"Here We Grow"
Week of October 6th, 2025
SCG Current Events šš¬
Important Dates ahead:
October 6-10- Minimum Days for Student Conferences
October 8th- SCG Bike and Roll and School Day
October 13-14- No School, Staff Professional Development
10/17 - Drive for Schools ends - tickets due back to SCG office
October 18th- 12-3pm SCG Fall Festival
October 20-25- College and Career Week at SCG
10/26 - Drive for Schools Drawing at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk @ 1:00 (you do not need to be present to win)
10/29 - HSC meeting @ 6:00 (zoom)
11/14 - Yogurtland fundraiser
12/10 - Panda Express fundraiser
SCG Academic Calendar for students in TK (Transitional Kindergarten)
Greetings SCG families,
Welcome to Fall Conferences! This is a week of minimum days to allow for enough time for teachers to meet with each student's family on their class roster. Dismissals are like a Friday schedule each day.
We will be back to full days the following week. I look forward to having our awesome SCG Fall Festival in a couple weeks- see the flyer below. Thank you Home and School Club for helping to put this on, and we have more details to come for a special music unit coming up for all classes.
Aside from this, we are looking forward to checking in with you about progress, support, and growth for all of our students as a primary focus this week. See you on campus!
In Partnership,
Principal Carlo Albano
New article- Yay! The California Environmental Education Foundation (CEEF) is thrilled to award the 2025 Excellence in Environmental Education Award in the Administrator category to Carlo Albano, Principal of Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary School. Article here.
Dahlias and Nature Journal Zones- Thank you to our teachers and students for getting some good Nature Journaling in this year. Jade is working on foundational nature journal practices in her classroom this month also. Students are observing and exploring in our 6 active outdoor learning zones with nature Journals. Classes that have all of their walking permission slips in, are also taking short trips to other areas in the neighborhood, like the Chaminade trails and Secret Park.
Supporting Student Mental Health in SUESD
At SUESD, we believe student mental health is the foundation for learning. Each of our schools has caring counselors who provide classroom lessons, brief check-ins, crisis support, and parent/staff consultation.
Through the stateās Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI), we can now be reimbursed for these servicesāat no cost to families. Billing will never affect copays, deductibles, or plan limits, and students will continue to receive the same support whether or not they have insurance. For more information on included billable services, please see this flyer.
Please take a moment to complete this consent form to share your childās insurance information (or to indicate if you prefer not to).
And here is this flyer with more information about it as well.
Ocean Guardian- Good news! We found out Friday we have been accepted into our third year as an Ocean Guardian Cohort with this national program of the NOAA. This year we will focus on multiple continued efforts for waste reduction and awareness thereof, as well as native plant identification on campus in our 6 main outdoor learning zones and gardens.
Mrs. Blackburn and Art Class- Curious about what's been happening in art classes at SCG? Here's a rundown of the latest
Attendance: Showing Up Matters, Every Day Counts
Consistent attendance is one of the strongest ways students build Connection, Character, and Confidence at school. Being present each day lays the foundation for academic success, strong relationships, and personal growth. Hereās why it matters:
If your child will be absent, please be sure to complete the Absence Verification Form, even for a single day.
This allows your child to receive attendance credit through Independent Study, as long as the assigned classwork is completed and turned in. The form is available anytime on our SCG website.
Students with excellent attendance will be recognized at the end of each quarter. We love celebrating the effort it takes to show up consistently, and we want our students to feel proud of that commitment.
Need support getting your child to school?
We are here to help. If your student is feeling unsure or hesitant, reach out to our school counselor,: Sue Robinson- Srobinson@suesd.org
Letās make 2025ā2026 a year of growth, connection, and daily learning for every student, every day
Past important Snapshots and Reminders:
As we look ahead on the calendar, some upcoming districtwide observances in SUESD include Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15), Constitution and Citizenship Day (September 17), LGBTQ+ History Month (October), and College & Career Week (October 20-25).
Fall 2025 Rainbow Conference
The Safe Schools Project is proud to announce the Rainbow Conference ā a day of celebration, community, and learning for LGBTQIA2S+ young people and the adults who support them.
When: Saturday, September 27, 2025 @ 9:30 am - 2:00 pm
Where: Watsonville High School, 250 E Beach St, Watsonville, CA 95076
Breakfast, Snacks, and Lunch Provided!
- For teens: Queer, Trans, & Allied Student Summit of the Central Coast ā Fall 2025
- For adults: Parents/Guardians, Educators, and Adult Allies āUnderstanding Genderā Conference ā Fall 2025
- For elementary students and their families: Rainbow Glitter Kids ā Fall 2025
We have been awarded recognition for our 2nd year of Ocean guardian work! This had us focus on our Science and Environmental Steward Projects in classrooms and around campus, our Garbology focus on waste reduction, our SAGE assemblies, and our Student Green Team actions! YAY SCG, and thank you Ms. Jade for helping to submit an application for year 3!
New Article on the SCG Website:
SCG Student Leadership presents on their work in the Capitol!
SCG Students Team up with Child Nutrition Services to Improve SUESD Elementary Menu
Drop Off and Pick Up
We have supervision at SCG starting at 8am. If your student arrives before 8am, they need to have adult supervision until our Recess Coaches arrive. The only adult supervision we have after school is at the drive through lane, from 2:30pm to 3:10pm. TK/Kindergarten students should be picked up at their classrooms. 1st through 5th grade students should be picked up on campus or by car at the drive through lane.
*At the curb pick up/ drop-off, please make sure your by your car at all times, do not leave it to pick up child due to traffic flow. You can park your car if you would like to walk and pick them up*
Volunteer Clearance and Fingerprinting Service at Santa Cruz Gardens-
To volunteer during school hours, fingerprinting (once - not annually) and a TB test (every four years) are required. Please review the guidelines: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13YZbdsB65qcXL5jcv1q5X2iMSwgQQypD/view; Spanish: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rtrhFf2hOTdR0jZOX_rb7RPYLer6AF52/view. Santa Cruz Live Scan will be at Back to School Night on 8/23. Please take advantage of this opportunity to get fingerprinted.
