Now viewing articles in the category Academics.

  • Recording Live: With Dr. Thomas Kidd

    March 7th, 2024


    Recording Live: With Dr. Thomas Kidd

    Our gratitude and thanks to Dr. Thomas Kidd for coming to our campus for a discussion on his book, "Thomas Jefferson: A Biography of Spirit and Flesh." Dr. Kidd expounds on how Thomas Jefferson was both a brilliant and inspiring political writer and how the ethical realities of his personal life and political career did not live up to his soaring rhetoric. Learn how the tensions of democracy versus slavery, republican virtue versus dissolute consumption, and veneration for Jesus versus skepticism about Christianity defined his moral life.

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    Posted in: Academics, Events, News, TGC
  • Returning from the Inaugural Tolkien Retreat

    March 5th, 2024


    Returning from the Inaugural Tolkien Retreat

    The first annual Tolkien Retreat is “in the books” as they say, and what a life-changing retreat it was! Sixteen upperclassmen and six faculty/staff headed to the majestic Leonard Lake Reserve for seven days and six nights of reading, reflection, fellowship, and worship. Each day began with a full breakfast and morning worship from The Book of Common Prayer and the singing of the school hymn. Then most of each morning was spent reading one of the six books of  The Lord of the Rings

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    Posted in: Academics, Events, News
  • 3rd Annual Declamations Contest

    March 4th, 2024


    3rd Annual Declamations Contest

    Last Friday evening, Pacifica hosted our Third Annual TGC Declamations Contest. Our nine finalists declaimed important works from The Great Conversation in the categories of Bible/Theology, Non-Fiction/Historical, and Literature. One winner from each category was named, as well as an overall winner.

    We are so proud of our finalists who brilliantly modeled the school's mission of thinking well—through their preparation and memorization—and living well—through their courage and poise. Whether you were able to join us or want to relive every moment, you may view each performance on our Declamations Contest 2024 Playlist here.

    We are confident you will be impressed, inspired, and blessed by these amazing young men and women.

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    Posted in: Academics, Events, News, TGC
  • Working with Families for Student Formation

    February 15th, 2024


    Working with Families for Student Formation

    Pacifica takes a fundamentally different approach to forming students than most schools across the country. 

    For many other schools, the primary focus is on the interaction between students and teachers; parents are often left out of the conversation. In some cases, public school districts are now creating a separation from families by setting policies that limit or prohibit information sharing between students and their parents. Pacifica takes the opposite approach.

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    Posted in: Academics, News
  • Pacifica Person of Week | Samuel & Adalee Gibbs

    January 10th, 2024


    Pacifica Person of  Week | Samuel & Adalee Gibbs

    Every week at our all-school assembly, we name a Pacifica Person of the week!

    This week, we honored Samuel and Adalee Gibbs! The sibling duo organized a youth basketball camp over winter break for kindergarten through 6th grade. The funds collected will serve a children's home in Ghana where Samuel is originally from. Members from the varsity and JV boys basketball team showed up in support, helping to coach the camp. You can hear their testimony here
     
    Learn about the Pacifica Continuum, the journey in which all our students take, resulting in the Pacifica Person. 

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  • Pacifica builds on God's "sure foundation" through The Great Conversation

    December 17th, 2023


    Pacifica builds on God's "sure foundation" through The Great Conversation

    Isaiah wrote that in the 8th Century, B.C. In this season of Advent, when we remember the coming of that “precious cornerstone”—Jesus—and anticipate his coming again, we can look back on what has been built on the “sure foundation” in the past year, and the past centuries. We see the prophet reminding us that our belief impacts our actions. Our thinking impacts our living, and vice versa. And there are two starkly different ways to approach life: building on God’s foundation or on man’s.

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    Posted in: Academics, News, TGC
  • A New Triton Tradition: The Inaugural Tolkien Retreat

    December 8th, 2023


    A New Triton Tradition: The Inaugural Tolkien Retreat

    Have you ever wanted to experience what it’s like to fully immerse yourself in an imaginative world as rich and rewarding as Tolkien’s Middle Earth? Do you want to experience, in its purest form, the joy of reading in community? We are inviting you to join us this coming winter break (2024), from Sunday to Saturday, February 18-24, as we take a merry band of faculty and students to Leonard Lake Reserve.

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    Posted in: Academics, Events
  • We The People — State Finalists

    December 4th, 2023


    We The People — State Finalists

    Congratulations to the Pacifica Constitution team for making it to State Finals for the We The People competition! The team performed with brilliance at the regional competition for We The People — a national program developed by an act of Congress to further educate and engage high school students about the United States Constitution.

