A NOTE ABOUT THE GEORGE FLOYD VERDICT |
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FROM HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL MELISSA ALKIRE
AND DEI COORDINATOR URSULA CHAN
George Floyd was murdered on May 20, 2020 in broad daylight and was witnessed by the nation through the recording of Darnella Frazier. On Tuesday, April 20, the jury found former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin guilty on all three charges, second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. This verdict is a moment of accountability as with Floyd’s death, justice cannot be provided to him. As a nation, we have borne witness, this year and in the history of our nation, to the death of brown and black men and women. We have been called to know them and to say their names in their honor. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison shared “George Floyd mattered. He was loved by his family and friends... but that isn’t why he mattered. He mattered because he was a human being.” The racial injustice that BIPOC community members have faced for generations is not just a Black America or a People of Color problem, it is a problem for every American. As Vice President Harris noted this week, the violence and injustices inflicted on BIPOC communities “holds us all back from fulfilling the American promise of Liberty and Justice for all.”
George Floyd’s heartbreaking final plea appeared painted on the side of a downtown Santa Barbara business on June 2, 2020. The owner of EOS noted, “Projects like this bring people and the community together,” said Bix Kaufman.
Yesterday, together with Ms. Chan, we held another courageous student conversation focused on the recent police killings of Daunte Wright, Adam Toledo, and Makiyah Bryant. We also reserved time to discuss the verdict of the Chauvin case. This year, we have gathered as a community on the lawn in front of Spaulding Theatre to discuss the election, the storming of the Capitol, and the Atlanta shooting of Xiaojie Tan, Daoyou Feng, Delaina Ashley Yaun Gonzalez, and Paul Andre Michels.
In closing, I want to share a part of Amanda Gorman’s poem she recited to us all on Inauguration Day, which calls us to hold ourselves accountable and open to dream, and more importantly, to build with our hands that better future we seek:
We will not march back to what was, but move to what shall be: a country that is bruised but whole, benevolent but bold, fierce and free.
We will not be turned around or interrupted by intimidation because we know our inaction and inertia will be the inheritance of the next generation, become the future.
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LAST CHANCE TO SCORE A SPOT AT TONIGHT'S PREMIERE OF TWO STUDENT FILMS |
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We have 25 more spaces available for tonight’s (4/22) private outdoor screening of two student films in our Humanities program. The evening features the premiere of Claire Tolles’ Eightball and Sophia Webster and Annie Gabler’s Decades Dance! Free admission! Click here to RSVP now!
For COVID safety, a confirmation email is required for admission. The big screen lights up tonight, 4/22 at 8PM on the athletic fields. Please bring chairs and blankets and sit in socially-distanced family pods. Popcorn and treats will be served!
ABOUT EIGHTBALL
For her Humanities Research Program project, Claire Tolles '22 wrote a script, recruited, and recorded Laguna Blanca student actors, and animated a 40-minute film. Teaching herself animation techniques along the way, Claire sketched and colored each of the 30,000 frames by hand. Thirteen months and a couple of thousands hours later, she's done it! The film follows an unlikely team of bandits as they embark on an unexpected adventure to recover the Queen's stolen crown from the notorious Goblin King!
AT HOME VIEWING is available AT 8PM for EIGHTBALL at the link below. You don’t want to miss it!
ABOUT DECADES DANCE
This is a feminist story set in the 60s and 70s as told through costumes, which were designed by Sophia Webster '21 and dance, choreographed by Cecily Stewart MacDougall. All lighting and editing by Annie Gabler '21.
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"IT'S A FIGHT FOR OUR LIVES" |
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Students Organize Climate Strike to Protest Coming Disaster
By Elizabeth Bisno '21 and Kate Spaulding '21 for SB Independent
In the following dialogue, Elizabeth Bisno and Kate Spaulding share the experiences that led them to participate in organizing #LAClimateStrike2021, a student-led action set for noon on Friday, April 23 at Los Angeles City Hall. They are seniors at Laguna Blanca School.
Kate Spaulding: Discovering the threat of the climate crisis made me feel the need to act. There was an urgency to this feeling because the future that scientists have shown to be so likely is unfathomable and terrifying to me. Like Greta Thunberg — we’re the same age — I was confused that more people weren’t concerned about the climate crisis. Why was I the one warning adults about the state of the world instead of watching them take action? But unlike Greta and other concerned young people, I didn’t begin by demanding change right away.
Elizabeth Bisno: For most of us, there’s a separation between the actions we take in our day-to-day life and those that we only dream of taking. Even though we make choices about our friends, or where to go to college, or what job opportunities we seek, we don’t always apply the same effort to shaping the world that we want to live in. Taking action and advocating for the health of our ecosystems shouldn’t be any different.
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BE A HUMMINGBIRD
Do the best you can for our earth!
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Lower School students spent this afternoon celebrating our earth. Science Teacher Ms. Svedlund designed the afternoon festivities, which kicked off with a 10-minute campus clean-up, followed by a special Tecolote Tuesday assembly to share ideas of how we can honor Earth Day every day. Following assembly, the student embarked on making crafts, such as decorating canvas tote bags, upcycling t-shirts by turning them into tote bags, and decorating "tree cookies." Each student was gifted a metal straw, a bookmark, and a sense of accountability for the planet we call home. |
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CHECK OUT NEW SUMMER @ LAGUNA CAMP UPDATES |
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General registration for Summer @ Laguna is now open, but spots are filling fast! See new camp updates below.
