Embedded Files
What is Climate Justice? By Vale
Poor families and communities have been affected by climate injustice in Pajaro Valley. Climate injustice is when an economically challenged community faces an environmental crisis that could easily be solved if more resources were available. Climate justice is finding solutions to these problems to make the world more equitable.
In Pajaro 2023, the levee failures caused a large flood that covered the entirety of Pajaro, worsening existing inequalities and injustices. On the night of the failure, police officers and firefighters were awakened by the warning and walked around in the middle of the night, warning everyone about what was coming. That night, many farmers lost their plantations, and many people lost their jobs, and their homes, and some people lost their lives. Even now, 2 years later Pajaro and its citizens are recovering from the flood, leaving citizens to wonder if they will ever return to their old school or homes.
People say “accidents happen” but they also say to “learn from your mistakes”. The levee failure was not a one-time thing. The levee failed half a dozen times due to the city failing to fix the levee. In a way, the levee failure was not the failure of the levee breaking, but the failure of the city's responsibility to fix it. If it was a town with more resources, I do not doubt the repairs would have been finished already. But we are just a little farming town that “has nothing of value”.
Climate justice is not talked about as much as it should be. In my opinion, climate injustice is another form of classism, since it ignores the needs of the poor and exceeds the needs of the rich.
Fast Fashion by Peyton
What happened?
People buy cheap clothes when they already have quality clothes because new trends come out. When people buy plastic fabric like polyester instead of cotton fabric clothes, it causes harm to the environment.
Why did it happen?
Plastic material clothes can take 200 years to decompose. 100% of cotton clothes will decompose. When you wash clothes made with plastic fabric, micro plastics get into oceans and rivers. When people have more clothes than they need, they end up in the landfill.
When did it happen?
This has been happening since the early 2000s.
Who was involved?
Many people buy cheap clothing only to stay up on new trends.
Solution
Buy 100% cotton, hemp, bamboo, and linen fabrics that are good quality. Do not buy nylon, polyester or fleece, which may be cheaper but are plastic-based materials.
Effects on the Migratory Habitat of Monarch Butterflies
Effects on the Migratory Habitat of Monarch Butterflies
by Rhiannon
What Happened?
Monarchs make a huge migration spanning from Canada to Mexico. However, changes in the climate in Mexico and Texas are affecting the migration habitat of monarch butterflies. When they land to rest and breed, there is not enough food and shelter to support the large groups of monarchs.
Why did it happen?
There was a drought that struck Mexico and Texas so bad there was little nectar for the butterflies to feed on.
When/ Where did it happen?
The drought hit Mexico and Texas.
With a 20 year period of drought and ~30 years of climate variables in Mexico and Texas, U.S.
Resource:
Physics Bus
Physics Bus
The Physics Bus came to Watsonville Charter School to teach children how fun STEAM can be. Students made kazoos with wood, using real woodworking power tools. There were a variety of snakes, giant bubbles, and many other science projects to explore!
I interviewed Mrs. Allhouse, the organizer of The Physics Bus, with a few questions.
Q: Do you think learning STEAM is important for the children at WCSA?
A: “ Steam is an opportunity for students to get real-world problem-solving skills and hands-on experience. I just feel like it gives people a passion for learning. It gives them room to learn and explore”
Q: Do you enjoy STEAM with your students, or would you do other things?
A: “ I enjoy doing STEAM with my students and I think it’s the highlight of 5th grade. I asked my old students what was the highlight of 5th grade and most of them said it was STEAM.”
Q: How do you think the correct way to say STEAM is?
A: “It’s STEAM, not STEM.” (A stands for the art, which is important at WCSA!)
By Valentina
Moose .pdfOur Campus Dog Moose
and Where He's From
By Kate
Early 2023, Ms. Kendryln is in desperate need of a dog. Right before her husband, Cole, takes a trip to Arizona for a dog, Cole spots on Craigslist a little gray pitbull by the Mexican border. At the last second, Cole decides to go there instead.
