TWO WEEKS UNTIL WE RE.IMAGINE AT TEDxLBS!
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29
9AM-3PM
MEROVICK GYMNASIUM

Get ready to reconstruct concepts, re-define meanings, and revamp ideas at our third annual TEDx event on Wednesday, January 29!

The event is produced and run entirely by Laguna students who have managed every detail — f rom identifying this year's meaningful theme of RE.IMAGINE and selecting speakers to managing a budget and organizing professional-level audio and visual coverage so the event can be shared around the world.

Based on the theme RE.IMAGINE, the conference features 17 speakers, each presenting 10-minute talks. Selected by student curators, your 2020 TEDxLagunaBlancaSchool speaker lineup includes scientists, artists, entrepreneurs, and an American Ninja Warrior.

The day includes three sessions with breaks and lunch catered by Viva Taco Bar.

Tickets are running low; be sure to purchase yours today!

Want to get involved? View our sponsorship opportunities to partner with the TEDx program, Laguna, and other community organizations that make this day possible.
STEM STUDENTS COMPETE USING LEGOS AT SECOND ANNUAL MASTER BUILDER COMPETITION
A big thank you to all 144 Santa Barbara area children who showcased their talents in our 2nd Annual Master Builder Competition last Saturday, January 11.

The competition included a timed owl build, highest structure build, a catapult, and a gravity race using their own constructed LEGO race car.

Two Laguna Lower School students— Ethan & Riley — won top rankings in the first two of the three divisions (Gr. K-2, 3-4, and 5-6), with each earning a trophy and an additional Lego kit (ex. Lego City, Ninjago, Architecture).

"The event was a perfect way for young engineers to learn by doing," says competition organizer and STEM instructor John Pagano. "Children learn more by using their hands, trying to be successful, and learning from their mistakes. This event was the embodiment of that idea. The day went without a hitch and fun was had by all.”

Thank you to John and the many student volunteers and science teachers who ensured the competition ran seamlessly.
SANTA BARBARA GETS A TASTE OF LAGUNA AT LAST WEEK'S TASTE & TOUR EVENT
Last Friday night, 1/10, under a stunning full moon, we welcomed current and prospective parents to our first ever Taste & Tour event. Guests enjoyed meeting our teachers and parents while touring classrooms and tasting wines poured by generous parent vintners Dierberg Star Lane Vineyards and Folded Hills Winery. The opportunity to pair wines with mouth watering pizzas from Lucca Wood Fired Pizza and desserts by Lilac Patisserie added a fun twist to this unique open house event. Live music by a talented trio from Folk Orchestra of Santa Barbara set the scene for the evening.

Thank you to all of the hardworking faculty, staff, and community members who tirelessly worked behind the scenes to make this memorable event happen. We can't wait for next year!
YOU'RE INVITED TO CELEBRATE READING AT THE LOWER SCHOOL ON JANUARY 30
LS CELEBRATES READING
THURSDAY, JANUARY 30
5-6:30PM
260 SAN YSIDRO ROAD

Pull on your pajamas and let your imagination soar with your favorite storybook characters! Complimentary dinner, milk, and cookies.

Join us and bring a friend to this free outreach event!
REGISTRATION FOR GIRLS ROBOTICS RALLY OPENS ON FEBRUARY 3
Join us for a colorful celebration of Laguna’s SUPER BLOOM on Saturday, March 7 at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort . This year’s event chairs, Talya Engel and Susan Tyler , have been leading our parent volunteers to create a memorable Spring Benefit. Event sponsorship funds raised over the next several weeks will ensure the success of Laguna Blanca’s students, faculty, and unique programs. Confirm your sponsorship by Friday, January 24 , and be recognized on the printed invitation to be mailed in early February.
 
Be sure to check the Spring Benefit website often as we add exciting auction packages!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
THANK YOU! Together, in just four months, our community has helped us to reach 76% of our 2019-20 Laguna Fund goal! Thanks to your support, we have been able to say YES to investments in our campus, innovation in our classrooms, partnerships in our community, and collaboration amongst our students, and so much more!
 
