Pacifica Stories

An Evening of Celebration: Pacifica’s Vision Dinner

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Pacifica’s Spring Vision Dinner was a night that beautifully captured both gratitude and anticipation—an opportunity to celebrate what is already flourishing in our community while looking ahead to all that is still to come.

From the moment guests arrived, the evening carried a spirit of warmth and festivity. Attendees enjoyed a vibrant array of food and drink, including a lively sushi bar, a pizza bar, and a curated beverage station featuring wine and Aperol spritz. A crepe dessert station and hands-on embossing experience added thoughtful, memorable touches that made the evening feel both elevated and personal.

The program itself reflected the heart of Pacifica. Throughout the night, speakers shared stories of mission, formation, and growth—highlighting the school’s commitment to cultivating students who think deeply and live purposefully. Guests were reminded that Pacifica is not just a place of academic excellence, but a community shaped by relationships, faith, and a shared vision for the future.

Student life was brought to the forefront through powerful performances that added beauty and depth to the evening. A moving piano performance of Chopin by student Dietrich Debeninng showcased the artistry and discipline of Pacifica's music program, while the school’s a cappella group filled the space with the beautiful harmonies "Great is Thy Faithfulness," creating moments that resonated with everyone present.

The evening also included a special recognition of the girls’ soccer team for their remarkable achievement as CIF-SS Champions—a proud moment that highlighted the strength, dedication, and teamwork that define Pacifica athletics.

As the program unfolded, guests were invited into the broader vision for Pacifica’s future. From ongoing investments in the Annual Fund to exciting developments like the Seawolf campus and future facility enhancements, the night underscored a shared commitment to growth. With $1.34 million already raised toward the $1.5 million goal, the community was encouraged to help close the remaining gap and finish strong.

More than anything, the Vision Dinner was a reflection of who we are: a community grounded in purpose, united in generosity, and hopeful about what lies ahead.

As shared throughout the evening, “This is a night to celebrate what is already flourishing at Pacifica— and to
invest together in what is yet to grow.” That vision was not only expressed; it was experienced.

Senior Activities: The Class of 2026 Finishing Well

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 04:00:00 +0000

The senior season at Pacifica is a uniquely bittersweet time, one foot still firmly planted in a community that has shaped them, and one foot stepping into the unknown of what comes next. It is, in many ways, the ideal place to be. These final weeks are not simply a series of events, but a connected journey where reflection and anticipation live side by side. In Senior Chapel, students pause to look back with gratitude, on friendships formed, challenges overcome, and the quiet, steady work of becoming. Soon after, the tone shifts to celebration, as Prom and Awards Night gather the class in joy, honoring both who they have been together and who they are becoming. College Photo Day captures this moment perfectly: a visible sign that while their time at Pacifica is coming to a close, their future is already unfolding before them.

As the days move forward, the experience deepens. The Senior Trip offers space for laughter, memory-making, and a kind of togetherness that is more meaningful because it is fleeting. The last day of school arrives not with finality alone, but with a sense of completion, of something good having been brought to its full measure. Graduation week carries this same tension of joy and longing. At the Senior Dinner, students gather one more time as a class; at rehearsal, they prepare for what is ahead; and at Grad Nite, they celebrate the friendships that have defined these years. All of it leads to Commencement at Bel Air Church, a moment that is both an ending and a beginning. In this season, our seniors are not simply finishing; they are finishing well, connected to one another, grounded in who they have become, and stepping forward with courage, hope, and purpose. Details Here.

Pacifica Travel: Thriving Worldwide

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Nearly 90 students, alongside 17 faculty and staff, are spread across the globe. Our seniors are in Barcelona, our sophomores and juniors are in Greece, and our freshmen are in Costa Rica. These are not simply trips; they are formative experiences that shape perspective, deepen relationships, and expand understanding.

At Pacifica, learning new things is a passion. Learning new things firsthand is invaluable.

Our travel program exists to give students the opportunity to see the world, to encounter different cultures, and to gain a broader vision of life. Travel stretches students. It builds confidence, fosters independence, and helps them understand the “big picture” of who they are, how they relate to others, and what kind of life they are being called to live.

Each year, our Spring Break trips are built around a three-year cycle of themes: Adventure, Great Cities, and Curriculum Enrichment. Whether serving communities in need, exploring historic cities, or engaging in hands-on learning experiences, students grow not only in knowledge but in wisdom and character. Just as important, they build lasting bonds with their teachers and one another, relationships that often become some of the most meaningful parts of their high school experience.

Looking ahead, we are excited to continue this tradition. In April 2027, our freshmen will return to Costa Rica, while our sophomores, juniors, and seniors will travel to Paris and the South of France, continuing to expand the horizons of our students and our community.

