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| | Weekly Newsletter November 14, 2025Week 10 |
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Dear Anacapa Families,
We’ve raised $4,705 of our $10,000 goal, bringing us closer to unlocking the $10,000 matching challenge donation generously pledged by a current Anacapa family. Reaching this milestone means that every dollar donated up to $10,000 by December 31, 2025, will be doubled, effectively doubling your impact!
This year's Anacapa Annual Fund goal is $50,000. This matching opportunity gives us the chance to raise $20,000 towards that goal.
We encourage 100% participation from all families, no matter the size of your donation, every contribution counts. Every gift, large or small, brings us closer to unlocking the match and supporting our school community.
If you haven’t donated yet, please do so today by clicking the Donate button below or sending a check to the school. Together, we can make a big impact! |
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Goal to unlocking the matching gift |
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| | Every donation plays a vital role in enhancing our educational programs, upgrading classroom resources, supporting scholarships, and maintaining our vibrant school community. Annual Fund Slideshow
Why Donate? It's tax-deductible. Your gift improves technology, resources, and supports events that enrich student life. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a difference.
Every contribution makes a difference - thank you for your support! |
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| | | 11/19 - Wednesday All-School Activity - UCSB Geography Presentation on Weather & Wildfire / Urban Heat Mitigation 11/20 - Student Showcase and Open House - 5:30 pm 11/21- Thanksgiving Feast begins at 11:35 am with EARLY RELEASE at 12:35 pm - parents are invited to join the celebration - find more information below 11/24 - 11/28 - NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Break
SPIRIT WEAR FRIDAYS - Wear your ANACAPA hats, shirts and sweatshirts every Friday to show your Anacapa spirit! *Reminder: Late Start every Wednesday at 9:00 am. Campus opens at 8:45 am. |
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| | UPCOMING12/1 - Winter Electives Begin 12/3 - Wednesday Activity - Doggy Playdate 12/12 - Anacapa Movie Night - 5:30pm to 8:30pm. Official invitation will be sent out soon! 12/19 - Holiday Celebration with EARLY RELEASE at 12:30 pm 12/22 - 1/6 - NO SCHOOL - Winter Holiday Break
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November
11/3 Noah 11/10 Michal 11/25 *Diego 11/26 Alice
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We’re excited to invite you and your family to Anacapa School’s Fall Student Showcase & Open House, a joyful celebration of our students' creativity, passion, and artistic expression!
Thursday, November 20th
5:30 - 6:30 PM – Student Showcase
6:30 - 7:00 PM – Open House (for prospective families)
Join us for an inspiring evening featuring live performances by our student rock band, an impressive display of student artwork, and a warm, welcoming community atmosphere. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided.
All students are required to attend this event to show support for our talented musicians and artists!
RSVP: anacapa@anacapaschool.org or call 805-965-0228
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| | Thanksgiving Feast and Pie Baking Contest! |
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Friday, November 21st from 11:35 am - 12:35 pmPie Baking Competition Information: Bring the pie on Friday, 11/21. It can be any flavor or ingredients; BUT you must label if it contains nuts Only one pie entered per person No STORE BOUGHT pies! There will be a prize for first place!
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| Friday, December 12th - 5:30 - 8:00 pm
Students are welcome to bring friends from outside Anacapa. Please clear your guests with Jacob prior to the event.You are welcome to bring blankets, sleeping bags, pillows, etc.The movie is will be screened on our outdoor projector, weather permitted.Pizza and movie snacks will be provided!Movie will be announced this week! |
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| | Spring Break New York Trip Space is still available |
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| There is still time to sign up for the Spring Break trip to NYC! Contact us for more information and to sign up.
Dates: March 30th - April 4th, 2026. Guide: Edu Trips Chaperones: Mari Talkin & Edie Lanphar
If you think your student would be interested in participating, please let us know as soon as possible.
Financial aid may be available for those students who qualify.
If you would also be interested in helping to provide financial aid for students who otherwise might not be able to participate, please let me know. |
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New Offering: Career Week!
Please note that we have made a change to our yearly calendar. Because we added the middle school Mystery Trip to our slate of travel/ field trip programming this year, and because we've also added an optional Spring Break trip to NYC, we've decided not to run an all-school camping trip during the week of March 23rd - 27th. Instead, we will be offering a special "Career Week." This means that during that week, we'll have academic classes on campus in the mornings, and in the afternoons, students will attend internships we've arranged for them. We already have a list of offerings that include restaurants, design shops, nonprofits, artists, athletic directors, etc. If you have a business or organization, we’d love your help with Career Week!
