Laguna Blanca School
"It is a school to which one very easily becomes attached." 1937 La Honda Yearbook To schedule a campus tour, please contact 805.724.0255.
✨🎭 Brava to Dana Caldwell, this year’s shining star and recipient of Laguna’s Faculty Excellence Award! 🎉 Since 1988, this award has honored exceptional teaching and over and beyond dedication to Laguna and its students.
From captivating fifth graders to inspiring seniors, Dana’s relentless enthusiasm and positivity light up every classroom. Her leadership has transformed our theater program into a vibrant community where students discover new passions, build lasting bonds, and find their confidence under the spotlight. 🌟 They learn that grinding through long evening rehearsals and working on weekends is absolutely worth every second. They also learn that it can be fun if approached in the way Ms. Caldwell does, knowing that hard work done together builds character and community.
Dana, you are rare and wonderful, and your performance truly steals the show! 👏💖👏 Join us in applauding Dana Caldwell’s outstanding work and the magic she brings to Laguna Blanca 💫
Endless thanks to this beloved team for our beautiful campus 💞🌟🫡
Summer is calling, and Summer @ Laguna is the answer! 🌞 Whether it’s exploring nature with Laguna Explorers, embracing your inner Swiftie at Swift Camp, or tie-dyeing at Camp Old School, your summer adventure is waiting. Click the link below to sign up for one of the last slots in these fun-filled camps today!
https://www.ultracamp.com/clientlogin.aspx?idCamp=1150&campCode=LBS
Dive into a world of endless possibilities this summer by reading a great book (or two)! At Laguna, there is suggested summer reading for students in Grades EK-4 and required reading for students in Grades 5-12. Click the link below for the full list, and let your imagination soar with every page turned! 📚☀️📖
https://www.lagunablanca.org/summer-reading
How exciting! Laguna 2002 alum Greg Feitt and his partner Jen Lemberger are the new owners of Santa Barbara’s beloved Chaucer’s Bookstore! Despite the rise of corporate giants like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Borders, Chaucer’s has thrived and will celebrate its 50th anniversary this November. Click the link for the full story. 📚🦉📚
https://www.independent.com/2024/06/10/the-next-chapter-chaucers-books-in-santa-barbara-sold-after-50-years/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZjuNiW28dtjA7RhGXbZO0syg-HBQje5mb6gCEnTS52el3XiKE6SQDeLAE_aem_Ab1CE97hy3QN7Y6cS3wTqLd2dtclz4sHJfpzbMXGHvW_jK1rfcX2DTyuNZwAAgMgrMYt5yNHyQSuovTkplFG2n8b
Big cheers for our eighth graders—poised for success and ready to soar into high school! 😎🎉💙🤍💙💪😎
Yesterday, seventh and eighth grade students shared their original children’s stories with our fifth grade students! For this project, the older students delved into the enchanting realm of children’s literature. They immersed themselves in timeless classics, dissecting story structures and studying the magical literary devices that commonly bring children’s literature to life, such as personification and onomatopoeia. Empowered to let their creativity soar, each student crafted their own narrative, weaving tales of adventure, resilience, and camaraderie with titles like “Finding Treasure,” “The Sheep that Never Gave Up,” and “The Odd Dragon Out.”
📸: Michelle Finck
The beauty of our campus always leaves us inspired. 🍃✨🍃
We can almost taste summer!☀️😎☀️
The 2023-24 La Honda Yearbook was unveiled today at assembly. Congratulations to the hardworking and talented staff for a beautiful and fun issue that captures our 90th school year in a 90’s theme!
The senior class dedicated this year’s edition of La Honda to Ms. Staci Richard for her years of dedication to molding owls into scientists. “We love you and wish you the best in your retirement from Laguna!” the class says.
Two alums from the Class of 2020 dropped by campus on Friday to say hello…nothing fills our hearts with more joy than welcoming Owls back to the nest and hearing about their amazing journeys! 🦉💖 Caetano Perez-Marchant just graduated from Harvey Mudd with a BS in Chemistry and is heading to UMass Amherst for his PhD in polymer science and engineering! 🧪🎓 We’re so proud of your incredible journey, Caetano! Kai Nakamura just graduated from Caltech in computer science and is off to TX to work for SpaceX! Your achievements are out of this world, Kai! 🚀💻 💙🤍
We would love to hear from more of you! 📣 Please email [email protected] with updates and pictures! 📧📸
Did someone say doughnuts? 🍩 Laguna Alum Tommy Chang ‘06 (pictured on right) and his business partner Will Chen were recently featured in Noozhawk’s Business section as the owners of successful doughnut startup Kin Bakeshop in Goleta, which specializes in mochi and brioche doughnuts.