At Pacifica, we believe education is not confined to desks and classrooms. It happens in cities, along the Wilshire corridor, in jungles, in conversations, in challenges, and in moments of awe.

This is how we form students who are ready for college and ready for the world.

Holy Week Reflection

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 04:00:00 +0000

From Palm Sunday to Easter, the Church enters one of the most sacred and meaningful weeks of the year. Holy Week invites us to remember, to reflect, and ultimately to celebrate the final days of Christ’s life, days filled with purpose, sacrifice, love, and victory.

As Jesus entered Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover, He did so with full knowledge of what was to come. This was not an interruption to His mission; it was the reason He came. His passion was clear: the forgiveness of sins, the extension of grace and mercy through the cross, and ultimately, His resurrection, victory over sin and death. All so that we might be made new, that we might have life with Him both now and forever.

During that final week, Christ drew especially close to His disciples. He taught them, prepared them, and shared in deep friendship. He washed their feet, modeling humility, and service. He broke bread with them, instituting communion. He cared for them personally and intentionally.

And yet, in His moment of greatest need, they abandoned Him. One denied Him. Others fled.

Still, Christ’s response was not condemnation, but forgiveness: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

From the most religious to the most distant, Christ offers the same invitation, to experience purpose, peace, joy, meaning, community in His Church, restoration, vision, and salvation.

This is why we celebrate Holy Week. We celebrate the triumphal entry, the sorrow and weight of Good Friday, and the astonishing hope of the resurrection.

Because Holy Week reminds us that there is something more, something far greater than ourselves. It calls us beyond materialism to consider the soul. It invites us to attend to the eternal, not just the immediate. It reorients our lives toward what is lasting, true, and life-giving.

What we see most clearly during Holy Week is the perfect union of love and justice. A love that rises above all earthly love, a sacrificial love that meets the demands of justice by paying the price for our shortcomings. A mighty God who is not distant, but with us, forming us, guiding us, and calling us toward what is good, right, and true.

This is the story at the center of our faith. This is the hope that shapes our lives and our community.

Happy Easter.

College Placement: The Class of 2026 Leads the Way

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Each spring at Pacifica, we celebrate more than college acceptances; we celebrate students who are ready to step into the next chapter of their lives with purpose, confidence, and vision.

The Class of 2026 is already demonstrating that they are well prepared for that next step.

While we anticipate additional results by May 1 and look forward to sharing final matriculation decisions shortly thereafter, the early returns are exceptional and continue Pacifica’s strong trajectory of college placement.

At some of the most selective universities in the country, our students are performing at an extraordinary level:

UCLA: 19 applicants, 6 acceptances — 32% acceptance rate
(UCLA 2025 overall: 9% acceptance)
USC: 18 applicants, 7 acceptances — 39% acceptance rate
(USC 2025 overall: 11% acceptance)
UC Berkeley: 22 applicants, 7 acceptances — 32% acceptance rate
(UC Berkeley 2025 overall: 11% acceptance)

In addition, students have received acceptances across the entire UC system, with more results still being collected.

Beyond California, Pacifica students are earning admission to a wide range of outstanding institutions:

University of Michigan (2)
University of Notre Dame (1)
Cornell University (1)
Tufts University (1)
University of North Carolina (1)
Rhode Island School of Design (1)
SMU (1) and Baylor (1)
Tulane (2) and Vanderbilt (1)
New York University (2)
University of Washington (2) and Wisconsin (1)
Boston College (1) and Boston University (2)
Emory (1), Miami (1), and Swarthmore (1)

These results reflect not only academic strength, but the kind of students Pacifica seeks to form: curious, thoughtful, resilient, and ready to engage the world.

The success of the Class of 2026 builds directly on the remarkable achievements of the Class of 2025, reinforcing a sustained pattern of excellence.

96% of students accepted to four-year universities
$5.9 million in scholarships awarded
70+ colleges and universities represented

Top 10 National Universities

Acceptances included Harvard, Columbia, and the University of Pennsylvania, with students matriculating at both Harvard and Columbia.

University of California System

Acceptances spanned nearly the entire UC system, including UCLA, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, UC Davis, UC Riverside, and UC Santa Cruz.

4 students matriculated at UC Berkeley
1 to UCLA
3 to UC Davis
2 to UC San Diego
1 to UC Santa Cruz

Top Private & National Universities

Including USC, Tufts, Boston University, Georgia Tech, University of Michigan, Northeastern, University of Virginia, and University of Florida, with multiple students enrolling at USC and other top programs.

Christian & Faith-Based Universities

Including Baylor, Pepperdine, Westmont, Wheaton, Loyola Marymount, SMU, TCU, Biola, and the University of San Diego.

