Santa Cruz County Office of Education Government Announcements

Notice to the Qualified Electors of the Santa Cruz County Board of Educucation, Trustee Area 5, of a Vacancy on the Board

Applications are invited from community members for appointment to a seat on the Santa Cruz County Board of Education representing Trustee Area 5, vacated by the resignation of Alyssa Alto effective April 15, 2024. Applicant Qualifications Applicants must be: 18 years or older, A registered voter Reside within Trustee Area 5 Application Process Interested persons [...] The post Notice to …
04/29/2024

Recognize an Educator

Do you know a teacher who deserves to be recognized? Express your appreciation by completing the short form below. When you're done, a certificate of appreciation will be created and emailed to them during Teacher Appreciation Week May 6-10, 2024. The deadline to submit is May 10, 2024. Use the form linked below to recognize [...] The post Recognize an …
04/26/2024

Children’s Memorial Day

Dear community member, Today is Childrens Memorial Day, an observance that calls for the Childrens Memorial Flag to flown statewide in memory of lives lost due to violence against youth. I have the privilege of speaking at a flag raising event today at the Santa Cruz Courthouse, organized by the Childrens Network, Santa Cruz County Human [...] The post Children's …
04/26/2024

FashionTeens 2024

Catch up on all the sustainable, student-created fashion on display at FashionTeens 2024, held April 19 at the Rio Theatre! A program of the Santa Cruz COE in partnership with Arts Council Santa Cruz County, FashionTeens is a countywide event where students in grades 6-12 showcase wearable clothing that is made from recycled, upcycled or [...] The post FashionTeens 2024 …
04/26/2024

‘Fentanyl High’ Screening & Panel

To raise awareness about the fentanyl and the opioid epidemic, the Santa Cruz COE is partnering with high school filmmaker Kyle Santoro and Santa Cruz Community Health to host a free event featuring the screening of Kyle's film "Fentanyl High." The event takes place May 2 and the Rio Theatre in Santa Cruz, and includes [...] The post ‘Fentanyl High' …
04/25/2024

Join the Student Trustee Academy

High school students preparing to become student trustees or with a general interest in district leadership and governance are encouraged to apply to the Student Trustee Academy. The training consists of six different sessions to learn about the role and responsibilities of a school board over the course of six sessions. Thanks to the generous support of [...] The post …
04/24/2024

Earth Day & Environmental Literacy

Dear community member, Earth Day, falling each year on April 22, provides an important opportunity for our schools to reflect on the importance of environmental education and stewardship of our planet. In addition to the inspiring Earth Day celebrations returning to Santa Cruz and Watsonville, I want to share a little about some of our upcoming events and environmental [...] …
04/19/2024

Bay View Elementary School Hosts a Stellar Computer Science Family Night

In an era where technology shapes the future, Bay View Elementary School distinguished itself by hosting an innovative Computer Science Family Night on February 29. This event saw a vibrant assembly of students, families, and educators immersed in an evening of engaging, hands-on computer science activities. With a dynamic blend of plugged and unplugged interactive stations, participants [...] The post …
04/18/2024

Students Advocating for STEM Education

On April 2, the Santa Cruz COE and X Academy had the privilege of meeting with Congressman Jimmy Panetta in his Santa Cruz office to promote our county-wide robotics initiative and vision for a robotics educational pathway across the county. Students spoke of their experiences and shared what they are doing and learning in our [...] The post Students Advocating …
04/17/2024

Computer Science Student Spotlight: Aidan Salinero

The Santa Cruz COE Computer Science team proudly shines the spotlight on Aidan Salinero, a remarkable student whose journey in computer science exemplifies unwavering dedication and impressive achievements. Set to graduate from Santa Cruz High in June, Aidan is preparing to embark on his next academic adventure at Cabrillo College in the fall. Aidan's participation in [...] The post Computer …
04/16/2024

Robotics Competition is Just Around the Corner!

