A Special Note from Gordon Sichi
As we prepare to return to school after the unprecedented ravages of the Thomas Fire, I appreciate more than ever the optimistic and resilient spirit of our school community. I’m confident we’ll pull together and successfully launch 2018 with the power of our Anacapa teamwork, which will certainly help us overcome the disruptions we have experienced from the fire. Thankfully, very thankfully, no one lost a home, and our campus is waiting for us to return.
Our hearts go out to all of the people who lost their homes, especially in Ventura. In the 1990 Painted Cave Fire, our family lost everything, like so many others. Now, as then, the support of our wonderful community means so much to people trying to get back on their feet. We’ll pull through this tough time and be stronger and wiser as we face the challenges fires will continue to be in California. Much, much appreciation for all of the First Responders who valiantly protected our community!!!
Now, let’s make 2018 the best year yet!
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Anacapa Wishes You a Very Happy New Year!
We hope everyone is enjoying a safe and relaxing Winter Holiday. 2018 is going to be here before we know it, and to help you gear up for the new year we've listed some important events happening in January.
Thank you for reading and happy (almost) New Year!
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Important Dates: January
- January 2: Classes Resume
- January 3: Town Hall Meeting, 5:30pm
- January 4th and 6th: Math ERB Testing
- January 10: Open House, 5:15-6:30pm
- January 12: "Lights, Camera, Action", 7:00-9:00pm
- January 13: "Lights, Camera, Action", 7:00-9:00pm
- January 15: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - No School
- January 16: Special AM Schedule, Periods 1, 3, 5
- January 17: Late Start for Students (9:00am) AND Second Semester Elective Choices Due
- January 22-24: Semester 1 Final Exams
- January 25, 26: End of Semester 1 AND Semester Break - No School
- January 29: Start of 2nd Semester AND Synthesis Unit Begins
- January 29-31: Synthesis Unit: The Art and Science of Happiness
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Looking Ahead: February
- February 1: Special AM Schedule, Periods 1, 3, 5 AND Early Dismissal for Faculty WASC Meeting
- February 2: Special AM Schedule, Periods 2, 4, 5
- February 5: 2nd Semester Electives Begin
- February 8: Open House
- February 10: Mardi Gras (8:00-10:30pm)
- February 14: Valentine's Day Celebration
- February 15: Modified Schedule for Extended Club Advisor Meetings
- February 16: Early Dismissal (12:25pm)
- February 17-25: Presidents' Week Break
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Anacapa's End of the Year Celebration!
Mark your calendars! On Sunday, May 6th
we are putting a twist on Anacapa's annual auction and throwing an end-of-the year,
Cinco de Mayo
event to celebrate the achievements of this past year. Plan on an exciting day full of food, great company, and fun entertainment that even includes an auction space for donation bidding. It's a celebration the whole family can enjoy and a time to appreciate our amazing Anacapa community.
Stay Tuned for Information on this Fun New Event in the
Upcoming Weeks!
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The photos above are from last year's Auction, Anacapa in an Octopus's Garden!
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Make Up ERB Math Tests
January 4th and 5th
Please note the new dates of the last two Math ERB standardized tests, which were originally scheduled during the week the school closed due to hazardous conditions from the Thomas fire. As always, it's a good idea to get a good night's rest and eat a healthy snack for prolonged energy before exams, and please be sure your student brings their calculator for each day of the Math ERB testing.
Thank you!
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Open House
Wednesday, January 10, 2018
Anacapa School's admissions season is off to a great start this year! Please help us spread the word about Anacapa School and Anacapa's upcoming Open House on Wednseday, January 10th.
Our featured guests speakers will kick things off at 5:15pm, and afterwards guests can check out our teacher's interest stations and mingle with current students.
Tell a friend!
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Student Leadership
Our first semester senators and tribune have done a great job! We appreciate their positive energy, enthusiasm, and leadership! We're sure the students elected to serve second semester will carry on this great start. Nominations for senate and Tribune will take place during our second week back from winter break. Elections will then be held during Club on Thursday, January 11th. Please encourage your student to run for office if he or she is interested in this leadership opportunity!
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Anacapa Performing Arts is Proud to Present...
"Lights, Camera, Action"
Friday, January 12, 7-9pm
Saturday, January 13, 7-9pm
Time to indulge in some of your favorite T.V. shows, movies and Broadway plays! Students have cherry picked some of our favorite songs and skits from these entertainment genres and will be performing them at Anacapa's annual play. Come join us on the Anacapa campus on the evenings of January 12th and 13th and enjoy these fun reenactments by our actors, featuring live music from Anacapa's own school band!
Tickets are $10 at the door. Please call the Anacapa School office for more details.
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - January 15th
School will be closed on Monday, January 15th in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Thank you!
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Help Needed for February/March Monday Muffins
Dear Parents,
We are still in need for a couple slots to be filled for Monday Muffins in the upcoming months. Please take a look at the dates listed below and give the office a call (965-0228) if you can help cover these upcoming dates. Thank you so much!
- February 12th
- February 26th
- March 5th
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It's Almost Time to Select 2nd Semester Electives
In early January you will be receiving a mailing regarding afternoon elective classes for second semester. (You probably remember receiving a similar mailing last summer for first semester afternoon electives.) When you receive this mailing, please discuss the course offerings with your student and help them make informed choices. Then return the form with your student's 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-choice preferences to the office by
January 17
. We'll do our best to match students' preferences with the available openings!
