Laguna Blanca Lower School reopens

Nearly four months after the Jan. 9 debris flow forced it to close, the school reopened Monday with students unloading from a school bus and running through a tunnel of teachers joining hands at the entrance of the school playground.

Mr. Hereford told the News-Press that the reopening made him feel a wave of positive emotions like excitement, relief, gratitude. Mostly, he was glad for the students of Laguna Blanca.

"It's nice for our kids who had so much disruption, to be back in the place where they started the school year and to know they'll be able to finish here as well," he said.

After the students had a chance to play on their regular playground for the first time in months, the kids, parents and teachers gathered in the school's backyard for an assembly where Mr. Hereford thanked those whose efforts made the school year's continuation possible.

Following the Jan. 9 debris flow, the Lower School temporarily housed is students at Laguna Blanca's Hope Ranch campus, the location for its middle and high schools.

Mr. Hereford said that was not a viable long-term solution, as kids were being taught either outdoors or in corners of the Hope Ranch campus' gymnasium.

Eventually it was agreed that Girls Inc. in Goleta was the right place for the students to continue their education for the duration of the school's closure.

"Their facilities really match what we try to do in our program," Head of Lower School Andy Surber said.

Mr. Hereford said faculty members were allowed only four hours to pack up the classrooms and transport equipment to Goleta to set up their classrooms at Girls Inc.

During the assembly, Mr. Hereford thanked the Laguna Blanca faculty and maintenance crew for their swift, hard work.

As a gift of gratitude to Girls Inc., Mr. Surber presented a heart-shaped art piece made by Laguna Blanca students.

"This is a gift to Girls Inc., so when they walk back to their campus and they see this art piece, they can think of us and also how grateful we are for them sharing their spaces," Mr. Surber announced before requesting a round of applause.

As the assembly came to a close, the students split up into three groups to partake in rotating activities. One group enjoyed more recess, some enjoying themselves on the playground and others climbing a portable rock wall donated for the event by UCSB.

Another group made smoothies on a blender bicycle in honor of Earth Day, while the remaining group toured classrooms, now with all equipment restored.

Today marks Laguna Blanca Lower School's first regular day since January. Every Tuesday, school begins with an assembly not too different from the one at the beginning of Monday's celebration.

The school's oldest students, the 4th graders, close out each Tuesday assembly with a cheer, something Mr. Surber suspects they're looking forward to.

"With limited time left, they're really excited to close out their time here and lead that cheer," he said.