March 2021 - Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Spring Flowers

growingupsc — Mon, 29 Mar 2021 19:58:46 +0000

Spring Flower Grand Prize Win 4 Tickets to Ride the Train at Roaring Camp Deadline MAY 20 Submit your coloring entry to christy@growingupsc.com and win prizes, and a grand prize of 4 tickets to Roaring Camp! You can also mail them to Box 3505, Santa Cruz, 95063 Previous Coloring Pages and Winners

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March Editor’s Note

growingupsc — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 17:02:19 +0000

March Editor’s Note By Brad Kava Teens may be having the toughest time of all during the lockdown. They are in the years where they are starting to break away from their families and enjoy some independence and responsibility. Not to mention, this is the time when hanging out with friends is hugely important to them, and the best thing about being in school is being around peers who influence, teach and share. Instead, they are locked into a Zoom world, right at the age when we are begging them to get off their computers, turn off social media and get out and do things. Well, our writers have found that many of them have found ways to thrive during the year of shelter in place. Jeanette Prather has a must-read story about teens and tweens who have taken to volunteering and helping people. We salute those teens. They all deserve medals. In his wanderings around town, reporter Hugh McCormick found a surprising fact—skateboarding has taken some air of its own. Shut out of gym classes and organized sports, more Santa Cruz teens have bought skateboards and are hitting local skateboard parks in record numbers, showing once again that you can’t keep a good teen down. We’re seeing some signs that things are getting better for everyone. Little League is coming back; Santa Cruz vaccination rates are among the best in the state. We’re seeing light at the end of the tunnel. Will the next years be a return to the Roaring 1920s, when that pandemic ended? We all deserve some fun after the worst years in recent memory. We love people who help people and follow their dreams. Check out the Purple Power story in which realtor Terry Balantyne Brezsny bought and gave away 900 purple porch lights to spread good spirit. We’d like to see all of Santa Cruz painted purple. Thanks, Terry. We’ve got an awesome Teacher of the Month and a Mom Who Made a Difference. Our advertisers have chipped in to give them prizes. You can nominate candidates for the awards at editor@growingupsc.com Let’s brighten your favorite peoples’ days. You must, must read a teen’s eye view of learning during the pandemic. Grace Timan takes us inside her world in a beautifully written and crafted article. Finally, we have our Teen Guide, featuring the best in education, health, and after school activities for our oldest kids. We hope you love this issue. We do. Please send your comments, requests, and ideas to editor@growingupsc.com and let us know what you think we should add, what we can do better, and what you would like to contribute in the way of writing, advertising, and/or donations to keep us publishing. We want to keep this a real community news source and that means we really value your contributions and ideas. Someone we know said, “It takes a village” and we’ve really got one here. Thanks for reading!Brad Kava, Jennifer Ford, and Steve Dinnen Read More March Articles

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Jelly Beanz

growingupsc — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 23:44:23 +0000

