LAGUNA BLANCA CELEBRATES 85 YEARS!
Reprinted from Noozhawk

On Sept. 21, 85 years to the day since opening its doors, Laguna Blanca School’s faculty, staff and students gathered to celebrate where the school has been, how it has grown, and where it is today.

The All-School 85th Birthday Bash opened with a pep rally in Merovick Gymnasium and a drone shot of the entire school formed in a giant 85.

A taco lunch, gluten-free birthday cake donated by Lilac Patisserie, and a hand-painted photo booth created by Laguna Blanca Lower School Art Teacher Courtney Guay and grades EK-4 students rounded out the extended lunchtime celebration.

The highlight of the day included remarks from Laguna alumnus Arthur “Bam” Spaulding (class of 1943), nephew of the school’s founder Edward Selden Spaulding and one of the first 40 boys who was there on Laguna’s opening day — Sept. 21, 1933.

Click here to read more about this exciting celebration.

Click here for photos by Laguna parent Derek Musch and here for photos by Jay Farbman!
SUPPORT LAGUNA FUND AND
LIMITLESS POSSIBILITIES!
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND ATHLETIC PROGRAMS
TECHNOLOGY ADVANCEMENTS
TUITION ASSISTANCE AND SCHOLARSHIPS
VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS
CAMPUS IMPROVEMENTS
Like most independent schools, Laguna’s tuition and fees do not entirely cover the cost of a student's education. The Laguna Fund bridges the gap between tuition revenue and the actual cost of a Laguna education – a difference of $2,500 per student each year. Our push for 100% community participation seeks to ensure that a Laguna Blanca education continues to be rigorous, innovative, and utterly limitless.
 
The Laguna Fund team of Class Captains will be reaching out soon to show how you can support the most important piece of the school’s philanthropic effort.

Remember to make a gift to the Laguna Fund by October 8 to get your name on the back of this year’s commemorative Spirit of Laguna t-shirt!
MIDDLE SCHOOL PARENTS' NIGHT IS TUES 10/2
LAGUNA SPIRIT WEAR FOR SALE AT UPCOMING MIDDLE SCHOOL PARENTS' NIGHT
Show your Owl pride by purchasing Laguna Spirit Wear at next week's Middle School Parents' Night on Tuesday, 10/2 at 6PM.

Be sure to check out the exciting new items (such as the above Laguna Turkish towels) up for sale this year! All proceeds benefit the Parents' Auxiliary.

GO OWLS!
GRADE 11 COLLEGE NIGHT IS ON MONDAY 10/1
Please join Laguna College Counselor Matt Struckmeyer on Monday, October 1 at 7pm in Spaulding Auditorium for wine, light snacks, and an informal "Chat with the College Counselor." The optional evening will include a discussion about this college admission article .

Those eager to discuss specifics about their son or daughter's college search, should reach out right away to schedule an appointment; Mr. Struckmeyer will gladly sit down with individual families to begin the planning process and to answer any questions.

We look forward to seeing many of you there! 
COLLEGE REP SCHEDULE FOR NEXT WEEK
MONDAY, 10/1
Skidmore College - 8:15AM
Colgate University - 9AM
Amherst College - 9:30AM
Pomona College - 11AM
UCSB - 12PM
University of Puget Sound - 1PM
Union College - 2PM

TUESDAY, 10/2
University of St. Andrews - 9AM
Washington University in St. Louis - 9:30AM
Richmond University - 10AM
Kenyon College - 10:30AM
Drew University - 11AM

THURSDAY, 10/4
Johns Hopkins University - 10AM
PSAT COMING UP ON WEDNESDAY 10/10 FOR
TENTH & ELEVENTH GRADE STUDENTS
Mark your calendars! The PSAT (Practice SAT) exam will be held at Laguna on Wednesday, October 10. The exam is required for 10th and 11th graders, all of whom will need to pre-register for the test on Wednesday, 10/3 during the school's Community Time.

Pre-registration is mandatory . Please be sure your student attends school for both the pre-registration (10/3) and the exam (10/10).

Click here for more details about the PSAT exam.
 
An additional benefit of taking the PSAT is automatic registration for qualifying students in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Click here for more information about the NMSC.
 
New test offered at Laguna! This January, Laguna will hold the Pre-ACT (called the ASPIRE). We highly recommend that all tenth graders take this optional test. More information will follow in the coming months.
CHARACTER MAKES THE GRADE
BY MATT STRUCKMEYER
Laguna Blanca Magazine , Summer 2018

It's the story behind the GPA that matters.

