Spoiler alert: the way we get there is modeling. The good news and the bad news is that our children are always watching us and that humans learn through modeling.

So if we want our grown children to be kind, for example, we must be mindful about modeling kindness to our children as we are raising them. I recommend keeping the second list somewhere you can see it regularly, to remind you that parenting is a long-term job and that we are raising humans (not just children) and we have long-term goals for our humans.

FEBRUARY- ROUTINE CHART

First, ditch the reward/star chart. Why? Because when children are raised with rewards and punishments, they learn to focus on extrinsic rewards rather than learning to trust their intrinsic sense of what feels right.

Next, create a routine chart WITH your child (not for your child). Brainstorm together all of the steps that your child does during certain routines (getting ready for school or getting ready for bed are two typical ones).

Next take pictures (or have your child draw pictures) of each step. For example, a child’s bedtime routine chart might have a picture of your child brushing their teeth, followed by a picture of your child putting on PJs, followed by a picture of your child’s bookshelf, etc.

Routine charts can be very simple. The idea is that you work together to create it and you use it as a visual aid in your home.

MARCH- CONNECTION BEFORE CORRECTION

We are constantly giving our children directions and corrections. When you are about to give your child a direction (“it’s time to get in the car,” or “come wash your hands”), try starting by connecting with them first.

This can look like: “Hey Bud. I see you’re building two towers with your blocks. Want to tell me about them? It’s going to be time to get in the car to go to Grandma’s house in 5 minutes. You can play with blocks for a few more minutes and then it will be time to get in the car.” This is a small tweak that can have a huge impact on your relationship with your child.

in the family only when mom takes her focus off the other children and puts her focus onto them, they may exhibit many undesirable behaviors to get mom’s attention. If mom just focuses on the behavior (“don’t hit!”) and not on what’s going on beneath the behavior (“It looks like you’re wanting my attention. Are you feeling sad that the baby has been getting a lot of my time lately? I’m looking forward to our special time tonight when we play a game.”) then the behavior will likely keep coming up. If the belief behind the behavior is acknowledged and considered, the behavior will likely decrease.

JULY- ANGER WHEEL OF CHOICE APRIL- COOL-DOWN SPACE

Create a cozy cool-down space in your home WITH your child (not for your child) and discuss what the space is for. This is a space where anyone who is feeling angry or sad or stressed can go to help them take a break and cool down until they feel better.

A cool-down space might have pillows, cozy stuffed animals, books, fidgets, or anything else your child chooses (except screens- keep the cool-down space screen-free). Model going to the cool-down space when you feel angry or sad. Make sure that the cool-down space is always optional and no one in the family is forced to go there as a punishment.

MAY- FAMILY MEETINGS

Start a weekly family meeting. Children learn so much during family meetings, such as listening, mutual respect, giving others compliments, problem-solving, focusing on solutions, etc. Family meetings should take place on the same day every week if possible. They can be only 15-20 minutes long (especially the first few times) and they can have a very simple format: • Compliments • Agenda (keep a white board or paper on the fridge so everyone can add items to the agenda throughout the week) • Brainstorming solutions to agenda items • Calendar for the upcoming week • Family fun ideas Throughout the week, when a problem arises, be sure to offer your child the opportunity to add this item to the agenda for the next family meeting.

JUNE- UNDERSTANDING THE BELIEF BEHIND THE BEHAVIOR

Picture an iceberg. The part of the iceberg we can see above the water represents the child’s behavior. All of the rest of the iceberg under the surface of the water (the part we can’t see) represents the child’s belief behind their behavior. When you find yourself struggling with a particular unhelpful behavior that your child seems to be repeating over and over, you may find that the behavior keeps coming up because you’ve been focused on trying to stop the behavior, rather than focused on what the child’s belief might be beneath the behavior. For example, if a child has decided that they are significant

Make an anger wheel of choice WITH your child (not for your child) and talk about what it’s for. When we are angry we are unable to use our full brains and we can often make destructive choices. If we can take some time while we are calm to brainstorm things we CAN do when we are angry, we can have those options available. An anger wheel of choice can be made on a paper plate or on a circular paper. Some things that some families I’ve worked with have put on their anger wheels include: yelling into a pillow, pounding pegs, drawing or writing about the problem, running outside, going to your cool-down space, etc.

Keep your anger wheel of choice somewhere in the house where everyone can view it and model using ideas from it when you feel angry.

AUGUST- USE ENCOURAGEMENT INSTEAD OF PRAISE

Instead of “you made a beautiful painting,” try “tell me about your painting.”

Instead of “you are the smartest kid ever,” try “you must have worked hard.”

Instead of “Good job!” try saying nothing and reaching out a hand for a high five.

Instead of “I saw that good deed you did… I’m giving you a star,” try “how did that feel?”

Instead of “Good boy!” or “Good girl!” try “I love you no matter what” When we praise children, they learn how to become people-pleasers and they learn to feel worthwhile when others approve. When we encourage children, they learn self confidence, self-trust and selfdiscipline. Think of praise as dessert; it’s ok every once in a while, but you don’t want that to be your entire diet.

SEPTEMBER- SEE MISTAKES AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LEARNING

This switch in perspective can make all the difference in nurturing your relationship with your child and it’s also a great way to make sure your child grows into a well-rounded, self-confident person who doesn’t struggle with perfectionism. Remember to model seeing your own mistakes as an opportunity for learning by acknowledging and celebrating your own mistakes to child. It can be very powerful to say “I made a mistake!

