Soquel Scoop # 5

Happy Friday!

👋 Hello SUESD Families,

I hope your children had a great week in school and that you enjoy the three-day weekend (no school on Monday, September 7, 2026) as we celebrate Labor Day. Take care.

Sincerely,
Scott Turnbull, SUESD Superintendent

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.

Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports, or PBIS, is a nationally recognized approach for addressing student behavior in a proactive and encouraging manner. All of our schools use this approach. Recently, two of our schools achieved the Bronze Level on the California State Recognition System. Check it out in the link below. Which schools will achieve bronze status this year? Silver? Gold?

In the article linked below, you will find a great resource for all of us parents navigating the joys and challenges of parenthood during a time that also requires us to support our children in an age of social media. This can feel overwhelming sometimes. The linked article is intended to help with that feeling. We're all in this together. I hope you find the article helpful.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to a new school year! Child Nutrition Services (CNS) is excited to support your student’s learning journey by providing healthy, nutritious meals every day.

Thanks to California’s Universal Meals Program and SUESD’s participation in the Community Eligibility Provision, breakfast and lunch will continue to be FREE for all students. No application is required!

This year, CNS is placing a special focus on reducing food waste in our cafeterias. Families can help by reviewing the school menu at home with their student and talking with them about the meals they would like to eat. The menu is available on our website, and families can sign up to receive the monthly menu by email. At our elementary schools, printed menus are also sent home through the classroom each month.

Families at Main Street, Soquel Elementary, and Santa Cruz Gardens: Please remind your student that it is very important to tell their teacher each morning if they would like a school lunch. This daily meal count helps CNS prepare the right number of meals and reduce unnecessary food waste.

Thank you for supporting Child Nutrition Services and helping us reduce food waste!

Warmly,

Amanda Timar
Director of Child Nutrition Services

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.

Our partners at Campus Kids Connection (CKC) want you to know there is still plenty of space available in their Preschool Program at the district's Opal Cliffs School. You can go to their website to learn more about this program.

The Safe Schools Project will host the annual Rainbow Conference at Watsonville High School on Saturday, September 26, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to - 2:30 pm. This is one of the best events of the school year, specifically designed to support our LGBTQ+ Community. There is something for everyone, including students, family members, and allies.

SUESD families are invited to join Bay FC for Disability Awareness Night on Sunday, September 27, as Bay FC takes on the Orlando Pride at 2:00 p.m. This special event, presented in partnership with North Santa Cruz County SELPA and SPIN, is designed to provide an inclusive and welcoming matchday experience for individuals with disabilities and their families. Gates open at noon, and accommodations include accessible seating options, sensory bags, a dedicated sensory room, ADA parking and entry, and a family-friendly Fan Fest area.

This fall, the Santa Cruz County Office of Education and Common Sense Media are offering Navigating Tech & Screen Time Together, a three-part virtual series for families focused on technology in the classroom, digital balance at home and school, and digital well-being. The series kicks off during Digital Citizenship Week (October 19-23). You can find the promotional flyer with more information and can register for the series here:sccoe.link/screentime.