MIDDLE SCHOOL
FRIDAY, JUNE 11
MS Closing Ceremony on the Athletic Fields (4-6PM)
Each eighth grade family will be grouped together, while remaining six feet apart from the guests of other students. Families and friends who cannot attend in person may use this live-stream link.
UPPER SCHOOL
FRIDAY, JUNE 11
Upper School Awards Ceremony (10-11:30AM)
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16
87th Commencement on the Athletic Fields (4-6PM)
Please maintain six feet between graduate family cohorts.
|
|
TOMORROW'S (JUNE 11) SCHEDULE FOR MIDDLE AND UPPER SCHOOL |
|
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Sensational Summer Send Off! (Minimum Day Schedule)
We’re planning for a memorable end to a memorable year. Students will meet in grade level groups to reflect on the year and celebrate the start of summer. Students do NOT need to bring a laptop on this day. Come prepared for fun, play, and the possibility of getting wet! A hearty snack will be provided by our generous Parents’ Auxiliary group.
Schedule for the Day
Arrival Time: 8:30 AM at your usual drop off locations.
Gr. 8 students: We will begin the morning with a MS Closing Ceremony rehearsal.
Pick up at the Middle School parking lot:
Gr. 5 & 6 at 11:00AM
Gr. 7 & 8 at 11:15AM
UPPER SCHOOL
Sensational Summer Send Off! (Minimum Day Schedule)
Snacks provided by the PA, yearbook signing, hang out time, music, and fun!
Schedule for the Day
Arrival Time: 8:30AM
US Awards Assembly: 10:00-11:30AM
US Students dismissed at 11:30AM
|
|
LOWER SCHOOL CLOSING CEREMONY IS A SWEET ENDING TO THE SCHOOL YEAR |
|
It was a beautiful morning to close the Lower School chapter of these fourth graders' academic careers and celebrate what's to come! This class will surely be missed on the Lower School campus next year, but we look forward to seeing many of them on our Hope Ranch campus in the fall. Stay tuned for our upcoming Celebration Issue for many more ceremony photos! |
|
THANK YOU TO THE PARENTS' AUXILIARY FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY YEAR! |
|
In a challenging year where parents weren’t permitted on campus due to COVID restrictions, the PA Board and multiple parent volunteers still found ways to make a positive impact for our students, faculty, and staff. From encouraging participation in the Laguna Fund and the Spirit of Laguna – the first ever virtual move-a-thon, to special Town Halls with virtual cocktails and special music guests, to personalized notes on all the faculty treats, to arranging special holiday faculty raffles and to keeping families connected through emails. We couldn’t have felt more support during these heavy times. Thank you to everyone who contributed in any way!
We look forward to gathering again soon! Please welcome all the new volunteers and Board for the 2021-22 year. View the volunteer roster here. |
|
WELCOME TO THE NEST, NEW FAMILIES! |
|
The Admissions Office hosted a drive-through PEP rally on Monday, June 7 to welcome new Gr. 5-12 families and on Wednesday, June 9 to welcome new EK-4 families. The spirited events were double the fun with new families decorating their cars and wearing decorated masks!
Masked Motorcade Winners for Upper School are the Michaud, Francis-DeFord, and Wight families, and the McCormick family for the Lower School. Congratulations, and thank you to all our wonderful new families for their Laguna spirit! Winners will receive a gift certificate to the Laguna Spirit Store.
|
|
RECOGNIZING OUR COMMUNITY’S SUPPORT |
|
Our community’s collective philanthropy ensures the success of the Laguna Fund. We know that your gift, at whatever level you are giving, is a significant contribution for you and your family. THANK YOU for your commitment to our students, faculty, and school!
Laguna Blanca deeply values our supporters, and we want to recognize your contributions! Later this month, we will publish our Laguna Fund Donor Honor Roll, and we want to make sure to include everyone.
If you haven’t yet participated in the Fund, click here to donate today! Every gift, no matter the amount, makes a difference.