REMINDER: For students who did not take a P.E. class first semester, the school expects that at least one of your second semester electives will be a P.E. class.
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Final Exams
January 22nd-24th
The final exam schedule will be sent in a separate email shortly after winter break. Note that exams will take place on Monday, January 22nd through Wednesday, January 24th, with two morning exam periods scheduled for each of those days. Please note the following:
- Students come to school only during their scheduled exams.
- Students who have an 8:00am exam should report to school at 7:50am for Breakfast Club.
- Work/Study students will do their scholarship work only on the days when they have a final that ends just before the Work/Study period. Please refer to the final exam schedule for details.
- There are no afternoon classes or activities on these exam days.
- Thursday, January 25th and Friday, January 26th are grading day for teachers and a semester break for students. There will be no school those days.
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The Student Talent Show Is Coming Soon!
The much-anticipated annual student talent show will take place on Friday afternoon, February 2nd. Produced by Anacapa's student Senate, the event always proves to be a great time, and we encourage every student to share a talent with us!
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Fun at last year's Talent Show!
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January Faculty Corner: 2018 Synthesis Unit
The Art and Science of Happiness
January 29-31, 2018
The annual Anacapa Synthesis Unit is a signature element of Anacapa School’s innovative curriculum. These critical thinking units expose students to some of the brightest minds and most talented experts from Santa Barbara and beyond. Each speaker thoughtfully and generously prepares a 45-minute presentation for our students on the chosen topic of the year. The caliber of the presenters and the give-and-take between speakers and students provide an educational experience that most students won’t receive until college.
After the three days of presentations students get involved with ongoing projects, including research reports, group presentations, and a culminating student video, all of which are designed to synthesize information learned from the experts during the unit. The film students and faculty produced for the 2017
Ocean Health
Synthesis Unit just earned First Place in the student documentary division of the 2017 Raw Science Film Festival Competition.
Ocean Health
is a 10-minute film that reveals the condition of oceans worldwide and incorporates six core themes: garbage, over-fishing, habitat destruction, chemical pollution, warming, and acidification.
Ocean Health
will
be shown at the Raw Science Film Festival on January 6
th
at the Lobero Theater, and we will receive our First Place prize at the awards ceremony.
In September, Anacapa’s faculty chose
The Art and Science of Happiness
as our 2018 Synthesis Unit theme. Throughout the fall we dedicated three different Breakfast Clubs to brainstorming possible topics with students. Here is a sample of some of the topics that students are interested in exploring: self-esteem/self-acceptance, technology and happiness, laughter, movies, sports, psychology, death, living in the moment, music and happiness, brain chemistry, stress, sleep, happiness in different cultures, mental illness, traveling, friendship, free time, optimism, memories, family, purposefulness, finding a meaningful life, making the most of life, wilderness, time management/procrastination.
For our first official Synthesis Unit activity of the year, Anacapa students, teachers, and parents attended Emily Esfahani Smith’s inspiring lecture,
The Power of Meaning: Finding Fulfillment in a World Obsessed with Happiness,
at UCSB’s Campbell Hall on November 30
th
. Special thanks goes to John Luca for making all of the thoughtful arrangements for this extra-curricular activity, which launched this year’s unit. Emily has generously agreed to Skype with us from her home in DC on January 30
th
to further discuss the lecture topics, allowing our students to continue the habit of asking in-depth questions. In fact, after the lecture two of our students, an 8
th
and 9
th
grader, courageously asked Emily excellent questions in the crowded Campbell Hall setting, exemplifying Anacapa’s power to cultivate critical thinking in its students. ASKING QUESTIONS is one of Anacapa’s experiential education hallmarks. Since Emily’s lecture, and as planning for the “
Happiness”
unit progresses, topics such as meaningfulness and purpose have taken center stage.
Being housebound for seven days, as a result of the Thomas Fire, turned out to be an unexpected opportunity to spend plenty of time diving deep into assorted books, resources and web sites to find leads for possible speakers. Along the way, I found some amazing online resources, a few of which I’d like to share with everyone.
The Blue Zones Project
November 2017 National Geographic Magazine features Happiness
Project Wayfinder
Project Wayfinder’s Suggested Media Resources
I am pleased to report that representatives from both The Blue Zones Project and Project Wayfinder have signed up to be presenters for the
“Happiness”
unit
.
However, we still have a number of speaker slots to fill. I hope this Faculty Corner report generates some ideas from you for possible speakers, and I welcome your suggestions.
In 1994, on behalf of Anacapa School, I received the “George Washington Medal” from the Freedoms Foundation of Valley Forge for our Synthesis Units and their role in developing citizenship. The medal now hangs in the Anacapa office. Synthesis Units continue to progress in their power to prepare students to be become citizens of the world.
The Art and Science of Happiness
has the potential to be a real life changer.
Thanks to everyone for supporting our Anacapa Synthesis Unit tradition over the many years!
Gordon Sichi
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See below for students initial brainstorming for this year's exciting topic!
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Notables | Anacapa School | 805.965.0228| Fax: 805.8992758 | anacapa@anacapaschool.org
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