Here’s a concert that will please the entire family, and inspire young audiences toward future musical experiences. The delightful and humorous musical creation, Carnival of the Animals by French composer Camille Saint-Saëns will take families and young music lovers on a tour through a variety of animal behavior in the form of four short movements. Plenty of imaginative parody of the animal kingdom is showcased in a masterpiece originally written in 1886, but not performed in public until 1922, a year after the composer’s death. Many believe that the Carnival of the Animals, which highlights stringed instruments, gave inspiration to the John Williams score for the Harry Potter films. This…
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Why Grades May Not Reflect Academic Skills
Many parents mistakenly believe their children are functioning at or above grade level for several reasons. Grades Reflect More Than Just Academic Performance: Class grades are not solely based on academic abilities. They often include factors like attendance, class participation, homework completion, behavior, quizzes, and tests. This means that a student can earn good grades even if they haven’t mastered the actual material. Grade Improvement Opportunities: Many teachers provide opportunities for students to improve their grades through late homework submissions, extra credit assignments, retaking quizzes or tests, and doing test corrections. This practice can inflate a student’s final grade, making it seem like they are performing better academically than they…
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Embracing Self-Love and Acts of Kindness
February is known as the month of love, yet it’s not just about romantic love – it is a great time to make space for self-love and spread it to those around you. This month is a great time to reflect on our relationships, especially the one with ourselves. The more love we have inside, the more we can radiate that love with the world around us. Self-love is the foundation of a healthy mind, body and soul. It is about appreciating who you are and embracing all parts of you. Self-love is also about taking care of yourself and your well-being through self-care. When we can remember that self-care…
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Cool Clothes Seen on the Streets and in Schools
In downtown Santa Cruz, we talked to the most stylish people on the street. From linens closing out summer, to pinstripes making an early fall appearance, classic trends have taken over Front Street. Let’s take a look at the self-expression the Santa Cruz residents choose to communicate through their personal styles. My name is Morgan Guerra and I am a current student at Cabrillo College. I’ve been enthralled in fashion since being a little girl playing dress-up in my mother’s closet and have longed to work in the fashion industry since. My goal is to shine a spotlight on the diverse fashion in Santa Cruz, as it’s something I’ve always…
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What Do You Like To Do On Rainy Days?
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Coloring Contest
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Reb Leaves Behind Legacy of Generosity
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…
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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…
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Considering a Faith-Based School for Your Kids?
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…
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2024 Parenting Goals
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…
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Beginner’s Mind
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 closed-mindedness 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…
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Vizzusi’s Glass Featured in Collections Around the World
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…
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Coloring Page
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Which Type of Education is Best for Your Child?
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…
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Embrace Baby Steps: Building Healthy Habits in 2024
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. In 2024, let’s shift our focus from resolutions to building healthy habits through baby steps. By starting small, being consistent, practicing self-compassion, finding joy in the process, and building a supportive community, we can create lasting change in our lives. Remember, it’s the small steps…
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DAR Marian Anderson Legacy Scholarship Accepting Applications
Undergraduate and graduate students studying music with ambitions for future careers can take time over the holiday break to apply for the DAR Marian Anderson Legacy Scholarship. Sponsored by the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), the scholarship provides a one-time $5,000 award to one student annually who is pursuing undergraduate or graduate study in music. Marian Anderson (1897-1993) was a groundbreaking African American contralto and an inspiration for civil rights. “This scholarship pays tribute to Marian Anderson’s life, and the Daughters of the American Revolution seeks to honor her legacy through today’s aspiring musicians. Her legacy lives on in others who aim for excellence in musical…
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Curiosity Fills the Dad
Was it really a year ago I was walking outside Cabrillo’s Crocker Theater and saw a mom and her daughter eating lunch between the young one’s performance in the Nutcracker? I couldn’t resist stopping to talk, even though it drives my boy, Parker, crazy. He complains that we never get anywhere because I always talk to people. How can I not? That’s one of the great things about journalism–meeting people and hearing their stories. I’ve always been curious, since before I was Parker’s age (I must have been 4) and I followed the mailman for blocks and blocks because I wanted to see where the mail came from. Only, after…
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Community Bridges Offers Affordable and Robust Preschool Program
The first five years of a child’s life are an essential period for their development, and providing access to high quality, nurturing and affordable early education is crucial. In Santa Cruz County, the Community Bridges Early Education Division has been a pillar of support for families seeking a quality, affordable program. We understand some of the challenges of balancing work and family life and hope we can support families in ways that can enhance your lives. With recent changes to the California State Preschool Program (CSPP), we are now even more accessible and affordable for local families What is the Early Education Division?The Community Bridges Early Education Division operates six…
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Finding Peace and Joy During the Holidays
There have been many devastating events happening the last several years, one right after another. Lives and homes have been lost, and it feels as though the tidal wave of tragedies is relentless. It’s emotionally exhausting, and it’s hard not to get weighed down with fear and sadness every time I read the news.Yet this is also a time of year when many people celebrate holidays that represent hope, peace, and new beginnings. It’s hard to feel the true meaning of these holidays when we’re stressed, anxious, and overwhelmed, but Taking Care of Yourself is one of the 5 principles of positive parenting that’s so important – now more than…
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Holidays with Kids: Keeping the Magic and Joy at the Center
Over the years, I have been privileged to teach with and to hear several talks given by one of our local treasures, Julie Olsen Edwards, Cabrillo College’s retired early childhood education faculty member, author, editor, and diversity/equity consultant. One of her talks regarding families and the holidays lives on in my work with families of young children. Julie’s wisdom is always golden and, paired with Positive Discipline’s practical tools, I developed solid advice for parents that I give out every year to help ensure connection and magic in children’s homes. What Memories Do We Want To Pass On?Holidays and ritual celebrations can be a time of change from the relentless,…
