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Paradise science teacher reflects on school year since the Camp Fire

Charlene Brooks’ classroom at Children’s Community School in Paradise was one of the dozens that burned to the ground.

CHICO, Calif. — As the school year comes to an end and summer break begins, teachers and students at Children's Community Charter School spent the last week of school reflecting on how their lives changed since the Camp Fire.

"Don’t take anything for granted because you never know when it could all go away," said 8th grader, Taylor Cirigliano.

Since December, Charlene Brooks has been teaching science at the K-8 school inside a chapel at Grace Community Church in Chico. According to Brooks, about half of the students in her classes moved away after the fire.

When ABC10 first met Brooks in December, she was preparing to see her students for the first time since the fire destroyed half of their school. 

Brooks’ classroom at Children’s Community School in Paradise was one of the dozens that burned to the ground.

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At the time, Brooks told ABC10 she wasn't sure what resources she'd have to teach, but told us she was committed to making sure her 8th graders were ready for high school. She even joked about dissecting worms in the parking lot if they had to.

"We ended up not having to, thankfully," she explained. "We were blessed with the ability to get frogs and eyeballs."

While Brooks is grateful her students had that experience, she says it's bittersweet that not all the kids she had at the beginning of the year were able to stay in the area.

Brooks said the K-8 school will continue to use the classrooms at the church during the next school year.

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