Growing Up in Santa Cruz

  • March 2020

    Jim Booth Coloring Contest

    Jim Booth Swim School Water Safety Coloring Contest Children ages 4 months to 8 years old color this page and get entered in a drawing to win l month of swim lessons at our Harvey West or Watsonville location we will select 10 winners! Send your child’s to [email protected]

  • Brad and Jen
    March 2020

    Editor’s Note

    Editor’s Note A couple of sayings have been politicized and overused to the point they feel trite: “It’s all about the kids” and “It takes a village.” But you readers know these are some of the most true statements of our child-rearing years. From the moment you first glance your newborn, until, well, forever, your kids are the top priority. Nothing comes even close. That’s why you read Growing Up and that’s what we strive to bring you. We want to let you know about things you can do in the community including schools, after school activities, and add medical, legal and parenting advice. We also want your input and…

  • Girl in front of wall
    March 2020

    Your Body is Not Wrong

    Your Body is Not Wrong BY MIKAYLA SHULTS “Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself” – Coco Chanel Throughout my years of middle school, I noticed an unacceptable behavior among the girls my age. In the beginning, I looked up those older than me, who probably had no idea how I admired them. My peers and I compared ourselves to others and spoke poorly about our bodies. It made this a mentally dangerous place for many. Now, in high school, I am saddened to see the same thing happening. So I spoke up to help these young ladies. The I Weigh community created by Jameela Jamil is a…

  • organizing
    March 2020

    Keeping Kids Busy and Organized in the Car

    Keeping Kids Busy and Organized in the Car Kids like to keep busy and during a car ride is no exception. I like to keep these questions and comments to a minimum: “Are we there yet?” “I’m bored.” “I am hungry.” “I can’t reach this.” “I dropped that”. Here are a few ideas that keep my kids happy and busy during short or long car trips. Keeping It In Reach When kids are buckled in the car there is not much that they can reach. While I adore the organizers that are placed on the back of the seat in front of them, kids in a car seat are not…

  • High School Students With Teacher In Class Using Laptops
    March 2020

    Can High School Journalism be Saved?

    Can High School Journalism be Saved? Studies Show Teens and Tweens are Susceptible to “Fake News” BY JOHN KOENIG Democracy dies in darkness. Those powerful words, taken up as a slogan by the Washington Post, remind us that ethical journalists are guardians of the light that dispels the darkness of ignorance and hidden corruption. Sadly, according to local teachers and administrators, it’s been years–often more than a decade–since journalism classes have been offered in most Santa Cruz high schools. “Journalism students become skilled through regular practice in gathering information by asking smart questions,”says Cabrillo College English Instructor David Sheftman. “They learn how to work as part of a highly collaborative,…

  • circus
    March 2020

    This School is a Real Circus

    High Flying kids at Orchard School are learning skills they can’t get anywhere else. You can take your kids this month to see their peers who have been trained in circus skills that give confidence and unusual abilities, instead of the usual gym classes.

  • Deep Breath
    March 2020

    Take a Breath

    There is nothing more basic than breathing.  While most people have been breathing all their lives without giving it much thought, pregnancy can bring a real awareness to breath.

  • Kid at Chalkboard
    March 2020

    Unusual Bliss

    Unusual Bliss BY LISA CATTERAL If you do follow your bliss you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. -Joseph Campbell This month I am about to experience my first math competition with a student. This one student will become our school’s inaugural competitive math team. I’m very excited about this. In college, I took a two-week seminar on photography. Suddenly, all I could think about was spending time in the darkroom. It wasn’t even a class; it was just something I found on a…

  • teens learning
    March 2020

    Can’t Have One Without the Other

    Can’t Have One Without the Other BY MARY GALKEL FORSTER In my October article I shared different online tools that can be used to explore careers by matching one’s skills, interests, and values, with aligned careers. What is a skill? How does one know what skills they have? Career skills are divided into two categories, hard and soft skills. Hard skills are job specific skills and knowledge needed to perform a job. Soft skills are interpersonal, people skills, considered important and necessary in almost all careers. This article will begin a three part series to provide you with strategies for helping children understand the difference between hard skills and soft…

  • Cabrillo College Sign
    March 2020

    Looking Back and Looking Ahead

    Looking Back and Looking Ahead Why I Support Measure R, Funding for Cabrillo College BY GEORGE OW, JR. When I was in high school, I was a mediocre student. My family had a small grocery store in Monterey, where my siblings and I needed to work so that we could survive. My only option for college was Monterey Peninsula College (MPC) because I could live at home, work at our store and tuition was nominal. I did not feel cheated by going to a community college and not going away to a four-year university. It would not have been practical for my family and that was not my dream. A…