Ms. Laurel Estrada

Dear Pacific Drive students and families, 

Welcome to the 2023-24 school year! I am so excited to join the stellar staff at Pacific Drive as your new principal. I am also excited to introduce you to our wonderful new assistant principal, Maria Rojo. She and I are thrilled to be working together. We are eager to work with stakeholders to continue all the wonderful programs and dream big with everyone at Pacific Drive. 

In the short time I have begun getting to know Pacific Drive,  it is clear to me that it is a warm and nurturing school community. I’m honored to join the Pacific Drive family!  Building relationships and continuing to grow a sense of connection and belonging to our school community is a high priority for me. I look forward to getting to know teachers, staff, students, and families and finding out your thoughts and ideas on building upon our sense of community throughout the school year. Students learn best when they feel connected to their school, their peers, and the adults on campus. When they know there are people who care about and believe in them, they will do their very best in school, try new things, and care about those around them. To this end, our theme for the school year is:

Anchored in connection. 

What are some ways we anchor in our connection to each other, to the learning, to our past and future? 

I value a strong home-school partnership and I look forward to working alongside our teachers and staff to grow that partnership. We have an active, hard-working PTA. There is always room for more helping hands and there are many ways to become involved. I encourage you to join PTA and reach out to me, Ms. Rojo, our wonderful Social Service Assistant Hilda Shimizu, or our PTA leadership team to find out ways to become involved and/or help out. Your child’s teacher will also be reaching out with ways parents can help out.  Ms. Rojo and I will be having regular Principal Chats on topics we mutually decide upon with you. I hope many parents join us each time either in person or virtually.

Remember that school starts promptly at 8:15 every day. Breakfast is served starting at 7:45. We look forward to seeing your child each day on time unless they are sick or have a doctor’s appointment. Our classes and our school are not the same without each and every student here with us each day. Go Dolphins! 

Sincerely,

Ms. Laurel Estrada

Principal