PRIORITY REGISTRATION FOR SUMMER @ LAGUNA OPENS THIS TUESDAY, MARCH 1
FOR LAGUNA PARENTS, FAMILIES, AND FRIENDS
MARCH 1, 9AM THROUGH MARCH 5 AT 11:59PM

Just around the corner is Summer @ Laguna, where learning and fun collide. Summer 2022 features eight weeks of Laguna's favorite summer camps, such as Arts @ Laguna and Laguna LEGO Masters—plus a whole host of new offerings, which come in all different shapes and sizes to satisfy a wide range of ages and interests. The majority of our camps take place on Laguna Blanca's Hope Ranch campus, with 35 acres of fresh air and green space for campers to run, explore, learn, and grow. Our hallmark Lower School camp, Camp Cito, along with our new Laguna Explorer series is housed on our charming 2-acre Montecito campus.

All camps (excluding specialty camps, like The Great Outdoors and camps that run from July 5-8) are $375/week and run from 9AM-2:30PM DAILY, with snacks and lunch provided. Summer @ Laguna provides complimentary early drop-off along with robust aftercare options, including our new Sports & Fitness afternoon camps.

Click on the link below to learn more about our exciting, new camp offerings in ARTS, ACADEMICS, ADVENTURE & GAMES, LEGO, STEM, AND SPORTS & FITNESS.
MORE PLAY PRODUCTION PHOTOS ARE HERE!
SPRING BENEFIT
SATURDAY, APRIL 23
HOPE RANCH CAMPUS

Come together in friendship and community for a celebration of Laguna's very own "Triple Crown" and cheer on our exceptional Lower, Middle, and
Upper Schools!

We are excited to bring the party back on campus and need your help. Here's how! Become an event sponsor or donate items of all kinds - services, sign-up events, merchandise, vacation homes, excursions, and more.

Sara Loncki & Katy Powers
Event Chairs
SAFETY PROTOCOL UPDATES
INDOOR MASKING FOR LOCAL SCHOOLS REMAINS UNCHANGED
We have been notified that the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department will rescind the indoor masking order effective Wednesday, February 16, 2022, in alignment with the State’s Health Officer Order. The notification states, “Please note that universal masking will remain required in specified settings including, but not limited to, public transit, indoors in K-12 schools, childcare, shelters, healthcare settings, correctional facilities, and other care facilities.” Therefore, Laguna Blanca students, faculty, staff, and guests are still required to wear masks while indoors. Laguna Blanca students, faculty, staff, and guests are not required to mask outdoors unless in crowded outdoor settings, and for activities where there is prolonged close contact with others, ie: gatherings in Ruston Amphitheatre or playing on the playground in close proximity to others at the Lower School. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding!

TESTING
We encourage all families to utilize testing services through Aptitude at Earl Warren Showgrounds whenever required by the school or when you feel it would be a good idea to be tested. Laguna Blanca students test for free through this service.

If you are not able to test through Aptitude, we still require PCR-level tests.

Aptitude test results will now be available at 9PM on the date tested if submitted by the cut-off time (2:30PM for Santa Barbara site). The samples collected after the cut-off time will yield results by 2PM the next day.

COVID SYMPTOM MONITORING
Thank you for monitoring your child for the following COVID-like symptoms and swiftly reporting positive COVID test results to health@lagunablanca.org. 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
SOCK CLUB AND HUMANITIES STUDENTS VOLUNTEER FOR SANTA BARBARA POINT IN TIME COUNT
Students from the SOCK Club and the Humanities Program were out in the cold before sunrise on Wednesday morning to help with the city’s Point in Time count, which serves as a census for community members experiencing homelessness. Teams of students and chaperones were paired with CityNet employees. The teams canvassed a large area of the Eastside and Lower Riviera on foot and in cars. The groups used an app to tally numbers of folks living in cars and out on the streets, tried to engage with them, and offered them care kits. Thank you to Ms. Tidey, who organized the effort, as well as Profa Finck, Mr. Dorfman, and parent Jim Morouse for coming along!
UPPER SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHY STUDENTS
Upper School students in photography class have recently worked on a variety of exciting projects. Exploring elements of photography such as composition, perspective, and mirroring, these student photographers have captured "bird's eye views," portraits in black and white, and created photomontages inspired by exemplar artist David Hockney.

