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 programs – including several opportunities for you or your school to get involved.

Green Classroom Celebration: In collaboration with the Seymour Marine Discovery Center, we are excited to present the Green Classroom Celebration, taking place from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, April 20, at the Seymour Marine Discovery Center in Santa Cruz. Teachers from across the county participating in the Green Classroom Challenge will be recognize, and educators and partners will be sharing more about their work. Find out more.
YEA Summit: Student leaders in Youth for Environmental Action, a group the COE is proud to facilitate and support, are hosting an environmental summit on Earth Day at Camp Koinonia that is bringing together hundreds of high school students from across our county to learn and advocate. Find out more about YEA and how any high school student in Santa Cruz County can get involved on the YEA website.
Countywide Cleanup Day: The COE is pleased to partner with Pitch In Santa Cruz County to support the first All-Santa Cruz County Cleanup Day on May 11. Schools and local organizations can sign up to host their own cleanup or attend an existing cleanup nearby. Find out more.

These are just a few of the many ways to get involved with environmental education and sustainability this Spring, and year round. Through our ongoing environmental programs, the COE is committed to working with districts, schools, and community partners to educate and empower our school community to advance environmental literacy across our community.

Yours in education and equity,
Dr. Faris Sabbah
County Superintendent of Schools

'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 distribution of Narcan and other resources, as well as a panel discussion following the film. Tickets are free but space is limited, and families and teens in particular are encouraged to register now to save your seat.

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 Bank of America, students who complete the program are able to receive an iPad to support their continued development as student leaders.

4th Annual Rainbow Flag Raising

The Santa Cruz COE is conducting its 4th Annual Rainbow Flag Raising ceremony on May 2 in celebration of Harvey Milk’s birthday and in support of LGBTQ+ students, families, and educators.

Featuring student and community speakers and the raising of the Pride Progress Flag, the ceremony begins 10 a.m. Thursday, May 2, at the Santa Cruz County Office of Education, 400 Encinal St in Santa Cruz.

Inaugural Youth Poet Laureate

Congratulations to inaugural Santa Cruz County Youth Poet Laureate Dina Lusztig Noyes, and to finalists Gregory Souza, Simon Ellefson, Madeline Aliah, and Sylvi Kayser!

The County's first Youth Poet Laureate was named on April 10 at a cermony at Kuumbwa Jazz Center featuring recitations from each of the finalists. Holding a one-year term, the Youth Poet Laureate acts as an advocate and county ambassador for poetry, social action and civic engagement.