Soquel Scoop # 12

Dear SUESD Families,

I hope your children have enjoyed another great week of learning and joy in our schools. As we head towards the end of October, I wanted to share a few thoughts about having a safe and fun Halloween in this newsletter, along with other information. Have a great weekend.

Sincerely,

Scott Turnbull

SUESD Supt.

The SUESD Board of Trustees held a Regular Board Meeting on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. Board agendas, dockets, minutes, supporting materials, livestream information, and additional meeting details are available on our Board website. What follows is an unofficial summary of some of the board meeting (official minutes will be considered for approval at the next Regular Board Meeting on November 4, 2026). We had an amazing student pledge leader from Soquel Elementary kick off the meeting. The board honored our NBMS 6th Grade Girls Basketball team for their league championship and undefeated season. The Board graciously and gratefully accepted several donations, including a $10,000 donation from Alicia Gordon, in memory of former SUESD Teacher Donna Gordon, earmarked for Science Materials and Library Books! The Board also heard an update on the California School Dashboard and current district practices aimed at increasing student achievement in Math. With safety in mind, the Board approved the lowest bidder to begin a perimeter fencing project for New Brighton Middle School.

Halloween is just around the corner, bringing costumes, pumpkins, sweet treats, and plenty of excitement! Whether your family enjoys trick-or-treating, decorating the house, carving pumpkins, or simply admiring the neighborhood costumes, Halloween is a wonderful opportunity to have fun and make memories together. We also love seeing the creativity and excitement our students bring to school during this festive season!

A friendly reminder about Halloween costumes at school: We want our students to have fun, show off their creativity, and enjoy the Halloween spirit! At the same time, a little common sense helps ensure that school remains safe, welcoming, and enjoyable for everyone. Please remember that costume masks that cover a student's face are not permitted, as we must be able to identify every student on campus. Likewise, no real, toy, or replica weapons of any kind are allowed as part of a costume. Finally, costumes should never mock, stereotype, or demean individuals or groups based on their race, culture, religion, disability, gender, or other personal characteristics. We also encourage families to consider our younger students when choosing costumes that might be particularly frightening or graphic. Costumes should allow students to move comfortably and participate in their regular school activities. Our goal is simple: lots of Halloween fun, with safety, kindness, and respect for everyone!

As our young ghosts, goblins, superheroes, and princesses prepare for their Halloween adventures beyond school, a few simple safety reminders can go a long way. Make sure costumes allow children to see and move safely, bring flashlights or reflective accessories for trick-or-treating, use sidewalks and crosswalks, and encourage children to stay with a trusted adult or group. Drivers, please be especially alert in neighborhoods where excited trick-or-treaters may be out and about! For additional family-friendly guidance, check out the California State PTA's Halloween Safety Tips and the American Academy of Pediatrics' Halloween Safety Guide. Wishing all of our SUESD families a fun, safe, and delightfully spooky Halloween!

One of the most important ways we build safe, welcoming schools is through the words we choose. We want to remind our students and families that racist, homophobic, sexist, and other discriminatory or demeaning language has no place in our schools. This includes slurs, hurtful jokes, and put-downs, even when someone says they are "just kidding" or doesn't intend to cause harm. Words have an impact, and every student deserves to feel respected and valued.

We encourage families to take a few minutes to talk with their children about the importance of choosing words thoughtfully, treating others with dignity, and speaking up when they hear hurtful language. These conversations at home reinforce the expectations we teach at school. Thank you for partnering with us to build a school community rooted in kindness, empathy, and respect.

Helpful Resources for Families:

• Talking to Children About Racial Bias — American Academy of Pediatrics. Practical, age-appropriate strategies for discussing bias and respect.

• 5 Ways to Talk to Your Kids About Swearing—and Why — Common Sense Media. Helpful guidance for talking with children about inappropriate language, hurtful words, and why language choices matter.

