Students whose school was destroyed in the Eaton Fire returned to a new, albeit temporary, campus on Monday morning.
Saint Mark’s School Altadena was one of several schools burned to the ground in the devastating fire, which scorched more than 14,000 acres and destroyed 9,414 structures, according to Cal Fire. A further 1,074 structures were damaged in the blaze, which raged for 24 days.
In the wake of the catastrophe, EF Academy Pasadena opened their campus so that Saint Mark’s Village, a temporary space for the displaced students, could be built. Saint Mark’s students had already been in class at EF Academy for six weeks.
The schools held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday to inaugurate the new facilities, which was described as “nothing short of magical” by the school on social media.
Speaking with KTLA 5’s Ellina Abovian just before students arrived on Monday, Saint Mark’s Head of School Jennifer Tolbert said that the 270 displaced students are very excited to use the new learning spaces and find a sense of stability during this chaotic time.
Many students, faculty and other staff members — including Tolbert herself — lost their homes in the fire.
“We are all just putting one foot in front of the other, taking it a step at a time and supporting one another,” Tolbert said. “We know how important schools are in the life of a child in good times, and certainly in tough times, school is a place of stability.”
“It was our top priority to get school up and running so we could be a stabilizing force in their lives,” she continued.
When it came to the rapid six-week building of new facilities, Tolbert remarked that “it took a village” and that’s where the new campus — Saint Mark’s Village — got it’s name.
“So many people bent over backwards and moved mountains for us to be able to do this in record time,” she said. “I especially thank our city officials and the Pasadena Planning Department; they did an incredible job.”
While Tolbert’s opinions on the new learning spaces definitely matter, what may matter more is the opinions of the students themselves, and KTLA got the chance to speak with some 2nd graders making their way into their new school for the first time.
When asked how she felt and whether she was excited for school, one girl, Elladee Davis, said she felt “good” and was “excited” but said “I don’t know” when asked what she was going to do on Monday.
“Okay,” she said to Abovian wishing her a good first day back.
A fund to provide tuition assistance for displaced families, replace classroom materials and technology and support mental health services for students, staff, families and teachers at Saint Mark’s School Altadena has been established. You can donate here.
A link to support individual families can be found here.
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