News From Laguna

News From Laguna Elementary School

By Dr. Brooke Williams, Ed.D, Principal Spring is here and we are busier than ever learning and having fun at Laguna Elementary School! As a preschool through 5th grade STEAM School, we focus on Science Technology, Engineering, The Arts, and Math. We encourage our students to collaborate, think critically, think creatively, and communicate with their peers. We are fortunate enough to have a state of the art Makerspace, which spans two classrooms. Here, students can plan, create, and implement amazing inventions!

Most recently, our school received the “Hometown Favorite” Trophy for our float in the Parada Del Sol Parade. Our students, along with teachers and parents, crafted an amazing float that was “STEAM: Out of This World!” Our students got to walk in the parade and show off their creation. The Parada Del Sol Committee recently presented us with a personalized plaque, which is proudly displayed in our office.

Even during Covid, we managed to involve parents and families on campus. Families “visit” our classrooms as virtual “Mystery Readers,” read books, and chat with our students, which is lots of fun! We have also had “Family Math Night” for the past three years and just enjoyed another Family Math Night just last month. Our students love this hands-on approach to math and playing games with their families!

We just had our annual “Laguna Laps” and again, outraised our funding goal! Our students learned about health, fitness, and team-work all week, as they raised money for special programs at Laguna. Last year, even during Covid, we raised the most money at Laguna and set a new record! We are forever grateful to our families and community for supporting Laguna and its students. Thank you, everyone!

One of the special programs we have at Laguna which sets us apart from other schools is our full-time Reading Specialist. She and her team “push-into” classes and work with small groups on specialized skills. Then, in the afternoons, they “pull-out” small groups into their newly designed “Reading Lab,” where they work on special skills in another small setting. We have already seen great strides in many students, especially those who fell behind due to the “Covid gap.” We are lucky to have a full-time Reading Specialist and team at our school!

We are getting ready to take our 5th graders to STEAM Camp, which is often their first sleepaway experience. Students will get to sleep in cabins, study under the stars, go on nature walks, and bond with their parents, teachers, and friends. It’s a once in a lifetime experience for everyone involved. Our students have not been able to go in over two years, so you can imagine how excited the students are about it this year!

We are slowly allowing visitors back on campus which is exciting for all of us, especially our students! So, if you feel the need to volunteer, feel free to call our front office and find out about exciting new opportunities, or call and see if there are things you do or donate to help your local school!