More details will be forthcoming! |
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| | | | Biology The biology class started unpacking photosynthesis, and the relationship it has with cellular respiration to keep the environment healthy and running smoothly. After looking at the chemical reaction of photosynthesis and learning about environmental changes that can cause plants to generate more or less sugar from water and sunlight, students did an experiment where they watched photosynthesis happening in real time with spinach leaves, cutting them into small disks and then observing when enough oxygen was generated to make them float. |
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Performing Arts
In Performing Arts this week, students selected individual monologues that spoke to them personally and began developing thoughtful character backstories. We discussed motivation, emotional shifts, and the subtle choices that bring a character to life. Students have also started memorizing their pieces and receiving direction to strengthen their performance skills. We are thrilled to share that some of these monologues will be featured at our upcoming Student Showcase — we can’t wait for you to see the work they’ve been putting into their craft! |
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Middle School Literature Circles Have Begun! This week, students launched their first Literature Circle meetings—and they came ready. Groups dove into their mystery novels with thoughtful questions, active discussion, and genuine curiosity. Each student took on a rotating role, from Discussion Director to Connector, giving them a chance to lead, listen, and collaborate. It was impressive to see how quickly they settled into meaningful dialogue and supported one another’s ideas. We’re excited to watch their analytical skills—and their love of reading—grow as the unit unfolds. |
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Mystery Stories in the Making Our middle school writers are deep into crafting their original mystery stories, and the energy in the room is fantastic. Students are developing suspenseful plots, experimenting with red herrings, and learning how to keep readers guessing. They’re drafting, revising, and pushing their creative thinking as their stories take shape. It’s been exciting to watch their ideas grow more complex each day, and we’re looking forward to seeing where their mysteries lead next. |
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Mysteries of Plane Crashes Alisa continued her presentation on the mysteries of plane crashes. |
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Science This week the middle school students designed an experiment to see how changing the chemical environment impacts plant growth! They made their own chemical solutions, and even after a day in the flowers some of them are looking different! |
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Spanish In the middle school Spanish class, we started reading a Spanish book about a boy whose wish it is to play with a trompo, which is a type of spinning toy that’s popular in Mexico. |
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Gardening
In Gardening this week, we continued to care for our growing beds by adding a gentle fertilizer to support healthy plant development. The highlight of the week was harvesting our very first batch of snap peas! Students tasted the fruits of their hard work — and they were delicious. There was so much joy in seeing the garden begin to give back, and we are excited to keep tending, learning, and watching our plants flourish as the season continues. |
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Studio Art
This week in Studio Art, we ventured on a peaceful walking field trip to a nearby park to practice observational watercolor painting. Students found quiet spaces outdoors to sit, observe, and capture the colors and shapes of the natural world around them. It was a beautiful opportunity to slow down, notice the details in our environment, and translate those observations into soft, expressive watercolor studies. The calm and focus during this project made for a truly meaningful art experience. |
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Santa Barbara Public Library Teen Volunteer Time Do you need to earn community service hours? Become a teen volunteer at the library and help library staff and the library at large while earning your hours. We will meet at the upper level reference desk at the Central Library and start promptly at 4:15 PM on Thursdays. Due to high interest, pre-registration will guarantee your participation. Stop by just in case we have space for drop-ins! Can't make it Thursdays? Join us at the Eastside Library on Saturdays from 11am-12:30pm. No registration required! https://calendar.library.santabarbaraca.gov/events/upcoming?keywords=teen%20volunteer%20time
Peer Buddies Become a Volunteer Buddy! You will have the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with others your age, while learning about an array of learning styles.
The goal is that you will gain insight and broaden your perspective about neurodiversity. You will receive personalized training by our amazing staff, who will train you in strategies to help your buddy thrive socially. All sessions are based in the community, so skills are taught while having a blast!
High school and college-aged buddies may also earn community service hours and letters of recommendation. https://www.peerbuddies.com/volunteer
Volunteer Gardening | Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden
Join gardeners of all experience levels for a day of caring for the "Crown Jewel" of Santa Barbara, Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden. Parks staff will provide instruction in proper pruning, mulching, deadheading, and weeding techniques.
Volunteers will grow in their horticultural knowledge and skills while spending a day serving their community and giving a boost to this beloved park. Please bring sun protection, water to stay hydrated, and any hand tools or gloves that you may have. A limited supply of tools and gloves are available.
Drop in volunteers are welcome: every Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (4:00 p.m. from November 5 through March 4 for daylight reasons), every Thursday from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., every Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and the first Saturday of each month from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
For more volunteer opportunities, please visit SantaBarbaraCA.gov/ParkVolunteer.
YouthWell: Volunteer & Internship Opportunities Explore meaningful ways to get involved across Santa Barbara County! Twice a year, YouthWell hosts educational workshops for teens to learn about available volunteer and internship opportunities. Volunteer opportunities here.
Calling all College & Career Services staff: We encourage you to share this workshop with your students and attend alongside them! Please fill out the RSVP form if you plan to join.
Spread the word: Share this information with your network of youth and families. Everyone is welcome! |
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Featured Volunteer Opportunity Bucket Brigade – Humanitarian Farming & Gardening Project
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| | | | | | | | | Our next Cafe Anacapa is not until Thursday, February 5, 2026! |
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