“Pictures of moments that’ll last forever.”
"Photograph” by Ed Sheeran
A Year of Firsts
In our first year, CoCoSPA opened its doors in a cluster of portables—humble beginnings filled with big dreams. Students and staff poured their hearts into creating art, building traditions, and learning what it meant to be a part of this bold new community. It was a year of challenges, growth, and unforgettable moments that set the foundation for everything to come.
A Year of New Beginnings
This was the year CoCoSPA moved into its permanent home at 2730 Mitchell Drive. While construction continued on the back half of the building, students and staff adapted creatively to temporary spaces. We opened our Black Box Theater for performances, welcomed a brand new class of 100 sixth graders, and watched our original 10th graders become the school’s very first junior class. It was a year of growth, excitement, and laying the foundation—literally and figuratively—for the years ahead.
A Year of Launching Dreams
With all classroom construction complete, CoCoSPA finally felt fully at home on Mitchell Drive. This year marked the graduation of our very first senior class—trailblazers who shaped our culture and spirit from the start. As the campus buzzed with creativity, collaboration, and performance, we celebrated not just how far we had come, but how far our students were ready to go. It was a year of pride, reflection, and unforgettable firsts.
A Year Interrupted
The school year began with momentum and pride as CoCoSPA earned its full 6-year WASC accreditation and prepared to celebrate its second graduating class. But in March 2020, the world shifted—COVID-19 sent students and staff home, turning classrooms into Zoom screens and performances into virtual showcases. Despite the sudden change, our community stayed connected and resilient. The Class of 2020 made history with a heartfelt parking lot graduation that captured the spirit and strength of a year no one will forget.
A Year of Logging In & Hanging On
Though our campus remained quiet, the CoCoSPA spirit stayed loud and strong. From online classes to virtual performances, community events to spirit weeks over Zoom, we found new ways to stay connected and creative. The year ended with joyful parking lot celebrations—our now-signature drive-through promotions and graduations that honored students with honks, cheers, and heartfelt send-offs. Even from a distance, our community showed up for one another in every way.
A Year of In-Person Imperfection
Returning to campus after a year online was thrilling, messy, and full of learning—for students and staff alike. Amid the chaos of re-adjusting to in-person life, CoCoSPA came alive with performances, dances, rallies, and spontaneous hallway laughter. We navigated ever-changing protocols and shifting norms, but through it all, our community reconnected, rebuilt, and reminded each other what it means to belong.
A Year That Started in Sixth Grade
This was the year our very first Legacy students—those who began with us as sixth graders in 2016—walked the graduation stage. Their journey marked a powerful moment of reflection and pride for our entire community. As these students grew, so did CoCoSPA, and this year was a celebration of that shared growth. With performances that pushed creative boundaries, student leadership at its strongest, and traditions old and new, Year Seven was both a culmination and a launch into what’s next.
A Year of Still Standing, Still Serving
In a time of continued change, with our fourth Executive Director at the helm, one thing remained constant—our unwavering commitment to students. Staff poured their hearts into every class, rehearsal, and conversation, showing up for kids who needed them more than ever. Even amid uncertainty, the CoCoSPA community held fast to its values, its passion, and its belief in the power of the arts. This was a year defined not by ease, but by endurance—and by the love that kept us going.
A Year of Final Bows
In our final year, we embraced each moment with purpose, creativity, and heart. Though the decision to close was difficult, it was made on our own terms—with clarity, compassion, and care for our community. Students continued to shine, staff continued to give their all, and together we created one last beautiful, bold chapter. We didn’t just end—we celebrated, honored, and uplifted the legacy we built together over nine unforgettable years.