We are so excited that the MATE-ROV Regional Robotics Competition is almost here! Our Santa Cruz COE and X Academy Robotics teams have been preparing for this event since October. We have two teams competing in the Ranger and Navigator classes, and we couldnt be more proud of our team members! They worked hard to [...] The post Robotics Competition …
04/16/2024

Summer CyberCamps are BACK!

Summer is just around the corner, and its time to get ready for summer CyberCamp! Sponsored by the Santa Cruz COE and Cabrillo College, along with the Bay Area Cyber League, we are excited to announce that registration is now open for our FREE week-long Summer CyberCamps. Ideal CyberCampers are current 8th12th graders and community [...] The post Summer CyberCamps …
04/15/2024

“Fentanyl High” Film Screening

Dear community member, Drug overdoses and fentanyl poisoning are now the third leading cause of pediatric deaths in the United States, according to Kristen OConnor, RN, Addiction Program Director at Santa Cruz Community Health (SCCH). Amidst rising concerns among parents, health providers and educators in our community, Santa Cruz Community Health, Santa Cruz County Office [...] The post "Fentanyl High" …
04/12/2024

Spring, season of new beginnings!

ed.PATH April Newsletter! The Educator's Professional Advancement and Teaching Hub aims to create an educational ecosystem for all educators to inspire and engage each student toward academic success, where educators have access to professional advancement regardless of their backgrounds or circumstances to ensure that they are highly effective and stay passionate. With this vision in [...] The post Spring, season …
04/11/2024

Prom Dress and Suit Giveaway

The Santa Cruz County Probation Department and partners are hosting the 2nd annual giveaway of prom dresses and suits to all high school students. High school students are invited to the collection and able to take any items they would like. Pick Up Days: Tuesday, April 16th, 3-6 pm Thursday, April 18th, 3-6 pm Friday, [...] The post Prom Dress …
04/10/2024

Podcast! Empowering Youth: Teen-Led Mental Health Support

The State of Mind Radio Show & Podcast introduces local teen guests Marley Miller, Melissa Macias, Oscar Alvarez-Delgado, and Devin Bloom, as they courageously share their personal journeys and innovative approaches to promoting mental well-being among their peers. Dive into the pressing reality of the youth mental health crisis. In this episode crafted by teens, [...] The post Podcast! Empowering …
04/01/2024

Youth Nutrition & Exercise

Dear community member, In recent years the importance of health and wellness to students success in and out of the classroom has become increasingly clear. In the fall, Santa Cruz County Pediatric Health Work Group and several community partners identified nutrition and exercise as areas of particular concern for youth. Reports from pediatricians and multiple [...] The post Youth Nutrition …
03/29/2024

Celebrating Young Talent: Santa Cruz County’s 2024 Youth Art Exhibit

Santa Cruz County is alive with creativity as more than 400 works of art by talented students adorn the halls of the Santa Cruz County Government Center. From vibrant paintings to intricate sculptures, the 2024 Youth Art Exhibit is a testament to the boundless imagination and skill of our local youth. Hosted by the Santa [...] The post Celebrating Young …
03/28/2024

First Edition of the ed.PATH Newsletter!

We are thrilled to announce the launch of the very first edition of our ed.PATH Newsletter, a monthly resource publication dedicated to informing educators on the latest educator pathway news and trending spotlight on educational opportunities. Our mission is to provide a platform that enriches the educational journey, offering insights, strategies, and stories that resonate [...] The post First Edition …
03/25/2024

Math Festivals: Challenging Beliefs and Ways of Engaging with Math

The Santa Cruz County Office of Education (Santa Cruz COE), in collaboration with the Mathematics Department at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC), and Monterey Bay Area Math Project (MBAMP), organized a Math Festival as part of its inaugural STEAM Expo on March 9, 2024. The festival, held on a Saturday, provided an inviting [...] The post Math Festivals: …
03/14/2024

