Our Identity: A Story of Courage, Redemption, and Transformation

At its heart, PacBay community dedicates itself to academic excellence, joyful learning, and the staunch pursuit of truth, justice, and beauty. And, our journey is one of redemptive transformation, courageous renewal, and intentional growth, and we are unafraid to tell our story to all who will listen.

Our story, recounted below, was also told in ESPN's Undefeated publication. As our nation continues to grapple with its history and continued insidious and overt presence of racism, our story offers a vision of what is possible - humbly calling out the wrong, standing up for what is right, and charting out a common path to uplift our shared humanity on this side of heaven.

Our Complicated History

From 1955 to 2018, the two campuses surrounded by eucalyptus groves just off Highway 1 in Pacifica had a different name: Alma Heights Christian School. Alma Heights operated as a private school and ministry under the missionary organization, Pillar of Fire. The school itself was named after Pillar of Fire's founder, Alma White - who was a known white supremacist from the early to mid 20th century in New Jersey with associations to the Ku Klux Klan. While Alma Heights Christian School was a somewhat autonomous entity in California and did not act upon or consciously support her troubling ideologies, the school's continued operation under the name of an intensely disturbing individual was problematic. There is power in a name, even if the name is kept only out of ignorant complicity or complacency.

Alma Heights' Advisory Board (mostly school parents and alumni parents) realized a change was necessary. In 2017, they reached out to Dr. Michael Chen and asked him to come alongside them to revitalize the school and its vision. Dr. Chen had a long history in Christ-centered education and leadership, advancing equity and social justice in schools through curriculum innovation, experiential learning, and community and global service and engagement. Dr. Chen agreed, on one condition: the school's name be changed, all association with Alma White and Pillar of Fire be severed and repudiated, and a new school be launched.

In January of 2018, that board unanimously voted not only to change the school's name but to enact a complete organizational change. Alma Heights Christian School was officially terminated as an entity, and through the next several months, a completely new school was formed to take its place. A new community with fresh vision and vigor came into being through the tireless efforts of several essential people: Alan Aimi, the advisory board's president, led the change alongside Dr. David Gross, the former head of school. Susan Yem, the new school's Director of Advancement, brought together stakeholders - students, families, school staff, and alumni - to help the existing community embrace the process of change. Jim Sweeney was the legal mind that helped navigate the complexities of the new incorporation and organizational change. And overall, Dr. Michael Chen championed this change. In June of 2018, their collective vision was fully realized. Alma Heights Christian School no longer existed; in its place stood a brand new school, fully incorporated with an independent school board, and no affiliations or ties to the previous ministries. This school was Pacific Bay Christian School.

Our Redemptive Name

There is power in a name. The naming process for this new school was intentional and deliberate, covered with prayer. Our new school's name needed to lay the foundation for a community of strength, character, justice, and faithfulness. And so this name was chosen:

• Pacific: The campus overlooks the majestic Pacific Ocean, and that western horizon draws our eyes beyond ourselves to embrace a global perspective. PacBay would not embrace insularity, exclusivity, or eliteness. Rather, it strives to nurture in each student a perspective of inclusivity and global citizenship, championing a unified vision of humanity.
• Bay: While keeping an understanding of the importance of a global perspective, we are also rooted in our local community. PacBay opens its doors to the entire Bay Area, welcoming students from a diversity of backgrounds, beliefs, perspectives, and lived experiences.
• Christian: From its very founding, PacBay aspires to be a part of God's redemptive story. Christ is at its center from an ecumenical standpoint, bringing together all Christ-centered viewpoints and denominations in its community. PacBay aspires to live out “mere Christianity” by welcoming all as Christ and emphasizing love and unity as integral to the Christian faith. It aims to be a sanctuary where all students can flourish and come together to learn, pushing themselves towards excellence and towards becoming the whole persons God wants them to be.

Our Transformative Vision

Pacific Bay Christian School is committed to continued and courageous growth. At the heart of its academic mindset lies the desire to nurture all students in virtue, leading them towards a love of truth, justice, and beauty. PacBay is dedicated to educational innovation and looking at conventional systems from fresh and unique perspectives. We see this throughout the curriculum and the structure of the school day, from their Flex Days to their Outdoor Education program. And, PacBay animates its commitment to equity through its culminating senior seminar, where every senior explores issues at the intersection of their life's pursuits with faith and justice.

PacBay takes its identity, its history, its name, and its vision seriously: it continues to further the narrative of joyful renewal by nurturing virtue in its students and pursuing justice and equity in all it does. Above all, its vision is one of unity: where students of all backgrounds work alongside the staff and faculty to cultivate their academic environment together. As students graduate from PacBay and go out into the world, may they be empowered with boldness and virtue to change it for the better, and fight for truth, justice, and beauty.