Creative & Performing Arts & Public Flagships

Including NYU, USC, Pratt Institute, and flagship universities such as UNC, Virginia, Colorado, Penn State, Michigan State, Alabama, and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Together, these two classes tell a powerful story and continue the legacy of college placement. Pacifica students are not only being admitted to outstanding colleges, but they are doing so year after year, across a wide range of institutions and disciplines.

Today, Pacifica alumni are thriving across the country:

12 at UCLA
13 at USC
6 at UC Berkeley
And others at Notre Dame, Princeton, Dartmouth, Stanford, and more

While these outcomes are worth celebrating, they are not the ultimate goal.

At Pacifica, college placement is about fit and formation. We are developing students who know how to think, who seek truth, and who are prepared to live lives of purpose and impact. Once they arrive our hope is that our alumni are the best men and women on their college campuses, leading with joy and a testament to what it means to think and live well.

The colleges recognizing our students are responding to something deeper: young men and women shaped by a community committed to the good, the true, and the beautiful.

We look forward to celebrating the final decisions of the Class of 2026 in May.

Well done, Pacifica.

PACARTS Spring Highlights: From Stage to Gallery to Screen

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 04:00:00 +0000

This spring has been a vibrant season for the performing and visual arts at Pacifica, with students sharing their creativity across theater, visual art, film, music, and dance.

PACARTS performers recently concluded an extraordinary theatrical run with two repertory productions presented for the first time in the program’s history: W;t by Margaret Edson and Twelve Angry Jurors by Reginald Rose. Across multiple performances from late February through mid-March, Pacifica’s student actors and crew brought both plays to life with remarkable dedication and emotional depth at the Santa Monica Playhouse. Congratulations to the entire cast and crew for an outstanding achievement and a memorable theater season.

Pacifica’s visual arts students also celebrated the 20th Annual Winter Gallery, the department’s signature exhibition. Students from Drawing and Painting, Mixed Media, and Photography classes curated, installed, and publicly presented their strongest work, transforming the gallery into a vibrant space of exploration and expression. Opening night brought together students, families, and members of the local arts community, with awards recognizing artistic excellence and creative accomplishment.

The momentum continues this spring with several exciting PACARTS events. On March 27, the community is invited to the Spring Dance and Music Concert, a beloved Pacifica tradition that showcases performances from dance class, dance team, and KPAC, along with vocal arrangements from WolfPacapella and musical theater and instrumental performances from Pacifica’s pop/funk band and commercial ensemble.

The following week brings one of Pacifica’s most anticipated creative events: the SCREEN Student Film Festival, now in its 21st year. Hosted at the historic Aero Theatre in partnership with the American Cinematheque, SCREEN has grown from a Pacifica initiative into one of the largest high school film festivals in Los Angeles.

This year, Pacifica students will curate 15 films from more than 200 submissions, culminating in a red-carpet evening celebrating storytelling, collaboration between schools, and the creative energy of emerging filmmakers.

Later in the spring, audiences can also look forward to I.Sight, PACARTS’ interdisciplinary collaboration bringing together students from across the arts to create a unique performance experience.

Together, these moments reflect what PACARTS does best: forming artists who think deeply, create boldly, and bring beauty into the world.

A Day of Philosophical Inquiry with Dr. Christopher Kaczor

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 04:00:00 +0000

On March 13, students and guests spent the day engaging some of philosophy’s most enduring questions during two events with visiting scholar Dr. Christopher Kaczor.

The Four Levels of Happiness and Rival Views of the Human Person

Earlier in the day, students gathered in the 20th Street Seminar Room for a Socratic-style seminar with Dr. Kaczor titled “The Four Levels of Happiness and Four Rival Views of Humans.” The seminar invited participants to reflect on one of the most fundamental philosophical questions: What does it mean to be truly happy?

Drawing from philosophical and theological traditions, Dr. Kaczor introduced students to four distinct levels of happiness and explored how each corresponds to different understandings of human nature and human dignity. Students examined how common ideas of happiness—such as pleasure, achievement, or success—compare to deeper forms of fulfillment, including altruistic love and the love of God.

The conversation encouraged students to consider how our understanding of happiness shapes the way we view the purpose of life and the value of the human person. Through thoughtful dialogue and guided questions, the seminar sparked lively discussion as students weighed competing perspectives on what ultimately satisfies human desires.

Is Belief Believable? A Fireside Conversation

Later that evening, guests gathered at the Seawolf Campus for a fireside-style conversation with Dr. Kaczor centered on his recent book, Is Belief Believable? Reasoning About God from Plato and Aquinas to C.S. Lewis and Jordan Peterson.

