January 2023
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Editor’s Note
There were a few qualities I sought out when I was looking for my ideal place in which to live—It had to have excellent schools, lots of culture, proximity to nature at its best and idealistic people who cared about helping the world. I found it right here in this county of almost 280,000 people. In decades of living in Santa Cruz, I’ve never been bored and I’m always appreciative of the fact that tourists pay fortunes and travel hundreds and thousands of miles to enjoy what I wake up to every day.I had to live over the hill for work for too long and it was torture. Yeah, the…
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About the Cover
The two students pictured, a sixth grader and a first grader, are participating in one of Spring Hill School’s buddy activities. Having a buddy helps younger students feel secure and looked out for as they learn from a role model, while older students learn from leading by example and exercising compassion. Spring Hill School is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year! Since 1977, this kindergarten through sixth grade school has cultivated engaged and inspired learners. We foster a community of students and families who create a supportive environment through inclusion, compassion, and embracing diverse perspectives. Through a versatile curriculum and a Design Thinking approach, Spring Hill keeps pace with each…
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Schools Help Find Solution for Child with ADHD
Jeanette Prather knew she faced an uphill battle getting help in school when her son was diagnosed with ADHD. This series documents her struggles and the help she received, and yes, it has a happy ending. You can read part 1 here and part 2 here. Short of forfeiting or strongly amending Luke’s Individualized Education Plan plan, my search was not being met with much success. He was on the waitlist of every charter school in the area, with principals and directors of programs expressing empathy towards our situation but also explaining that their hands are tied. “There are too many kids in this district with IEPs now. We just…
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Private Schools: How to Decide
With heightened awareness of the impact of stereotypes and biases in our world, I considered the labeling in this publication of private schools as ‘a posher place to educate children’ as an opportunity to provide another perspective about fee-based schools. I get it: “posh” is an easy name to call a private (or independent) school. With an annual tuition—what families often look at first—I’ve heard the misperception many times. The thing about labeling however is that it affects expectations—of people, places, experiences, everything. I bristled momentarily at the description because it fails to uphold the central idea of education– learning. My perspective comes from personal and professional experience with both…
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Medi-Cal Coverage – Doulas & Donor Milk
Doula care in California is a covered Medi-Cal service as of January 1, 2023Details are still being worked out, so it is unclear exactly when local doulas will be authorized to accept Medi-Cal payments. There is paperwork to be filed and hoops to be jumped through before the program is fully off and running, but the gears are turning. The Medi-Cal Doula care will include emotional and physical support, provided during pregnancy, labor, birth, and the postpartum period. These preventive services simply need to be recommended by a doctor, midwife or other licensed member of the healing arts. Once recommended, the doula would be authorized to provide:• one initial visit•…
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What is Your New Year’s Resolution?
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Coloring Contest
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Coloring Contest Winners
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Coach Still Making a Splash in Community
When last we wrote about you, you were struggling with staying in business during Covid. How did you survive when so many others went bust? Any tips for other businesses? We had to stop our program for a few months and when we reopened there were mandates to conform to. Each teacher could only be in contact with 12 students a day, parents viewing classes had to be 6 feet apart and of course wouldn’t be in groups. This required a huge change from our group lessons and families watching their kids progress in skills. So, for the rest of the year we only offered private classes, only one parent…
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Pilates Prep for Skiing
How does Pilates help with skiing?Pilates teaches and strengthens your body in many different positions. One important concept is “hip dissociation.” This is the ability to bend at your hips while keeping a neutral spine. Learning how to bend your hips, knees AND ankles will improve your dynamic control without transferring tension into the low back, knees and hips. Skiing is dynamic, so your spine needs to be mobile and strong in all positions, but strengthening in a neutral spine will teach you how to use your quadriceps and gluteals instead of your low back. Think of your legs like an accordion. The hips, knees and ankles should all fold…