If you have questions about the Fund or giving to Laguna in general, please contact Associate Director of Development Danielle Sekurski at dsekurski@lagunablanca.org or 805.687.1372.
|
|
EARLY KINDERGARTEN PRESENTS "ONE SMALL VOICE" |
|
Ms. Armstrong, Mrs. Markstrum, Mrs. Surber, and the EK class created a very special video to commemorate the end of a crazy wonderful EK school year. Enjoy this precious keepsake complete with sign language! |
|
KINDERGARTNERS PRACTICE STEM SKILLS IN MAGICAL FAIRY TALE LESSON |
|
The Kindergarten Fairy Tale Unit would not be complete without the Fairy Tale Day Celebration! Kindergartners were invited to come to school dressed as their favorite fairy tale character yesterday.
Once students crossed into Fairy Tale Land (a.k.a. the Kindergarten classroom!), they were shocked to hear that Rumplestiltskin had placed a spell on Fairy Tale Land because he wanted to ruin Cinderella’s and Prince Charming’s very special wedding day. The kindergartners had to travel through Fairy Tale Land completing seven STEM challenges. At the end of each challenge, the students would receive a magical letter and a stamp on their Fairy Tale Land Passport.
At the end of all seven rotations, the seven magical letters would be unscrambled to create a special word that will break the spell!
|
|
FOURTH GRADERS CREATE RECYCLED OWLS |
|
As part of their Junior Master Gardener program, fourth graders created adorable owls in art class with Mrs. Grahn using recycled products. Owl Pride! |
|
LOWER SCHOOL FIELD DAY FUN |
|
Lower School students had so much fun ending the school year with Field Day on Wednesday, June 10! Special thanks to Lower School PE Coach Ray Robitaille for leading this exciting end of year event. |
|
FIFTH GRADE FOOD DRIVE IS A SUCCESS! |
|
For the sixth year in a row and in honor of Red Nose Day, our fifth graders' canned food drive helped make a difference in the lives of those in need.
Locally, 25% of children suffer from food insecurity. To help end child hunger, fifth graders gave canned donations to the SB Foodbank, which provides support for children and families in difficult situations.
Way to go, fifth grade!
|
|
EIGHTH GRADERS PRESENT COMPELLING YEAR-END TRANSFORMATION PROJECTS |
|
Congratulations to our eighth graders, who did a fantastic job presenting innovative solutions to real-world problems they are passionate about during their transformation projects on Wednesday, June 9. Over the course of this project, eighth grade students have worked on research skills, writing techniques, public speaking strategies, rhetorical tools, data-driven design, and metrics analysis, which all culminated in their presentations on the gym stage.
Presentation topics ranged from invasive species, animal testing, and girls' education in Africa to gun violence, over-fishing, and plastics in the ocean- plus so much more!
Great job, eighth grade!
|
|
UPPER SCHOOL ART HISTORY TAKE INSPIRATION FROM NATURE |
|
Upper School Art History students have been studying Impressionism and were surprised on Wednesday, June 9 with the opportunity to paint “en plein air” in Dr. Yoshimura's class. It was a beautiful day for some painting! |
|
SCIENCE RESEARCH PROJECT PARTICIPANTS SHINE AT FINAL PRESENTATIONS |
|
On Wednesday, June 9, eight talented students presented their research findings in the Science Research Program Final Presentations.
The Science Research Program is an application-based, two-year science elective where Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics converge. Students explore a wide range of disciplines during the sophomore year through a series of speaker talks, presentations, detailed article analyses, research explorations, and field trips. As a junior, each student chooses a specific area of interest and spends the year designing and executing an individual research project under the guidance of a mentor in their field.