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    Posted in: Academics, Events
  • Grace, Truth, and Time

    November 21st, 2023


    Grace, Truth, and Time

    Grace, Truth, and Time & The Story of a Student Returning Over Time 

    One of the rewards of working at Pacifica is meeting with Alumni and hearing how their time at our school has influenced their adult lives. A few of our staff recently had such an encounter when they were joyfully greeted by a former student.

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    Posted in: Academics, Alumni
  • Pacifica’s Speech & Debate Takes Home Multiple Wins

    November 1st, 2023


    Pacifica’s Speech & Debate Takes Home Multiple Wins
      On Saturday, October 28, Pacifica Christian High School’s Speech & Debate team participated in the first tournament of the season and kicked off this year’s competition with great success! Pacifica’s team went up against six schools across several categories of speech and debate ...

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    Posted in: Academics, News
  • Innovation Talks — Dr. Matthew Milliner

    October 30th, 2023


    Innovation Talks — Dr. Matthew Milliner

    Pacifica Christian High School’s Innovation Talks invite guest speakers from all facets of life to give on campus lectures to our students. Dr. Matthew Milliner, Professor of Art History at Wheaton College, came on campus and shared a lecture entitled Resisting the Algorithms. Dr. Milliner discussed what art history and church history can reveal to us about interaction with our devices.

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    Posted in: Academics, Events
  • Junior Classical League's Evening at The Getty

    October 19th, 2023


    Junior Classical League's Evening at The Getty

    On September 27, the Pacifica Junior Classical League team along with other Latin 3 and 4 students went to the Getty Villa in Malibu for an evening filled with education and entertainment as they watched a special performance of the award winning 1980’s play, The Gospel at Colonus...

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    Posted in: Academics
  • Innovation Talks — Jack Burns

    October 17th, 2023


    Innovation Talks — Jack Burns

    Pacifica Christian High School’s Innovation Talks invite guest speakers from all facets of life to give on campus lectures to our students. Jack Burns, Founder & CEO of Parkway Ford Heritage Mission came on campus to speak on mechanical art and the power of God’s beauty.

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    Posted in: Academics, Events
  • A New Tradition is Born - The Annual Lewis Dinner

    September 25th, 2023


    A New Tradition is Born - The Annual Lewis Dinner

    The Lewis Dinner is Orange County’s premier annual event celebrating the rich history of the Christian faith while encouraging lives of grace and truth in our human affairs on this side of Heaven—to God’s glory! A truly one-of-a-kind event!

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    Posted in: Academics, Events, TGC
  • Mr. Vincent Speaks on Do Diligence

    August 30th, 2023


    Mr. Vincent Speaks on Do Diligence

    On Friday, August 28, 2023, over 800 people gathered for Pacifica's 9th Annual Dedication Service, the first official event of the 2023-2024 school year. During the service, our speakers shared advice and wisdom for finding joy during this incredible high school season. Then yesterday, we welcomed our largest class of students back to campus for the first day of school. 

    Watch, Mr. Vincent speak on Do Diligence:

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    Posted in: Academics, Events, News
  • Mr. O'Neil Speaks on the Love, Fortitude, and Forgiveness Experienced in his Family

    August 28th, 2023


    Mr. O'Neil Speaks on the Love, Fortitude, and Forgiveness Experienced in his Family

    On Friday, August 28, 2023, over 800 people gathered for Pacifica's 9th Annual Dedication Service, the first official event of the 2023-2024 school year. During the service, our speakers shared advice and wisdom for finding joy during this incredible high school season. Then yesterday, we welcomed our largest class of students back to campus for the first day of school. 

    Watch Mr. O'Neil, Head of School, share a personal story of love, fortitude, and forgiveness that transformed his family:

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  • Head Prefect Speaks on Growing in Unity

    August 27th, 2023


    Head Prefect Speaks on Growing in Unity

    On Friday, August 28, 2023, over 800 people gathered for Pacifica's 9th Annual Dedication Service, the first official event of the 2023-2024 school year. During the service, our speakers shared advice and wisdom for finding joy during this incredible high school season. Then yesterday, we welcomed our largest class of students back to campus for the first day of school. 

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  • Join us for Pacifica's 9th Annual Dedication Service on Friday, August 25

    August 23rd, 2023


    Join us for Pacifica's 9th Annual Dedication Service on Friday, August 25

    Pacifica invites you to join us on Friday, August 25 as we gather for Pacifica's 9th Annual Dedication Service at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach.

