If there is one thing I have learned in my two years here at Laguna, it is that the
Laguna experience is an incredibly personal one. Part of that experience has been
steadfast since the school’s very beginning: the commitment our faculty members
share for the well-being of their students. It’s that sense, as described by grad
Pierce O’Donnell ’16, that his Laguna teachers wanted him to succeed even more
than he did; that every student will be met exactly where they are, and given exactly
what they need to thrive and succeed in the next chapter. In many ways, personal
connection is a cornerstone of the Laguna experience. And yet, it is not the only one.
A large part of the Laguna experience is ever evolving. It is that unshakeable desire
to revisit our curriculum in order to provide our students with the best possible tools to
succeed later in life. In many ways, the school is undergoing an exciting transition. We
have a renewed promise to ensure that there is no disconnect between the classroom
and the real world into which our students will enter when they leave Laguna for
college and beyond.
Our faculty’s enthusiasm in embracing this transition has been inspiring on many
levels. It has meant changing not just their class schedules, but the way they teach and
use time in or out of the classroom. They are constantly looking for new, relevant ways
to present information, and reaching out into the community to build bridges of real-
world learning for our children.
Whether it is through the Library Dances program (p. 10), our new robotics
curriculum (p. 20), the Swooper Citizens character education program (p. 6), or an
urban analysis and adventure in New Orleans (p. 16), our students are learning more
deeply and more meaningfully due in large part to our faculty’s willingness to learn
and grow alongside them. On that note, we are equally grateful to the many members
of our community who have invested in our school to make these programs a reality.
We could not do it without you.
In truth, the Laguna experience is unique to every student and family here
at our school. That’s because everyone in our community—our students, teachers,
parents and alumni—has a unique place within it. We are a great school on the cusp
of something even more amazing, and I look forward to seeing the collective outcome
of our shared vision.
Warm Regards,
Rob Hereford, Head of School
DEAR LAGUNA FAMILIES, ALUMNI AND FRIENDS,
LAGUNA
BLANCA
MAGAZINE | FALL 2016
CO-EDITORS
Tara Broucqsault
Lindsey Davis
COPY EDITORS
Tara Broucqsault
Lindsey Davis
Marcy Jacobs
Cynthia McClintock
WRITERS
Tara Broucqsault
Sam Buck
Lindsey Davis
Blake Dorfman ’02
Marcy Jacobs
Jessica Stonefield
PHOTOGRAPHY
Will Adler
Heidi Bergseteren
Tara Broucqsault
Paul Chiment
Lindsey Davis
Brad Elliott
Oscar Gomez
Camila Lemere
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Brittany Ragan
PRINTING
V3
Laguna Blanca Magazine is
published by Laguna Blanca School.
Every effort is made to avoid errors,
misspellings, and omissions. If,
however, an error comes to your
attention, please accept our
apologies and notify us at
tbrouc@lagunablanca.org.
Thank you.
Middle and Upper Schools
4125 Paloma Drive
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
T 805.687.2461
F 805.682.2553
Lower School
260 San Ysidro Road
Santa Barbara, CA 93108
T 805.695.8143
F 805.969.4783
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