The Community Says Goodbye to Another Local Gem But There’s Still Hope by Sarah Hirshland Items that don’t sell before Jelli Beanz closes will be donated back to the clothing bank. Citing a sharp decrease in buying since Covid, the owners of the popular used clothes and toy store, Jelli Beanz, are in the process of closing the 14-year-old business. Since 2007, Jelli Beanz has been a local treasure for parents and families to buy, sell and exchange new and gently used goodies. The store has been a go-to for new and seasoned moms and dads. “I’ve been coming here since my kids were little, it’s such a fabulous place”, says Tina Burch, a daycare provider who’s been a frequent shopper for over a decade. Jelli Beanz has many popular items for the family, their most popular being clothes, toys and books. Some products that come in are still in original packaging, or have been well taken care of by previous owners. “My favorite part of owning Jelli Beanz is watching how much the children love being in the store, my staff and I worked hard to create a space that they felt comfortable and creative in,” says owner Stephanie Hendersen, 49. Hendersen and her husband moved to Santa Cruz from the Central Valley in 1997 after the birth of their first daughter, “We wanted to raise our family in a smaller community,” says Henderson. Hendersen is the sole owner of Jelli Beanz, and had a business partner for the first few years, “After seeing a similar store for sale, we were inspired…and it was born.” The store has stretched out the last three months of business for people to use their store credit before permanently closing on March 13. There are many consignment stores in and around the area, but Jelli Beanz always had a different approach. Hendersen wanted not only to appeal to children, but also to cater to the parents. Jelli Beanz offered a reader’s corner, a creative play space, nursery and open restroom. Jelli Beanz was granted government funding during the crisis, but not enough to keep the doors open. Hendersen has kept a watchful eye on how the year would take its course, and had a pre-emptive approach when the pandemic first occurred, “It hit me immediately,” she says. “This is not going to remedy itself before the money runs out, I am going to do this my way and get ahead of it.” The store was originally going to close last April, and did close temporarily for a brief time from March until June of 2020. “We were a constant staff of 9 that worked tirelessly pre-COVID to stay on top of the workload,” says Hendersen, “Post-COVID I have to be creative to keep seven on staff very part time.” Jelli Beanz has seen the numbers change with a quarter or less in revenue after Covid, and has recently been working with a skeleton staff, and a trade only method. “We have exhausted it, trying to stay open the last year,” says Hendersen, “But the aid did make it possible to keep my staff minimally employed, which is a blessing.” Jelli Beanz even had local fans fighting right alongside them, “A lot of people offered a Go Fund Me and other support,” says Hendersen, “But I didn’t want to take anyone’s money as it may put them in the same boat we’re in.” There is some hope for Jelli Beanz fans. Hendersen created Hope’s Closet in 2007 and made it a 501c3 in 2011, Hope’s Closet is the neighboring business at 2557 Soquel Drive, and will completely take over the space, still offering new and used merchandise for kids. Like Jelli Beanz, they sell the big ticket items such as car seats, bassinets, strollers and more. The main difference between stores is that Hope’s Closet is not a consignment store, and that all materials given are donations. Items that don’t sell before Jelli Beanz closes will be donated back to the clothing bank. To help maintain adjustments and to keep the legacy alive, the store name will be changed to Jellies at Hope’s Closet, Jellies for short. The tentative date for Hope’s Closet to open Jellies will be April 3. “I will continue to sit as the Executive Director and help to facilitate the upcoming changes.” says Hendersen. Hope’s Closet will not only be taking in some inventory from before, but possibly staff as well. Lizbeth Toromedina, an 18-year-old Soquel senior has been with Jelli Beanz for a year and half. “It’s so sad to see everything go and the shelves empty,” says Toromedina, “I’m happy that Hope’s Closet will be here, and I’m planning to stay through the transition and with the company.” This cherished long standing operation will be missed by many and will surely not be forgotten, “It’s sad they’re closing, I’ve been delivering here for years”, says local postman Caser Herrera. “I just want to thank everyone who participated in any way”, says Hendersen, “I’m grateful for every story, every smile and every baby, it’s been a good run.” Jelli Beanz isn’t just a store to the people of Santa Cruz, it’s a place where memories were made and it’s dedication is to a mission that meant something.” Read More Local News Articles

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Flower Girl Coloring Page

growingupsc — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 22:47:37 +0000

Ballerina Kitty Coloring Contest Deadline APRIL 20 Submit your coloring entry to christy@growingupsc.com and we will select one to win a a prize! You can also mail them to Box 3505, Santa Cruz, 95063 Previous Coloring Pages and Winners

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Salesian School

growingupsc — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 22:30:28 +0000

Salesian School Photo Essay by Kevin Painchaud On Feb.4 Salesian School joined the nationwide celebration of Catholic Schools Week. Salesian School’s focus was on celebrating the community. With help from many parents that are in the medical field, they were able to organize numerous first-responders including the police and fire to come on-site and to drive around the campus twice, like a parade. The kids from all grades, while social distanced, had the wonderful opportunity to show their support and say thanks. Many of the kids were dressed as their favorite profession, which included doctors, nurses, fire fighters, cooks and more. Read More Local News Articles