I’m so glad I did that so I can learn a new, better way of getting this done.” Treat your child’s mistakes with the same grace.

OCTOBER- CURIOSITY QUESTIONS

If your child is “in trouble,” try using curiosity questions rather than lecturing.

Examples of Curiosity Questions: • What happened?

• What do you feel about what happened?

• What was your idea? What were you trying to accomplish?

• What ideas do you have for solutions?

Lecturing a child involves shame and blame.

Children do better when they feel better. If they messed up it doesn’t actually help to try to make sure they feel bad. Asking questions invites your child into the process of critical thinking and making amends. It is best to wait until everyone is calm to ask these questions and truly stay curious (without your own agenda) about your child’s truth

NOVEMBER- SPECIAL TIME

Think of your relationship with your child as a bank account. You want to have more deposits than withdrawals to keep the bank account out of the negative. Withdrawals can occur in the form of shaming, blaming, arguing, punishing, etc. One of the best ways to put “deposits” in to your relationship is with special time. I recommend scheduling special time with each child and putting it on the calendar with them.

Special time just means uninterrupted time with just you and your child doing anything the child enjoys. Just knowing they have their parent all to themselves and that their parent is giving them undivided attention can be so meaningful to a child.

DECEMBER- BE THE ASKING PARENT, NOT THE TELLING PARENT

Instead of “Get your sweatshirt on,” try “What do you need for going outside?”

Instead of “Brush your teeth,” try “What’s next on your routine chart?”Instead of “Get in the car,” try “Will you walk to the car or hop like a bunny?” When we ask children questions, we get far less resistance than when we tell them what to do. Questions give them a chance to use the logical and curious parts of their brain, while commands invite defensiveness and power struggles. This is another small tweak that can have a huge impact on the peace in the home and the parent-child relationship

Hannah Stubblefield is a certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator. She is a former teacher and current co-owner of Wonderland Toys & Classroom Resources in Aptos. She is wife to Chris, step-mom to Sebastian, boy-mom to Adam, girl-mom to Maya, and dog-mom to Samson. Check out her upcoming in-person parenting classes at the Family Circle Center in Aptos in 2024!

To learn more about Positive Discipline and to order books, check out positivediscipline. com. To check out our local Positive Discipline resources here in Santa Cruz, go to pdcrcc.org

GrowingUpSC.com | JANUARY 2024

13

GRANDMOTHER’S VIEW Beginner’s Mind

BY SARAH SAVASKY I’ve thought a lot about the things I hope to teach my granddaughter, but the truth is I will probably learn more from her than she will ever learn from me.

Seeing the world through her little eyes has already opened mine.

There is concept in Zen Buddhism called beginner’s mind. It refers to having an attitude of openness, eagerness, and lack of preconceptions about a given subject or idea, just as a beginner would.

It is meant to counter the closedmindedness that can occur when one thinks of themselves as an expert.

A person can become so used to doing things in a certain way that they do not consider or acknowledge new ideas. I am not a Buddhist, but I’ve always been intrigued by this concept. I have been about as successful at incorporating it into my life as I have been with daily meditation, which is to say not very.

My sixteen-month-old granddaughter, on the other hand, is an expert at beginner’s mind.

What I’ve learned from watching her learn is that beginner’s mind is baby mind; and the best way to cultivate beginner’s mind is to spend time with a toddler.

Like most toddlers, my granddaughter’s approach to learning to walk is willy-nilly. She has no plan. She puts one foot in front of the other. And even though she has been walking for a few months, she falls a lot. When she falls, she gets right back up. She rarely cries about it. Even when she bonks her head or scrapes her knees. She is undeterred by her failures.

She has no preconceived ideas about how long it will take to learn to walk or what the best way to learn is. If I were trying something new and I failed that many times, I would give up or assume I was doing it wrong. I would declare to myself and others that I’m just no good at walking, and I’m never going to be. Then I would beat myself up for not “getting it,” and resign myself to a sedentary life. And if I ever dared to try

again, I would proceed with caution, walking slowly and never ever running. I know too much.

Grace is very confident in her abilities.

Overly confident. She tries to climb up into chairs that are much too big for her.

She approaches the chair, or the ladder to the slide or the climbing structure, with the same “can do” attitude. And it isn’t just the too-big-things.

Recently she found a doll house chair, no more than three inches high. She set it on the floor, backed her little body up to it and tried to sit on it. I try to imagine relating to the world in this way, as if anything is possible; as if it never hurts to try.

The phone is where I can really see the wheels turning in Grace’s beginner’s mind.

Every Friday (my Grace Day) we face-time with my daughter. Grace loves this and smiles and kisses her auntie goodbye.

I think she has come to the understandable conclusion that people live inside the phone. She has taken this to another level with the framed photographs on a table in my living

room. She points to them and says “dat, dat, dat,” while I explain, “dat” is your great grandma Bubbie, and “dat” is your cousin Julia. She never tires of this game. (My interest wanes around the twentieth “dat.”)

Lately she has been picking up the frames and turning them over and upside down. I can almost see her mind working this out, trying to understand how her auntie is inside this object too.

