Introducing Laguna's New Family Association President, Raffaella Sutherland

We are thrilled to announce Raffaella Sutherland as the new Family Association President for the 2024-25 school year!

Raffaella has extensive marketing and project management experience bringing brands and products to life in the beauty and travel industries. Most recently, she worked temporarily in Laguna's communications office. She is trilingual and has lived in Italy, U.K., Switzerland, and New York prior to moving back to Santa Barbara. She has a B.A. with honors in Politics & International Relations from the University of Kent, U.K, and a masters in Business from the London School of Economics. In her free time, you will find her enjoying the beach, hiking, and volunteering for Laguna Blanca. Raffaella and her husband, Neil, have a daughter at Colgate University and a ninth and eleventh grader at Laguna Blanca.

Learn more about Raffaella and her vision for her new role below!

My family and I have lived in several places, including Switzerland, Italy, the UK, and both US coasts. Our two eldest were born in the UK, and our youngest in Santa Barbara. After nine years in New York, we returned to California two years ago when our eldest daughter graduated from high school. From the start, Laguna Blanca felt like the perfect fit, not just for its academic excellence, but also because we quickly realized how much we have in common with the other families.

 

I love helping whenever I can. Knowing how hard moving to a new town and school can be, I joined the FA to run the Interest Groups to bring parents together. This year, I have taken on a bigger role and am excited to support our faculty, staff, and students by building a stronger connection between parents and the school, while also fostering our parent community. 

 

We love bringing people together and having fun, and it's a fantastic way to meet other parents across all grades and divisions, especially if you're new to Laguna Blanca. Whether you can volunteer a little or a lot, we're grateful for your support. You can help serve lunch, be a grade representative, assist with class events, pitch in at the Family Festival, or join a Golden Oak Gala committee. There are plenty of ways to get involved throughout the year, and the best way to stay informed is by checking the MyLaguna Family Association resource board or following us on Instagram at @LagunaBlancaFA.

 

Having experienced the challenges of moving to a new town and school firsthand, I understand how overwhelming it can be. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions, and be sure to join us at our events to connect with other parents. I know some of our new Owls might feel nervous about their first day of school next week, but grade trips are a fantastic way for them to bond with their peers. I still remember our ninth grader’s anxious face as he boarded the bus to Monterey two years ago when he joined Laguna Blanca. Yet he returned three days later, laughing and joking with the boys he now calls his best friends!

 
Do you have any favorite school events or traditions that you look forward to each year?
The first few weeks of September are always a juggling act as we get back into our routine, but I never miss the Welcome Coffee and the Picnic on the Green. My boys especially enjoy the Family Festival, topped off by the Homecoming game on Saturday, where they cheer for their friends on the football team. The most unique and amazing day for both students and parents has to be TEDx, an event entirely organized by our students and attracting people from across the community. As a parent, I find the Learn at Laguna events incredibly insightful, with fascinating speakers. But my favorite social events are the Holiday Luncheon in December and the Golden Oak Gala in March—both are always so much fun!

 

I am fortunate to have worked temporarily at the school last year as well as being a parent, so I have seen firsthand what an incredible and dedicated team of faculty and staff we have at Laguna Blanca. They consistently go above and beyond, often in ways we as parents might not even realize. I am in awe of the tireless effort they put in for us and our children. Their shared goal is simple: to help our students thrive both academically and emotionally.

 

I grew up speaking a different language with each family member—English with my dad, Italian with my mom, and French with my brother. Our dinners were a blend of all three languages, depending on who was talking to whom, which could leave our friends a little confused when they joined us for a meal!

 

I love Mexican food, and my current favorite spot is Santo Mezcal. I also really enjoy wine tasting and like to take day trips to Santa Ynez and Los Olivos for that. But if you asked my husband, he'd probably choose Lama Dog for their incredible beer selection!

 

I’m excited to support our school and help strengthen Laguna Blanca’s community. I’m thankful to be surrounded by a remarkable group of dedicated, passionate, and selfless women who work tirelessly for the FA to make this possible.

Our goal is to organize meaningful and fun events that strengthen our school community and get more parents excited to participate. We encourage you to join us and be a part of these activities. If you have ideas for improvement or new activities, we’d love to hear them! We are always open to suggestions and ways to make our events even better.