KEY CAMP UPDATES
Dance class for Gr. K-3: 6/21-6/25
LEGO camp is now Gr. 2-6, instead of Gr. 4-6
New AR/VR: 6/21-6/25
New Camp Crafty: 8/2-8/6
New Camp Crafty: 8/9-8/13
New Pokémon: 8/9-8/13
All camps are $360/week and run from 9:00AM - 2:30PM daily with snacks/lunch provided; hourly morning/afternoon care available for Hope Ranch camps only. Click on the links below to learn more about each exciting camp and to sign up!
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Each year our community’s collective contributions provide us with the financial flexibility to enhance our programs and enrich our students' educational experience. The Laguna Fund is a crucial component of our operating budget, but the impact of your donation does not end there! Donations from outside donors and private foundations enable Laguna Blanca to invest in its students, faculty, and programs in big and unique ways. But before outside donors commit resources to Laguna Blanca, they want to see a fully invested community – one that believes in the school, its values, and experience.
Whether you give $25 or $2,500, know that your gift has an immediate and meaningful impact on each student’s daily experience.
Every dollar counts. Every gift matters. Every donor makes a difference.
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SEVENTH GRADERS BECOME EU DIPLOMATS IN MODEL EUROPEAN UNION PRESENTATIONS |
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On Wednesday, seventh graders gathered in Merovick Gymnasium for a special large-scale project: their Model European Union summit.
Each team of students was assigned a country and presented on current event issues their country faces. Students learned and honed their skills in research, public speaking, writing, and statistical analysis, all while discussing real-world current issues in the news across multiple subjects.
The seventh grade team of teachers made this a fun and meaningful project based learning experience for the kids. The theme for the quarter is “speaking out,” and students did a fantastic job of standing up and speaking out on behalf of the people of their respective countries.
Way to go, seventh grade!
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TWELVE LAGUNA STUDENTS NAMED TO NATIONAL SCHOLASTIC PRESS ASSOCIATION HONOR ROLL |
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National Scholastic Press Association, the nation’s largest association for high school, junior high and middle school journalists, has inducted 1,400 high school scholars and student journalists into its 2021 Journalism Honor Roll.
The following students from Laguna Blanca were honored:
Frances Carlson '22
Dare Fitzpatrick '22
Olivia Davenport '22
Nafisah Fathima '21
Daisy Finefrock '21
Andreas Jackson '21
James Keenan Surber '21
Hanna Masri '22
Madeline Nicks '22
Phoebe Stein '21
Claire Tolles '22
Elliana Westmacott '23
"These outstanding students excel in both the classroom and in their school newsrooms," associate director Gary Lundgren said. "The future of journalism is bright if these students are any indication."
In addition to serving for at least two years on a student media staff, in broadcast, newspaper, magazine, online or yearbook, the students have earned a 3.5 or higher grade point average on a 4.0 scale.
Congratulations, students!
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OPTIONAL ZOOM MEETING FOR FIFTH GRADE FAMILIES NEXT MONDAY, 4/26 |
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Fifth grade families are invited to join Mr. Lopes at 5PM on Monday, April 26.
The purpose of the meeting is to answer questions about sixth grade course registration and what to expect in our programming next year.
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JOIN US AT OUR LOWER SCHOOL PARENT/GUARDIAN VIRTUAL WORKSHOP SERIES |
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We want to support and connect with you through this parenting adventure. Please join us on Zoom for a Lower School parent workshop series where we will:
- Provide opportunities to connect with Lower School families
- Listen and respond to your parenting questions and needs
- Learn about resources for education and support
Friends, Peers, and Classmates
Monday, April 26
8:45-9:45AM
How do we help our children when a conflict arises at school?
Technology & Screen Time:
Finding Balance in a Digital World
Monday, May 3
8:45-9:45AM
Is there a particular topic you would like to talk about or questions you need answered during our time together? If so, please email Kim Valentine and we will respond during our time together.
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THIS WEEK'S GRATITUDE GRAM |
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This week's Gratitude Gram is dedicated to our Director of Athletics Jason Donnelly!
Despite this roller coaster of a year in the world of athletics, Jason has managed to navigate countless uncertainties with agility and tact. He is an excellent role model for all of our student athletes, and his ability to motivate, encourage, and provide both a nurturing and challenging space for students to succeed in is a gift to our community. You can always rely on Jason for a good laugh and an uplifting attitude. Our athletic department would not be the same without him, and we're so glad he's on our team!
Read what his colleagues have to say about him below!
"Jason Donnelly has a heart of gold. As a long time successful coach, he cares about his players as if they were his own kids. He inspires students to believe in themselves and achieve their maximum potential, and he always puts his players’ wellbeing before the game. His secret gift though, is teaching transferable skills. Like all truly amazing coaches, his lessons apply to life as well as the game! Well played, Mr. Donnelly!"
"We all go home at the end of the day and Jason D. is just getting starting! Thank you for getting out students out, moving, connecting, and playing together."
"Jason's knack for turning lemons into lemonade this year has been inspiring to watch. He got creative to find ways to keep our kids active during this time, and the positive physical and mental benefits of that are huge."
Thank you, Jason!
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NAME: Daisy Finefrock
CLASS: 2021
What is the first thing you do in the morning?
I turn on a podcast and start getting ready.
What is your go-to song of the moment?
"Levitating" by Dua Lipa
What is something that most people don't know about you?
I made vlogs on Youtube for years and they were suuuuper embarrassing!
Describe Laguna in three words.
Supportive, Demanding, Picturesque
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