Special thanks to our Laguna Fund parent volunteers who are your #1 resource for the Laguna Fund: Co-Captains Kristen Blabely ’95 and Brandi Fraser, and Class Captains Rebecca Ball, Pam Brown, Barbara Conviser, Talya Engel, Alex Koper ’00, Tiffany Lemons, Vicky Lopez, John McGovern, Amber and Steve Ortiz, Lindsay Pasternack, Tiffany Pelletier, Julia Rodgers, Travis Twining, Paul Visueta, Jane Weaver, and Audrey Weiss.
TIP FROM THE COLLEGE COUNSELOR
Start the college visiting process with "opposites:" large public university vs. small private college; liberal vs. conservative. Skip the tour and information session. Instead, walk around and take in the place, perhaps chat with a few current students. Be sure to take note of which schools feel comfortable and inviting to you.
MIDDLE SCHOOL MOVIE NIGHT IS ON FRIDAY, 1/31
The Middle School Student Council is hosting another Middle School Movie Night!

Laguna students in Grades 5-8 are invited to watch The Sandlot in Spaulding Theatre on Friday, January 31 from 6-8PM. Bring $10 for two slices of pizza, water or lemonade, one popcorn, and one candy. You can purchase more food for an additional cost per item.

We hope to see you there!

Questions? Contact Kim Valentine.
LAGUNA NINTH GRADERS DEVELOP FULL-FLEDGED NOVELS IN MODES OF WRITING COURSE
Ninth grade students in Ms. Nordgaarden's Modes of Writing class have been hard at work writing their very own novels!

Currently in its fourth year, this exciting project is designed to give students an opportunity to flex their creative writing muscles while simultaneously applying some grammar and usage skills to the writing process. "It reinforces the importance of details, revision, and overcoming writer's block," says Ms. Nordgaarden. "It also gives students a different approach to understanding the novels they read and how published authors craft their stories."

The project begins each year in early October with the development of main characters and plot line. Students then write for at least 30 minutes during each class meeting, and are encouraged to write a minimum of 10,000 words prior to submitting their finished products before winter break.
 
"The stories this year are wide-ranging, engaging, entertaining, and personal," says Ms. Nordgaarden. "For instance, Anabelle Campbell's '23 novel is set in 1946 London and deals with spies, nuclear bombs, and government conspiracies. Luca D'Agruma's '23 novel is about a freedom-fighter who struggles to fight for his country after the Americans withdraw and leave the Kurds vulnerable to Turkish attacks."

Luna Martinez '23 based her novel's main character loosely on her grandmother. The plot follows a retired woman who goes on a cross-country journey of self-discovery as she drives with her dogs from a retirement community to Colorado.

"This project was very rewarding because now I can tell people that I wrote a novel!" says Luna. "Basing the main character on my grandma makes it extra special, as I now have a story that captures some of her most memorable attributes," she explains. "I am thankful for the opportunity because it helped me to grow as a writer, and I am proud to have watched it grow from an idea into a full story."
ACCLAIMED SCREEN WRITER CHERI STEINKELLNER SPEAKS AT HUMANITIES PROGRAM LUNCHEON
On Wednesday, January 15, Laguna Humanities Program students and families gathered on the Braun House patio for a luncheon with special guest Cheri Steinkellner. Ms. Steinkellner is an Emmy Award-winning writer and producer of television, film, and theater whose credits include Cheers and Sister Act, the musical , for which she and her husband, Bill, were nominated for a Tony Award. Cheri and Bill have three children, Kit, Teddy, and Emma, all of whom have earned distinction in the arts.

This discussion was the first in a series of such conversations designed to bring together students from the Laguna Blanca Humanities Program and their parents with distinguished people in our community who can provide insight into the specific challenges and opportunities that face creative children and their families in the 21st century.
DOG AGILITY PERFORMANCE HELPS PREPARE LOWER SCHOOL STUDENTS FOR SPRING MUSICAL
Last week, Lower School students enjoyed an exciting dog agility performance by Santa Barbara Flyers , a local non-profit dog agility and obedience group. “One of the reasons we asked them to come is so that students could watch how the dogs move, in preparation for their spring musical,” explains Science Instructor Clara Svedlund.