One of my biggest challenges as a college counselor is the overemphasis many students place on their GPA. To some students, GPA is the be-all and end-all—the definitive measure of their time in high school and, ultimately, their future success. This is a persistent and pernicious myth. For one thing, the GPA that appears on a student’s transcript is seldom the same number that many colleges calculate using their own measures and metrics. (I can hear some heads exploding already.) Even more important, students who place too much focus on their GPA may be missing the big picture. The ultimate question is not, “What number did you earn?” but instead, “What kind of person are you?” It’s the story behind the GPA that matters—the place where humor, dedication, and yes, resilience, carry the most weight.

MOCK TRIAL INFORMATION SESSION HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR MONDAY, OCTOBER 1
SANTA BARBARA ATHLETIC ROUND TABLE RECAP
On Monday, 9/24, The Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table press luncheon featured updates from athletic teams around the greater Santa Barbara area. Laguna Football Coach Shane Lopes shared the following comments on two Laguna football players:

Brian McClintock '20: “A polite young man, genuine and always willing to learn, and truly wants to become better in all aspects of him as an individual and as an athlete. He has to learn how to flip the switch. In our game last Friday, our back was to the wall and it was third-and-20 plus, and he flipped the switch and made a clutch reception that set us up for a conversion. It was great to see him step up in a new way.”

Vincent Vestergaard '20: “Just because you put on a football uniform doesn’t make you a football player. This guy has become a football player sooner than anyone. His nickname is Thor, not only for his long hair but for his toughness and physique. He’s really been a warrior for us, competing on both sides of the ball.”
BE BRAVE AND DON'T GIVE UP!
MRS. VANETTI'S FIRST GRADE CLASS GETS AN UNEXPECTED GIFT
Laguna First Grade Teacher Mrs. Vanetti shared a heartwarming story with her class this week.

When she and her husband were visiting a local bookstore in Camarillo recently, the bookstore owner gifted her a book entitled After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again by Dan Santat. She then shared the book with her students this week.

Click here to read this sweet blog post!
LAGUNA SHOWS GIRL POWER AT LOCAL SHE.IS.BEAUTIFUL RACE!
Last Saturday, September 22, more than 2,000 girls and women gathered for the She.Is.Beautiful 5k and 5 mile race that began at Chase Palm Park in Santa Barbara.

This sold-out event, complete with a post-race festival at East Beach and after party at Mesa Burger, is an empowering run for women and girls that promotes the idea that creating a stronger self physically manifests into a stronger self in all areas of your life.

Many Laguna students, teachers, and families participated. School Counselor Kim Valentine took second place in her age group in the 5K, and PE Instructor Andra Wilson finished in the top 25% of the 5-mile race.

Start training now, because Laguna hopes to create a team for next year's event!
BOY OH BOY!
WELCOME TO BABY LOPES!
Join us in welcoming Baby Lopes, the newest addition to Head of Middle School Shane Lopes' family.

Master Lopes was born today, September 27 at 9 lbs 10 oz and 21 inches. Name coming soon!

Congratulations to the entire Lopes family!
WHOOO ARE YOU?
NAME: Jennifer Sawyers Pardue
ROLE: Upper School Math Instructor

What ONE word would others use to describe you?
Miniature (funny word)
Loving (serious word) – this is what I’d hope they would use!

I knew I wanted to work at Laguna when...
When I interviewed and I taught a lesson to Ms. Santos' amazing Honors Precalculus class from last year!

Which emoji do you overuse?
😂
MYLAGUNA TIP OF THE WEEK ARCHIVES
New to the school and "MyLaguna"? Visit the resource board for parents at mylaguna.org to learn how to access forms, see your child's schedule, access your child's homework, edit privacy settings, etc.

For log-in help, please contact technology@lagunablanca.org.
UPCOMING DATES
LOWER SCHOOL

FRI 9/28
Gr. 1 to SB Zoo (10:45AM)

TUES 10/2
Jogathon Planning Meeting in HR Gym (9AM)

FRI 10/5
Gr. 1 to SB Museum of Natural History (10:45AM)

MIDDLE SCHOOL

TUES 10/2
Jogathon Planning Meeting in HR Gym (9AM)

MS Parents' Night (6PM)
UPPER SCHOOL

FRI 9/28
Gr. 9/10 Humanities Field Trip (10:15AM)

Digital Photography Class to SB Courthouse (10:15AM)

MON 10/1
STEM Research Class to La Cumbre Plaza (10:45AM)

Mock Trial Informational Meeting in Library (12:10PM)

Gr. 11 College Night in Spaulding Theatre (7PM)

TUES 10/2
Jogathon Planning Meeting in HR Gym (9AM)

FRI 10/5
Play Production Class to UCSB "Hamlet" (6:45PM)

SAT 10/6
SAT Exam (SB Test Centers)