Then she holds the pictures up to her ear as if it’s a phone and starts jabbering.

And when the conversation is over, she says goodbye.

Who knows what is going on in that brain of hers. I’m guessing it’s something remarkable. Maybe even more remarkable is what’s happening in my old, set-in -it’s -ways brain, as I watch her discover the world.

If you are enjoying my column or have a topic you’d like me to write about, I’d love to hear from you at sarahsavasky@ gmail.com.

Stop struggling. Start learning.

Supporting children who think and learn differently for over 40 years

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JANUARY 2024 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Chartwell School 2511 Numa Watson Seaside, CA 93955 831.394.3468 info@chartwell.org

For families interested in Montessori Education

OPEN HOUSE For parents and children (ages 18 months - 14 years)

Come see our beautiful campus and classrooms, meet our teachers, and learn about our programs.

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Primary (3-6 years) & Elementary (1st-6th Grades) at 6230 Soquel Drive, Aptos Toddler (18 Months-3 Years) & Jr. High (7th and 8th Grades) at 2446 Cabrillo College Drive, Soquel

More info at scms.org or call (831) 476-1646

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15

ARTIST OF THE MONTH Vizzusi’s Glass Featured in Collections Around the World

BY CHRISTINA WATERS For the past 40 years glass artist Peter Vizzusi has been blowing molten glass into wildly colorful tumblers, goblets, bowls, and just plain beautiful objects. Based in Santa Cruz, Vizzusi’s studies in the Bay Area and Italy fueled his ambitious career. Now his blown artglass can be found in museums and collections all over the world. Christina Waters Q: How did you chose making glass art as a profession?

PV: I found my life’s work, inadvertently- seeing hot glass action across the hall from the ceramics studios at San Jose State where I was an avid student, then at Old Town, Los Gatos, where the self-styled glass maesetro Rick Strini had built a rudimentary furnace.

Then, fortuitously, during the Italian section of my post-college European tour, hopelessly lost, in November, cold and wet, in the Venetian maze, I boarded the wrong vaporetto and ended up out on Murano where I strolled past a dozen glass studios; furnaces blazing, alive with hot glass activity. One particular shop seemed welcoming, and

I warmed myself, shared some of my American cigarettes, and watched them make some generic tourist ware.

Q: How did it all start for you? a class? a whim?

PV: By age 24, I caught the wave of 1970s, post-college, baby-boom entrepreneurial energy, and landed a hot glass job in Santa Cruz making stems, feet, and ceramic accessories and working the booth at the Renaissance Fairs in Novato and L.A., bringing our early goblets and art vessels directly to the market. This early to mid-70s era was the perfect environment for self invention. Glass artists salvaged, scavenged, re-purposed, repaired, and appropriated when necessary. We spent more time in scrap metal yards than in museums. I traded my sports car for a pickup, grew a beard to look older, learned some very basic combustion engineering and safety systems, got a permit, and built my own studio at the Santa Cruz Art Center.

Q: What prepared you for a life in glass?

PV: I was a decent ceramicist, I could build things (my dad was a

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JANUARY 2024 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

craftsman, a draftsman, and a general contractor), I surfed with my future boss, was ambidextrous with good depth perception. I was attracted to the intense heat, and was generally available.

Q: What do you love about it most?

PV: Initially I was attracted to the rhythm, choreography, and immediacy of glass making, and I still enjoy the meditative repetition of a productive day. I’m proud to identify as artigiano, working with traditional techniques, guided by my own design sensibility.

MINDY ABRAHAM

On rare occasions, I’ll wander into the studio and be inadvertently surprised by my own work—the shapes, colors, the iridescence, the textures, and patterns; as if someone else had made them, with myself as medium, briefly communicating with longforgotten glass masters. I immediately understood that “perfect” is the enemy of the good. It’s about using what works and making it the best it can be.

Q: What is your philosophy of making an authentic piece of studio glass?

PV: I consider myself third wave studio glass. I’ve been comfortable and productive, working, almost anonymously, making interesting and functional vessels that fit a variety of decorative interior applications. Clarity and simplicity of line are the most important elements. Even creating functional vessels myriad qualities of the molten glass inspires self expression.

Q: What is your advice to someone considering a career in the crafts?

PV: Dive deeply into your chosen medium, specialize, master at least one technique, experiment, and find your own voice. Know your audience and make something they absolutely can’t resist.

Peter Vizzusi, Magic Sands Glass Studio 831.688.6167, by appointment

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

CABRILLO COLLEGE

Spring Semester 2024

Cabrillo Youth Strings Music Program Ages 6-18 9-Week String Orchestra Program Begins January 26, offering 3 groups Beginning Strings (4th-6th Grade) Festival Strings (note-readers) Cabrillo Strings (older students with int./adv. skills) The program will end with a concert April 5

Registration by January 12

5-Week Chamber Program (for students with good note-reading skills) Begins April 12 Concludes with a recital on May 10

Registration by March 29 See website for full details, class times, and to register.