Kin is not an average doughnut shop. Every day it’s open, lines out the door of over 100 people form and there can be a wait time for as long as two hours for their delicious treats.
Chang’s is a heartwarming tale of hometown pride and entrepreneurial ingenuity. “The doughnuts are sweet, but they pale in comparison to Chang and Chen, both of whom exude kindness, authenticity and warmth,” says Noozhawk editor Joshua Molina. “Their restaurant is not just about doughnuts; it’s about culture.”
Click the link below to read the full story. Proud Owl Moment!
https://www.noozhawk.com/bizhawk-new-kin-doughnut-shop-proving-to-be-worth-the-wait-up-to-2-hours/
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Nine Upper School students presented their culminating Humanities Research projects yesterday evening in the Isham Library at the Humanities Research Program Capstone Showcase. From unraveling the complexities of American education to shedding light on the challenges of mental health in student athletes, students explored pressing societal issues. Insights on the current media landscape and the American industrial prison complex also added to the discourse among other critical topics. The presentations were even capped by a mini theatrical performance!
The showcase was a true testament to the students’ dedication to scholarly inquiry. Special thank you to Humanities Research Program Coordinator Ashley Tidey as well as Alethea Paradis, and congratulations to these hardworking students for their vision and dedication to such meaningful projects!
The 8th Grade co-ed flag football team put an impressive exclamation point on their perfect season, closing with a 38-12 victory over Crane in the Coastal Athletic League championship game this afternoon. The Owls finished 9-0 after last season’s championship game defeat, achieving their mission to rebound with a league title. 💪
GO OWLS! 💙🥇🥳
Today, sixth grade students indulged in a lavish Roman Banquet, marking a memorable culmination of their studies of ancient civilizations. Dressed in togas, the class enjoyed delicious fare while parents provided table service. Adding to the festive atmosphere, Upper School Latin students provided entertainment.
Congratulations to our plucky fourth, fifth, and sixth grade mathletes who took part in today’s South County Math Super Bowl at Earl Warren Showgrounds! 360 students representing 30 schools took part in four rounds of competition (two individual rounds and two team rounds).
In the individual competition, Annabelle Zhang took first place in the fourth grade competition and the fourth grade team took fifth place in the team competition. Big congratulations to all participants for their hard work and dedication preparing for this event for the past two months, and special thanks to Mr. MacNaughton for leading the after school prep program for our students! 🏅💯🎉
Last week marked the final Upper School student-athlete lunch at the Lower School of the year!
The four US Owls were Sophie Otte ‘26 (indoor and beach volleyball), Brady Clifford ‘26 (indoor and beach volleyball), Bennett Sullivan ‘26 (swimming), and Eric Feng ‘27 (swimming), who kindly took time away from classes and social activities to engage with the Little Owls during lunch and free play. Their presence once again created a fun and engaging experience for both groups, sparking lively conversations among the EK-4 students about their own sports experiences and interests. The younger kids loved the opportunity to interact with their big buddies from Hope Ranch!
📸: Matt Steinhaus
HUGE shoutout to our talented student artists Olivia, Tatiana, Sam, and Milton for their jaw-dropping tiger piece at the I Madonnari Street Painting Festival over Memorial Day weekend! Go check it out at the Old Mission Santa Barbara where Madonnari (artists) transform the pavement into vibrant canvases! 🎨✨🐯 🤩👏
Today we’re highlighting Laguna Blanca alum Richard Dibblee ‘41 🇺🇸 Can you spot him in the front row of his graduation photo? After his time at Laguna, he became a pilot in the Army Air Force and was tragically shot down over the Pacific on May 8, 1945. This Memorial Day, let’s remember the true purpose of the holiday: to honor heroes like Richard who gave their lives for our country. 🌺
The annual Laguna Invitational Relays took place last week, marking another memorable showing for the Middle School track & field team. Joining the Owls were teams from Riviera Ridge, Montecito Union School, and Santa Barbara Middle School, which added to the excitement of the afternoon. Coach Robitaille—the visionary behind this event over four decades ago—directed the meet, which was filled with spirited competition and camaraderie. Congratulations to Coach Robitaille, Middle School Track Coach Mr. Briggs, and every member of the Owl roster for their dedication in upholding this Laguna tradition and making it a success!
