New Faces At Costa
In recent days, wildfires that ravaged the Los Angeles area have left an indelible mark on countless families, homes, and communities. Among the hardest-hit areas was Pacific Palisades, where families lost their homes and the local schools were forced to close due to the damage. Yet, amid this devastation, a sense of hope and community has emerged, with Costa stepping up to offer support and a fresh start to those who lost so much.
One of the most inspiring stories emerging from this difficult time has been the arrival of new students from the Palisades at Costa.
According to Junior Kyle Mcknight, “The students and teachers have been very understanding of the situation, which has made our transition a lot easier,” Junior Kyle Mcknight shared.
For many families in the Pacific Palisades, the fires not only meant the loss of their homes but also the devastation of their community spaces, including the local highschool. Palisades Charter High School, where many of the displaced students have been enrolled, was severely damaged by the flames, leaving students with nowhere to go.
“We are still adjusting to the new schedule here at Costa. At Pali we had a block schedule which is very different from having each class everyday,” said Mcknight.
Costa has opened its doors to these students, providing a sense of stability and continuity in a time of uncertainty. While moving to a new school during such difficult circumstances is never easy, the transition has been met with understanding, kindness, and a strong sense of community from both students and staff at Mira Costa.
“Åll the students here have so far been really welcoming and no one has done anything to make us feel uncomfortable,” said junior Josh Rubin.
As they continue to settle into their new school, the students from the Palisades are beginning to rebuild their lives, one day at a time. They have shown incredible strength and are finding new opportunities to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.
Costa Gives Back
This Sunday, Costa will host the Costa Cares Fundraiser, a school-wide event aimed to support victims of the Palisades Fire. With many students from Palisades now attending Costa, the school feels a strong sense of responsibility to help those who have been displaced.
The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on campus and will feature a variety of activities, with many student groups participating to raise funds. ASB, Link Crew, Model United Nations (MUN), sports teams, and other clubs will each have their own booth.
“This fundraiser is an opportunity for us to really come together as a community and support those who suffered from the fires,“ said senior and Link Leader Ivy Olynick. “We encourage everyone to contribute, whether by hosting an activity booth or just attending the event in general.”
Booths will feature everything from handmade crafts and food sales to wellness activities such as rock painting and friendship bracelet making. All proceeds will be donated to help those impacted by the fires.
“We really just want to create a safe and uplifting space for students and the community to give back,” said senior MUN member Henry Michael. “Knowing we can help make a difference for those displaced from the fires is what truly motivates us throughout this whole process.”
Students and faculty have been making flyers and social media posts to spread the word about the fundraiser.
“This is more than just a fundraiser—it’s about supporting one another in challenging times,” said ASB President, Isaac Faynsod.
Supporting Animals
As the Los Angeles fires continue to spread, Mira Costa students, parents, and staff have stepped up to give endangered animals a home. As the days go on, pets are being separated from their families and wildlife continues to flee from the fires.
A number of local organizations, including the Lovejoy Foundation and Los Angeles Animal Services offer fostering animals, donating essential food and supplies, or volunteering to assist these animals. Many Costa families have been actively working together to ensure that displaced animals have the resources they need and injured animals can get the health care they need.
“My family decided to foster an animal because there are currently so many animals in need and we wanted to give back to the communities that are going through a lot right now,” said Sophomore Layla Mazry.
Countless animals were injured during this natural disaster, and the donations from the community have made a significant impact in helping these animals’ health and safety. Other families have contributed by donating food and supplies to help keep these animals in good condition.
“We have been giving back in as many ways as we can lately, and one of these ways was donating canned food to the Los Angeles Animal Services,” said sophomore Annabel Krikorian. “So many pets and wild animals have been abandoned due to the fires, so it was really important that we made sure we gave back to the animals too.”
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