cabrillo.edu/cabrillo-youth-strings (831) 479-6101 CabrilloYouthStrings@gmail.com

findingjoycartoons.bigcartel.com and Instagram @FindingJoyCartoons

GrowingUpSC.com | JANUARY 2024

17

COLORING PAGE

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

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

18

JANUARY 2024 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

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

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

Beverly Age 8

Eleanor Age 5

Simonne Age 9

Nevaeh Age 11

Emma Age 7

Conrad Age 5

FIND 10 DIFFERENCES

Leo Age 2 & Luna 6 Age 7

GrowingUpSC.com | JANUARY 2024

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FRI 5

THU-FRI 11-12

First Fridays Santa Cruz 5-8pm On the first Friday evening of every month, Santa Cruz galleries, shops, and cultural venues open their doors to showcase the works of Santa Cruz County artists. With a block party-like vibe, the multi-venue event provides an opportunity to discover local creative talent in a fun and festive setting. firstfridaysantacruz.com/event

California King Tides are coming to the shores of Santa Cruz County. These naturally occurring and predictable events are when the highest and lowest tides hit our shores and create an even more dramatic coastline. At high tide, the powerful waves often crash against seawalls and extend beyond their usual natural borders. The extreme low tides, expose tide pools rarely seen and allow miles of beach walking and extended exploration. santacruz.org/blog/markyour-calendar-california-king-tides-arecoming

SAT 6 Second Saturday on the Farm 11am3pm The Agricultural History Project’s 2nd Saturday events are like taking a step back in time. Enjoy a country Christmas this month. Grab your cowboy hat and put on your boots and come and enjoy a fun-filled afternoon on the farm! In addition to Summer Fun special activities, you’ll be able to milk a “cow”, drive-a-tractor, and enjoy crafts, hayrides, puppet show, antique engines and museum exhibits. Bring your lunch and enjoy a picnic. aghistoryproject. org/2nd-saturday-on-the-farm

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

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

THU 11 Santa Catalina Lower and Middle School Open House 8am-5pm Learn more about how middle school students develop essential skills, explore new interests, and deepen friendships—all at the heart of their journey at Santa Catalina. The students and faculty will provide a unique and immersive experience for student visitors while also offering invaluable insights to parents. santacatalina.org/lower-school/ admission/admissions-events

12-14, 19-20 “Puffs for Young Wizards” Jan. 12, 7:30pm, Jan. 13, 7:30pm, Jan. 14, 2pm, Jan. 19, 12:45pm, Jan. 20, 7:30pm Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic is for anyone who has never been destined to save the world. At Santa Catalina School. santacatalina.org/upper-school/ academics/arts/theatre/tickets

FRI-SUN 12-14

SUN 14

SUN 21

Antiques Faire 8am-6pm The Santa Cruz Antique Faire is on the 2nd Sunday of every month. Vendors offer an eclectic blend of antiques and unique items, vintage clothing, collectibles and more.

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

Makers Market 10am-5pm Visit the Downtown Santa Cruz Makers Market featuring 40+ local makers & artists in downtown Santa Cruz. Located on the 1100 block of Pacific Ave. between Cathcart and Lincoln Streets, this monthly market hosts a wide range of locally handmade goods! scmmakersmarket.com

Santa Catalina School Admission Open House 2-4pm Curious about Santa Catalina School? Come learn more about our signature programs, meet faculty, sample our academic and cocurricular offerings, and talk to students about clubs, activities, leadership, and campus life. Lunch is provided and complimentary admission to our theatre production of Puffs is available following the open house.

THU 25

SAT 20 Santa Cruz Harp Festival 2-5pm Every January, Community Music School presents a family-friendly concert that features music from throughout the world on harps of all kinds. This year’s concert includes solo performances by Jesse Autumn, Jennifer Cass, Shelley Phillips, and special guest Calvin Arsenia.

Also performing will be the all-ages Community Music School Harp Orchestra. communitymusicschool.org/harp-festival

Gateway Information Night and Taco Party 4:30-6:30pm Come see why high schools love our graduates, and what makes the Gateway middle school experience like no other. Explore our classrooms, meet our teachers, learn about our curriculum, and most importantly, find out how we can help your child become their best self. gatewaysc.org

25, 29 Monarch School Prospective Family Meeting 6:30-8pm Learn about the unique school that offers whole school thematic curriculum emphasizing social and environmental justice, family involvement in K-5 classrooms and monthly field trips related to the schoolwide themes. monarch.santacruz.k12. ca.us

Fungus Fair This year’s Fair will celebrate 50 years of mycological exploration since the inaugural event in 1974. The 2024 celebration will be at the London Nelson Community Center and feature hundreds of fascinating species from the area, uniquely displayed in a re-created woodland habitat. This unique Santa Cruz tradition will offer three days of fun, demonstrations, informative speakers, and fungus-forward activities for the whole family. ffsc.us/fair/2024/about

SAT 13 Chocolate Festival 1-5pm Come to Cocoanut Grove for the 2024 Santa Cruz Chocolate Festival—a delectable celebration supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Santa Cruz County, dedicated to empowering local youth. Immerse yourself in delightful chocolate experiences, engage in exciting activities, and contribute to a meaningful cause. Grab your tickets now for a sweet blend of fun and philanthropy.

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

20 JANUARY 2024 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

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21

EDUCATION Which Type of Education is Best for Your Child?

BY KIMBERLY BLAKER One of the most significant decisions parents make for their kids is where to send them to school. A child’s educational path influences them in so many ways. Not only is it the starting point of their learning career. It’s also where they spend most of their time, engage in multiple relationships, and have formative experiences.