Upon arrival, Moose is very comfortable with Kendrlyn and seems very happy to be with the two. Now it is time for a name and due to Moose’s paw size, they thought he was going to grow big. So they named him after the first big animal that came to mind. Moose.
Now Moose is a service dog giving comfort and cuddles for our students and teachers here at WCSA! We love you Moose!
Valentine’s Day
By Matthew Lopez
Everyone is waiting for the holidays. And valentine day is around the corner. So let's talk about Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day is about love and to some people... candy. You can give candy or receive candy. It is good getting something for a friend, family, or your classmates🍭🍬🍭.
And it's somebody's b day🎉. It’s 5th grade Blake’s b-day on February 14th!. Happy b-day Blake!
Valentine's Day is the day that love and romance happens!
8th Grade Mystery Spot Trip
8th Grade Mystery Spot Trip
By Vale and Kate
The WCSA newscast interviewed 5 different 8th graders about their adventure at the Mystery Spot in Santa Cruz.
Q#1:How was your experience at the Mystery Spot?
Weston: It was good,it was trippy!
Jakari: It was normal,pretty boring.
Q#2: What was the best part?
Matthew: The snack shack.
Trent:The heavy ball that swung back and forth.
Q#3: What do you think made it so mysterious?
Zach: Probably because the aliens give it magical powers...
Mystery Spot Lore
In 1940 a young Mr. Prather bought three acres of land that was driven by his curiosity of him getting dizzy after taking a walk. To the new land owner’s knowledge, there was no mineral near or in the area so they used a compass to lead them to the north line to check on the barbed wire. After returning they felt strangely light headed and examined the compass further and found it to be mighty incorrect. The two owners never found any instrument that was correct to use as a reliable source to tell what direction they were facing. The closest thing they found was a portable radio.
Monarch Butterflies and Ms. Kwan's 3rd Grade
Monarch Butterflies and Ms. Kwan's 3rd Grade
By Peyton and Rhiannon
Ms. Kwan's class studied and then went to see the Monarch Butterflies at Natural Bridges Preserve in Santa Cruz this October. Here are some interviews with students about what they saw and learned! Natural Bridges is one of the resting spots migrating Monarchs choose to rest. Catapillars each the milkweed and then metamorphasize into first a chrysalis, then into a Monarch Butterfly!
What did you see on your trip to Natural Bridges?
What did you see on your trip to Natural Bridges?
Eithan: I saw lots of Monarch butterflies.
Sofia : We saw a lot of Monarch butterflies and a lot of them were in their chrysalis, but I wanted to see more of them out of their chrysalis.
Charlie: We got to see Monarchs flying on milkweed and other plants.
Yaya: We saw a lot of butterflies and they were so pretty but most of them were still in their chrysalis.
Daphne: I saw tons of butterflies and I saw clusters. They were so beautiful!
Natalia: We saw a lot of butterflies and a lot of trees and all of the butterflies looked like leaves on a tree.
Julieta: Well, we saw a lot of butterflies and a lot of trees.
What happened and what did you do?
What happened and what did you do?
Eithan: I saw lots of butterflies and lots of different colors and patterns.
Sofia : we looked at the butterflies and watched them in the trees.
Yaya: Well we made sure not to touch them but we still looked at them still.
Daphne: We ate some snacks and went to the beach. We had so much fun!
Natalia: We walked in the forest and looked at all of the Monarch butterflies.
Julieta : We looked at the butterflies and walked.
What did you most enjoy about your field trip?
Eithan: after we went to the beach and that was a lot of fun.
Sofia : Well, after we saw the butterflies we went to the beach and saw the butterflies and that was fun.
Charlie: Seeing all the monarchs clustered together.
Yaya: Well, I think the best part was seeing the butterflies.
Daphne: I liked building a sandcastle with my friends.
Natalia: I think the best part was seeing all of the butterflies.
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