We're so thankful to kick off the new year with our Laguna community! |
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TESTING
We are not implementing a surveillance testing program at this time. We encourage all families to utilize testing services through Aptitude at Earl Warren Showgrounds whenever required by the school or whenever you feel it
would be a good idea to be tested. Laguna Blanca students test for free through this service.
If you haven’t registered your child yet, you may do so in person when you arrive for testing. Delays can be shortened by pre-registering.
While we realize this may be an inconvenient step for your family, receiving accurate, streamlined test results in a timely manner is advantageous for our COVID team and benefit our community as a whole. If you are not able to test
through Aptitude, we still require PCR-level tests.
Earl Warren Showgrounds is located at 3400 Calle Real, Santa Barbara, CA 93105 (Use Entrance Gate B off Calle Real and follow the COVID testing signs.)
MASKING
To reduce the need for close contacts to quarantine and keep students safely in school, we will now require masks to be worn indoors and outdoors starting today (Friday, 1/7).
COVID SYMPTOM MONITORING
Thank you for monitoring your child for the following COVID-like symptoms and swiftly reporting positive COVID test results to our Health Coordinator Matt Miller. Contact your healthcare provider if you have any additional medical questions.
COVID SYMPTOMS
• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Nausea or vomiting or diarrhea
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INVITE A FRIEND TO OUR UPCOMING OPEN MIC MONDAYS SERIES! |
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Current and prospective families are invited to join us at the upcoming Virtual Open Mic Monday events. Each event will take place from 12:15-1PM.
JANUARY 10
LOWER SCHOOL CURRICULUM
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SCIENCE RESEARCH PROGRAM
JANUARY 24
KINDERGARTEN READINESS
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HUMANITIES & EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
JANUARY 31
COLLEGE COUNSELING
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HAVE YOU READ THE LATEST ISSUE OF LAGUNA BLANCA MAGAZINE YET?
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Be sure to check your mailbox for the Fall 2021 issue of Laguna Blanca Magazine! We also have extra copies on campus.
Happy reading!
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UPPER SCHOOL DRAMA PRODUCTION IS POSTPONED |
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Please stay tuned for new dates to be announced in the weeks to come. |
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SEVENTH GRADE TAKES PART IN EMPATHY WALK |
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Seventh graders are exploring themes of “Resilience and Resources” during the second quarter as they are woven into many of their class disciplines. In English, they are reading "A Long Walk To Water" by Linda Sue Park, in which the lead characters walk vast distances to escape war and to fetch life-giving water for their families. This morning, our seventh grade students took part in a 2-mile Empathy Walk at Ellwood Bluffs where they were encouraged to reflect on these journeys and engage more with the characters. |
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Dr. Hilary Johnson will teach the science and LEGO classes through the rest of the school year. We are so very fortunate to have Dr. Johnson rejoin our faculty team. In addition to teaching regularly at Laguna summer camp offerings, Dr. Johnson has also taught science at Laguna in the past. Dr. Johnson brings with her a strong work ethic, a love of teaching and learning, and an understanding of Laguna’s community.
Dr. Johnson holds a Ph.D. from UCSB in Teaching and Learning, Masters of Education from University of La Verne, a BA from University of La Verne, and is currently working toward a second Masters in Speech and Language at New York University, as she looks forward to becoming a speech and language pathologist. We are thankful that Dr. Johnson will be a part of our teaching team, stepping in during a challenging time.
As the year progresses, we will be in touch about the different ways in which we will honor the contributions and relationships Ms. Svedlund shared with our community.
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HEAD OF LOWER SCHOOL SEARCH PARENT MEETING IS NEXT TUESDAY, JANUARY 11 |
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Lower School Families,
Please check your email for details regarding John Mackenzie's upcoming Parent Zoom meeting. John is a partner at Eductors' Collaborative and is leading the search for our next Head of Lower School.
SAVE THE DATE
Tuesday, January 11
5:30 - 6:30PM
The Zoom link will be emailed with a reminder one day before the meeting. You do not need to RSVP.
We hope to see you there!
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NEW ERB TESTING DATES FOR GRADES 3 & 4 |
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Please note that ERB testing dates for Grades 3 & 4 have been rescheduled to the weeks of January 24 - 28 and January 31 - February 4.