There are many types of schools to consider. Each offers different experiences and resources for students.

To choose the best school experience for your child, consider your child’s personality and individual needs as well as what’s best for your family as a whole. Keep in mind that what works for one child doesn’t necessarily work for another. Your options may also be more limited based on what’s available where you live.

When choosing a school, check out your options beforehand and have a clear idea of what factors are most important to you and your child. Also, look for online reviews while bearing in mind that online reviews can be manipulated,

such as by offering incentives for reviews.

Explore the school website or social media pages to see what they offer, and ask to take a tour or observe a class. Also, speak to parents, students, and teachers about the school you’re considering.

The following are the main types of schools you might consider. Each has various benefits and drawbacks.

Cons: The funding, and therefore, the quality of public schools, can vary significantly from one community to the next. If the public school in your neighborhood has a low rating, it isn’t always easy, or possible, to transfer to another. Some public schools are overcrowded and overwhelmed by increasing class sizes and smaller budgets.

PUBLIC SCHOOL

Public schools are the neighborhood school to which kids are automatically assigned based on where they live. These schools are funded by the government at local, state, and national levels and are held to specified standards.

Pros: Because public schools are tied to the government, there is a certain amount of oversight and standards to which they must adhere. All teachers must be certified, follow a set of standards that students are expected to meet, and use an approved curriculum.

Public schools are free and available to all students. They typically offer the broadest range of extracurricular activities, from sports to music and theater and much more.

CHARTER SCHOOL

Charter schools are a form of public school and are free to attend. Still, they are not necessarily available to everyone.

They are an alternative option to regular public schools and require enrollment to attend. Charter schools often do not have spaces open for all who’d like to attend, so they generally have an application and lottery process to decide who gets in. This type of school is usually founded around a specific mission or charter, which guides the type of educational experience offered.

Pros: These are often a good alternative for students struggling in a traditional school setting. Charter schools have a little more freedom from

state regulations on how students are taught, as long as students consistently perform well. Charter schools often have smaller class sizes and different methods of teaching. They are particularly suited to gifted students or those with various learning styles or attention difficulties.

Cons: If a charter school is not performing well, it risks being shut down. So there can be more pressure on student achievement. Each charter school also has different teaching methods, which may or may not be a good fit for your child.

MAGNET SCHOOL

Magnet schools are also a type of public school which has a specific focus, such as the arts, music, science, or technology. Unlike a charter school, they do still fall under the same government regulations as traditional public schools.

Pros: If your child has a particular interest or strength, a magnet school focused on that strength can help them develop related skills. These schools get additional funding to help support their programs and generally have smaller class sizes.

What will you create?

22 JANUARY 2024 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Cons: Admission to magnet schools is limited and is therefore competitive.

Some schools use a lottery. Others have an application and even testing or examination processes to determine who qualifies. Magnet schools are more scarce and may not be available in your community.

SPECIAL EDUCATION SCHOOL

If your child has special educational needs, there are schools available for students with hearing or vision impairments, autism, and specific intellectual or learning disabilities.

Pros: Curriculum and instruction are adapted to best meet the needs of the students attending the school, and teachers are specially trained to work well with the population served. These schools have a sense of community, and students can relate to one another.

Cons: Students only interact with others who have similar disabilities instead of being exposed to mainstream education with their peers. These schools also may not be available in all areas.

PRIVATE SCHOOL

Private schools are not funded by the government, and therefore students must pay tuition to attend. They also are not held to the same regulations as public schools. Often, private schools have a specific focus or educational philosophy, such as Montessori or Waldorf schools.

Pros: Since parents pay the tuition, they often get more input on their child’s education. Families can find a school that is more aligned with their wants or beliefs. Also, class sizes are usually smaller.

Cons: Private schools are often expensive. There also do not have the same level of oversight as public schools.

So it is up to parents to make sure the school is providing their child with an appropriate education.

RELIGIOUS SCHOOL

Religious schools are another type of private school associated with a particular religion or organization. A parochial school is a type of religious school that is connected directly to a local church.

Pros: If your family is closely aligned with a particular religion, a religious school can involve that aspect of your life in your child’s education. These schools usually have strong community and smaller class sizes.

Cons: Religious schools are private, so tuition costs can be high. They are also not held to government educational standards. Many religious schools omit certain teachings in science and history that don’t fit their beliefs. So it is vital to make sure that your child is receiving a full education.

VIRTUAL SCHOOLS

Technology has led to the availability of virtual or online schools. There are both public and private virtual schools that students can enroll in. These schools offer a variety of educational opportunities, including full-time study or supplemental classes to add to traditional schooling. Classes and schoolwork can be done anywhere there’s internet access, and students still have one or more teachers with lessons that follow a curriculum and defined standards.

Pros: Virtual schools are a good option for students who cannot attend a traditional school, whether they are housebound, do not live in one place, or other reasons. Learning in virtual schools is more individualized, so students have more flexibility and can learn at their own pace. It can also provide more educational opportunities or access to specialized classes.

Cons: Virtual schools require a lot of self-discipline, and students and families are more responsible for keeping up with their education. Virtual schools also do not have the same in-person social opportunities for community or friendships. This can cause students to feel isolated.

Ultimately, the right school choice is different for each family. So it’s essential to explore the available options to find the best fit. If a school situation isn’t working for your child or family, consider transferring or try something different.