📸: Ana Fallon
From making pizzas to making books! 🍕📚 Our 2nd graders and 11th graders teamed up for an incredible cross-curricular adventure this year. This fall, they learned the art of pizza-making at CPK, and this spring, they’re creating personal books. A perfect blend of creativity and collaboration! 💫
After receiving insightful letters from Laguna’s eighth grade history students about local community issues, Santa Barbara Mayor Rowse reached out to teacher Ms. Sonbudtasan to hold a town hall-style discussion with our eighth graders. This initiative stemmed from their reading of “They Called Us Enemy,” where a character, despite having his rights violated, deeply believed in our democracy.
To bring this belief to life, students sent letters to various policymakers, showcasing our “people’s democracy” and our right to voice opinions. Mayor Rowse’s response is a testament to the power of student voices and civic engagement! Go Owls!
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Congratulations to Hadleigh Bolton ‘27 (pictured on the left) who recently won the U16 women’s double championship through Santa Barbara Community Rowing with partner Jacie Dingman from Dunn School. The two have been rowing together all year and have been dominant in this category this spring. This competition was the Regional Junior Rowing finals for California, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada, with participation from hundreds of young rowers. Proud Owl Moment!
For any Laguna students in Grades 7-12 who are interested in participating with Hadleigh on Laguna’s club rowing team in the 2024-25 school year, please email [email protected]. There is also still room in the “Learn to Row Camp” offered via Summer @ Laguna, from August 5-9. Click the link in our bio to learn more!
🎢 Our Eighth Graders took a thrilling ride into the physics of roller coasters at Six Flags this week! 🚀 They explored Newtonian mechanics and experimental design firsthand, all while enjoying Magic Mountain’s exclusive science-focused day. 🔬 Missed the crowds and doubled down on the fun! Check out the last pic of Mr McGarry! 🤣🎢🔬 🤘
From admiring older actors to becoming one: meet Laguna senior Noah Dehli, who is playing the lead role of Ren McCormack in the upcoming production of Footloose: The Musical with Lights Up! Theatre Company. 🎭 Noah is excited for the journey ahead at Stanford, but for now, he is soaking in the magic of the Light’s Up! collaboration alongside younger talents like 14-year-old Rylan Nelson. It’s all about passing on knowledge and growing together. 🌟 Check out the link in our bio for the story by The Independent. And mark your calendars to see Noah cut loose along with fellow Laguna students Dylan Charney ‘24, Léo Michaud ‘27, and Teddy Wilson ‘26 on May 24-26 at the Lobero Theatre, with the younger cast performing May 24 at 7 p.m. and May 25 at 1 p.m. and the older cast performing May 25 at 7 p.m. and May 26 at 1 p.m. lobero.org.
🎶💃 .ship
Last night, our Lower School Spring Art Show and Concert whisked us away into a magical realm of ‘Once Upon a Time’! 🌟✨ From enchanting tunes to mesmerizing artwork, every moment was a fairy tale come to life! 🎨🎶 So proud of our talented community—students and teachers alike! 🫶
Thursday hang…
Last week, Our Upper School Marine Science students embarked on an expedition to the Hollister Ranch Conservancy Tide Pool School.
Amidst the beauty of these untouched tide pools, the group encountered an array of fascinating organisms, from sea urchins, kelp crabs, and chitons to two-spotted octopi, sea stars, and an array of kelp variants. Students were led by docents that included UCSB fourth-year students, which fostered meaningful interactions and an enjoyable learning experience.
Students have delved into topics such as marine adaptations in class and are currently learning about and dissecting various organisms. They are also embarking on an exploration of conservation efforts aimed at protecting marine life.
Thank you to for hosting such a memorable field trip! 🐙🌊🦀🪸🩵
📸: Maria Petueli Miller
Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! 🍎 We are incredibly thankful for our talented educators who inspire curiosity and foster learning every single day. Your dedication shapes the future!
Bringing a little horsepower to our Monday 🐎 💫
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4125 Paloma Drive
Santa Barbara, CA
93110
7421 Mirano Drive
Santa Barbara, 93117
Santa Barbara's only authentic Montessori school, SBMS has been helping children and families realiz
925 De La Vina Street
Santa Barbara, 93101
We teach reading, comprehension, and math. We help students learn to their potential.