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  • Pacifica Receives Historic Approval

    August 21st, 2023


    Pacifica Receives Historic Approval

    Last week, after two years of work, we were given permission by the City of Newport Beach and the Planning Commission to increase our enrollment cap from 305 students to 385 students.

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  • Pacifica Students Attend the Latin Academy at the Getty Villa

    August 2nd, 2023


    Pacifica Students Attend the Latin Academy at the Getty Villa

    Over the summer, Pacifica rising seniors and 4th-year Latin students, Evan Hong and Parker Phillips, took part in the prestigious Summer Latin Academy (Academia Aestiva) hosted at the Getty Villa in Malibu. The week-long program gathered Latin students from all over the country for a deep dive into Roman culture and exclusive access to the Villa’s antiquities collection...

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  • Pacifica Releases 2022-2023 Year-End Briefing

    June 24th, 2023


    Pacifica Releases 2022-2023 Year-End Briefing

    As our eighth academic year comes to a close, it is my honor, on behalf of the Board of Trustees, to share with you our 2022-2023 Year-End Briefing. As in years past...

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  • Pacifica Hires New History & Theology Faculty

    June 6th, 2023


    Pacifica Hires New History & Theology Faculty

    With the continued growth of Pacifica's student body, we are thrilled to share that we have hired an additional faculty member for the 2023-2024 school year! Mr. Justin Solis...

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  • Pacifica's Math Team Multiplies Successes in Its First Year

    May 3rd, 2023


    Pacifica's Math Team Multiplies Successes in Its First Year

    The Math Team at Pacifica exists to inspire our students with challenging and engaging mathematics. This year, our founding team of fifteen students met every week to enjoy time together while working on math problems. The problems we focus on solving are not stereotypical high school math problems ("solve for x using this process")...

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    Posted in: Academics, News
  • Pacifica Hires New Mathematics Faculty

    April 26th, 2023


    Pacifica Hires New Mathematics Faculty

    With the continued growth of Pacifica's student body, we are thrilled to share that we have hired an additional faculty member for the 2023-2024 school year! Mr. Craig Bruinsmawill be joining our Mathematics Department team in the fall and is excited about Pacifica's mission of freeing the next generation to think and live well.

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  • Pacifica's Junior Classical League Foundations & Successes

    April 17th, 2023


    Pacifica's Junior Classical League Foundations & Successes

    The 2022-23 school year has seen the foundation of a new Academic Team at Pacifica — our very own chapter of the California Junior Classical League! The Junior Classical League (JCL) is a national organization founded in 1936...

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    Posted in: Academics, News
  • Pacifica Hires New English Faculty

    March 20th, 2023


    Pacifica Hires New English Faculty
    By God’s grace, Pacifica is growing. In addition to adding more classes, Academic Teams, and other exciting aspects to our program, this fall we will have the biggest freshman class in Pacifica's history. We are deeply grateful for God’s goodness to us, and look forward with great anti...

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  • WATCH: Senior Nathan Kopel Wins the 2023 Declamations Contest

    March 20th, 2023


    WATCH: Senior Nathan Kopel Wins the 2023 Declamations Contest
    Our 2nd annual TGC Declamations Contest was a great success. This inspiring evening of oration showcased the talents of Pacifica's students as they declaimed masterfully crafted works—both new and familiar—from The Great Conversation. Having progressed through several rounds of comp...

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    Posted in: Academics, Events, News, TGC
  • Christianity Today Publishes Article by Pacifica Faculty Member

    February 17th, 2023


    Christianity Today Publishes Article by Pacifica Faculty Member
    On February 14, Christianity Today published an article written by Pacifica's own freshman History & Theology faculty, Benjamin Vincent. In his article, titled "Write a New Hymn unto the Lord," Vincent writes about his experience with hymn writing as a spiritual discipline and states that it "sh...

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  • Congratulations to our 2023 Declamations Semi-Finalists!

    February 14th, 2023


    Congratulations to our 2023 Declamations Semi-Finalists!
    Dear Students,I am proud of you. It’s been my great joy to walk around campus the last few weeks to see and hear students at all grade levels declaiming great speeches, poems, and snippets of drama in their English classes. I know that for most of you this experience has been difficult, but I am d...

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  • Annual Declamations Contest to Take Place on Friday, March 3

    February 8th, 2023


    Annual Declamations Contest to Take Place on Friday, March 3
    The entire Pacifica community is invited to attend the finals of our second annual TGC Declamations Contest. This inspiring evening of oration will showcase the talents of Pacifica’s students as they declaim masterfully crafted works—both new and familiar—from The Great Conversation.Having p...