Congratulations to the following students for their dedication and hard work!
|
|
Hanna Masri '22
The Effects of Trial-by Trial Feedback on Criterion Shifting
Owen Pryor '22
The Indirect Effects of COVID-19 on Three Santa Barbara Fisheries
Noah Kamps '22
Silvetia compressa: Researching and Restoring Intertidal Algae
Jack Shiebler '22
Motivation: A Look into the Mind of Shoplifters
|
|
George Nicks '22
The Future of Farming: Farming Sustainably without Sacrificing Productivity
Ben Rodgers '22
Bioethics of Sustainability through CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
Harrison Jones '22
Spiral Galaxy Morphology: A Journey into Citizen Science
Catie Fristoe '22
Analyzing Origins and Diagnosis of Past and Present Outbreaks of Ebolavirus
|
|
AP PSYCHOLOGY CLASS HOSTS COFFEE WITH A BLACK GUY FOUNDER JAMES JOYCE III
|
|
For the post-AP Psychology Exam project this year, students explored the neural and cognitive processes underlying implicit biases and their devastating impacts on marginalized groups. One of the most important things Psychology Teacher Meghan Roarty wanted to drive home with this project was the personalization aspect—putting a face and a voice to the issue.
The class was afforded the incredible opportunity to do just that when James Joyce III, civil rights activist and founder of Coffee With A Black Guy, agreed to join them for a conversation about a variety of issues from the perspective of a black man. It was an engaging, thought-provoking, and significant discussion that could have very well extended past the 70-minute class period.
One of the main messages that Joyce delivered was about getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. Tough conversations, had with a cup of coffee, will help us to demystify race and grow in our understanding of different experiences and perspectives.
|
|
STUDENT COUNCIL ELECTION RESULTS ARE IN |
|
Congratulations to the newly-elected 2021-22 Student Council!
PRESIDENT
Catie Fristoe '22
VP
Hanna Masri '22
12th Grade Reps
Noah Kamps, Nicole Khodabandehlou, Myles Hazen, Phoebe Ray
11th Grade Reps
Katherine Ball, Molly Morouse, Claire Kellett, Jackson Andrews
10th Grade Reps
Jesus Arriaga, Lucy Wang, Kendall Keshen, Nikki Mielcarek
9th Grade Reps
To be selected in October
|
|
SEEKING HOST FAMILY FOR SPRING 2022 |
|
Expand your global expertise by hosting an international student for spring semester of 2021-22 school year.
A young lady from Switzerland will join Laguna Blanca as a member of the junior class for spring semester (2022) next year. It would be ideal if she was hosted by a current Laguna family. If you are interested, please contact Joyce Balak in the admission office at jbalak@lagunablanca.org or 805.724.0255.
|
|
SENIOR PROJECTS ARE NEXT WEEK! |
|
MONDAY, JUNE 14 (3-5:30PM)
TUESDAY, JUNE 15 (9-11:30AM)
The purpose of senior projects is for the student to depart from the conventional school day and to broaden their learning experiences outside the classroom. Students have two weeks to focus on furthering the pursuit of an interest they may already have, or gain hands on experiences in new areas of interests.
At the culmination of the project, students deliver formal presentations. This year, the presentations will be live-streamed via Zoom. Seniors also write and submit a Senior Project final assessment paper, which reflects their experiences and insights they may have gained during their projects.
Please find the presentation schedules for both days below, and tune in on Zoom to support the Class of 2021! |
|
OFF THEY GO!
CLASS OF 2021 COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES
|
|
We are so proud of the Class of 2021! Check out the full college acceptance list by clicking the button below. |
|
2021 SUMMER READING LISTS ARE HERE! |
|
Take advantage of the longer days and dive into a great book (or two) this summer. At Laguna, there is suggested summer reading for students in Grades EK-4 and required reading for students in Grades 5-12.
SIX BENEFITS TO SUMMER READING
- Improve Reading Skills.
- Increase Desire to Read.
- Improve Self-Esteem.
- Neutralize Summer Learning Loss.
- Improve Comprehension.
- Improve Memory Skills.
CLICK HERE for a list of summer reading by grade level. Then sit back, relax, and read under the sun!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
