Hosted by the Pirate Club to raise funds for Harbor athletics.

“At the center of the May Revision is a significant investment in the state’s public schools. From 2011-12 to 2016-17, the Proposition 98 guarantee will increase more than $19 billion from $47.3 billion to $66.5 billion. The plan provides $1,046 more per K-12 student in 2013-14 than was provided in 2011-12 and funding levels will increase by $2,754 per student through 2016-17.”

While the passage of Proposition 30 paused the deep cuts experienced annually for the past 5 years, it did not restore funding to schools. In the Governor’s proposed budget, schools would be funded under a new formula (Local Control Funding Formula, or LCFF) directing additional funds to high needs students including low income students and English language learners.

“The May Revision also adds $240 million in first-year funding for the Governor’s Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), for a total of $1.9 billion. It gives all districts the chance to improve with new ongoing funding based on the number of students served, directs additional resources to the state’s neediest students and restores local control over how money is spent in schools.

When fully implemented, it is projected that the formula will spend 80 cents of every dollar on base grants for every district, 16 cents in supplemental funding for every English learner, student from a low income family or foster child in a district and 4 cents for those districts who have a particularly high concentration of these students. While the concentration funds represent only a small portion of the total dollars, they are critically important to those districts with the greatest challenges. Additionally, the May Revision strengthens the proposal’s accountability measures to ensure that the targeted student populations benefit from the funds.”

In today’s announcement, the Governor announced additional funds to support the implementation of the adopted Common Core State Standards, new curriculum that is being introduced in districts now, with full implementation required by 2015.

“In addition to the higher ongoing funding, the May Revision proposes to invest $1 billion in one-time revenues to fund professional development, instructional materials and enhancements to technology to support implementation of new national standards for evaluating student achievement in English-language, arts and math (known as Common Core Standards).”

The impact on Santa Cruz City Schools will be addressed as the district adopts its budget in June.

Read the full press release here.

Students from all three of our comprehensive high schools – Harbor High, Santa Cruz High and Soquel High – were accepted by Stanford. That students from every one of our high schools were part of the just 5.69% of applicants offered admission is clear evidence that Santa Cruz City Schools prepares our graduates for the most selective colleges and universities in the world.

We salute you, graduates!

• Where: “Food,What?!” Farm at Life Lab at UCSC
• When: Monday, May 20th 10:00am-12:00pm

The youth at “Food, What?!” think it is important that if more students understood their local food system, they would make healthier choices and not just eat quick, cheap, junky food.  Through this event, students will have an enjoyable farm experience, and create a personal connection with organic farming and healthy, fresh food.

The team will be hosting three hundred students this year who will enjoy a multitude of stations from harvesting strawberries to making healthy snacks to hands-on activities. This event will include some favorites like Fast Food Jeopardy, Strawberry Smoothie Making, “What You Drink, What You Think” workshop, and much more. This Strawberry Blast is guaranteed to be an entertaining, tasty, and eye-opening event.

This event will help the youth in the community understand the importance of a health-centered life.

The Strawberry Blast is hosted by the “Food, What?!” Crew (a program of Life Lab—a local non-profit organization) in partnership with the UCSC Farm and Garden, the Santa Cruz City Schools’ Wellness Committee, the Santa Cruz County Office of Education, and the Central Coast School Food Alliance.  Generous material support for this event came from Straus Family Creamery, Live Earth Farm, Swanton Berry Farm, Everett Family Farm, and Dirty Girl Produce.

It is a strong endorsement of the quality of Santa Cruz City Schools that one of our grads is among the lucky 1,991 students offered a spot in the Yale Class of 2017. Congratulations!

Don’t miss this much anticipated annual event! The whole neighborhood turns out to enjoy the fun, festivities and delicious food.

During teacher appreciation week from Monday May 6th through Sunday May 12 all teachers and school staff will receive 20% off of all Bookshop purchases. Members of the Teacher’s Club receive an additional 5% discount.

Coming in July: Rafe Esquith will talk and sign his new book, Real talk for Teal Teahcers: Advice for Teachers from Rookies to Veterans, “No Retreat, No Surrender?” July 23, 7:30 pm. Save the date!

Please join us on May 15 as we honor the inspiring recipients of the 2013 Eddy Awards. Kim Luke, voice of the Derby Girls and Santa Cruz Warriors, will be our host and a performance by students from the El Sistema Santa Cruz (a program of the Santa Cruz Education Foundation) will open the evening.

Outstanding Teachers
Teachers who inspire, challenge and support students
Four awards for K-3, 4-5, 6-8 and 9-12 teachers

• Kindergarten through 3rd grade: Carol Hanna, Bay View 
• 4th & 5th grade: Amariah Hernandez, Gault 
• 6th through 8th grade: Jeff Osborne, Mission Hill
• 9th through 12th grade: Yolie Diego, Spanish teacher, Santa Cruz High 

Roseann Coonerty Layne Inspiring Teaching Award
Teacher who ignites a passion for learning in 7-12 grade English, History, Social Studies or Civics/Government

• Robyn Miranda, English teacher, Soquel High

Unsung Hero
Hardworking staff and parents who make a difference every day

• Suzanne Williams, Soquel High Counseling Secretary
• Jeanie Darling, Parent, Westlake Elementary

Green Award
Person, group or program that educates about and emulates the District’s Green policies

• Bay View Elementary School, with special recognition of contributions made by Bill Philipps, Custodian and Stu Branoff, 5th grade teacher

Wellness Award
Person, group or program that promotes wellness 

• Elementary School Counseling Program  
  • Dawn Baxter, Bay View
  • Janinee Ramirez, Gault 
  • Jolene Dugan, DeLaveaga & Westlake

Innovation Award
Recognizes innovation in the service of students

• Kathleen Crocetti, Art Teacher, Mission Hill Middle School

Community Supporters of the Year 
Acknowledges the tremendous gift of community support for our schools

• Organization: Casey Coonerty Protti & Bookshop Santa Cruz
• Individual: Kathleen Ferraro, Branciforte Middle School and DeLaveaga Elementary

School of the Year
Recognizes the outstanding results of a collaborative community in service of students

• Harbor High School

Friday, May 3

Don’t miss the fun, food and festivities at this much beloved annual event.

Neighbors and incoming families welcome! Alumni families too!