Kimberly Blaker is a freelance writer.

She also owns an online bookshop, Sage Rare & Collectible Books, specializing in out-of-print, scarce, signed, and first editions; fine bindings; ephemera and more at sagerarebooks.com

ANNUAL SCHOOL GUIDE

Moreland Notre Dame School, TK-8

Pacific Elementary School

Moreland Notre Dame School is a TK through 8th grade Catholic School founded in 1899 by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.

We are a school community committed to providing quality academic preparedness while educating students for life. MND seeks to express the goodness of God by fostering a sense of family, a safe environment where each child is treated as sacred, justice and service to others is expected, and diversity is welcomed and celebrated. Located in the heart of Watsonville, Moreland Notre Dame has been educating students for life for over 120 years.

Pacific Elementary School in Davenport is a public school serving ~160 students. Families throughout the county choose us for our: High-Quality Preschool; Traditional TK-6 Classrooms; Full-Time TK-6 Home Study Program with optional online classes; Hybrid TK-6 Independent Study Program with 3 classroom days and home study days each week. Students participate in our awardwinning garden and lunch programs in which students grow, cook, study, and eat healthy food. We emphasize experiential learning, including FOSS science, field trips, media literacy, film-making, and drama. We offer a gifted and talented education?(GATE) program and accelerated math. To express interest, visit: pacificesd.org/new-familyenrollment.html

133 Brennan Street, Watsonville 831-728-2051 mndschool.org

Mount Madonna School

SCHOOLS Chartwell School

2511 Numa Watson Road, Seaside 831.394.3468 Chartwell.org Chartwell School, located on 60 acres in Seaside, CA, serves students with dyslexia and associated learning differences who are not currently reaching their full potential. We do this in grades 1-12 by providing targeted and direct instruction to empower learners with the skills, strategies, tools, and social-emotional mindset they need to thrive in college and beyond.

“For us, Chartwell represents unlimited possibilities. It no longer feels like our son’s story will be about constant struggle, but about his journey to reach his full potential. “ -Chartwell parent Coastal Community Preschool

Lic. #444408854 & Lic.#444415615 900 High Street, Santa Cruz 831.264.5437 coastalcommunitypreschool.org

Coastal Community Preschool (CCP) serves children ages 2.3 years through 5 years with a safe, stimulating, and caring learning atmosphere. We have a curriculum that encourages development at each child’s own pace. Among our program highlights, we offer flexible year-round schedules, a highly experienced teaching staff, and a bright, secure West side location overlooking Monterey Bay. We also offer an after-school program for TK-1st grade. Join us as we continue working with parents and caregivers to raise a community of strong, confident and happy children.

Freedom Schoolhouse and Farm

freedomschoolhouseandfarm.com

Freedom Schoolhouse and Farm offers a unique program in a beautiful setting.

Our curriculum is emergent with a strong emphasis on creating a connection to the natural world. We seek to promote and maintain basic principles of Freedom, with the goal of educating our children to be critical thinkers. Our open classroom creates a warm environment, and we encourage freedom of choice and relationship building.

Set on several acres, every day is filled with the

beauty of nature, joys of friendship, and fun activities geared toward artistic expression, physical movement, and the development of a lifelong love of learning Gateway School K-8

255 Swift Street, Santa Cruz 831.423.0341 www.gatewaysc.org admissions@gatewaysc.org Gateway School provides students in grades Kindergarten through Middle School with an exemplary education. Small class sizes and programs in Art and Technology, Music, Spanish, and Life Lab Science complement an academic curriculum grounded in Social Emotional Learning. Gateway students are collaborative, creative, love learning, and become compassionate and responsible citizens. Children’s innate curiosity and sense of wonder are nurtured through exploration, discovery, and hands-on experiences. Our graduates have an inquiring spirit, are confident, and stand up for those who need help. To learn more about the difference a K-8 school model provides, visit www.gatewaysc. org and schedule a tour to experience all that Gateway has to offer!

Kirby School

425 Encinal Street, Santa Cruz admissions@kirby.org kirby.org Kirby School is dedicated to nurturing academic excellence and personal growth in each student. With a legacy spanning 30 years, Kirby offers a vibrant and inclusive learning environment for curious and motivated students. Our dedicated faculty and staff make a lasting impact–steadfastly empowering students to explore their passions and design fulfilling lives. Our graduates are poised to prosper in a world that is increasingly complex and dynamic.

“The middle and high school years are when kids decide who and what they want to be. Kirby helps students become the best version of themselves by celebrating and respecting that journey.” -Kirby parent

24 JANUARY 2024 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Preschool-12th Grade 491 Summit Road, Mount Madonna 408.847.2717 MountMadonnaSchool.org In their classrooms and beyond, Mount Madonna School students are part of a diverse, inspired, creative, and academically vibrant learning community. We strive to prepare wellrounded human beings for college and beyond, who value collaboration, form meaningful relationships and engage with their local communities, nation, and the world. Imagine ONE school, where your preschooler can move through to kindergarten and elementary, be part of a close-knit middle school community, and graduate from high school! Featuring Montessori-influenced preschool and kindergarten programs, environmental education, performing and visual arts, life skills, and excellent academics. Transportation available, with bus stops throughout Santa Cruz County.

