K-12 News & Updates

Students from Pacific Community Charter School have been out and about this summer, taking their learning beyond the classroom walls as part of the school’s Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELO) Program. With daily adventures stretching from the tidepools of Salt Point to the banks of the Big River, students are experiencing the wonders of the local landscape in hands-on, meaningful ways.

Throughout July, ELO participants explored kelp forests, riparian ecosystems, and local farms. They hiked along coastal bluffs, observed marine life at Glass Beach and the Noyo Center, kayaked on the Gualala River, and visited farms like Starcross Monastery, Sea Ranch Farm, Stornetta Ranch, and Windy Hollow. The immersive sessions combined science, creativity, and fun through a slew of activities including journaling, tide-pooling, cob oven building, olive tasting, ice cream making and feeding pigs, chickens, and calves.

Under the direction of PCCS Operations Manager, Lacey Glaze, students also helped create the school’s Under the Sea float for the Independence Day Parade. According to Glaze, the float “showcased the creativity and care of our students as they explored what it means to be good neighbors and stewards of the sea. From playful sea creatures to swaying kelp, every piece was designed with purpose and love for the ocean.”

These weekly explorations are designed to strengthen students’ connection to the natural world and their local community. “Every session gives our students the chance to be scientists, artists, and explorers,” said Jennifer Ketring, PCCS Executive Director.

The summer isn’t over yet—two more weeks of programming remain, with sessions focused on coastal prairies and forest ecosystems.

Pacific Community Charter School is a free, public school serving students in grades TK–12. The summer ELO program is available to enrolled TK-6^th grade students. Families interested in enrolling for the upcoming school year can visit www.pacificcharterschool.org or call 707-882-4131 for more information.

School News & Updates

• High School Graduation
• 8th-Grade Promotion
• Summer ELO Sessions
• High School Field Study Reflections
• Youth Poets on Air
• Open Enrollment
• Open Governance Council Seat
• Mark Your Calendar: Lots of End-of-Year Activities!

Our high school students went up to North Lake Tahoe for their spring field study. Despite needing to cut the trip short because of illness, students still had an opportunity to go kayaking on the lake, plan meals together, visit UC Davis, and have a bit of fun before making the difficult decision to go home early for the sake of everyone’s health. Before leaving on the field study, students had selected a part of the itinerary that they would write about in the style of a press release. Several students shared their reflections. Please take a moment to read them here. 

School News & Updates

• Open Enrollment
• High School Shadow Day
• PCCS Staff out in the World
• Family Engagement Opportunity: Ukiah Conference (Respond by May 9!)
• Family Volunteer Hours
• Open Governance Council Seat
• Waves & Whales 5K: May 10!
• Mark Your Calendar

Last week, our TK-3 students went to the California Academy of Sciences for their spring field study. There were so many amazing things to see and learn about! Lots of families were able to join for the two nights at the KOA in Petaluma where everyone shared meals, played, made s’mores, and enjoyed time together. Thank you to everyone who helped make this incredible experience happen! We look forward to more adventures together.

School News & Updates

• Middle School San Francisco Field Study
• Planning for the Future at the High School
• Open Enrollment
• Open Governance Council Seat
• Family Volunteer Hours
• School Climate Survey
• Waves & Whales 5K: Time to Register!
• Mark Your Calendar

Last week the 4-5 class hosted an International Food Truck tasting. Students chose a country and prepared a dish. There were tacos from Mexico, baguettes from France, chicken karaage from Japan, and lots of other delicious bites from around the globe. Yum!

In early March the Pacific Community Charter School middle school students went to San Francisco for a 3-day field study that was designed to complement the beginning of an Asian studies unit with a focus on Imperial China. The class stayed at the Fort Mason Youth Hostel and kicked off their trip with a visit to the Maritime Museum where they learned about Kenichi Horie.