Students featured top row L-R: Natalie Schweitzer '25, Harrison Jones '22, Kai Suzuki '22, Bottom row: Serena de Ponce '25.
FINDING BALANCE IN OUR SOCIAL MEDIA WORLD TUESDAY, MARCH 1
Please join us for our second Family Film Series: Dinner and Discussion. 

Our next featured film is LIKE, which explores the impact of social media on our lives and the effects of social media on the brain. Understanding that virtual connection is not going away and has many benefits, the film’s goal is to inform, educate, and inspire people of all ages to self-regulate so they can enjoy balanced and fulfilled lives.
 
On February 23, students in Grades 5-12 watched the film during advisory time. Until March 1, the film will be available to all current Laguna families for viewing. On the evening of March 1, special guest Doreen Dodgen-Magee, award-winning speaker, author, and psychologist will join us for a virtual discussion and Q&A about the film and offer solutions to finding balance in our digital world.
 
Who: All EK-12 Families (geared towards parents)
Date: Tuesday, March 1
Time: 6:30-7:30PM
 
RSVPs appreciated, but not required: Kim Valentine. The Zoom link will be sent closer to the event.
(Viewing Tips: Click on The Virtual Event, enter email & create pw, then enter livestream to watch film)
LAGUNA BLANCA PRESENTS AN EVENING WITH DR. WENDY SUZUKI NEXT WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2
So many of us are dealing with heightened levels of anxiety after living through two years of the pandemic. What if we could work with our anxiety rather than against it and use it to be more productive, more optimistic, more creative, and ultimately more resilient?
 
Laguna Blanca is thrilled to welcome world-renowned neuroscientist and author Dr. Wendy Suzuki, who has found a way to unlock the potential of anxiety to be a benefit instead of a drawback. Drawing from Suzuki’s personal experience with anxiety and cutting-edge neuroscience research, her book GOOD ANXIETY: Harnessing the Power of the Most Misunderstood Emotion shows how simple but powerful shifts in mindset and tangible, practical strategies can help to transform social anxiety, fear of performance, or fear of public speaking into positive and empowering assets. Her accessible and comprehensive approach offers hands-on, evidence-based tools to harness the power of anxiety and cultivate calm, confidence, and compassion. This free community event takes place on Wednesday, March 2 at 6pm at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.

Laguna Middle and Upper School students, as well as faculty and staff will have dedicated time with Dr. Suzuki next week.
MOCK TRIAL COMPETITION IS THIS SATURDAY, 2/26!
After nearly five long months of legal preparation and working with local attorneys who volunteer their time, Laguna Blanca’s Mock Trial Team—a student club open to students in Grades 9-12—will compete this Saturday, February 26 in the annual all-day Santa Barbara County Mock Trial competition. All parents and friends are invited to the Awards Ceremony that will take place via Zoom following the competition. Please contact Teacher Coach Jessica Tyler for further information.
 
The students will serve as defenders, prosecutors, witnesses, clerk, and bailiff in a trial regarding Murder and Manslaughter, featuring a pretrial argument on the 4th Amendment.
 
Best of luck to the following members of the Mock Trial team, and a special thank you to our Co-Teacher and Lead Attorney Coach Neil Levinson, District Attorney Coaches Sarah Barkley and Shelly Mossembekker, and Attorney Coach Katy Graham. We so appreciate the time and expertise you shared with our students, which provided them with a unique introduction to the legal system and a memorable experience.
PROSECUTION TEAM
 
Pretrial Attorney
Robert (Robbie) Dunn '23
 
Attorneys
Jackson (Jack) Andrews '23     
Jackson Baltes '24
 
Witnesses
Frances Blevins '25
Eleanor Crafton '25
Kent Dunn '23     
Hudson Mayfield '23
 
