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LAGUNA BLANCA SCHOOL

In September, the Lower School welcomed a new 
class of even younger students as part of its new 
early kindergarten pilot program. The curriculum will 
serve “young 5” students, or students who will turn
five-years-old during the 2014-2015 school year.
 Head of Lower School Andy Surber is very excited 
about the program and the opportunities it promises 
to both current families and those within the greater 
Santa Barbara area.
 “We’ve had many families approach the school 
looking for a more comprehensive educational 
approach for their four-year-old children,” Andy says. 
“They feel their children are ready for kindergarten 
learning, but they are not eligible due to cut-off 
dates.”
 Indeed, with the state of California placing 
stricter age requirements for kindergarten entry, 
pre-kindergarten programs are becoming increasingly 
popular. They allow students to gain an additional 
year of foundational learning while experiencing 
the social benefits of learning in a classroom 
environment.

“By having the option for students to join our 

community in early kindergarten, it allows them to 

make an even smoother transition to kindergarten 
and beyond,” Andy says. “With an intentionally small 
class size, and instruction from a lead teacher (Cori 
Cress) and full-time assistant (Mara Balak), we are 
able to meet students’ needs—both academically
and socially—in a very nurturing and caring
environment.”

As part of the pilot, our youngest students 

will follow a similar structure to Laguna’s popular 
kindergarten program, with homeroom and specialist 
offerings complete with unique themes. They will also 
enjoy core elements of art, music, physical education, 
science, Spanish, library and technology. 
 This year’s class will be limited to approximately 
10 students to allow for meaningful interaction
between the teachers and the class. The typical 
path for students after early kindergarten will be 
kindergarten placement, although a child who has 
made exceptional progress may be considered for 
first grade.
 For more information, contact Head of Lower 
School Andy Surber.

Laguna launches full day Early Kindergarten Program

OUR YOUNGEST 

STUDENTS ARE 

GETTING ... 

YOUNGER!

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9/10/14 4:03 PM