Local stories to spark discussion in the classroom
As the school year settles into full swing, we’re excited to continue sharing resources designed just for Santa Cruz County educators. This newsletter brings you timely local stories to spark classroom discussion, plus updates on programs that can support your teaching.
Fresh from Lookout – classroom-ready news:
- Santa Cruz High’s construction continues: Students and staff returning this fall are still navigating fencing, displaced classrooms, and an off-site cafeteria due to long-running renovation delays. Importantly, much of the holdup is out of the district’s hands, tied instead to state-level processes and contractor challenges. A useful lens for students to explore how infrastructure projects intersect with governance and community life.
- PVUSD board considers lowering voting age to 16: The Pajaro Valley Unified School District is exploring whether to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in school board elections. If approved, this would make PVUSD one of the first districts in California to give high school students a direct say in local education leadership. A timely opportunity to discuss civic engagement, voting rights, and youth voice in democracy.
Why it matters:
Local news makes learning personal. By tying current events, like school construction or voting-age debates, into the classroom, students see how decisions at every level ripple into their daily lives.
Remember, high school educators and students in Santa Cruz County receive free Lookout memberships, giving full access to our reporting, perks, and member events. Now onto more news…
Current events to use in your classroom
Here’s a roundup of recent articles that could help you with your students, or ones you could use in your classroom. Interested in more stories? Browse all our recent coverage here.
LOCAL NEWS
Watsonville activist to start monthlong hunger strike protesting pesticides on farms near schools
By Tania Ortiz
Watsonville activist Omar Dieguez is embarking on a 30-day hunger strike, protesting the use of pesticides on agricultural fields located near schools across the Pajaro Valley.
As Pajaro levee sweep begins, homeless workers face the painful task of displacing their own
By Max Chun and Kevin Painchaud
As crews began to clear the Pajaro River levee encampment on Monday, some of the workers are homeless themselves — and struggle to reconcile their need for paid work with being on the other side of sweeps in the past.
New database reveals at least 21 police misconduct, shooting, use of force cases in Santa Cruz County
By Tania Ortiz
A newly released police database includes at least 21 cases from Santa Cruz County of law enforcement agencies using force or involved in shootings, along with investigations into officer misconduct on and off duty.
Beyond ‘dog catcher’: Santa Cruz County’s animal control officers have become lifelines for pets and people alike
By Carly Heltzel
Animal control officers in Santa Cruz County have evolved beyond their traditional “dog catcher” stereotype to provide a range of services, including welfare checks, dangerous dog situations and bridging the gap between law enforcement and vulnerable populations.
CALIFORNIA NEWS
Newsom’s redistricting plan is on its way to voters. What you need to know
By Maya C. Miller / CalMatters and Jeanne Kuang / CalMatters
Many California Democrats are reluctant to give up the state’s independently drawn congressional districts, but they say it’s a necessary step to counter gerrymanders in Republican states.
MEDIA LITERACY PLUS
What does it mean for children to grow up in a world with generative AI?
Bethany Robertson’s piece opens a thoughtful dialogue around how growing up in an era defined by generative AI shapes children’s understanding, experiences, and sense of identity. Though the full article text is behind a subscription, the blog invites readers to reflect collectively on what it means for kids to live and learn in a world where AI generates stories, answers, and creative ideas. The post can encourage you as an educator, to ponder not just what AI does, but how it influences children’s cognitive and social development. That’s a timely question for classrooms increasingly infused with AI tools.
Digital Citizenship Curriculum, Common Sense Media Curriculum for grades 9-12
From social media pressures to misinformation, this curriculum actively confronts issues students face daily, supporting critical reflection and safe decision-making. By tackling digital ethics and responsibility, the curriculum helps students see beyond technical skills, emphasizing respect, empathy, and civic-minded digital citizenship. Themes like news literacy and digital footprints nurture students’ ability to analyze information sources, spot bias, and think critically about media—skills essential in today’s world.
LOOKOUT’S EDUCATOR RESOURCES
Free educator access
Make sure to get your free access for a full year and utilize our resources on our Educator Page.
Reminder on student access
Lookout believes that all students deserve to know deeply about the place they live in. For all High School students in Santa Cruz County, Lookout offers free student memberships. Encourage them to sign up here.
Discussion guides
Lookout’s discussion guides help students critically evaluate news and social media by providing strategies and vocabulary to analyze information. They also offer ready-to-use questions and lesson plans to engage with local news and can be used for any article.
Book a class visit
We’d love to visit your classroom! Lookout staff can come to your classroom and lead a workshop about various different things from journalism to elections. These workshops last the length of one class period and are a great way to get your students engaged in different aspects of learning. Even if you have an idea for a vist, we are happy to accommodate. Reach out if you are interested.
Your input matters: We’d love to hear how these resources are working for you. What’s been most useful so far? What else could help? Your feedback shapes how we grow this newsletter and better serve your classrooms.
Thank you for all the hard work you do in the community and for supporting our educational programs, helping the younger generations learn media literacy skills and become invested community members and democratic citizens. If you’d like to learn more about our school programs, get more involved or have any questions, please reach out to me jamie@lookoutlocal.com.
Best,
Jamie
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