We hope your family enjoys a safe and relaxing holiday next week! We will see you back at school on Monday, November 30.

Using rhythms, familiar poems, and a variety of kitchen spoons, Lower School Music Instructor Ms. Markstrum taught families a new talent just in time for the holidays! Before the music lesson, she read an uplifting story about a spoon, which recognized how we all have amazing traits and attributes for which to be thankful.

Next up: Family Art Night on December 3 with Ms. Guay!

BY LESLIE DINABURG

Sometimes it’s all in the timing. Take Laguna Blanca’s new Center for Science and Innovation, the school’s first major facility addition in at least 10 years. “We decided to go forward with construction on March 11 of this year, and two days later we were closing school because of the pandemic,” said Head of School Rob Hereford.

Plans for the 5,500 square feet of modern, dedicated space have been in the works since 2014, a drought year where the first big rains damaged the chemistry lab. They did a short-term fix, but Hereford knew it was past time to do some real improvements.

E.C. Falas, Jeroe Bidlow, Vanessa Rodriguez, James Savage, Elvis Pagano

We are so grateful to have our support staff members to help us thrive now that we're back to in-person learning. Join us in thanking them for all of their hard work and dedication to keeping our community healthy! Learn more about each staff member below.

Ella Delwiche, Kira Grahn, Alexa Smith

This online concert is offered by UCSB Arts & Lectures and features Sheku and Isata Kanneh-Mason. They are British classical musicians who came to popular notice when Sheku played for the Royal wedding of Harry and Megan a couple of years ago. Upper School English Instructor Charles Donelan interviewed them on Zoom last week. His interview with them will be part of the presentation this Sunday at 5PM. Although this concert is part of their "House Calls" program—which usually charges for access—Arts & Lectures is offering this evening as a free holiday gift to the community.

This week, we are highlighting Middle and Upper School Art Teacher Extraordinaire, Dug Uyesaka!

A colleague says: “Dug U! He is so upbeat at morning drop-off and greets families with such enthusiasm. What an uplifting way to start the day with some cheer from Mr. U!"

Thank you, Dug, for the care and positive attitude you bring to our students and Laguna!

Grade level advisory groups then delve deeper into their specified subject.

The upcoming Spanish Tour will take place on December 5 at 9:30AM. Kindly RSVP directly to Michelle Finck.

There will also be an English Tour on December 5 at 10:30AM. Please click here to reserve your spot.

Laguna Fund Class Captains are still needed for Kindergarten, First, Fifth, and Sixth Grades. Learn more about class captains here.

The book selection for this year’s Challenge Success Book Club is Deviced! Balancing Life and Technology in a Digital World by Doreen Dodgen-Magee.

We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Dodgen-Magee, award winning author, speaker, and psychologist, will join us for our discussion. Families of students in all divisions are invited to read and attend this informative and engaging evening.

Using personal stories, cutting edge research, and anecdotes from youth, parents, and professionals, Dodgen-Magee highlights the brain changes that result from excessive technology use and offers an approach to the digital world that enables more informed and lasting change and a healthier long-term perspective. Given that the reader is living within a culture of ever-changing and advancing technologies, Deviced! is written in such a way that its content can weather the constantly changing digital landscape by focusing on the concepts of honest assessment and healthy boundary setting rather than on specific technologies or platforms. Deviced! offers a mindful approach to assessing current technology use, breaking bad habits, setting new norms, and re-engaging with life with renewed richness and awareness.

For Thanksgiving Day, Zoom is lifting the time limit for free meetings. This means your virtual family get-togethers won't be cut short!

Preparing for the holiday season has a whole new look and feel this year. This article has some helpful ideas for coping with the frustrations of holiday celebrations during a global pandemic.