Chatsworth Hills Academy Celebrates Land Purchase for Expansion

Written by the Chatsworth Hills Academy

Chatsworth Hills Academy (CHA) capped off its annual school-wide Americana theme by celebrating the realization of its own American Dream Friday – its purchase of the 16-acre campus on which it has operated for the past 35 years. 

In keeping with its history as a summer campground for the Chumash tribe, CHA opened the ceremony with a special blessing conducted by Gil Unzueta, an elder of the Chumash tribe, who also blessed the campus at the beginning of the school year. 

CHA then expressed appreciation to Councilman Mitch Englander, who helped broker the campus purchase negotiations, with a special plaque thanking him for his support and for helping CHA realize its dream so the school could continue to help children realize theirs. 

Councilman Englander in turn presented Head of School Ann Gillinger and Board President Scott Rabin with a certificate in recognition of CHA’s thirty-five years as a key member of the Chatsworth community. 

Guests, who included members of the school community as well as the school’s neighbors who were also invited to join in the festivities, were then treated to a concert performed by the entire student body of preschoolers-eighth graders, followed by a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday, noisemakers and confetti blasts.   

“We couldn’t be happier and we wanted our celebration to reflect the joy we feel when we walk around this incredible land we now own. When we chose this year’s school-wide learning theme, USA@CHA, we did it to tie in with the federal election. We had no idea that this would also be the year we achieved our own American dream of owning our own land,” said Gillinger.  “The fact that this coincides with our 35th Anniversary makes it that much more special.”

Chatsworth Hills Academy is an independent college preparatory school serving students from Early Childhood (ages 2 1/2 – 5) through grade 8. 

CHA is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools and is accredited by both the California Association of Independent Schools and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.  

Students preside primarily in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, including Chatsworth, Porter Ranch, Northridge, Granada Hills, Woodland Hills, West Hills and more.