We have had successful College and Career Weeks at Main Street and Soquel Elementary so far this year. Our other two schools will hold their events in November: Santa Cruz Gardens (November 2–6) and New Brighton Middle School (November 16–20). I am so grateful to our Counselors and all the staff who have worked to make these meaningful events possible. Even our construction partners at Kent Construction have gotten in the mix and shared the following statement with us:

Kent Construction had the pleasure of participating in Career Day at Soquel Elementary School, where we welcomed two groups of 20 students each for a guided tour of the school's ongoing construction project.

During the visit, we walked the students through the job site, showing them the heavy equipment and the footprint of their future sports field and amphitheater. With the help of our superintendents, we also reviewed construction drawings and a 3D rendering to help the students visualize what their finished campus will look like.

We also introduced the students to the many career opportunities in construction, from grading contractors and electricians to superintendents, project managers, and even construction photographers. Our goal was to show them the variety of people and skills involved in bringing a project to life.

The students were engaged throughout the tour and asked plenty of great questions. To wrap up the day, each student received a Kent Construction notebook and toy tractor as a keepsake from their visit.

Overall, it was a great experience for our team, and we appreciated the opportunity to share what we do while giving the students a closer look at the improvements taking place at their school.

Thank you to the District and Soquel Elementary staff for allowing us to be part of Career Day!

Please click on the flyer above for all the details about this event that is open to the community.

The California Department of Education has released the 2026 California School Dashboard, providing a comprehensive look at student achievement, attendance, school climate, and other important measures of school success. Here in SUESD, we have much to celebrate, along with opportunities for continued growth. Our district earned Blue, the state's highest performance level, in suspension rates, reflecting our ongoing commitment to restorative practices and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) to foster safe, supportive, and positive learning environments. We also earned Green in science, while English Learner Progress improved from Red to Yellow. Our English Language Arts and chronic absenteeism indicators remained Yellow, and we are particularly proud of the dramatic reduction in chronic absenteeism achieved over the past several years through the collective efforts of our students, families, and staff. At the same time, our mathematics indicator moved from Yellow to Orange, reinforcing why mathematics will continue to be a central focus of our instructional improvement efforts. We are committed to strengthening math instruction, supporting our teachers, and helping every student develop confidence and success in mathematics. These results remind us that school improvement is ongoing, and we remain committed to celebrating our progress while addressing areas where students need additional support. Families are encouraged to explore our SUESD California School Dashboard and learn more about California's statewide results.

Are you a parent or community member looking for a meaningful way to support our schools? New Brighton Middle School is seeking Recess Coaches! This part-time position is a wonderful opportunity to help create a safe, positive, and welcoming school environment where students can enjoy their breaks, build healthy relationships, and practice responsible behavior. Recess Coaches play an important role in maintaining a positive school climate, and we'd love to see members of our parent community get involved!

Interested? Visit our SUESD EdJoin Job Board to learn more about employment opportunities in our district.

I recently came across a wonderful blog post by mathematician and educator Wendy Ward Hoffer, titled Stop Saying I'm Not a Math Person. Her message is simple but powerful, especially for parents and families.

When children hear adults say, "I'm just not a math person" or "I was never good at math," they can begin to believe that math ability is something you're either born with or you're not. The reality is that we are all math people! We use math every day, and everyone can grow as a mathematical thinker. As we continue emphasizing math achievement across SUESD, we encourage families to help build positive math identities at home. Instead of saying, "I was never good at math," try saying, "Math can be challenging, but we can figure it out together." Our children are listening, and the messages we send matter!

Read Wendy Ward Hoffer's full blog post here.

PDCR, or Positive Discipline Community Resources, is a valued district partner. They have many offerings, including their Parenting Tip Sheets. Here I am sharing one of those tip sheets on Encouragement. The article begins with the following paragraph:

“Encouragement is more important than any other aspect of child-raising,” said Adlerian psychologist Rudolph Dreikurs. “Each child needs continuous encouragement just as a plant needs water,” he said. In other words, positive acknowledgment and a belief in one’s capabilities from a loving adult are vital for raising emotionally healthy children.