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Little League Returns

growingupsc — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 22:23:21 +0000

Little League Returns by kevin painchaud Next month will mark the one-year anniversary that all sports have been shut down. From Major League Baseball, college sports and even Little League. With more and more vaccinations being given and more people following the strict mask policy and 6-foot social distancing, Santa Cruz County has been able to bring the infectious rate of the coronavirus down. The next couple of weeks will be crucial to see if Santa Cruz is able to bring our levels down far enough to allow team sports for schools to finally start. Until then, sports are having to make the shift to follow the California Department of Public Health guidelines for youth sports. This includes youth sports training, conditioning, and physical education.Following these guidelines, and hoping that Santa Cruz may finally move to the red tier, and allow team sports to play as normal, Santa Cruz Little League is open for sign-ups. According the Erik Comier, President of Aptos Little League, “In this Purple Tier, both the State of California and the Santa Cruz Public Health Department permit a baseball clinic to be conducted. A baseball clinic with a cohort team can include any and all baseball related training including throwing, catching, hitting, situational play and fun games while proper mitigation techniques are established. This includes social distancing, wearing a face covering, proper sanitizing among others. So today, we are permitted to coordinate a baseball clinic. We’re excited to see our kids out on the field again. This means that our kids will be allowed to once again small the scent of fresh cut grass, grip the baseball tightly, feeling the seems on their finger tips and hear the crack of the bat once again. FOR MORE INFORMATIONAptos Little League, go here: AptosLL.orgSanta Cruz Little League: LeagueAthletics.comScotts Valley Little League:ScottsValleyLL.orgPajaro Valley Little League: PajaroValleyLittleLeague.com Read More Local News Articles

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Teaching During COVID

growingupsc — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 22:19:57 +0000

Teaching and Learning in the Time of COVID-19 By Patricia Lucas, Spanish teacher at Gateway School As a teacher of over forty years, I felt I had “seen it all” — every educational trend, methodology, pedagogy, and innovation. This most recent challenge sent this “maestra”, a World Language middle school teacher at Gateway School, into a near free fall. The educational challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic have caught all educational constituents off guard scrambling for the best ways to move forward. My students’ varying responses to Distance Learning have brought me new insights, unexpected innovation, flexibility and challenges. It is my belief that the most critical need for all students is to feel valued as members of a school or class community. This can be difficult to achieve through a computer screen particularly for the youngest of our learners or those with specific learning differences or challenges. The innate need for inclusion, self identity, and basic security is all-encompassing to most students. Some say that without the steady maintenance of these vital connections the next epidemic we may face could be the most serious of all, one of mental health. The well being and feelings of connectedness for our students must be of the highest priority. Ideally, we must tend to this every day, in every class, and at every minute spent in the “on screen” classroom. I am very fortunate that Gateway School subscribes to this philosophy and places it into practice every day. While learning and skill mastery remain paramount it truly cannot effectively happen without first considering and tending to each student’s social emotional needs. This Social Emotional Learning (SEL) must be firmly in place to nurture the entire class community, foster connectedness and ensure student engagement. In short these tenants might be prioritized as such: Students over Standards Compassion over Compliance Patience over Procedures Empathy over Enforcement Grace over Gimmicks Some may argue that potential delays in curriculum delivery and mastery due to the extra time SEL requires make it too hard to implement. The well being and feelings of connectedness is my highest priority in order to create the best environment for learning. The above tenants remain key lessons in my curriculum as an educator teaching AND learning in the time of COVID-19. Patricia Lucas is a World Language educator of over forty years. The past twenty three years she has been teaching middle school Spanish at Gateway School in Santa Cruz, CA, the only CAIS accredited school in Santa Cruz County. She has a passion for teaching and learning and credits much of the knowledge she has gained to the hundreds of wonderful students with whom she has worked these many years. Gracias por todo a mis muchos estudiantes estimados! Read More Teacher’s Desk Articles