Clerk
Madalyn (Maddie) Becerra '25
DEFENSE TEAM
 
Pretrial Attorney
Dylan Charney '24
 
Attorneys
Claire Kellett '23
George Nicks '22
 
Witnesses
Jesus Delgado '24
Jayla Provance '24
Jade Silva '23 
Ethan Somer '25
 
Bailiff
Ryan Kim '25
 
Defense Team Participant
Aidan Cohen '24
GRADES 7-12 MOVIE NIGHT IS ON MONDAY, 2/28!
Laguna students in Grades 7-12 are invited to watch Marvel's Black Panther, which will include a discussion on the significance of this movie, Afrofuturism, and the importance of diverse representation in media. Pizza and drinks will be provided. Masks required inside.

Please email Ms. Chan if you plan to attend, but no RSVP is required.
UPPER SCHOOL MOVIE NIGHT IS ON MARCH 4!
Upper School students are invited to watch Ratatouille by the tennis courts on the evening of Friday, March 4. This fun event will raise funds for the Spring Fling dance, which is themed Full Bloom and will take place on the Athletic Fields at 7PM on March 12. For a $15 entry, students will receive two slices of pizza, popcorn, and a drink. Food service begins at 6:30 and the movie starts at 7!

Questons? Contact Mr. Dorfman.
EK-12 FIELD DAY IS ON FRIDAY, MARCH 18
Stay tuned for more details!
LOS PADRES CLUB SPRING TRIP DETAILS
LBS Los Padres Club Spring Trip
March 28 - April 1
Location: Manzana Schoolhouse Camp, Los Padres National Forest

Laguna Blanca works in partnership with the Los Padres Forest Association to offer a working vacation each spring. Laguna students backpack to a selected location within the National Forest to perform trail maintenance, which can be applied to their community service hours requirement. All equipment and expertise is supplied by the LFPA, who typically send one or two adults to join Laguna’s faculty chaperones on the 4-night expedition. It’s an unforgettable way to spend spring break and to give back to the local forest! 

The trip is open to students in Grades 9-12 who are interested in camping, hiking, and trail maintenance. Trip fee is $250 with a $100 deposit due by March 14. 

If you have questions or would like to participate, please contact Harrison Jones, George Nicks, or Mr. Struckmeyer.
O.W.L. TEACHER HIGHLIGHTS
Below are the three teachers featured in this week's O.W.L (Our Weekly Learning) Post by Director of Teaching and Learning Anna Alldredge!
Upper School History Teacher Kevin Guay embeds media creation into his curriculum. In Kevin’s Broadcast Project, his Civilizations students produced news broadcasts detailing aspects of an ancient civilization.
Upper School Math Teacher Jenn Pardue emphasizes concept transfer in her classroom. In Jenn’s Geometry Proof Project, her students demonstrated their mastery of geometry’s “statements” and “justifications” by presenting step-by-step hobby instructions.
Upper School Spanish Teacher Arturo Flores combines STEAM and language instruction. Arturo’s Spanish students construct and play ukuleles, all the while practicing their fluency by singing songs in Spanish.
The Lower School will celebrate the 100th day of school on Tuesday, March 1 with collections and cupcakes! Check the instructions your child received from their teacher for bringing in their 100-item collections.
SECOND GRADE CELEBRATES 2.22.22
Second grade students in Mrs. Vance and Mrs. Anderson's classes celebrated "Twosday" with a math scavenger hunt, in which the kids hunted down friends who could solve various problems involving 2s. They also made celebratory Twosday ribbons as keepsakes!
LOWER SCHOOL VIRTUAL GRANDFRIENDS' DAY IS MARCH 11!
Please note: Grandfriends' Day will be a half-day for Lower School students, with dismissal at noon. Bus service to the Hope Ranch campus will be available for regular bus riders.
UPCOMING ATHLETIC SCHEDULE
UPPER SCHOOL
Monday, February 28
Girls Varsity Sand Volleyball vs La Reina at Laguna (3:30PM)
 
