SWOOP IN TO A NEW SCHOOL YEAR—
YOU'VE GOT THIS!
BACK TO SCHOOL NOTES
FROM HEAD OF SCHOOL ROB HEREFORD

I would like to extend a warm welcome to our new and returning families for the 2020-21 school year. I am so delighted that you’re a part of this vibrant learning community! This is guaranteed to be a unique year as we continue to face the COVID-19 pandemic together. Rest assured that we at Laguna embrace challenges and we persevere and press on when we hit bumps along the way. This summer, our skilled and devoted faculty and staff have been planning and preparing for your child/ren to have the very best educational environment possible.

GRADES EK-6 POTENTIAL IN-PERSON OPENING
Last week, our county achieved the threshold necessary to allow the Public Health Department to accept waiver applications for schools with students in Grades EK-6. As a result, Laguna is pursuing a waiver to open our Grades EK-6 program in person. We submitted our application on August 25 and expect a response within 10-14 days.

GRADES 7-12 REMOTE OPENING
For students in Grades 7-12, the county is not currently allowing school programs to operate in person, therefore Laguna will begin the school year in remote instruction for those grades. We have been working all summer to prepare plans for an even richer and more robust remote learning experience.

Please click here for more details regarding these updates, and stay tuned for additional information about upcoming orientation days.
THE FIRST PARENTS' AUXILIARY PARENT CONNECTION SERIES STARTS TOMORROW, 8/27!
THURSDAY, AUGUST 27
Middle School (5PM)

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
Upper School (5PM)

All Laguna parents and guardians are invited to join us for a virtual introduction to the PA! This "online social" will be an opportunity for you to:
  • Be introduced to room parents and meet new parents.
  • Meet Head of Middle School Shane Lopes and our new Head of Upper School Melissa Alkire.
  • Enjoy a quick demo of MyLaguna and Laguna Google Drive, and receive help with any technology questions you may have.
  • Get a heads-up about upcoming school and PA events
SAVE THE DATE FOR UPCOMING PA EVENTS
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
Virtual Welcome Coffee (9AM)

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
Virtual Welcome Cockail (5PM)

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
PA Town Hall (5PM)

Be on the lookout for PA Zoom links!
LOOKING AHEAD TO FALL OF 2020
VIRTUAL PARENT EDUCATION EVENT
ABOUT GR. 6-9 STUDENT WELLNESS
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 (6-7PM)
For Parents of Students in Gr. 6-9
 
Please join us for an informative and interactive session focused on student wellness and balance. Dr. Dan Brennan (pediatrician and parent to 3 boys) and Dr. Debra Kessler (Marriage and Family Therapist and parent) will field your questions regarding student health and wellness as we navigate and plan for a smooth entry to the 2020-2021 school year. We hope that you can join us and engage with these professionals as we learn how to best support our students and one another during this school year. 

Please send any questions or topics that you would like our guest panel to address during our time together to Kim Valentine.

We hope to see you there!
THERE'S STILL TIME TO SWOOP INTO SUMMER READING!
Although summer is coming to a close, there's still time to sneak in one last book! At Laguna, there is suggested summer reading for students in Grades EK-4 and required reading for students in Grades 5-12.  
BACK TO SCHOOL TIPS FOR FAMILIES FROM SCHOOL COUNSELOR KIM VALENTINE
Dear Families,

I’ve noticed that I no longer like the word usually. It seems to want to begin almost every sentence. Usually seems to keep me looking in the rearview mirror, making it difficult to focus on the present and what may lie ahead. Usually seems to hijack the opportunity to move forward and think creatively. I have decided that I am going to do my best to replace usually with curiosity. I wonder what this year will be like? I wonder what I’ll learn this year? I wonder how I’ll feel about transitioning from remote to on-campus learning (when the time comes)? I wonder how the students will surprise me?
INTRODUCING OUR NEW FACULTY & STAFF!
Let's give a warm Laguna welcome to the following new members of our community!
REAGAN ANDERSON
First Grade Instructor

HOLLY BALLENGER
MS & US Visual Art Teacher/Department Chair

DUNCAN BRIGGS
MS & US Latin Instructor/Department Chair

KELLI CLIFFORD
First Grade Instructor

COURTNEY DEBROUWER
7th Grade English/5th & 6th Spanish Instructor

VICTORIA DRYDEN
MS & US English & History Instructor

TIFFANY FEDOR
6th Grade Assistant & Co-Teacher
KEVIN GUAY
US History Instructor

BRIANNE HWANG
Music Teacher

GRANT MACNAUGHTON
MS & US Math Instructor

KATHRYN MAYFIELD
Health Coordinator

BRETT MCGARRY
MS & US Math Instructor

DENA MONTAGUE
US History Instructor

SUSANNE RICHTER
Fourth Grade Instructor
The Science Research Program (SRP) at Laguna Blanca is an application based, two-year science elective where Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics converge.

The SRP final presentations are a time for students to share their journeys with the Laguna community, families, and mentors at the end of the spring semester. Typically, a gathering would be held in the library to celebrate our young researchers. For the 2020 presentations, students shared their projects in a different way. This SRP website will give you a glimpse of the work our students accomplished this past year, even under challenging circumstances. For each student, you will find their final papers, an infographic, and a video presentation that will give you an excellent overview of their projects.

Congratulations to these determined and talented students on a job well done!
TWEENS, TEENS, TECH, AND MENTAL HEALTH:
COMING OF AGE IN AN INCREASINGLY DIGITAL, UNCERTAIN, AND UNEQUAL WORLD
In the years leading up to 2020, researchers and advocates expressed growing concerns about a mental health crisis among young people in the United States. Alongside rising rates of depression and suicide, increased social media and technology use seemed like an obvious culprit at first—but the latest findings tell a more complex and nuanced story.
WIDE OPEN SCHOOL RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES
WHOOO ARE YOU?
NAME: Duncan Briggs
POSITION AT LAGUNA: Latin Instructor & World Language Department Chair

What is the first thing you do in the morning?
Every morning I wake up to my dog, Puddle, who knows to lay on top of me until I feed her breakfast.

What is your go-to song of the moment?
Thanks to Spotify's data analytics, I can tell you with precision that #1 is "Albatross" by Fleetwood Mac. #2 is "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye. You can't beat the classics.

What is something that most people don’t know about you?
I started my career in education as a substitute teacher in Maui, Hawaii. During many of my substitute days, I filled in for preschool, kindergarten and 1st grade Phys. Ed. The little ones have so much energy!