You can find the complete 2-page tip sheet here.

You are warmly invited to join us for the upcoming Cradle to Career Santa Cruz County: Family Learning & Leadership Circle!

Event Details:

- Date: November 6, 2026

- Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

- Location: Live Oak Community Center, Room A (979 17th Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95062)

About the Event:

We are pleased to announce a presentation with the Community Prevention Partners Live Oak Workgroup and the Santa Cruz County Public Health Youth Empowerment & Action for Health team. This presentation will focus on the critical issue of youth vaping. This session aims to educate families and community members on the risks associated with e-cigarette use while connecting attendees with essential health resources. We welcome your participation in this important discussion.

Child care, simultaneous interpretation, and dinner and refreshments will be provided.

Registration:

Space is limited, and registration will be filled on a first come, first served basis.

Please register by clicking HERE

Please join us for SUESD’s annual Community Voice Gathering on Wednesday, January 27, 2027, from 6:30–8:00 p.m. in the New Brighton Middle School Performing Arts Center. This gathering will be an important opportunity for families and community members to learn about district priorities and Measure P bond projects, ask questions, and, most importantly, provide input as we develop our updated Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP). Your voice will help shape the district’s goals, actions, and priorities for the coming years. Free childcare, refreshments, and Spanish interpretation will be provided, and our entire site and district leadership team will be there to listen and engage with you.

As we head into the winter months, we want families to know that the Soquel Union Elementary School District is proactively preparing for the possibility of significant winter weather.

We are paying particular attention to forecasts for a very strong El Niño this fall and winter, which could bring periods of heavier rainfall and other weather-related impacts to our region. While the exact effects on our local community cannot be predicted, we believe it is important to plan ahead and be prepared.

Our priority is always the safety and well-being of our students and staff. In advance of the rainy season, we are reviewing our emergency procedures, confirming that appropriate emergency supplies are available at each school site, and ensuring that clear communication protocols are in place should weather conditions affect our schools or surrounding communities.

We are also reviewing how we will communicate with families if changing conditions require adjustments to school operations. Should an emergency or significant weather event occur, families can expect timely information from the District and their school.

We also encourage families to take a few simple steps to prepare at home. The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services provides helpful information on family emergency planning, emergency alerts, supplies, and storm safety through its Storm Season Safety resource. Cal OES Storm Season Safety

Our goal in sharing this information now is simply to reassure our community that we are planning ahead. We hope for a safe and uneventful winter, but we also believe it is important to be prepared.

Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping our students safe.

Student mental and behavioral health is the foundation for academic success. Every SUESD school has skilled, caring counselors, wellness coaches, and related support staff — and through California’s Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI), our district can now be reimbursed for the mental and behavioral health supports we already provide. Please see the flyer for all the awesome details.

In 2024, our community approved Measure P, SUESD’s $73 million general obligation bond. We were, and remain, deeply grateful for that support. These funds are helping us create modern, high-quality facilities for our students. Our primary projects currently underway include replacing the fields at Main Street Elementary, Soquel Elementary, and Santa Cruz Gardens, as well as adding shaded outdoor amphitheaters. We appreciate everyone’s patience with the temporary inconveniences that naturally accompany construction, and we believe the completed projects, expected this spring, will be well worth it. At the same time, behind-the-scenes planning is moving forward for classroom modernization projects at Soquel Elementary and New Brighton Middle School. In short, our district has not wasted a moment in putting Measure P funds to immediate and meaningful use for the benefit of our students and schools. Below are some photos of projects as they currently stand. Thank you again for your support of the bond that has allowed us to execute these projects.

We want to make sure no family in SUESD leaves free money for college on the table. CalKids is an amazing program that invests in our youth from an early age. Can you imagine what a college degree will cost in 2037? Every penny counts. As such, please take a few minutes to log in. Qualifying families will find funds already waiting in their child's account.