From screen time to face time – how our incredible community turned San Diego into our playground for four unforgettable days

The Magic Happened June 10-13, and We’re Still Glowing! ✨

Picture this: A student logs off their final Zoom class of the year, packs their bags, and heads to San Diego. Three days later, they’re hugging classmates from around the globe, making s’mores on the beach with their grade-level squad, and dancing the night away at prom.

That’s the Laurel Springs Year-End Celebration difference.

Our 2025 Year-End Celebration (YEC) wasn’t just an event–our counselors, teachers, and school leaders showed up. You showed up. We had a chance to really interact and connect with our amazing students, friends, and families. And it was awesome! With over 600 in-person attendees and 665 more joining our graduation livestream, San Diego became the backdrop for our biggest, most successful celebration yet!

🎪 Our First-Ever Community Fair Set the Bar SKY HIGH

We kicked off YEC 2025 with something completely new – and boy, did we nail it! Our inaugural Community Fair was the perfect balance of competitive ping pong matches, incredible partner and student run booths including a community service project where attendees crafted cards for both a veterans organization and children’s hospital organization, amazing swag for all ages and that unmistakable Laurel Springs energy.

The result? Families diving headfirst into fun, making instant connections, and setting the tone for what would become our most memorable YEC to date. Consider the bar officially raised for 2026!

🦁 Adventures for Every Age, Memory-Making for Everyone

K-11 Families: Wild About the San Diego Zoo

Nothing says “family bonding” like exploring world-famous wildlife together! Our zoo adventure gave families the perfect mix of education and excitement – plus those photo ops were absolutely chef’s kiss.

K-7 Students: Game Night Champions

Movie marathons? Check. Epic game battles? Double check. These younger students proved that when it comes to fun, age is just a number. It didn’t feel like their first time together, they bonded like a family on a Friday night! From popcorn-fueled laughter to prize-winning excitement, the room was filled with joy, teamwork, and new friendships. This was more than just a game night, it was the start of something special!

8th-11th Graders: Beach Vibes & S’mores Under the Stars

California dreaming became reality with our beach bonfire Student Social. There’s something magical about making s’mores with your classmates while waves crash in the background – pure YEC perfection.

🎓 Class of 2025: You Absolutely CRUSHED It!

Senior Recognition Ceremony: Elegance Meets Achievement

Our inaugural Senior Recognition Ceremony was the perfect blend of sophistication and celebration. We honored our incredible graduates for their achievements in athletics, performing arts, and academic excellence through prestigious Honor Societies including Mu Alpha Theta, National English Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, French Honor Society, and Art Honor Society – because these students didn’t just graduate, they dominated.

Graduation at Historic Balboa Theater: Pure Movie Magic

With 600+ cheering guests in person and 665 more watching online, our graduation ceremony was nothing short of spectacular. Our graduation is a student-driven event featuring five inspiring student speakers: Sanne Verkoeijen, Mika Higginbotham, Arnav Paul, Ayah Qutub, and Yoona Ku. These students had the opportunity to encourage their classmates and community alongside our guest commencement speaker Marita Cheng, founder of Robogals, who delivered an inspiring message that had everyone ready to “do the things” and chase their dreams fearlessly. The ceremony also featured a welcome address from the Laurel Springs Alumni Network president!

The cap tosses? Epic. The cheers? Thunderous. The tears of joy? Absolutely warranted. And that private beach reception afterward? The perfect cherry on top of an unforgettable day.

And what a class to celebrate! Early results show our 2025 graduates are heading into bright futures with 77% of LSS students college-bound so far – with 73% attending four-year colleges and 67% already landing spots at their first-choice schools. Our Academy students are absolutely crushing it with 90% college-bound and 86% heading to four-year institutions. Whether they’re diving straight into higher education, taking strategic gap years, or launching professional careers, these preliminary outcomes show that these graduates didn’t just cross the finish line – they soared across it.

💃 When the Sun Goes Down, the Real Party Begins

Grad Night at Belmont Park

Our seniors enjoyed an evening of games, rides and snacks at the historic oceanfront amusement park for a night they’ll never forget. Nothing says “we made it” like celebrating together steps from the Pacific Ocean!

Prom Night: Grades 8-12 Dance Like Nobody’s Watching

The dance floor was absolutely electric as our students celebrated in style. Our student run prom committee decided on a “City of Stars” theme for the 2025 prom, and from what we saw, everyone felt like stars from winning prizes on the dance floor to capturing memories at the photobooth. Prom 2025 was everything we dreamed it would be and more.

Parent Prom: Yes, You Read That Right! 🕺💃

While the kids were busy making prom memories, our parents competed in networking bingo to win some awesome swag prizes! This was Laurel Springs’ second parent social/prom – and let’s just say, these parents left with new connections and meaningful bonds.

Senior Send-off Brunch: The Perfect Goodbye

We wrapped up our celebration with a heartfelt brunch attended by several members of our Alumni Council Board who were there to welcome the class of 2025 into their ranks. For an added sweet treat, alumna Rebecca Noelle from the class of 1999 and a local cake maker in San Diego baked an incredibly beautiful and delicious cake special for the occasion! This event allows our graduates one last chance to soak up precious moments with friends, learn about our alumni community, and network with fellow alumni and staff before embarking on their next adventure.

🤝 Our Amazing Partners Made the Magic Possible

Our first Community Fair was absolutely phenomenal, and we couldn’t have done it without our incredible partners who stepped up in a BIG way. These organizations didn’t just support our event – they helped create memories that will last a lifetime.

Huge shoutouts to our fantastic 2025 sponsors:

• MacDermott Method
• Winward Academy
• Discount School Supply
• Attachment Matters
• 2Mynds
• Laurel Springs own Squadlocker

Your partnership means the world to our community, and you helped make YEC 2025 truly unforgettable!

🌟 Ready to Join the Magic? Here’s How to Get Involved

For Current & Future Families:

🗓️ SAVE THE DATE: June 9-12, 2026 YEC 2026 is heading BACK to San Diego, and trust us – you won’t want to miss what we have planned! Stay tuned for announcements on our social media and in inbox, and don’t forget to share your favorite YEC memories with #YEC25.

For Supporting Partners:

Imagine your brand being part of this incredible celebration. Picture connecting with hundreds of engaged, educated families who value innovation in learning. Envision helping create experiences that students and families will treasure forever.

This is where meaningful partnerships are born.

The energy, the connections, the pure joy – YEC isn’t just an event, it’s a community celebration that brings together families who are passionate about education, growth, and making memories that matter.

The Bottom Line: YEC 2025 Was “Tree-mendous!” 🌳

Okay, okay – we know that pun is absolutely terrible, but we just can’t help ourselves! Because honestly, when we say “we branched out, made memories, and celebrated our amazing community,” we mean it in the most wonderfully corny way possible. From heartfelt goodbyes to brand-new friendships, this year’s celebration perfectly captured the vibrant, supportive spirit that makes Laurel Springs so special.

When virtual learning meets real-life celebration, magic happens. And in San Diego this June, we witnessed that magic in full color.

YEC 2026, here we come! 🚌🌴🎓🏖️ 🎉

#YEC25 #LaurelSprings #VirtualToReal #SanDiego2025 #Education #Community