Lookout’s Student Stories initiative presents this creative writing piece by highschooler Rowan Renner-Lassar.
Ava Salinas | Educational Programs Assistant
Posted inInside Lookout
Educator Update: An immigrant advocacy group is seeing an influx of volunteers and a school updates its computer policy after students voice concerns
Local news in the classroom: Weekly roundup 1/28/26 Winter storms aren’t the only thing unfolding across the nation this week; other events are resonating both locally and nationally, including increased U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity. In Santa Cruz County, Your Allied Rapid Response (YARR), a group that monitors ICE activity and provides legal resources, […]
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Educator Update: Community seeks answers on Moss Landing fire; death cap mushrooms raise safety concerns
Local news in the classroom: Weekly roundup 1/22/26 We began the week honoring MLK Day and the power of community organizing, a reminder of how informed communities can advocate for themselves. That spirit is evident in Prunedale and other areas near last year’s Moss Landing battery storage facility fire, where residents are seeking clearer information […]
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Educator Update: The termination of Flock Safety in Santa Cruz and delayed family student housing at UC Santa Cruz
Local news in the classroom: Weekly roundup 1/14/26 The local community is already making their voice heard in 2026. Recent backlash towards Flock Safety automatic licence plate readers, especially concerning data privacy, has contributed to its Santa Cruz contract being ended at a recent city council meeting. At UC Santa Cruz, construction on a new […]
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Educator Update: West Cliff Drive fully repaired and flag football’s popularity rises in Santa Cruz County
Local news in the classroom: Weekly roundup 1/7/26 Welcome into 2026! Rain is making the first week back in school a bit damp, but we should start seeing some sun again by Wednesday. There is positivity in this first week of local news; West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz is now fully reopened and girls’ […]
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Educator Update: Recent study finds highly toxic materials in soil and a reflection on The Catalyst’s impact on the local music scene
Local news in the classroom: Weekly roundup 12/9/25 Holiday festivities and proximity to winter break are getting closer, creating a special kind of busyness and anticipation. In the midst of this, the news cycle continues. Researchers from San Jose State University’s Moss Landing Marine Laboratories dig into soil contamination from the battery storage fire in […]
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Educator Update: An exploration of the Westside mixed-use commercial hub and Watsonville Community Hospital continues its search for a financial partner
Local news in the classroom: Weekly roundup 12/2/25 Thanksgiving break is barely in the rearview and somehow winter break is already waving from around the corner. As the holiday chaos ramps up, City Life Correspondent Wallace Baine takes us on a colorful trip back to the early days of Santa Cruz’s now-bustling Westside. And over […]
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UC Santa Cruz’s fundraising campaign and differing opinions converge on rail trail proposal
Local news in the classroom: Weekly roundup 11/26/25 Most of you have this week off, but we still wanted to send a roundup to keep you up to date, and maybe you can use some of these in your classroom next week. Thanksgiving is tomorrow, but the giving mood seems to already be active. Five […]
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Educator Update: New Santa Cruz water regulations and an interactive tech space focused on collaboration
Local news in the classroom: Weekly roundup 11/18/25 The first few weeks of November saw the results of state elections, including the success of California’s Prop 50 and of Santa Cruz’s Prop C. November has also seen rainy weather ramp up. Coincidentally, the Santa Cruz Water Department reveals its 25-year-in-the-making plan to change city water […]
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Educator Update: Why humans are the reason behind surfboard-stealing otters and a UC Santa Cruz Ph.D. candidate’s efforts to bring astronomy knowledge to the Bay area
Local news for your classroom: Weekly roundup 11/4/25 Clocks sprung back this weekend, giving us a helpful extra hour of sleep after Halloween weekend festivities. While it may be the end of the spooky season, it’s only the beginning of shorter days. Evidently, some people are still making the most out of them. Pranvera Hyseni, […]