Mount Madonna School helped me raise my child to be a wellrounded, academically strong, compassionate human, while surrounding him with a community of the same. -Robyn Pearson, alumni parent 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, Lab-Based Science Curriculum, Art, Music, Physical Theater/Circus Arts, Electives, Ceramics, Archery, Swimming, Leadership, Field Trips, Drama Productions, and more.

50 Ocean Street, Davenport 831.425.7002 pacificesd.org

Salesian Elementary and Junior High School TK-8

605 Enos Lane, Corralitos 831-728-5518 info@salesianschool.org salesianschool.org

For more than 40 years, Salesian Elementary and Junior High has been “Empowering Youth with Knowledge, Faith, and Love!” Located five miles from Highway 1, our beautiful hillside campus has the spirit of a home where every child feels loved. Rooted in the Catholic faith, we are a school that celebrates childhood, fosters a passion for learning, and develops moral depth through acts of service. Credentialed teachers and staff educate the whole child with a balanced curriculum. Our 50-acre campus also provides endless opportunities for students to learn from the natural environment. Personal tours are also available! For more information: info@salesianschool.org Santa Catalina School

1500 Mark Thomas Drive, Monterey 831.655.9356 santacatalina.org Set against the scenic California coast in Monterey, Santa Catalina School is where you can discover the true you. Our boarding and day school, for girls in grades 9 through 12, is where inspired, powerful, active learning happens—in the classroom, on the field or the stage, and in the dorms. Catalina girls take ownership of their academics—including a marine ecology program that takes advantage of Monterey Bay—and they pursue their passions. True sisterhood creates a community that is fueled by curiosity, kindness, and confidence.

Santa Cruz City Schools

Sam Rolens samuelrolens@sccs.net 831.419.2927 sccs.net/enroll

At Santa Cruz City Schools, students find belonging, room to explore & high expectations. In Transitional Kindergarten &

Kindergarten, students are welcomed into education with a play-centric, curiosity-driven experience. In Elementary, students learn in classrooms, gardens, kitchens, art studios, and in the field–and in our after-school enrichment programs. In Middle School, we encourage independence and emotional development as students push themselves academically. In High School, we provide countless opportunities: more AP classes, more athletics, more artistic and performance outlets, more leadership opportunities, more community connections and more supports to launch students into their next adventure in college or career excellence.

Santa Cruz Montessori

Ages 18 months – 14 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 scms.org Established in 1964, Santa Cruz Montessori is a non-profit school serving children 18 months to 14 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 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.

Santa Cruz Waldorf School, PreK-8

2190 Empire Grade, Santa Cruz 831.425.0519 enrollment@santacruzwaldorf.org

Santa Cruz Waldorf School nurtures the whole human being in every individual, cultivating the capacity of head, heart, and hands. We offer a rich and balanced curriculum in which intellectual and artistic development are both vital and fully integrated. Specialty teachers work alongside class teachers to provide students with diverse experiences in language, movement, music, arts, games, and gardening. Our magical, rural campus is nestled in the redwoods above USCS. Our community is warm and joyful.

We are committed to protecting childhood, supporting each individual, respecting nature and all life. Santa Cruz Waldorf School cultivates self-directed, empathetic, and free-thinking individuals with the courage and capacities to serve an ever-evolving humanity.

SLVUSD Charter School

325 Marion Ave, Ben Lomond 831-335-0932 charter.slvusd.org/ Since 1993, San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District’s SLV Charter School has offered a range of programs that support a variety of learners. Active learning, parent involvement,

and student voice are key components of our programs. In addition to supporting all academic areas, charter programs foster student creativity, social-emotional development, and the pursuit of individual student passions. Built on a foundation of strong ongoing teacher, student, and parent collaboration, SLV Charter boasts a wide variety of program structures including: Nature Academy’s 5-day week program (6-8), five 2-4 day a week homeschool-hybrid programs (TK-12), and an independent studies program (TK-12).

Spring Hill School

250 California Street, Santa Cruz 831.427.2641 springhillschool.org Spring Hill School inspires curiosity and a love of learning by creating a supportive and welcoming school experience. Knowing that academic learning goes hand in hand with social emotional growth, our approach develops inner confidence and encourages a willingness to take risks. With our small class sizes, each teacher comes to know each student, and we can prioritize effective communication with families. Students leave Spring Hill with a strong preparation for middle school and beyond. With a focus on developing tools to take on the world, a Spring Hill experience is designed to last a lifetime.

Tara Redwood School

5810 Prescott Road, Soquel Tel. 831.462.9632 office@tararedwoodschool.org tararedwoodschool.org Since 1989, Tara Redwood School has offered children a strong academic foundation, rich in the sciences, emotional intelligence, and the arts. Our global curriculum is a blend of Montessori and Creating Compassionate Cultures (CCC), a framework known as the 7 Steps to Knowledge, Strength and Compassion. The CCC pedagogy provides a unique approach that nurtures the children’s innate positive qualities through critical thinking and contemplative practices, empowering them to have a positive impact on the world through their thoughts and actions. Our integrated approach to learning has a strong focus on environmental studies and exploration of the natural world. Our classrooms extend into the outdoors on a playground that is 108 acres of redwood forest and creeks in Soquel. Elementary ages TK–6th. Preschool ages 2–4 years.