Thursday, March 3
Girls Varsity Sand Volleyball vs San Marcos at Laguna (3:30PM)
Girls JV Sand Volleyball vs San Marcos at Laguna (4:30PM)
Boys Varsity Volleyball vs Cate at Laguna (5PM)
 
Friday, March 4
Boys Varsity Tennis vs Santa Barbara HS at Laguna (3:30PM)
 
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Tuesday, March 1
Girls Basketball, Team Bidlow vs Santa Barbara MS at Laguna (3:45PM)
Boys Volleyball, Team Sandholdt vs Ojai Valley at Laguna (3:45PM)

Thursday, March 3
Girls Basketball, Team Ruiz vs Crane at Crane (3:45PM)
Boys Volleyball, Team Deux-el vs Team Sandholdt at Laguna (3:45PM)
 
LOWER SCHOOL
Wednesday, March 2
Gr. 4/5 Co-Ed Volleyball vs Riviera Ridge at Laguna (3:45PM)
All Upper School athletes are invited to join us at this special event. Enjoy season summaries from coaches, meet student-athletes, celebrate our coaches and teams, and recognize our senior athletes!
TIP FROM THE COLLEGE COUNSELOR
Columnist Frank Bruni, author of “Where You Go is Not Who You’ll Be,” says that college is an ideal time to move outside of your comfort zone. I totally agree! It’s easy to play it safe by staying close to home, established friendships, and activities that are familiar. It’s possible that the more uncomfortable one feels—in new surroundings, making new friendships, exploring new material—the more one will be forced to grow and adapt. College should be a life-changing experience, and seeking out the unfamiliar is a good way to promote this. 
LOOKING AHEAD
IMPORTANT DATES FOR ALL DIVISIONS
LOWER SCHOOL

February 25
LS Trimester 2 Ends

March 1
100th Day of School

Finding Balance in our Social Media World Family Virtual Event

Priority Registration for Summer @ Laguna opens for Laguna families

March 2
An Evening with Dr. Wendy Suzuki at SB Museum of Natural History

March 5
Priority registration for Summer @ Laguna closes at 11:59PM

March 11
LS "Virtual" Grandfriends' Day; half day for students

March 13
Daylight Saving Time Begins

March 15
Open Registration begins for Summer @ Laguna

March 17
Dress Down Day
St. Patrick’s Day Theme

March 18
EK-12 Field Day at Hope Ranch; half-day for students

March 21 - April 1
Spring Break; Classes Resume on April 4
MIDDLE SCHOOL

February 28
Gr. 7-12 Movie Night

March 1
Finding Balance in our Social Media World Family Virtual Event

Priority Registration for Summer @ Laguna opens for Laguna families

March 2
An Evening with Dr. Wendy Suzuki at SB Museum of Natural History

March 4
Gr. 7 & 8 Outdoor Dance (Spring Back to the 80's theme)

March 5
Priority registration for Summer @ Laguna closes at 11:59PM

March 13
Daylight Saving Time Begins

March 15
Open Registration begins for Summer @ Laguna

March 18
EK-12 Field Day at Hope Ranch; half-day for students

March 21 - April 1
Spring Break; Classes Resume on April 4
UPPER SCHOOL

February 28
Gr. 7-12 Movie Night

March 1
Finding Balance in our Social Media World Family Virtual Event

Priority Registration for Summer @ Laguna opens for Laguna families

March 2
An Evening with Dr. Wendy Suzuki at SB Museum of Natural History

March 4
Upper School Movie Night

March 5
Priority registration for Summer @ Laguna closes at 11:59PM

March 12
Upper School Outdoor Spring Fling Dance (Full Bloom theme)

March 13
Daylight Saving Time Begins

March 15
Open Registration begins for Summer @ Laguna

March 18
EK-12 Field Day at Hope Ranch; half-day for students

March 21 - April 1
Spring Break; Classes Resume on April 4

March 28 - April 1
LBS Los Padres Club Spring Trip