After the devastating Eaton Canyon Fire swept through Altadena, the Aveson School of Leaders, a beloved TK–5th-grade campus, was lost. Along with it went classrooms, comforting routines, and the everyday normalcy that children depend on. Some students were displaced. Some lost their homes. All of them lost a place that felt like a second home. But even in the ash, something beautiful began to grow: resilience.

These odes and first-person accounts are from Aveson School of Leader 5th grade students. They tell tales of what is missed but also celebrate the beauty that once was.

The photographs honor gratitude, honoring the story of each student in their own unique way. Throughout the entire collection, the bravery these students show in their creative work is admirable.