Students whose schools were destroyed in the Eton fire returned to their new campus Monday morning.
Saint Mark’s School Altadena was one of several schools burned to the ground amid a catastrophic fire, burning more than 14,000 acres and destroying 9,414 structures. Additionally, 1,074 structures were damaged by flames, intensifying for 24 days.
In the wake of the catastrophe, EF Academy Pasadena opened a campus, allowing Saint Mark’s Village, a temporary space for evacuated students. St. Mark students had already been taking classes at the EF Academy for six weeks.
The school held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday and opened a new facility. This was said by social media schools to be “nothing magic.”
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Speaking to KTLA 5 Elina Abobian just before the students arrived Monday, St. Mark’s principal Jennifer Tolbert said he was extremely excited to find stability when 270 evacuated students use the new learning space during this chaotic time.
Many students, faculty and other staff (including Tolbert himself) lost their homes in the fire.
“We all just have one foot in front of the other, step by step, supporting each other,” Tolbert said. “We know how important school is in children’s lives at good times, and certainly during difficult times, school is a place of stability.”
“Make schools up and running is our number one priority and we can be a stabilizing force in their lives,” she continued.
Students will arrive at the village of St. Mark, a temporary campus of St. Mark’s School Altadena on April 7, 2025 (KTLA)
When the new facility became a rapid six-week building, Tolbert said “it took the village away,” and that’s where the new campus, the village of St. Mark – got its name.
“So many people were bent backwards and moved the mountains so we could do this at a record time,” she said. “I especially thank our city authorities and the Pasadena Planning Department. They did an incredible job.”
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Tolbert’s opinion on the new learning space is undoubtedly important, but more importantly, it is the students’ own opinion, and KTLA had the opportunity to talk to the second graders.
When asked how she was feeling and if she was excited about school, one girl, Elady Davis, said she felt “good” and “excited”, but when she asked what she was going to do on Monday, she said “I don’t know.”
Students will speak to Elina Abobian before going on the first day at the village of St. Mark, a temporary campus of St. Mark’s School Altadena on April 7, 2025. (KTLA)
“Okay,” she tells Abobian that she wants a good first day for her.
A fund was established to provide lesson support to evacuated families, replace classroom materials and techniques, and to support mental health services for students, staff, families and teachers at St. Mark’s School. You can donate from here.
Links to support individual families can be found here.
