A town of 900 to 1,200 inhabitants, Sunol lies in the hills halfway between the East Bay and Tri-Valley areas. Named for Antonio Maria Sunol and Maria Bernal Sunol, who owned 14,000 acres of ranch land in the area in the 1800s, the town boasts the Sunol station of Niles Canyon Railway, a small downtown, and a K – 8th Grade school of about 250 students.
There’s a communal feeling at the school, where everyone seems to know everyone. Older kids tend to look after the younger ones. In 2025, the school will reach a triumphant milestone—100 years in its main building, built in 1925.
Art teacher Heather Cass describes the kids as “respectful, kind and well rounded.” In preparation for the School’s 100th birthday—a celebration is planned for the end of April next year—students took on a project to draw the exterior of their beloved school building.
Cass describes, “Students were asked to show their love of their school through creating it using one point perspective, architectural, design techniques and the elements of art. They were also asked to take a few artists’ liberties to show the school as they view it.”
Staff and teachers voted on their top three submissions, which were by three 8th Grade students: Aiyana Colombage –1st place, Angad Mann– 2nd place and Cassian Cox Solozano–3rd place.
Preserving a community building for so long is especially significant when many older Sunol structures have been lost to wildfires over the years. (Read more at www.sunol.net/place/.) Hopefully the students will keep their building for many graduating classes to come.
A look at the art!