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Climbing Mountains

growingupsc — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 22:10:38 +0000

Climbing Mountains My School Year Ups and Downs By Grace Timan, 11th grade Priorities have changed, that’s something I learned in my Values in World Thought class this year. Yes, I do miss the way the world once was, and I pine for the classic high school experience. What I now want most, however, is the health of those in my community. Gazing at the faces of my peers displayed on their pixelated webcams, I reminisced on 2020 and years past. Dial back to September, a new school year and what was supposed to be a fresh start, that instead put us right back where we were six months ago – but this time with the workload of junior year. As I found myself staring at a screen in my bedroom instead of going on my school’s annual river rafting trip, cancelled due to COVID, the sinking feeling was unignorable. I remembered the words of the upperclassmen that came before me, telling me to cherish every moment because it would be gone before I knew it. They were right. It’s all passed so quickly, and now it felt ripped away before I got to hold on. None of us expected to be online for another year, until we were legitimately and virtually climbing mountains, instead of driving up the one we loved so much to our campus. Onlline SchoolDuring the first two weeks of online school, our teachers encouraged us more than they ever had. I definitely felt that they missed us, almost more than we missed each other. The endless assignments that quickly flooded our inboxes felt hopeless. I personally struggled to find motivation without a physical environment to encourage me. As a student with ADHD, being in an environment that fosters learning is incredibly important for my academic success. My bed, after waking up just five minutes before class, chugging an energy drink and frantically hoping I won’t have to turn on my camera, is not exactly a prime learning environment. Without routine and structure, it was easy to get lost in the vast void of Google Docs. The personal connection and relationships our teachers have made with us is what got me through. They took class time to ask us questions about how we were doing, gave us extensions on assignments when needed, and understood when we didn’t feel up to turning on our cameras. Finally In-personTwo weeks into the school year things changed for the better and we were able to return to in-person school! Another positive milestone? I got my driver’s license the day before we came back to school, and driving up to school on the first day of in-person classes was the happiest I have been in ages. Pulling into that student parking lot, we could see each other’s smiles through our masks! So much had changed, but I was just happy that we were all back together. It definitely is different because we aren’t seeing each grade in the same way that we have before. We are now more distant from one another, unable to walk through the different classrooms in order to keep our cohorts safe. One of the most memorable parts of Mount Madonna School is knowing everyone around me. As I walked through the halls growing up (I started at Mount Madonna in preschool), I knew everyone around me, and that safety and excitement of seeing a friendly face always felt good. I can’t imagine not knowing the people around me, so not seeing them was a huge adjustment. Along with that, the teachers moving from outdoor classroom to outdoor classroom is actually something I enjoy. It feels relaxing in a way, getting that break from all the hurried walking between classes. Seeing my classmates in person has improved my mental health; being able to socialize takes my mind away from the craziness of the world. It is definitely an improved learning environment. Adjusting to change & Mother NatureNo matter how grateful we were to return to in-person learning in the fall, there is always something unpredictable, more specifically the weather. Some of us were innovative with blankets and hand warmers but still, it felt impossible not to complain when we felt so cold. On the days it wasn’t cold it was impossibly hot. Without air conditioning and insulation, we sat in the sun for hours sweating through our masks, waiting until we could drive down the mountain with the AC blasting. Not only was the weather unpredictable as to how we would feel, it all presented challenges for our school leaders. With so many terrible wildfires over the fall and many days with bad smoky air quality, we never knew if it might be too crazy of conditions to go to school. It was never the administration’s fault, it was always Mother Nature getting in the way. It created an environment that felt unpredictable. It was easy to take our time together for granted, forgetting that it might suddenly be taken away. We were so focused on the weather, we forgot to worry about the virus, until we received a harsh reminder. A Return to OnlineIn mid-November we drove up to campus one day, expecting our normal school-day routine, and were promptly informed to return home. School was shut down. One single positive case before Thanksgiving break. Our county was moving back into the purple zone, and we thought we would be safe from the restrictions until the asymptomatic, positive case happened. We didn’t know who had tested positive, who was exposed, and we definitely didn’t know when, or if, we were going back. This felt like I was being pushed off a cliff. In losing my routine and my learning environment, my motivation deserted me as well. I didn’t feel like participating in class, doing my assignments before the last minute, or continuing any of the drives I had built into year. I found myself waking up just minutes before class started with not nearly enough energy to be the perky person I once knew. I lost myself once again in an online school. I have always known myself as a person who stayed motivated and pushed for her goals, but I lost that part of myself for a while. I couldn’t build up the motivation to do my work or even care if I did it right. I talked to my peers about how I was feeling and many felt the same. As I lay in bed on another late-night Facetime conversation on Facetime, we talked about how much we missed normalcy. If you had told me freshman year that this was the world I lived in now, I would never have believed you. There are some things in life you can never imagine being taken away until they are pulled from underneath your feet. Once again images of what my junior year would have been like crept into my mind. Unable to do the things that I looked forward to most, hope felt like a lost cause. I missed the feeling of screaming so loud at a volleyball game that I lost my voice right before song auditions for the school play. I missed the feeling of seeing friendly faces down the halls. I missed dancing pressed up against my friends at a school dance. Normalcy felt a hundred years, a lifetime, away. Priorities have changed, that’s something I learned in my Values in World Thought class this year. Yes, I do miss the way the world once was, and I pine for the classic high school experience. What I now want most, however, is the health of those in my community. We returned to in-person learning in mid-December. This time nothing can be taken for granted; I have learned that life changes too quickly, and to hold on and be grateful. Grace Timan is a junior at Mount Madonna School in Santa Cruz. Read More Youth Writer Articles

