Over the next two weeks, Strong Hall will become the temporary home for elementary school students and teachers from Saint Mark’s School. Unfortunately, the school lost its Altadena campus in the Eaton Fire and students no longer have a place to study. To make this happen, EF Academy students and faculty relocated all classes to Blackwell Hall and Robinson Center on Thursday, January 24th. This marks an exciting transformation for our community, showcasing adaptability and collaboration.
According to the plan shared by EF, Saint Mark’s students will remain in Strong Hall until mid-March and then move into mobile classrooms to be set up in the wildflower field in front of Robinson. EF classes will then move back to Strong Hall after spring break.
Approximately 240 students and 50 teachers will join the campus community. Students from grades 3-6 arrived on Tuesday, 28 January, and kindergarten-2nd grade students will arrive on Monday, February 3rd.
According to ABC Los Angeles, Saint Mark’s is one of at least 10 schools that were destroyed in the Eaton Fire, which began on January 7th. The fire disrupted education across the region, destroying classrooms and displacing students and teachers. Educators lost years of materials, and students faced the emotional strain of losing their learning spaces. Despite the challenges, the community has shown resilience by coming together to support rebuilding efforts and provide stability for those affected.
Students and teachers expressed their enthusiasm, both about EF’s ability to support Saint Mark’s School and the move to Blackwell and Robinson.
As Felix, an 11th grader, said, “the school is showing care and support for others who lost their campus. I’m glad we have the ability to do this and demonstrate kindness in such a difficult situation.”
“I think EF made a good decision to help the community,” Mr. Figgins said. “I’m excited to see how everything works once it’s fully set up. I think it’s a great idea.”
“I volunteered to move classrooms,” Mr. Johnston added. “With many schools destroyed and many people left without a place to study, I believe we’re making the right decision.”
As Jan, a 12th grader, noted about the shift of most classes to Blackwell, “we all fit, and it just feels more lively, which I like. It’s wonderful that we’re helping people in need.”
“Being together in Blackwell is a good way to socialize with people,” said Sadie, a 10th grader, “because everybody’s here and you don’t have to go around the school, so I feel like it’s a good time for a change.”
“I find the energy of having all our students together really motivating as a teacher,” said Dr. Ribic, “and I hope it feels the same for students as well.”
Griffin, a 9th grader, noted that supporting Saint Mark’s School could also be good for EF in the long term: “It’s an interesting marketing strategy for EF because it attracts a lot of attention. It also gets students interested in joining the school after graduating from middle school. While it’s primarily charitable, it’s also an effective way to promote the school.”
In addition to hosting Saint Mark’s School, EF Academy Pasadena is offering a special scholarship program to support students impacted by the wildfires. The scholarship provides a 75% reduction in tuition and fees for the 2025 Spring semester, with costs set at $6,000 for day students, $9,500 for 5-day boarding, and $10,000 for 7-day boarding.
Open to students who have lost their homes or face barriers to attending school, the program includes full-time enrollment, meals, housing (if boarding), university counseling, and extracurricular activities. Students will receive comprehensive support, including house parents, academic advisors, counselors, and access to the health center and our therapy dog, Guava.
For families wishing to continue their education at EF Academy beyond the spring semester, a guaranteed 25% scholarship for future tuition and fees is offered, with further financial aid available. EF Academy Pasadena is dedicated to helping impacted students and rebuilding the community. For assistance, contact Bobbie Jo Dobbs, Head of Enrollment, at [email protected].
International Changemaker reporters Miles Bauman, Lydia Chang, Doanh Dao, Malwina Jarmuz, Riccardo Limonata, Alessandro Lombardo, Luciano Reyes Retana, Maia Pradelli, Antoni Stoklosa, Ben Tran, Zuzanna Zawadzka, Kristian Stanek, Hannah Tran, Queenie Wang, and Han Xiao contributed reporting for this story.
