LAGUNA @ HOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS WEEK
SIXTH GRADERS COSTUME THEIR FAVORITE CHARACTERS
In performing arts, students got creative by designing a costume of a character from one of their favorite musicals, including Beauty and the Beast, Wizard of Oz, Aladdin , or Peter Pan . Costumes were made solely from items found around the house and students posed, showing an emotion that represented their chosen character in a scene. Bravo, Sixth Graders!
SCIENCE RESEARCH PROGRAM STUDENTS JOIN COVID-19 DESIGN COMPETITION
How can design play a helpful and vital role in the health and wellness of a world in need? Students in Staci Richard's Science Research Program are answering just that through Go Architect 's Coronavirus Design Competition.

Covid-19 has affected billions of lives of every nationality, if not physically than economically and mentally. This challenge involves designing a way to help people stay healthy; both in body and mind.

The competition challenges participants to think outside of the box and towards the real struggles of the COVID-19 pandemic: isolation, education, work, and gold ol' fun. The options are endless and the need is great!

Submission are due on May 20. We can't wait to see the creativity and ingenuity of our science research students! Good luck!
REFLECTIONS ON TUESDAY'S LUNCH & LEARN FROM OUR SCHOOL COUNSELOR KIM VALENTINE
Raise your hand if you’re tired. Well, if you’re raising children I’m guessing your hand is up. We already knew that parenting was exhausting, and it seems that everything about remote learning, physical/social distancing, and working from home is depleting us of our energy resources.

Dr. Steven Smith, psychologist from UCSB, shared an informative presentation on Tuesday at the Parent Auxiliary Lunch & Learn. While his talk was focused on the pressure to achieve, the highlights from his talk also help to explain what we are experiencing with remote learning, and that we are not alone. 
INTRODUCING LUNCH WITH DR. SURBER! JOIN US ON FRIDAY, 4/24
The Lower School is adding a new offering on Fridays called Lunch with Dr. Surber! This virtual meeting will take place at noon on Fridays, and it is intended as a time to connect and chat.
 
The first session takes place this Friday, April 24 and is aimed toward a parent audience. Moving forward, both students and parents will have the opportunity to pop in and connect. Please see dates, times, and Zoom link below.

LUNCH WITH DR. SURBER
TIME: 12:00-12:30pm
DATES
4/24 - Parents
5/1 - Open to all
5/8 - Open to all
5/15 - Open to all
5/22 - Open to all 
MIDDLE AND UPPER SCHOOL PARENTS ARE INVITED TO VIRTUAL PARENT COFFEE TALKS ON FRIDAY, 4/24
We invite all Middle School and Upper School parents and guardians to attend our second Virtual Parent Coffee Talk by division via Zoom this Friday, April 24. Hear from Division Heads and reconnect with familiar faces. Attending is optional, but we would love to see you Friday morning!

Middle School Coffee  
Friday, 4/24 from 8-8:30AM 
 
Upper School Coffee  
Friday, 4/24 from 9-9:30AM
CHOOSING YOUR COLLEGE VIRTUALLY
BY DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING MATT STRUCKMEYER

When T.S. Elliot proclaimed April “the cruelest month,” maybe he had in mind the agonizing choices faced by high school seniors trying to decide which college to attend. Until acceptances arrive, nearly everything about college is hypothetical. With the May 1st deadline around the corner, where only one college can be chosen, abstract ideas suddenly become very real. Limitless possibilities give way to just a very few, and for young people, this winnowing can be really hard.
LAGUNA TARC CLUB KEEPS EYES TO THE SKY
Laguna's TARC Club are keeping their sights on a successful 2021 season after their 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Enjoy the video above by 2021 TARC Program Lead Lucas Chen '21 that highlights the group's incredible work!

Have questions about the TARC club or interested in joining? Email Faculty Lead Dan Ary.
LOWER SCHOOL CALENDAR CHANGE FOR MAY 1 REMOTE LEARNING IN SESSION
Please note that the Lower School will have remote learning on May 1. The school calendar lists Lower School Professional Development Day, but that will not occur. Follow your teacher's schedule as usual.
LOWER SCHOOL THANKS LOCAL HEALTHCARE WORKERS THROUGH ART
We are forever thankful for the incredible healthcare professionals who are working tirelessly on the front lines—day in and day out—in order to fight COVID-19 and keep our community healthy. To honor these heroes, Lower School Art Teacher Courtney Guay has asked Lower School students and their families to participate in a special art project filled with gratitude.

Students and their families are creating cards, drawings, or posters and writing heartfelt notes to healthcare professionals at Cottage Hospital. We can't wait to see the finished projects!

As a reminder, the deadline for this project is Friday, April 24. Students can upload their artwork to Seesaw. In addition, families can drop off their creations at bins located on both our Montecito campus as well as on our Hope Ranch campus outside the main offices.
YOU'RE INVITED TO A FREE DIGITAL SANITY SUMMIT
Are you ready to get a handle on technology in quarantine, setting reasonable expectations while still having some limits? 

ImpactParents is hosting a free, 5-day online event: The Digital Sanity Summit: Navigating Technology in the Modern World of Parenting. This summit will take place on May 11-15.

The virtual event features 19+ internationally recognized thought-leaders on technology and parenting, guiding you to establish a healthy relationship with technology— now during the pandemic, and into the future. It's free and open to all parents everywhere.
EIGHT PODCASTS THE WHOLE FAMILY CAN ENJOY
Podcasts are the perfect shelter-in-place entertainment when we're taking care of kids 24/7 and riding out pandemic restrictions. Podcasts require little more than pressing play, and that's about all many of us can muster at this point. But they give so much in return! They're a perfect family activity and a welcome alternative to screens, and they train your brain to pay attention. Enjoy these picks from Common Sense Media .
Kids Listen

Granity Studios

Gen-Z Media

Gimlet Media
We LOVE the Class of 2020! One way we will be celebrating these students in the coming weeks is by highlighting members of this class in our WHOOO ARE YOU questionnaire. Enjoy getting to know these special students each week!
NAME: Julia Guglielmo
CLASS: 2020

What is the first thing you do in the morning?
Cuddle with my four dogs, Pixie, Panda, Max, and Fozzie.

Describe the next to last photo on your phone's camera roll.
The next to last photo in my camera roll is a picture of me and my sister on our daily quarantine walk to the beach.

What is your go-to song of the moment?
"Don’t Start Now" by Dua Lipa