Dear Live Oak School District community,  

Everyone has worked hard to bring students to this point in the school year. I appreciate the dedication of our teachers, staff and parents as our students achieve their learning goals. Every bit of support helps your child, whether that’s helping them with their homework, asking how their day went, or talking with their teacher about their progress. I encourage parents and guardians to stay involved and updated with your child’s education.  

We thank our school community for continuing to participate in our communication outreach. Please stay tuned to district communications to learn about how your input improves our school district. Thank you for staying in contact with your child’s school! 

We have made it to the holiday break. I wish everyone restful and peaceful holidays. Please remember to take a COVID-19 test before returning to school on Tuesday, January 10, 2023. Stay safe and enjoy time with family and friends. Thank you for your continued support of LOSD.

Working together, 

Dr. Daisy Morales

Superintendent

On Saturday, November 5, 2022, LOSD hosted Caregiver University, an all-day event for LOSD families to learn about the FACE program and best practices for caregivers and children. It was an amazing day filled with collaboration, teamwork, and the goal of building community. Thank you to all who attended. We look forward to our future events!  

Parents were able to choose from these topics:

• How to Stay connected to your Child in the Age of Social Media  
• Early reading with Lexia  
• Adult and Child Nutrition  
• Trauma in Children  
• Importance of Sleep and turning off Apps  
• Reading reports and grade level understanding, ELPAC, CAASPP  
• Nutrition and Gardening  
• Tips for students with Trauma  
• Art with Art Now  
• Reading with Portola Library  
• Basketball and Math  
• Nutrition Demo with Second Harvest Food Bank  

Parents that attended were excited to hear from the presenters and want the same topics again to attend all the other sessions.  

Watch a recap of the special day.

Green Acres Elementary School was honored by Alliance for a Healthier Generation, Harmony Social and Emotional Learning and Thriving Schools as one of America’s Healthiest Schools! This award recognizes schools for supporting the health and well-being of students, staff, and families. Green Acres was recognized in the categories of Strengthening Social-Emotional Health and Learning, and Cultivating Staff Well-Being. Congratulations!

On February 6, 2021, LOSD Board of Education proclaimed our district’s commitment to Racial Justice and called for specific actions to embrace an anti-racist model of education: Be it finally resolved that we will take whatever steps necessary to make our district a space where the voices of Black, Brown and Indigenous students and staff are heard, believed and prioritized; where diversity is celebrated, power is shared, leadership and decision-makers reflect our diverse community, ALL people feel comfortable and safe and where one’s skin color, language and identity are no longer barriers to equal treatment nor predictors of educational outcome. 

Last year, we decided that we need to focus our work around RJ&E by elevating and uplifting student voice.  We have established Student Voice Advisory teams at each school, participation is in consultation with district leaders, teachers and site leaders. Currently, there is no definitive agenda. Student groups guide these discussions for the improvement of our schools. Students will have group conversation opportunities to promote representation and diversity. There will be strategic conversations designed to create tolerance and address racial/inequity. 

Each school has a lead teacher that will be working with students on a regular basis to build and establish brave spaces for students to come together. Teachers will be co-leading brave space conversations and promoting student involvement. In conjunction with RJ&E Coordinator, teachers will work together to ensure mental and emotional wellbeing for students, through activities aimed to guide policies, practices and student-based norms.

Humanity, part of the CARE Framework, created by the Center for Anti-Racist Education, will guide the work of becoming non-racist educators. There will be action and practice toward transparent staff conversations around student voice with an intentional focus on the voices of SOC (students of color). There will be a development of classroom systems that promote, highlight and sustain these voices, which will set the stage for student voices that inform district policies, practices and curriculum. We will achieve elimination of teacher bias and barriers to student success through self-examination and transparent conversations. LOSD will develop and practice ways to create a safe and supportive space for students to discuss issues of race, racism and equity. 

Shoreline's soccer field is open to all LOSD families and the community every Sunday afternoon. The field is not rented to teams on Sunday afternoons so that it is available for our LOSD community. Cradle to Career provides Family Active Time from 2 PM - 3:30 PM.

Visit the Shoreline Soccer Field at Shoreline Middle School, 855 17th Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062.

Recent national news has shown that Fentanyl continues to pose a threat to our school community due to the high risk of accidental overdose. The California Department of Public Health is now warning of a new trend of brightly-colored fentanyl, referred to as rainbow fentanyl. 

While we have not received reports of Fentanyl in our school community, it is important as parents and guardians communicate with children now about the dangers of Fentanyl and substance abuse. It’s critical to be prepared and to be proactive in order to prevent a tragedy. 

Rainbow fentanyl can be found in many forms, including pills, powder, and blocks that can resemble sidewalk chalk or candy. Regardless of its color, shape, or size, any pill that does not come from a health care provider or pharmacist can contain fentanyl and can be deadly. Fentanyl is extremely potent. It is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Illicit fentanyl can be added to other drugs to make them cheaper, more powerful, and more addictive. 

The Santa Cruz County school districts and the Santa Cruz County Office of Education are continuing to promote age-appropriate overdose awareness and prevention training for both staff and families as one way we work to ensure the safety of our school community.  

According to SafeRx Santa Cruz County, signs associated with an opioid overdose can be remembered by the acronym PS CHUG:

• Pale or discolored fingernails, lips, or skin 
• Slow/shallow/stopped breathing 
• Cold/clammy skin 
• Heartbeat has become very slow or stops 
• Unconscious/unresponsive 
• Gurgling, vomiting, or choking 

If you believe someone is overdosing, acting quickly is crucial: 

• Administer naloxone if available 
• Call 911 immediately 
• Give one rescue breath every five seconds to supply oxygen 
• Stay with the person needing help until EMS arrives 
• Lay the person on their side to prevent choking 

We are sharing more local resources below. Parents are encouraged to speak with their children about this information, so they know the risks and dangers associated with Fentanyl. Smaller children need to know not to take candy or food from other people that is not packaged, or to pick up things from the floor. 

Winter break is Friday, December 23, through Monday, January 9. School resumes on Tuesday, January 10, 2023. 

During Winter Break, full-day care for Kidcare & ELOP students will be held at Del Mar Elementary School from 8 AM – 5 PM. ASES will be closed for Winter Break. 

COVID-19 boosters are important to preventing the spread of COVID-19. The new bivalent booster offers more protection against new variants. 

We ask students and staff to take a COVID-19 test before returning to school on Tuesday, January 10. Taking a COVID-19 test the weekend or day before school resumes can help our school district avoid the spread of COVID-19.