Enrichment Programs

Washington Elementary School partners with Explore Ecology to provide garden education to all students year around. Our garden is an outdoor learning space where students explore science, math, and language arts concepts in a hands-on way. From measuring plant growth to writing about their gardening experiences, our students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. By growing their own fruits and vegetables, students develop healthier eating habits and appreciate the importance of nutrition. Our garden promotes physical activity and outdoor time, contributing to overall well-being. Students learn about the environment, sustainability, and the interconnectedness of all living things. The students are growing a variety of crops such as lettuce, peas, radishes, carrots,  squash, pumpkins and much more. Students often enjoy making "salad tacos" using all of the vegetables that they harvest in the garden. 

The South Coast Mathematics Superbowl is an event created 42 years ago to promote the study of mathematics and honor outstanding math students in Santa Barbara County. It is held each year, traditionally at the end of May, and participating schools send a team of 4 students to compete at each of three grade levels: fourth, fifth, and sixth. This combined team of 12 students represents its school at the event. The competition consists of an individual, written test including both computation and logic problems, a team logic test, and a hands-on team engineering challenge. The tests are all timed, and intended to challenge students, while covering a wide array of skills.

At Washington, we are fortunate to have parents who volunteer as coaches to work with students on a weekly basis.  Collaborating with teacher coordinators, they help teams prepare for the event by working on targeted skills, taking practice tests, and completing extra homework. Interested students take an initial qualifying test to become part of the MSB math group for each grade level in December, and then begin practices. At Spring Break, the group is narrowed down to the smaller group of students who will ultimately compete on the team or serve as alternates.

Each year about 30 schools from across Santa Barbara County participate in the competition, and awards are given for 1st-6th place to individual students, grade level teams, and schools. Washington School has been a consistently strong competitor in the Math Superbowl for many years, with a history of awards in all three of these categories. We look forward to another fun, challenging, and rewarding year ahead with this year’s interested students!

Student Council is a group of elected student leaders in 5th and 6th grades who work together to represent the voice of our school community. Student Council organizes school events and activities that foster a positive and inclusive school climate. They are also committed to giving back to our broader community in Santa Barbara through various community service projects. We are incredibly proud of our Student Council members and the positive impact they have on our school.

RAP Program

Santa Barbara Unified School District partners with Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation's after school program, RAP, which provides homework assistance, recreation activities, sports, crafts, and special programs for students in 1st - 6th grades. RAP begins immediately following the regular school day and operates until 5:30 pm. For more information on how to sign up for RAP, please visit their website here.

AOK Program

The AOK Program is a Santa Barbara Unified School District run program designed to provide a safe and supervised environment after school where students receive academic support and enrichment. AOK serves students in TK-6th grades and begins immediately following the regular school day until 5:30 pm. To enroll or learn more about the program, contact the districts’ Office of After School/Expanded Learning: (805) 965-4633.