Pacifica’s Approach to Artificial Intelligence

In an ever-shifting technological landscape, our core mission at Pacifica remains unchanged. We exist to encourage students to think critically and wisely while cultivating lives of faith, character, and service to the glory of God. The ultimate aims of a Pacifica education do not fluctuate when technology shifts; however, our means must pivot. Fortunately, Pacifica is exceptionally well-positioned to make these pivots.

Our approach to AI is neither to fear it nor to embrace it uncritically. Instead, we want to teach students how to use these powerful tools thoughtfully while continuing to cultivate the distinctly human capacities that no technology can replace: reason and imagination, courage and action, virtue and vocation, wonder and worship, wisdom and tradition, grace and truth.

The four pieces below offer a window into how we are thinking about AI at Pacifica. The first outlines our approach for faculty and provides the clearest overview for parents. The second shares the conversation we had with students at our recent assembly. The third provides our current handbook policy and expectations for AI use. Finally, The Shadow by Hans Christian Andersen—one of our Sophomore summer readings—offers a literary lens through which we can consider what happens when a creation begins to take on a life of its own.

As you read, we invite you into the deeper questions that we'll be leaning into this year:

1. How do we invite students into hard things so they can taste genuine failure and victory, discovering the joy and confidence of personal mastery?

2. How do we form resilient explorers who possess the inner conviction that they can take on difficult challenges and persevere when friction arises?

Read More

1. AI at Pacifica: A Guide for Faculty & Families
Read the Faculty Guide

2. AI & Our Students: Assembly Presentation
Read the Student Presentation

3. Pacifica AI Policy
Read the Handbook Policy

4. The Shadow by Hans Christian Andersen
Read The Shadow