After attending classes in Santa Monica for the last year, students at Palisades Charter High School will return to their main campus when it reopens Tuesday.
The school temporarily moved to the old Sears building in April while the campus underwent extensive reconstruction due to damage caused by the Palisades Fire.
“It really feels like a full circle moment,” said junior and student ambassador Tiffany Jensen. “I’m filled with so much excitement coming back.”
Both students and faculty have been eager to return.
“We have missed our green space. We have missed our open campus,” said Executive Director and Principal Dr. Pam Magee.
One of the major additions to the campus is the temporary bungalows that will replace the 36 classrooms lost in the fire.
Additionally, school officials said new buildings will be constructed over the next 2.5 years to replace the “J Building” that was destroyed.
All 2,000 of the school’s lockers were decontaminated, sanitized and repainted ahead of the reopening.
“Having arrived where we are now represents a lot of work (and) a lot of planning,” said Director of Operations Rafael Negroe.
Several sensors were added to the interior and exterior of the campus to monitor air quality, and follow-up testing will continue, school officials said.
The reopening represents a new chapter for Pali High students.
“I think we should all be grateful for what we have and take it in every day,” Jensen said.
The stadium and aquatics center are still under construction but are expected to open by the end of next month, according to school officials.