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  • Former Member of the National Security Council, Dr. Inboden, Launches 2023 TGC Season with Insightful Lecture

    January 30th, 2023


    Former Member of the National Security Council, Dr. Inboden, Launches 2023 TGC Season with Insightful Lecture
    On Thursday, January 19, Pacifica continued The Great Conversation with a forum and Q&A featuring Dr. William Inboden on his book, The Peacemaker: Ronald Reagan, the Cold War, & the World on the Brink. Dr. William Inboden is currently the Executive Director and William Powers, Jr. Chair a...

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  • Pacifica's Constitutional Academic Team Proceeds to State Finals in Its First Year

    December 8th, 2022


    Pacifica's Constitutional Academic Team Proceeds to State Finals in Its First Year
    This year, Pacifica Christian High School founded a We the People Academic Team comprised of its Honors United States History students. This team joins the prestigious and competitive We the People program that was developed through an act of Congress, and led by Chief Justice Warren Burger in 1976,...

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  • Chapman University President Speaks to Pacifica Students About the Value of Latin & Classical Studies

    November 16th, 2022


    Chapman University President Speaks to Pacifica Students About the Value of Latin & Classical Studies
    On Tuesday, November 15, Pacifica welcomed Chapman University President, and Pacifica parent, Dr. Daniele Struppa for a lecture on Why Latin & Classical Studies?Struppa, the Donald Bren Presidential Chair in Mathematics, invited students to discover how studying Latin can enhance their skills across...

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  • World-Renowned Artists Speak to Pacifica Students

    February 22nd, 2022


    World-Renowned Artists Speak to Pacifica Students
    Pacifica Fine Art students were delighted to meet with and learn from two extraordinary Danish artists, Peter Brandes and Maja Lisa Engelhardt. A married couple from Denmark, Brandes and Englehardt are world renowned for their work restoring and beautifying Danish churches. Additionally, Brandes hol...

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  • Pacifica Christian Opens New Center for Learning

    February 8th, 2022


    Pacifica Christian Opens New Center for Learning
    Learning and community are now underway in The Rosalie and Harold Rae Brown Center for Learning. Opening festivities began with a Celebration Chapel on gratitude, Triton's Trumpet, bagpipes, and the joy of our students experiencing this new beautiful building for the first time. Our community is ...

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  • Pacifica Publicly Launches Building A Home Campaign

    March 8th, 2021


    Pacifica Publicly Launches Building A Home Campaign
    Purpose, direction, goodness, and belonging. In the midst of our culture’s confusion, teenagers yearn for things that help them flourish—things beyond themselves. By providing our students with a superior academic experience steeped in faith and community, Pacifica Christian High School exists t...

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  • Pacifica Christian Plans for the Future

    February 26th, 2021


    Pacifica Christian Plans for the Future
    Pacifica Christian High School's mission is to teach students to think and live well. At the heart of that mission is a deeply-held desire to help young people flourish in school and for all of life. Over the past five and a half years, we have built a strong foundation in support of this missi...

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  • After the Calamity: Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night

    November 2nd, 2020


    By Rev. Hayden A. Butler Feste. Good madonna, why mournest thou? Olivia. Good fool, for my brother's death. Feste. I think his soul is in hell, madonna. Olivia. I know his soul is in heaven, fool. Feste. The more fool, madonna, to mourn for your brother's soul being in heaven. Take...

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    Posted in: Academics, Arts, Events
  • Pacifica Senior Published in Science​​​ Journal

    May 31st, 2019


    Pacifica Senior Published in Science​​​ Journal
    Over the past 12 months, Emma Hammond (Class of 2019) has completed an extensive Scholar Project centered around the intersection of medicine and human emotions. Throughout her project, she has shadowed doctors in the US and Sweden, produced a gallery of art pieces inspired by her reflections, and l...

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    Posted in: Academics
  • WASC Visiting Committee Gives Pacifica High Praise

    March 27th, 2019


    WASC Visiting Committee Gives Pacifica High Praise
    Dear Friends, For the past four days, Pacific hosted an accrediting committee from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). I am delighted to announce the visit was tremendously successful. The committee spent considerable time in our classrooms and speaking with our students, teache...