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Make Some Music

growingupsc — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 21:56:24 +0000

Family Fun Time Make Some Music by Jan Pierce Exposure to music of all kinds is one of the best gifts you can give to your children. Finding activities your whole family enjoys can be challenging. But you can’t go wrong with music. Listening to and making music are some of the most enjoyable parts of life. And the endless variety in music ensures you can find something for everyone in the clan. The benefits of enjoying music are many. In infancy and even in utero babies are calmed by music. Young children can focus attention and complete a task while listening to a song. They can wind down with a quiet song. Even playing rhythms on pots and pans can hone fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination. Listening and moving to music improves muscle coordination, balance and provides exercise. Children who learn to play an instrument score higher in math and learn patience and perseverance. They build confidence as they build skills. And…music is just plain fun. Here are some ways your family can enjoy music together:Do simple sing-alongs. Younger children have their favorite tunes from Twinkle, Twinkle to Wheels on the Bus. Older kids like funny songs or rounds or songs from their favorite movies. Build up a repertoire of family favorites. Provide many listening experiences from a wide variety of musical genres. Try folk songs, classical pieces, songs from musicals, rap, pop, blues, country, gospel, even opera. Kids will surprise you with their interest in many kinds of musical sounds.After listening together talk about it. What did you like? How does it make you feel?Play music games such as name that tune or finish the song. Do action songs or add dance to your music fun. Buy a karaoke machine and enjoy family karaoke performances.Purchase some simple rhythm instruments such as maracas, tambourines, finger cymbals, jingle bells, and drums so everyone from young to old can play along to catchy rhythms. Melissa and Doug’s Band in a Box is a good choice.Sing in the car as you travel. It helps to pass the time and provides a measure of togetherness as nothing else can do. Make music together. Playing an instrument requires time and practice, but the rewards are great. Ukulele, guitars, or recorders are easy ways to begin learning to play music. A family that plays together…well, you know. Be a family that loves music. Convey your enjoyment of music by playing background music from time to time. Talk about your favorite songs and genres of music and say why you like them. Move to music often and sing along. Be a catalyst for passing on your love of music to your children. Exposure to music of all kinds is one of the best gifts you can give to your children. And it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. If you’ve neglected this rich resource for your home, now is the time to start. Then…enjoy. Read More Parenting Articles