Cosmos MacLeod, 6^th-grade, shared the story of how the Japanese yachtsman Kenichi Horie “escaped” Japan in his tiny boat, the Mermaid. “Horie’s most notable achievement was being the first known man to make a non-stop, solo crossing of the Pacific Ocean. After ninety-four days completing his courageous journey, he arrived in San Francisco but was briefly arrested in the confusion of his arrival in the port of San Francisco. He, however, was luckily set free by Mayor George Christopher and given a visa and key to the city. At age eighty-six, Kenichi Horie is still alive and well and is regarded as one of Japan’s most famous yachtsmen.”

Settling into their urban environment, students traveled around the city by foot and public transit, including a cable car ride to visit the Cable Car Museum. Cian Fahey, 6^th-grade, describes their cable car ride: “Once we reached the large golden and red cable car we bought tickets and got on. Lots of people wanted to stand but some preferred to sit down. The cable car moved at a slow pace of 12 mph. The driver came to a few abrupt stops on the way to Chinatown. We got off the cable car in Chinatown and went into the Cable Car Museum. [It] was very interesting, holding many old cable cars and parts. Under the museum was a room that had a glass panel showing the working cables being shifted by gears and motors.”

Students took a long walk from Chinatown to the Asian Art Museum where middle school teacher, Isabel Kuniholm, was excited for the students to see a range of work from the different dynasties that they are studying in class. Talula Boucher, 6^th-grade, appreciated her teacher’s efforts. “The Asian Art Museum was really cool. There were lots of statues of gods, people, and buddha. We got to see old weapons, jade carvings, baskets, pottery, and paintings.”

The field study also included stops at the Fortune Cookie Factory, a boba tea shop, and the Japanese Tea Garden. TJ Coleman, 6^th-grade, enjoyed the Japanese Tea Garden and thought “there was a ton of cool stuff there. There was big bridge to climb on, a shop and even some [koi] fish. One fish was orange and there was also a red one. We went and checked out the pagodas. They were pretty tall.”

Rosemary Whiteside, 8^th grade, captured the overall group reflections of their trip. “Overall, it was a really fun and amazing experience, and everyone had a great time. I really liked going to Chinatown, riding the cable car and getting to see the city. [This] was one my favorite field trips of all time and I learned so much about San Francisco.”

School News & Updates

• Community Forum
• High School Family Garden Work Day
• TK-3 Family Farm Day
• Native Plant Projects with the 4-5 Class
• Middle School Goings-On
• Action Network Services
• Open Enrollment
• Open Governance Council Seat
• Mark Your Calendar: 2025-26 School Year Calendar Just Posted!

Our Community Engagement team went down to Ontario, CA at the end of February for a Peer Leading and Learning Network event. This is always a great chance to meet with other schools and share ideas about how to continue improving our programs. Our team will facilitate the Community Forum at the high school on Wednesday, March 26. 

School News & Updates

• Welcome Rowan! Our New High School Program Director
• Middle School Food Drive
• Chinese New Year Lunch
• Spring Field Studies
• Open Governance Council Seat
• Mark Your Calendar

Last month we hosted a Community Forum to discuss the direction of our high school program and alignment with our middle school. Thank you to everyone who joined us and shared their perspective! We will host a follow-up forum this spring to continue the discussion. Stay tuned.

Thursday, January 16 @ 5:30 PM, High School Room 100

We are currently taking a close look at our high school program to ensure that we offer a dynamic option that meets the needs of our students, families, and community. We are examining options that include aligning our middle and high school programs, extending our dual enrollment courses with Mendocino College, and offering a block schedule. For these ideas to truly meet the needs of our community, we need to hear from YOU!

School News & Updates

• A Note from our Executive Director
• Math in the Field
• TK-5 Coastal Prairie Restoration Projects
• Community Forum
• Mark Your Calendar

Another epic cookie exchange at our Winter Family Forum! 

School News & Updates

• TK-12 Family Forum: This Week!
• TK-8 Students Protecting the Coast
• Middle School Medieval Studies
• High School Community Planning
• School Safety Protocols
• Mark Your Calendar. Check for ELO Winter Days!

All our teachers (high school teachers too, not pictured) received grants from the Redwood Coast Education Foundation for field studies, curriculum, and garden-based projects. Thank you RCEF!