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SECOND GRADERS MAKE NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS THIS WEEK |
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Second grade students in Mrs. Vance's class took some time earlier this week to brainstorm their hopes and dreams for the upcoming year! |
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LOWER SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATER PROGRAM BEGINS NEXT WEEK |
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Next Thursday, January 13, the Lower School musical theater program will begin under Lower School Music Teacher Molly Markstrum's direction. This is a program for students in Grades EK-4. Students will learn all about theater and the joy of storytelling. Their classes and rehearsals are packed with discovery: What is a playwright, a composer, a lyricist, an author? They learn about a stage, an audience, offstage, backstage, house, and more.
Students will learn how to be excellent collaborators and how to build kindness in our musical community. Students work with choreographers, directors, and stage and set managers, and even help to build the sets.
Pending COVID guidelines, students will present Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka Kids on Sunday, June 5 in Spaulding Auditorium on our beautiful Hope Ranch campus.
Please check your email for additional details about the LS theater program and rehearsal schedule.
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Lower and Middle School sub-varsity winter sports teams' seasons have concluded, as we have canceled interscholastic competitions and practices for the last week of their respective seasons.
Varsity teams will have no interscholastic competition through at least Friday, January 14. The first opportunity to resume varsity competition outdoors will be during the week of January 17; this decision will be made by the end of
next week. Masked, outdoor practices will resume next week under modified protocols.
We are making these changes for several reasons. All athletics present an elevated form of exposure risk to differing degrees. Long bus rides, crossing school communities, and one-on-one contact during play increase exposure risk.
Within our own community, we have learned that the county will recommend that we be especially cautious whenever there is a COVID exposure within a team setting.
We will continue to communicate with you frequently and keep you apprised of any updates to our protocols. Thank you for your understanding!
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ANNUAL ALUMNI COLLEGE PANEL PROVIDES GLIMPSE INTO COLLEGE LIFE |
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On Wednesday, January 7, Laguna's Upper School community logged onto Zoom for our annual Alumni College Panel. This always-popular program provides an opportunity for current Laguna students to hear from recent alums about their individual college experiences and get advice about their next steps in higher education.
Featuring former Laguna students studying at institutions all over the country, the panelists spoke on the highs and lows of college life, how to balance work and play, how college location plays into your overall experience, how to find a roommate, and much more.
Thank you to the following alum who graciously gave their time and wisdom to us this week!
Charlie Jacobs '20 – Cal Arts
Simon Lea '20 – Eastman School of Music at University of Rochester
Juliana Slater '20 – Tulane University
Kiki Tolles '20 – USC
Merith Velazquez-Jimenez '18 – Lehigh University
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WEEKLY TIP FROM DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING MATT STRUCKMEYER |
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The test-optional movement shows no signs of abating, and so this year’s juniors (as well as sophomores and freshmen) need to think about what they might send in place of test scores. More and more colleges will accept a video, sometimes in place of an essay, more often in addition to it. A one-minute video that highlights a talent or passion—in a clever, original way—can really help the authentic applicant shine through.
Check out the below link from Brown University, whose optional video is a good example.
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UPPER SCHOOL LUNCH VOLUNTEERS NEEDED |
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Laguna needs help at lunchtime! If you're interested in helping with the Upper School lunch service on Wednesdays or Thursdays, please reach out to Cynthia McClintock.
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LOOKING AHEAD
IMPORTANT DATES FOR ALL DIVISIONS
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LOWER SCHOOL
January 10
Open Mic Monday – Lower School Curriculum
January 11
LS Parent Zoom Meeting with John Mackenzie of Educators' Collaborative
January 13
LS Musical Theater Program Begins
January 14
Dress Down Day – Favorite College Team/Sports
January 17
Martin Luther King Jr. Day – School Closed
January 24
Open Mic Monday – Kindergarten Readiness
January 24 - 28
January 31 - February 4
Gr. 3/4 ERB Testing
please note new dates
February 18
Gr. EK-4 Family/Teacher Conferences; No School for Students
February 21
Presidents Day; School Closed
February 25
LS Trimester 2 Ends
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MIDDLE SCHOOL
January 10
Open Mic Monday –
Science Research Program
January 17
Martin Luther King Jr. Day – School Closed
January 24
Open Mic Monday – Humanities & Experiential Learning
January 31
Open Mic Monday –
College Counseling
February 18 & 21
Presidents Day Weekend; School Closed
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UPPER SCHOOL
January 10
Open Mic Monday –
Science Research Program
January 17
Martin Luther King Jr. Day – School Closed
January 18
Gr. 11 Virtual College Kick-Off
January 24
Open Mic Monday – Humanities & Experiential Learning
January 31
Open Mic Monday –
College Counseling
February 18 & 21
Presidents Day Weekend; School Closed
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