"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 O’Connor, 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 of Education and local school districts will co-host a free community viewing of “Fentanyl High,” a powerful documentary film produced by LC2 Productions and directed by Kyle Santoro, a senior at Los Gatos High School.
The documentary “Fentanyl High” delves into the opioid crisis, offering an intimate exploration of its complexities through the perspectives and firsthand experiences of high school students, as captured in candid interviews.
The film will be screened on Thursday, May 2nd at 6:30 pm at the Rio Theatre in Santa Cruz. Admission is free, registration is required and space is limited. Attendance by teens, ideally with their families, is encouraged. Immediately following the screening, there will be a discussion panel featuring the student filmmaker, local professionals, and high school peers. Families will leave the event with concrete steps for both prevention and support around this issue. Attendees will receive ‘Let’s Talk’ booklets, a toolkit for navigating teen substance use for parents and caregivers and tip sheets identifying the signs of an overdose. School nurses will be distributing free Naloxone (Narcan), a life saving medication, after the screening.
Through this event, it is our hope to raise awareness about the devastating impact of fentanyl poisoning, and to empower teens and their families with information and actionable steps to prevent and address this urgent issue. We will continue to make resources available and are planning an additional film screening in Watsonville in May. Digital copies of the “Let’s Talk” booklets are linked here in English and Spanish.
We invite you and your teen to join us at this important event. Please register here for free tickets: https://sccoe.link/FH2024.
Yours in education and equity,
Dr. Faris Sabbah
County Superintendent of Schools
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Fashion Teens
See fabulous and eco-friendly fashion on display at the FashionTeens showcase Friday, April 19 at the Rio Theatre.
FashionTeens brings together teens from across Santa Cruz County to design, source, create, construct and showcase their own unique pieces of fashion art, with a focus on upcycling and sustainability.
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Nutrition & Exercise Survey
Families — we want to hear from you about nutrition and exercise programs within our school community!
Your voice is also needed. To better understand what’s working well, and where schools can do more, the family engagement workgroup has released a survey in English and Spanish.
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Cleanup Day
The Santa Cruz COE is proud to support the first Santa Cruz County Cleanup Day on May 11!
Santa Cruz County Cleanup Day will provide a focal point for community engagement, education, and action that supports environmental stewardship, encouraging collaborations among local governments, non-profit partners, businesses, and residents to promote environmental protection and action. School and community groups are encouraged to host a cleanup or join a nearby site.
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Vive Oaxaca Guelaguetza
The Santa Cruz COE is proud to support the Vive Oaxaca Guelaguetza, an Indigenous cultural festival hosted by Senderos that highlights the food, dance, music, and artisans of Oaxaca.
This local festival is like the traditional fiestas celebrated each summer in Oaxaca, Mexico. Guelaguetza is a Zapotec word that means “a commitment of sharing and cooperation.”
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Youth Art Exhibit
More than 400 works of art created by Santa Cruz County students are on display at the Government Center on Ocean Street through May 3!
The works are part of the 2024 Youth Art Exhibit, facilitated by the Santa Cruz COE and Arts Council Santa Cruz County. Community members are invited to view the art 8am-5pm Monday through Friday and to attend the reception for the from 5-7pm May 3.
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