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| | Weekly Newsletter December 16, 2025Week 13 |
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Dear Anacapa Families,
We are thrilled to share some incredible news—thanks to your generosity, we have met our $10,000 Match Challenge! Every dollar pledged by our generous Anacapa family supporter has been unlocked, doubling the impact of your contributions.
But our journey isn’t over. We are still aiming for 100% participation from all families. We are at 80% participation as of right now. Every gift, no matter the size, counts—and we’ll be sure to let you know when we reach full participation!
To make this moment even more exciting, we now have a new $5,000 Match Challenge! Every dollar donated between now and the end of the year will be doubled up to $5,000, giving you the chance to make an even bigger impact.
If you haven’t participated yet, today is the perfect day to do so—no contribution is too small, and every donation brings us closer to both 100% participation and unlocking the new match. Please get them in before the end of the year so you can write them off on your 2025 taxes!
Donate today by clicking the DONATE button below or send a check directly to Anacapa School.
With gratitude, The Anacapa School Team |
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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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12/17 - Wednesday Activity - Festival of Lights
12/17 - Anacapa Movie Night - 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Find more information below.
12/19 - Holiday Celebration-11:30-12:30 pm Families welcome
1/27 - SBCC Dual Enrollment Parent & Student Education Night For Anacapa students rising into 9th–12th grade for the summer session at SBCC
January 27th | 5:30 PM–6:30 PM | Parent Education Webinar
Join us for an informative webinar led by Adam Rodriguez, Dual Enrollment Supervisor at Santa Barbara City College, to learn about SBCC’s Dual Enrollment opportunities for Anacapa students. Students entering 9th grade in Fall 2026 are eligible to begin taking SBCC courses as early as this summer, so understanding the process now is essential for planning the right academic path. Families will learn how students can get a head start on college or career pathways by taking SBCC courses that offer college credit and, in some cases, both high school and college credit simultaneously. Dual Enrollment classes provide increased academic rigor, access to a wider variety of subjects, and the chance to explore potential interests before graduation. The best part is that it's virtually free for local high school students.
With dual enrollment, Anacapa students can design a schedule that fits their goals and take ownership of the classes and experiences that inspire them.
We encourage all rising 9th–12th-grade families to attend and learn how to make the most of this valuable opportunity.
ONGOING
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| | UPCOMING12/19 - Holiday Celebration with EARLY RELEASE at 12:30 pm 12/22 - 1/6 - NO SCHOOL - Winter Holiday Break 1/7 - Classes resume 1/15 - Campus Tour and HOS Chat @ 8:30 am 1/27 - SBCC Dual Enrollment Parent & Student Education Night
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| | | | December
12/3 *Jacob 12/16 Ines 12/18 *Claudia 12/25 Andre |
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| Friday, December 17th - 5:30 - 8:00 pm Home Alone (The Original)
Students are welcome to bring friends from outside Anacapa. Please clear your guests with Jacob before the event.You are welcome to bring blankets, sleeping bags, pillows, etc.The movie will be screened on our outdoor projector, weather permitting.Pizza and movie snacks will be provided! |
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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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Middle School Update The middle school has been buzzing with excitement and collaboration this week! Students presented their Animal Mysteries projects, showcasing the surprising secrets, adaptations, and unanswered questions behind the creatures they’ve researched. They’ve been working hard to bring science, storytelling, and curiosity together in engaging presentations, and they did not disappoint!
Our literature circles held their third meeting, and it’s clear that students are becoming more confident discussion leaders — asking more profound questions, debating theories, and connecting clues as they uncover twists in their mystery novels. The enthusiasm in each group is contagious!
In science, students finished their posters on common causes of mutations and how to prevent them, unpacking what actually happens to our DNA when a mutation occurs. They also began to examine the different phases of mitosis, looking at how a cell behaves at different points during division, and practiced identifying what the cells would look like.
High School Update
Students have continued their foray into the world of organ systems! Each student chose an organ system to dive into in-depth, learning which organs are involved in the body's functions and what would happen if this system had problems. They’re being thoughtful about how to communicate scientific information, ensuring they research from reputable sources and present complex information in ways that are engaging and visually appealing. They’re going to present these to the class later in the week, giving students a chance to be the expert on a topic.
In Mari's Global Studies class, students have been learning about the five dynasties of Medieval China: Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan, and Ming. They've drawn maps; completed graphic organizers; watched animated films that put key figures such as Genghis Khan on "trial;" given presentations on major Chinese inventions; and debated the impacts, both positive and negative, of each dynasty on the world. Students have also learned about the Network of Connections that spanned Afro-Eurasia during this time—the Silk Road, Sand Roads, and Sea Roads—creating an interdependent web that facilitated trade and the transfer of knowledge. Students even "traveled" along the Silk Road themselves, stopping at various cities to describe in their travel logs, both through text and drawings, the geography, climate, and significant contributions of each area. We have moved on from medieval China to Sub-Saharan Africa. They are continuing their analytical writing and research skills.
New Trimester of Electives!
Our kiln is officially fixed!
This week, our ceramics students — and even those who didn’t finish their pieces in the last elective trimester — finally got to start glazing their artwork. The studio has been full of color, creativity, and excited energy as everyone brings their projects to life. We can’t wait to see the finished pieces come out of the kiln!
Rock Climbing!
Rock Climbing Elective is all about building confidence, strength, and thoughtful risk-taking—one hold at a time. Students learn essential climbing skills, such as proper belaying, knot-tying, and safe movement on the wall, while practicing communication and teamwork with their climbing partners. Each session challenges students to set goals, problem-solve routes, and keep trying even when a climb gets tough. It’s an energetic, supportive elective where students grow both physically and mentally—and celebrate progress with every climb.
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Last Wednesday’s All-School Activity – Holiday Decorating and Craft
Last Wednesday, our entire school participated in holiday decorating and making cards and candle holders! |
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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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