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Colostrum for the Win

growingupsc — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 21:49:44 +0000

Colostrum for the Win! By Laura Maxson, LM Colostrum is high in protein, meaning there is a lot of bang for the buck inside each of those tiny swallows in the first minutes and hours after birth. Babies do best with skin-to-skin and the opportunity to receive the rich, wonderful substance called colostrum through early access to breastfeeding. Most parents expect to give birth and have their baby in arms for bonding and breastfeeding right away; however, that’s not always the case. Giving birth is full of unknowns; birth plans are made and classes are taken, but no one knows exactly how their birth will turn out. Some families have advance notice that their baby might be in need of a little pre-nursing colostrum boost. Those with known issues in pregnancy such as gestational diabetes or a planned cesarean are often advised to collect colostrum before the baby is born to have on hand at birth, if needed. Hypoglycemic babies (those with low blood sugar) can have difficulty nursing until they get some extra nutrition. Often, supplementation with formula or a sugar mixture is suggested to perk up the baby’s energy and interest in nursing. Collected colostrum, however, is perfect for these babies or those who may need to spend time alone in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at birth. Their own parent’s colostrum/breastmilk is always preferred, even over donated, banked breastmilk. Collecting colostrum is a simple process. Small sterile syringes (with caps in place of needles) can be used to vacuum up each tiny drop as it appears on the nipple (or drips into a spoon) with hand expression. Colostrum is thick and sticky, similar to honey in consistency, and can come out in tiny drops – with some finding that for the first few tries nothing much comes out at all. Usually within a few days of starting colostrum harvesting, most will begin to find drops appearing for collection. On the other end of the spectrum, some report so much colostrum leaking before birth that nursing pads are needed. Generally, anyone can collect colostrum in advance for their baby, but those who can most benefit are those who might have trouble nursing right off the bat. These might include babies born to those with diabetes (including gestational diabetes), PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome), hypoplastic breasts, a history of low milk supply, breast reduction surgery, or an expected baby with known cleft lip or palate, just to name a few issues. Those with any potential issues can usually harvest their colostrum a few times a day beginning at 37 weeks, after checking with their care provider. There are some instances where breast stimulation of any kind would not be a good idea, such as someone at high risk for premature labor. However, people in these circumstances can actually collect some colostrum once their labor begins. They likely won’t collect as much as someone who has a few weeks to work on it, but just a few teaspoons will fill up the tummy of a newborn. It’s always wise to have a discussion with the doctor or midwife to decide what plan is the best for each individual situation. Parents may need to initiate this conversation during a prenatal visit. Care providers have a lot on their minds and unless it’s a pregnancy with risk factors such as those discussed above, it might not be something on their usual list of topics. Care providers or lactation consultants can provide colostrum-harvesting kits. Instruction on how to hand express, including access to a few videos, can easily be provided over a tele-health call or in-person visit. The process of collecting colostrum can help bolster milk production, with studies showing a higher incidence of exclusive breastfeeding in those harvesting colostrum. Learning to hand express colostrum/milk is a very helpful skill to learn early on and helps to build confidence while learning to breastfeed. A few minutes of hand expression can soften an engorged breast, decrease discomfort, and allow for an easier latch-on for the baby. All babies benefit from drinking colostrum as their first meals. A newborn’s digestive tract is just waiting for the unique substances in colostrum to help jumpstart their immune system, blood sugar levels, and their digestive tract. Colostrum is high in protein, meaning there is a lot of bang for the buck inside each of those tiny swallows in the first minutes and hours after birth. Just don’t forget to add bringing that frozen stash of colostrum-filled (and clearly labeled) syringes to the hospital in plenty of ice to the birth plan. Stanford Hand Expression Video –https://stan.md/2NDjqxmLocal Lactation resources – www.birthnet.org Read More Birth Matters Articles

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