Save the date of May 31 when some 29 Lower School students will take the stage in Spaulding Theatre to present the fur-raising adventure of 101 Dalmatians. The musical is directed by LS Music Teacher Molly Markstrum.
LAGUNA STUDENT NICOLE LEVINE IS VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT AT SB NONPROFIT CALM
Nicole Levine '24 was recently featured as a standout volunteer with local Santa Barbara nonprofit CALM . CALM's mission is to prevent childhood trauma, heal children and families, and build resilient communities throughout Santa Barbara County.

Nicole has seen first-hand the positive impact of CALM’s support. When she was 11, her family added two foster daughters to their household. The family grew from two to four children and they soon realized Nicole’s new sisters were in crisis. Her family turned to CALM and, according to Nicole, CALM was instrumental in supporting the entire family throughout the challenging situation. Nicole says, “CALM was the only hero in our story.”

As Nicole’s 13th birthday and Bat Mitzvah approached, she knew she wanted a service project with a deep, personal meaning. Nicole remembered the time she spent at CALM and reached out to ask if she could help.

During her visit, she toured the therapy rooms, which had last been remodeled and outfitted nearly 15 years ago. Nicole started a wish list on Amazon with therapy supplies and sent it to her friends and family. The response was immediate, and the supplies started rolling in to to refresh the space. Nicole has even larger plans to bring in new furniture and completely clean out the Amazon list. “I am honored to be part of something greater than myself,” says Nicole.

Way to go, Nicole! 
LAGUNA WELCOMES ALUMNA CHANELLE JANSSENS BACK TO THE NEST
Laguna alumna Chanelle Janssens '13 is joining our community once again — but this time as a Library Assistant. Chanelle grew up locally and attended Laguna Blanca from eighth grade until she graduated in 2013. “It was in these years that I fell in love with learning. I had the most amazing teachers—almost all of them are still at the school today—who encouraged and inspired me to be the best student I could be," says Chanelle. After graduating from Laguna, she went on to study at Southern Oregon University where she graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Policy.
WHOOO ARE YOU?

NAME: Chanelle Janssens
ROLE: Laguna alumna & new Library Assistant

What is the first thing you do in the morning?
I drink a large mason jar of water because I am usually dehydrated when I wake up. Then I immediately move on to coffee.

Describe the next to last photo on your phone's camera roll.
The next to last phone on the camera roll is a screen shot of my face with a funny Instagram filter. They are getting pretty creative with the Instagram filters these days.

What is your go-to song of the moment?
My go to song is whatever comes up on my Spotify's Discover Weekly since I'm tired of all my music.
SCHOOL IS CLOSED ON MONDAY, JANUARY 20
In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, school will be closed on Monday, January 20.
LOOKING AHEAD
LOWER SCHOOL

FRI 1/17
Gr. 3-8 ERB Testing

Gr. 4-6 Field Trip at Granada Theater

MON 1/20
Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
School Closed

TUES 1/21-THURS 1/23
Gr. 3/4 ERB Testing

THURS 1/23
Gr. 3 to Hope Ranch for Writing Project

FRI 1/24
LS Professional Development Day
No School for LS Students
MIDDLE SCHOOL

FRI 1/17
Gr. 3-8 ERB Testing

Gr. 4-6 Field Trip at Granada Theater

MON 1/20
Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
School Closed

Thurs 1/23
Gr. 7-12 Winter Performing Arts Showcase in Spaulding Theatre (6:30-8PM)

FRI 1/24
Gr. 8 Mission to Mars (10:15AM-3PM)

SAT 1/25
ISEE Testing on Hope Ranch campus (8:30AM-12:30PM)
UPPER SCHOOL

MON 1/20
Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
School Closed

WED 1/22
Pre-ACT Registration in Library 10 & 11

Mock Trial Scrimmage with Channel Islands HS (6-8:30PM)

THURS 1/23
Gr. 7-12 Winter Performing Arts Showcase in Spaulding Theatre (6:30-8PM)

SAT 1/25
ISEE Testing on Hope Ranch campus (8:30AM-12:30PM)

NOTE:
US Winter Semi-Formal has been rescheduled to SAT 2/8 in Merovick Gym (8-10PM