HERStory Celebration Highlights Women Past, Present, and Future

Highlighting the contributions of notable women in Santa Cruz Countys, past, present, and future, the Santa Cruz County Office of Education (Santa Cruz COE), in partnership with the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History (MAH) and Lookout Santa Cruz is excited to announce the HERStory Celebration. Held in celebration of Womens History Month, the [...] The post HERStory Celebration …
03/13/2024

ThinkBig! Event: AI & Me on Thursday, 4/11 4:30–6:00

We are thrilled to announce a gathering that promises to inspire, enlighten, and connect us all. Our upcoming ThinkBig! Event: AI & Me is set to take place on Thursday, April 11th, from 4:30 to 6:00 pm, in both Santa Cruz and Watsonville. Participants will also be able to join virtually via Zoom. This unique [...] The post ThinkBig! Event: …
03/05/2024

Santa Cruz High Wins 2024 Mock Trial

Santa Cruz High School won the 2024 Santa Cruz County Mock Trial following a nail-biting finals event at the Santa Cruz Courthouse on Thursday night that resulted in a rare tied score. In adherence to Mock Trials rules, presiding Santa Cruz Superior Court Judge Syda Cogliati broke the tie between Santa Cruz High and co-finalist [...] The post Santa Cruz …
02/27/2024

Save the Date: Central Coast Foster & Homeless Education Summit

April 19th, 9:00AM-3:30PM Salinas City Center 1 Main Street Salinas, CA 93901 We are pleased to announce the 2024 Central Coast Foster & Homeless Education Summit. This FREE event is brought to you through a tri-county collaboration between Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz County Offices of Education. This event is for Educators, Foster Youth, [...] The post Save the …
02/20/2024

SEL Everyday: Integrating Social and Emotional Learning with Instruction

Co-facilitated by Meena Srinivasan Award-winning leader and co-founder of Transformative Educational Leadership (TEL), TEDx speaker, and author of SEL Everyday, Integrating Social and Emotional Learning with Instruction in the Secondary Classroom This Community of Practice (CoP) is a place for K-12 educators to connect, learn, question, and expand their capacity for teaching a wide variety [...] The post SEL Everyday: …
02/12/2024

CS Community Night and Playgrounds – Community Science was Everywhere!

We were thrilled to host our 4th annual CS Community Night and Playground at the MAH on December 7. This community night was designed to celebrate Computer Science Education Week, an annual call to action to inspire K-12 students to learn computer science, advocate for equity, and celebrate the contributions of students, teachers, and partners [...] The post CS Community …
02/09/2024

Waves of Change: The Santa Cruz Robotics Club’s Underwater ROV Adventure

Our county-wide Robotics Clubs have taken the next step on their engineering journey! The design specifications for the MATE ROV Competition have been released, and our club members have dived into the details! This year, well have two teams competing, a Ranger and a Navigator. Each of them will be working on building their underwater [...] The post Waves of …
02/08/2024

Unleashing Potential: Santa Cruz County’s Student Tech Clubs Shape Future Innovators

In the heart of Santa Cruz County, a movement is growing. The Santa Cruz County Office of Education has launched a series of student tech clubs, aimed at empowering the next generation of technologists, engineers, and problem solvers. Designed for middle and high school students with a passion for technology, these clubs offer more than [...] The post Unleashing Potential: …
02/07/2024

Santa Cruz County Leads the Charge in Expanding Computer Science Education

In an ambitious push towards a future where every student is equipped to navigate and succeed in a digital world, the Santa Cruz County Office of Education is making significant strides. Thanks to a generous grant from the California Department of Education through the Educator Workforce Investment Grant Program, CA educators are working together to [...] The post Santa Cruz …
02/06/2024

The Wild West of AI

Artificial Intelligence is considered by some to be the current Wild West of technology innovation and development. So much has happened in a seemingly short amount of time, as generally occurs with technology. The CS Team has been working diligently to explore the educational impacts of AI, looking at policy, practices, and tools related to [...] The post The Wild …
02/05/2024