Just weeks ago, the building had housed a student production of "Shrek Jr. The Musical." Hunt and her husband had spent many nights there, painting theater sets until midnight, their daughter asleep on the stage. But early this week, as she and others walked around the elementary-school campus taking in the damage, the charred remains of the theater space stopped her cold.
"This is the one that breaks my heart," she said.
Parents of Aveson students describe the school as a utopia. The charter school's focus on learning in different ways had helped their children thrive by letting them learn at their own pace and style. And there was a greater sense of ownership among students and parents, who together built Aveson's garden, chicken coop, outdoor stage and yurt.
The school is among around a dozen K-12 campuses severely damaged or destroyed by the fires that have raged in coastal and mountainous areas of Los Angeles.
Thousands of teachers and school staff were evacuated, including nearly half of Pasadena Unified School District's workforce, and hundreds have lost their homes. And while many Los Angeles county public-school students returned to class Monday, all Pasadena public schools remain closed.
This story is from the January 15, 2025 edition of The Wall Street Journal.
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This story is from the January 15, 2025 edition of The Wall Street Journal.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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