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  • President of Whitworth University to Speak at All-School Meeting

    September 27th, 2018


    President of Whitworth University to Speak at All-School Meeting
    On Monday, October 1, Pacifica will host Dr. Beck A. Taylor. Dr. Beck serves as President of Whitworth University located in Spokane, Washington. Dr. Beck will speak in Monday Assembly to the community on the value of a Christian liberal arts education and then take a tour of our school. When you se...

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    Posted in: Academics, Events
  • Google’s Surprise Endorsement of Pacifica!

    January 31st, 2018


    At Pacifica, we educate young people for all of life! A broad education (one that includes the robust study of BOTH the humanities and the sciences) providing a foundation for flourishing in college, life, work, and faith.  Parents, as well as students, deeply resonate with our commitment to the d...

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  • WASC Accrediting Committee Visits Pacifica 

    April 15th, 2016


    WASC Accrediting Committee Visits Pacifica 
    Dear Pacifica Community, Today, Pacifica hosted an accrediting committee from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). I am delighted to announce the visit was hugely successful. The committee spent the day in our classrooms speaking with our students, teachers, and parents. They als...

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  • Over 400 attend Pacifica’s C.S. Lewis Symposium

    October 7th, 2015


    Over 400 attend Pacifica’s C.S. Lewis Symposium
    Pacifica Christian Orange County hosted its inaugural TGC event featuring renowned C. S. Lewis scholars from around the world.  Pacifica recorded the symposium talks, which are now available at www.youtube.com/pacificaoc. C. S. Lewis scholars delivered thought-provoking talks for over 400 guests...

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    Posted in: Academics, Events
  • 10 Days Left to Register – TGC Symposium

    September 21st, 2015


    10 Days Left to Register – TGC Symposium
    10 Days Left to Register! SYMPOSIUM DATES Friday evening, October 2, and Saturday, October 3 (detailed symposium agenda below LOCATION St. Andrews Presbyterian Church 600 St. Andrew's Rd Newport Beach, California, 92663 ONLINE REGISTRATION Registration is required to attend TGC Symposium. Click...

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    Posted in: Academics, Arts
  • VIDEO: Why We Teach English—or anything for that matter

    April 29th, 2015


    VIDEO: Why We Teach English—or anything for that matter
    At Pacifica Christian, we’re launching “The Great Conversation” (TGC), and we want you to join in.  We’ve designed TGC to allow our students and our community to participate in a dialogue that will transform the way we live, study, work, and engage the world—or, stated another way:  how ...

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  • Director of Visual and Performing Arts Announced

    March 13th, 2015


    Director of Visual and Performing Arts Announced
    Pacifica Christian High School-Orange County announces the appointment of Leslee Myers as the founding Director of Pacifica’s Visual and Performing Arts Program and its first performing arts teacher. Ms. Myers recently returned to Southern California after spending two years at New York Universit...

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    Posted in: Academics, Arts
  • Recreating the Classroom

    February 19th, 2015


    Recreating the Classroom
    The classroom for the 21st century student   Pacifica has spent a considerable amount of time re-thinking classrooms. In preparation for next fall, Pacifica is outfitting its classrooms with mobile furniture and modern technology. Mobile furniture allows teachers to change the physical space o...

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    Posted in: Academics, Admissions
  • Pacifica Hires Founding English Department Chair and Director of Associated Students

    December 2nd, 2014


    Pacifica Hires Founding English Department Chair and Director of Associated Students
    Pacifica Christian High School-Orange County announced today the hiring of Hayden Butler as Pacifica’s English Department Chair and Director of Associated Students. Mr. Butler currently teaches English and Theology while serving as Department Chair of English at Capistrano Valley Christian Schoo...

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  • Pacifica Hires Founding Science Department Chair and Director of the STEM Scholars Program

    November 5th, 2014


    Pacifica Hires Founding Science Department Chair and Director of the STEM Scholars Program
    [Newport Beach, CA] – Pacifica Christian High School-Orange County (www.pacificaoc.org) announced today the hiring of Anne Mangahas as Pacifica’s Science Department Chair and Director of the STEM Scholars Program.  Ms. Mangahas currently teaches AP Science and serves as Co-Chair of the Science ...

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  • Pacifica Hires Founding Faculty Member to Lead History & Theology Departments

    October 10th, 2014


    Pacifica Hires Founding Faculty Member to Lead History & Theology Departments
    [Newport Beach, CA] – Pacifica Christian High School-Orange County (www.pacificaoc.org) announced today the hiring of Chris Stratton as Pacifica’s History and Theology Chair and Academic Dean.  Mr. Stratton currently teaches humanities and Bible, while also serving as the Director of Religious ...

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