ENRICHMENT Cabrillo Youth Strings

6500 Soquel Drive, VAPA5000 Music Building, Aptos 831.479.6101 CabrilloYouthStrings@gmail.com cabrillo.edu/cabrillo-youth-strings

website for full details, class times, and to register by January12. Also offering 5-week Chamber Music Program, for students with good note-reading skills, April 12– May 10.

Jim Booth Swim School

Harvey West pool in Santa Cruz and Watsonville 831.722.3500 Jimboothswimschool.com Be a water wonder! Lessons for all ages! 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 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 lessons emphasize quality swimming in an exciting class taught by our caring, well-qualified teachers.

The whole family can swim at Jim Booth Swim School!

making discoveries along the way. Programs are led by Museum staff with kids dropped off at different locations, including local parks, open spaces, and of course at the Museum!

Exploration and activities help kids learn more about nature through observation and experience while developing a deeper connection to nature and making new friends.

“I love it, there aren’t any programs about nature for kids my age.”

- 6th grade Nature Club participant Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation

santacruzparksandrec.com.

Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation is excited to provide fun, educational, and active classes for all ages all year round! Scholarships are available. Find our seasonal Activity Guide online – www.cityofsantacruz.com/register.

Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

Seven Directions Creative Learning Center logo

Do you know a middle school student interested in learning about and exploring nature? The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History invites 6th-8th graders to join Nature Club! Nature Club takes young explorers into local habitats to learn about the amazing living world around us while

Seven Directions is Santa Cruz’s premiere creative center for kids and teens! Offering instruction in various arts, sciences and more in a lively studio with over 30 live exotic animals, we are committed to helping to nurture students’ self esteem, building lasting friendships and empowering them as artists, learners and creative thinkers.

1305 East Cliff Dr., Santa Cruz 831.420.6115 education@santacruzmuseum.org www.santacruzmuseum.org

831.713.9392 sevendirections.org sevendirectionsinfo@gmail.com

FEBRUARY’S

Contact us to advertise.

Advertising@GrowingUpSC.com

9-week String Orchestra Spring session begins January 26, on Friday afternoons, for students 6-18. Offering 3 groups: Beginning, Festival Strings, and Cabrillo Strings. Visit GrowingUpSC.com | JANUARY 2024

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YOUR HEALTH Embrace Baby Steps: Building Healthy Habits in 2024

BY JAIME MCFADEN As we step into a brand new year, the air is filled with excitement and the promise of new beginnings. It’s that time when resolutions are made, and we set grand plans. However, instead of overwhelming ourselves with lofty goals, let’s take a different approach in 2024.

Let’s embrace the power of baby steps and focus on building healthy habits that will last a lifetime.

1. START SMALL, DREAM BIG:

Rather than setting unrealistic resolutions that often fizzle out by February, let’s begin with small, achievable goals. By breaking down our aspirations into manageable steps, we create a solid foundation for success. Whether it’s drinking more water, incorporating exercise into our daily routine, or practicing mindfulness, these small changes can have a profound impact on our overall wellbeing. I have created a 4 part system that you can use to ensure staying on track. Find me on Instagram and send me a dm with the word: VILLAGE.

2. CONSISTENCY IS KEY:

Building healthy habits is not about quick fixes or temporary changes.

It’s about consistency and making sustainable choices. By committing to small, daily actions, we create a ripple effect that gradually transforms our lives.

Remember, it’s not about perfection but progress. Celebrate each small victory along the way and keep moving forward.

3. FOCUS ON SELF-COMPASSION:

As we embark on this journey of building healthy habits, it’s crucial to practice self-compassion. We’re only human, and setbacks are inevitable.

Instead of beating ourselves up over a missed workout or indulging in a treat, let’s approach these moments with kindness and understanding. Embrace the concept of self-forgiveness and use setbacks as opportunities for growth.

4. FIND JOY IN THE PROCESS:

Building healthy habits shouldn’t feel like a chore. It’s about finding joy in the process and discovering activities that bring us happiness. Whether it’s dancing, hiking, cooking nutritious meals, or practicing self-care, let’s infuse our journey with activities that light up our souls. When we enjoy what we’re doing, it becomes easier to stay committed and motivated.

5. BUILD A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY:

Surrounding ourselves with like-minded individuals who share similar goals can be incredibly empowering. Seek out a supportive community that encourages and uplifts you on your journey.

Whether it’s joining a fitness class, participating in online groups, or connecting with friends who have similar aspirations, having a support system can make all the difference.

Remember: It takes a village.

In 2024, let’s shift our focus from resolutions to building healthy habits through baby steps. By starting small, being consistent, practicing selfcompassion, finding joy in the process, and building a supportive community, we can create lasting change in our lives.

Remember, it’s the small steps that lead to significant transformations.

Embrace the journey, and let’s make 2024 a year of growth, well-being, and self-discovery. I look forward to being on this journey with you and am here to support your self-care goals. Be sure to connect with me so we can ride the waves together!

26 JANUARY 2024 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

SEVEN DIRECTIONS

sevendirections.org (831) 713-9392 sevendirectionsinfo@gmail.com

Santa Cruz’s Premier Creative Center for Kids!

• Wide selection of classes and camps for ages 5 and up!

• Visual & performing arts, sciences and more!

• Homeschool and after-school programs • Lively 2,000 sq ft studio • 35+ live exotic animals