The event explored another profound question at the intersection of philosophy and theology: Can belief in God be rationally justified?

During the moderated discussion, Dr. Kaczor addressed common claims that faith is irrational, incompatible with reason, or that the concept of God is logically incoherent. Drawing on insights from both philosophy and theology, he presented arguments that challenge the supposed conflict between faith and reason while highlighting how great thinkers throughout history have approached the question of God.

The evening concluded with an engaging audience question-and-answer session, followed by a book signing in which several attendees received signed copies of Dr. Kaczor’s book.

Together, the day’s events offered students and guests the opportunity to reflect deeply on questions of happiness, human nature, and belief—demonstrating how philosophical inquiry continues to illuminate some of life’s most meaningful pursuits.

Meet Jack Weill, Admissions Associate and Assistant Baseball Coach

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Pacifica is excited to welcome Jack Weill, who recently joined the community as an Admissions Associate and Assistant Baseball Coach. Though he’s only been on campus for a short period, Jack has already made an impression with his relational approach, positive energy, and commitment to helping students grow both on and off the field.

Jack’s journey to Pacifica began in Tucson, Arizona, where he studied Business Administration at the University of Arizona. After working in finance, he realized he wanted a more people-centered, community-oriented path. A conversation at the gym with fellow coach Chris McCulloch opened the door to baseball, and an introduction to the Admissions team led to his role within the department. “Since being here, it’s been a great opportunity,” Jack shared. “I’m excited about what’s ahead.”

One of Jack’s biggest takeaways from college is the power of relationships. A shared love of the Dodgers turned a professor into a mentor and shaped his belief that connection is foundational to growth. His faith journey, which began through Bible studies in high school and college, continues to ground him in purpose and trust in God’s plan.

Having lived in Texas, Arizona, and now Los Angeles, Jack brings resilience and adaptability to Pacifica. As a coach, he loves seeing students embrace the mindset of “stacking days,” striving to get 1% better each day. In Admissions, he enjoys welcoming families and helping students discover what makes Pacifica feel like home.

Jack hopes students leave with a strong sense of hard work, character, and faith, understanding that success is about more than outcomes; it’s about who they become along the way.

Outside of campus, he enjoys working out, running, cheering on the Eagles, Dodgers, and Arizona Wildcats, and spending time with family and friends.

We’re grateful for the mentorship, energy, and steady growth Jack brings to Pacifica.

Seawolves Soccer Makes History as CIF-SS Champions

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Pacifica Girls Soccer has done it — your 2026 CIF Southern Section Division 7 Champions! After an unforgettable season, the Seawolves capped their journey with a thrilling 1–0 victory over Azusa, securing a championship that will go down in school history.

The championship match was a testament to the team’s grit, composure, and teamwork. Both sides battled through a scoreless first half, each refusing to give an inch. Then came the breakthrough: Ty Hampton delivered a perfectly timed cross into the box, and Sophia Motorin finished with precision to give the Seawolves the lead. From that moment, the team held strong, demonstrating the resilience and determination that defined their entire season.

This championship wasn’t earned overnight. Just days earlier in the Final Four, the team faced a tense, scoreless match that stretched through regulation and overtime against a formidable opponent. When the game came down to a penalty-kick shootout, Pacifica held its nerve, edging out a 4–3 victory. Hope Motorin was outstanding in goal, making crucial stops that anchored the defense and kept the team in the game.

It was their second penalty-kick shootout of the playoff series, and once again, the Seawolves’ resilience and determination carried them through to triumph.

Playing with a true team-first spirit, the Seawolves have inspired the entire Pacifica community with their courage and composure. From the nail-biting shootouts to the championship-winning goal, this team has proven their undeniable greatness.

The girls then competed in the State Finals, where they were the #2 seed and made it to the semi-finals. This CIF-SS Championship will remain a shining moment in Pacifica’s history, and representing Pacifica and Southern California has been an honor. It was a season that we will never forget.

Crafting the Class of 2030: A Certain Kind of Person

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 05:00:00 +0000

At Pacifica Christian, we take great care to craft a class of dynamic students and families who will connect with our mission, grow into more wonderful people, and add to our community.

For the Class of 2030, we are intentionally shaping a community of 90 freshmen who will grow together over four formative years. This is joyful work. It is careful work. And we take it very seriously.

We are looking for writers and scientists, athletes and artists, leaders and loyal friends. Outstanding students, yes, but also students with a wide range of personalities, interests, talents, and stories. Students who are curious about life, about God, and about eternal things. Students who are pursuing rigorous academics and thoughtful college preparation, while also asking deeper questions about meaning, purpose, and how they are called to live.

More than anything, we are looking for a certain kind of person.