Sonder Creek Academy

Sonder Creek Academy We are an independent private school in the East Bay for junior kindergarten through 8th grade.

One day, your child is learning the building blocks of reading, writing, and math. Before long, they are explaining why ...
09/24/2026

One day, your child is learning the building blocks of reading, writing, and math. Before long, they are explaining why their science experiment worked, making connections across subjects, choosing books that interest them, and sharing very specific opinions about how they would solve a problem differently.

These years are an important bridge between mastering the basics and preparing for the greater independence and academic expectations ahead.

At Sonder Creek Academy, in Walnut Creek, students are known well enough to be both supported and challenged. Small classes and small skill groups allow teachers to recognize when a student is ready to go deeper, build on what they already know, or take on more advanced work. Through Accelerated Math, hands-on STEM, Spanish and Mandarin, presentation-based learning, and Pre-AP coursework in middle school, students continue building the confidence and skills they will carry into high school and beyond.

Now enrolling for middle school for the 2026–2027 school year. Schedule a tour at SonderCreekAcademy.org.

09/22/2026

Let’s see those first-week smiles! 🤓

It has been a meaningful start to the year: happy reunions, new friendships, lots of laughter, and students settling into classrooms ready to learn, ask questions, and stretch their thinking.

Thank you to our teachers, staff, and families for giving the Sonder Creek Academy community such a warm start. At our K–8 private school in Walnut Creek, students are supported and challenged as they build strong academic foundations.

We are only one week in, and there is so much ahead: meaningful learning, new challenges, growing confidence, and plenty more reasons to smile.

09/17/2026

We’re ready to rock this school year with you, SCA! 🎸

To our students and families: we are so glad you’re here! Our teachers, office team, and administration are ready to cheer you on, challenge you, and help make this a great year.
Welcome back, Sonder Creek Academy. We hope your first week has been fantastic! 💙

09/09/2026

The words may be scrambled, but the message is clear: welcome back to school! ✏️

We’re so happy to welcome our Sonder Creek Academy students and families back for the first day of school. Here’s to a new year of learning, growing, creating and building friendships together at our K–8 private school in Walnut Creek.

Let’s make it a great year, SCA!

Earlier this Spring, our 8th graders spent time volunteering with White Pony Express, helping sort donated groceries tha...
09/02/2026

Earlier this Spring, our 8th graders spent time volunteering with White Pony Express, helping sort donated groceries that would later be distributed throughout the community.

Through hands-on service, students experienced how organizations like White Pony Express help reduce food waste while supporting local families in need. Beyond earning volunteer hours, students also practiced teamwork, responsibility, and community involvement in a meaningful way.

We’re grateful for opportunities like these that allow students to step outside the classroom and learn through real-world experiences.

Interested in getting involved? White Pony Express offers volunteer opportunities for individuals, groups, ambassadors, and food rescue drivers throughout the year.

08/26/2026

Meet Mr. Jin and Ms. Lissette.

Mr. Jin teaches Mandarin, and Ms. Lissette teaches Spanish here at Sonder Creek Academy. Their creativity, energy, and genuine passion for teaching are a huge part of what makes our language program so special.

Through conversation, stories, games, reading, music, and everyday classroom interaction, they create an environment where students feel comfortable jumping in and using the language naturally. There’s a lot of laughter, participation, and encouragement in their classrooms, which helps students build confidence over time.
Students choose between Spanish or Mandarin, and both languages are taught four days a week, in the language. Rather than focusing on memorization alone, students learn through immersion and consistent exposure from the very beginning.

Our Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten students spend two days each week in both Spanish and Mandarin before choosing which language they’d like to continue pursuing moving forward.

One of the best parts to watch is how excited students become when they realize they can actually understand and communicate in another language. Mr. Jin and Ms. Lissette make that process feel engaging, approachable, and fun every step of the way.

It happens so gradually that you barely notice it.One day they're asking for help with everything. Before long, they're ...
08/25/2026

It happens so gradually that you barely notice it.

One day they're asking for help with everything. Before long, they're standing in front of the class presenting a project, building lasting friendships, solving problems on their own, and discovering what excites them.

Third through fifth grade is a season filled with milestones that shape confidence, curiosity, and character. These years help children discover not only what they're good at—but who they're becoming.

At Sonder Creek Academy, students are encouraged to ask questions, try new things, build meaningful relationships, and grow with the support of teachers who truly know them.

Because elementary school isn't just preparation for middle school.
It's where so much of who they become begins.

✨ Now enrolling for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade. Schedule a tour and see what these years can look like at Sonder Creek Academy.

The SCA Mercado is back, and this year our students turned campus into a marketplace full of art, creativity, culture, i...
08/12/2026

The SCA Mercado is back, and this year our students turned campus into a marketplace full of art, creativity, culture, innovation, and community.

Students from our Spanish, Mandarin, and STEM programs spent the year creating handmade products, cultural crafts, games, and demonstrations to share with families and friends. From traditional-inspired artwork to STEM activities built by students themselves, every booth reflected the creativity, problem-solving, and personality of the students behind it.

One of the best parts of the day was watching students proudly explain what they made, how they made it, and why it mattered to them. You could feel the excitement all across campus.

Together, our community raised $1,200. Half will go toward a special K–8 student experience for our school community, and the other half will be donated to The Bay Area Crisis Nursery, a local charity selected by our Student Leadership Team, chosen by our Student Leadership Team.

More than anything, the Mercado gave students the chance to experience entrepreneurship, collaboration, creativity, and the joy of giving back in a real and meaningful way.

Thank you to every family, student, and teacher who helped bring this tradition back to life. We already can’t wait for next year.





08/10/2026

Looking for a Pre-K through 8th grade school that feels connected, academically strong, and genuinely supportive?

At Sonder Creek Academy, students are known by name, challenged to think deeply, encouraged to be creative, and supported through every stage of learning.
Now enrolling for the 2026–2027 school year.

📍Schedule a tour and experience our campuses in action.

08/05/2026

Okay, but was the book actually better than the movie?

This is one of my favorite ways to keep junior high students engaged in reading over the summer because it feels more like a conversation than an assignment.

Pick a book that has a movie version, then compare the two after you finish. What stayed the same? What changed? Which one told the story better and why?

Students are still building comprehension, analysis, and critical thinking skills, but in a way that feels fun, current, and much less overwhelming than traditional summer work.

And honestly, most students have pretty strong opinions once they start comparing.

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860 Bancroft
Walnut Creek, CA
94596

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