‘Worth it’: La Jolla Elementary celebrates finished site

Last Updated on May 1, 2025

School district leadership, students and more gathered for the dedication ceremony.

With a ribbon cutting and confetti throwing, La Jolla Elementary School celebrated the completion of its multi-year, multimillion dollar whole site modernization project Nov 19.

The festivities involved the current LJES student body, San Diego Unified School District leadership and members of the construction and design team.

Current LJES students, principal and district leadership pose at a dedication ceremony for the modernization project.

LJES Principal Stephanie Hasselbrink took on her role in January 2019, and recalled having the first meeting that week for the “massive” undertaking that resulted in the campus being an active construction site for three and a half years.

“We had to pivot and move and change and adapt. And although it was challenging, we made it,” Hasselbrink said, adding the effort was “worth it.”

The project upgraded the school’s permanent buildings and added a two-story administrative and classroom building, kindergarten classroom buildings, a lunch structure and an upper-field restroom building.

The administrative building reorienting the main entrance from Marine Street to Girard Avenue.

The kitchen was remodeled, the former administrative building was converted to classrooms and new collaboration areas, restrooms and support facilities were constructed.

School board Vice President and La Jollan Cody Petterson recalls his time as a student at LJES.

Looking at the completed project and feeling “a little bit emotional,” SDUSD Board of Education Vice President Cody Petterson, a La Jolla resident, recounted first attending LJES beginning in kindergarten 44 years ago.

“It was a very formative time for me,” Petterson said.

“Our teachers are laying the foundation for lifelong efficacy and achievement. But above all, when we drop our children off at elementary school, it is with the understanding and the trust that they will be loved, not just as future adults, but as the children they are.”

The whole site modernization project “is an embodiment of our community’s love and hope for our children, … the children of our community,” he said.

“Everyone who comes into our office and steps onto our campus for the first time is always so impressed,” Hasselbrink said. “I’m thrilled that we are able to offer our community a modern, safe, beautiful place to learn, grow and thrive now and for many years to come.”

Current LJES fifth grader Bodhi Gonzalez hopes the refurbished campus will “shine brightly” for another century.

Fifth-grade student Bodhi Gonzalez said though attending LJES during construction was tough, the campus is now “the best that it’s been since 1896, when it opened.”

“Hopefully it will continue to shine brightly for the next century,” Bodhi said.

Interim Superintendent Fabiola Bagula commends La Jolla Elementary School’s achievements.

La Jolla Elementary School is “a cornerstone in this community, consistently setting a standard of academic excellence,” SDUSD Interim Superintendent Fabiola Bagula said.

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