08/19/2026
Carrisa Plains Parents, Teachers & Friends: Preserving Rural Education Through Community Voice and Commitment, 2025–2026 Year-End Report.
As we reflect on the 2025–2026 school year, the Carrisa Plains PTF begins with special gratitude to BHE and Clearway. Their generous support has helped Carrisa Plains Elementary School remain a two-room school while providing students with educational programs, activities, and experiences that might otherwise be beyond the reach of a small, remote campus.
That commitment is especially meaningful at a school of only 19 students, where every contribution can make an immediate and lasting difference. We are also deeply grateful to our students, families, teachers, staff, volunteers, donors, and neighbors. Carrisa Plains Elementary may be small in enrollment, but it is sustained by people and partners who believe rural children deserve a strong school close to home.
Supporting Learning
Throughout the year, the PTF worked alongside teachers and staff to strengthen classroom instruction, literacy initiatives, Battle of the Books participation, and other enrichment activities. These efforts gave students opportunities to explore new interests, develop new skills, and build both academic success and a lifelong love of learning. Community partnerships further expanded educational experiences beyond the traditional classroom.
Enriching Student Life
The PTF worked to ensure that students at one of San Luis Obispo County’s most remote schools enjoyed the same memorable experiences as children elsewhere. Students participated in 12 educational field trips, including visits to the Central Coast Aquarium, Great AgVenture at the California Mid-State Fairgrounds, the Paso Robles Children’s Museum, and an overnight science camp. Hands-on exhibits and activities introduced them to local career paths in skilled trades, technology, and the arts. We thank the Atascadero Unified School District for making school vans available for these trips.
Classroom learning was also enriched through partnerships such as One Cool Earth, whose educators worked with students on creative outdoor projects. Movie Night brought families together for pizza, snacks, and fellowship, while Breakfast Club offered students a welcoming start to the day and celebrated monthly achievements. Holiday celebrations, the Halloween snack bar, costume parade, choir and winter performances, and family events strengthened the school’s close-knit spirit.
Looking ahead, the PTF developed after-school opportunities in cooking, arts and crafts, gardening, and coding while exploring other clubs requested by families. These experiences depended on Teacher Assistants Miss Debbie and Miss Jani, Miss Monica, Miss Holly, and many caring parents. Their care, creativity, and generosity made field trips, clubs, celebrations, family events, and ordinary school days meaningful. The PTF is deeply grateful for all they contributed.
Strengthening Our School Campus
Volunteers contributed time and talent to campus projects and school activities, helping Carrisa Plains Elementary remain welcoming and engaging. Planning continued for school-garden improvements, including raised planting beds, a greenhouse, irrigation improvements, and a chicken tractor. These projects are intended to create hands-on learning opportunities connecting students with agriculture, science, and environmental stewardship.
Building Community Partnerships
Local businesses, organizations, donors, volunteers, and community members contributed resources, expertise, and encouragement throughout the year. Fundraising and strong community support allowed the PTF to assist with student activities, educational programs, and campus projects while maintaining responsible financial stewardship. Parents, grandparents, neighbors, and other supporters volunteered, attended meetings, shared ideas, and helped with events. Together, the PTF raised approximately $17,000 for a school of 19 students—funding that can help cover programs such as One Cool Earth next year.
Building Home Libraries and a Love of Reading
One of the year’s highlights was a generous donation of children’s books coordinated by retired children’s librarian Liz Krieger through Everybody Reads/SLO, a volunteer literacy program operating under the nonprofit Ecologistics.
Students selected books to keep and begin building home libraries, while additional books went to classrooms and the school library, including several needed Battle of the Books titles. The collection featured biographies, science books, folktales, cultural stories, picture books, chapter books, graphic novels, and titles in both English and Spanish.
We are deeply grateful to Liz Krieger, Everybody Reads/SLO, Ecologistics, and the many volunteers who placed these books into students’ hands. Students ended the year with books of their own—books that will continue to educate, inspire, and be shared with their families.
Looking Ahead
The PTF remains committed to supporting educational opportunities, student enrichment, literacy initiatives, family engagement, and community partnerships that benefit Carrisa Plains students.
Future goals include expanding enrichment opportunities, strengthening community partnerships, continuing improvements to the school garden and campus, supporting student activities, and ensuring that the PTF remains a strong and sustainable resource for the school. We are excited about the opportunities ahead and grateful for the many individuals who make this work possible.
Thank You
The Carrisa Plains Parent-Teacher-Friends extends its sincere appreciation to:
1. BHE and Clearway, whose sustained generosity has helped CPES remain a two-room school and broadened the opportunities available to its students.
2. Our students, whose curiosity and enthusiasm inspire everything we do.
3. Our teachers and staff, whose dedication makes a difference every day.
4. Our families, whose support and volunteerism strengthen our school.
5. Our donors and community partners, whose generosity creates opportunities for students.
6. Our volunteers, whose countless hours make so many programs and events possible.
Together, we continue to demonstrate what can be accomplished when a community comes together on behalf of its children. Thank you for helping make the 2025–2026 school year a success.
