In the fall of 1943 the Landstrom family started a church school in their home. Mrs. Cornelia Landstrom was the teacher and Betty Landstrom was one of the two students in this new school. On July 19 1947 it was voted that the school be “commenced in the coming year, as there were six children who were desirous of receiving a Christian Education.” An abandoned one-room school building located in Morgan Valley was moved onto two lots, one purchased and another donated, which were large enough to provide play area for the children. On May 10, 1948 the church Board Meeting was held in the “Little Red Schoolhouse.” 

Clearlake SDA Christian School has provided the children of Clearlake and surrounding communities with a Christian education-incorporating Seventh-day Adventist beliefs and values into the curriculum and spiritual development for 80 years.

As the church grew there were more children who were enrolled in the school, and it was time to enlarge the facilities. “What is now known as the Multipurpose Building was constructed, and the upper grades were accommodated in that structure, while the “Little Red Schoolhouse” as it is called, served the lower grades. The enrollment had increased to the point where it was necessary to employ two teachers. There were 42 students enrolled at that time, an all-time high. Four and a half acres of ground were purchased for a church and school complex, and a two room school was completed in 1971 for a total cost of $40,000.00.

According to the Clear Lake Observer-American of Thursday, December 16, 1971 Clara Howland was “seated at her desk as principal of the new Clearlake Highlands Seventh-day Adventist school,” with Beverly Peterson-Dishman as the second teacher which was located at15150 Davis Street, Clearlake, CA. Ms. Peterson remembers that they moved into the new school in the middle of the year.

Mrs. Suzanne Aikin, teacher and principal from 1995-2009  remembers that the  school was originally called Clearlake Adventist School, and was located on the church property at 14490 Uhl Street  in “The Little Red Schoolhouse," then moved to what is now the Sabbath School rooms.  Later the school name was changed to Clara Howland School,  and a new school was built at 15150  Davis Street, Clearlake. In 1995 the name of the school was changed to Clearlake SDA Christian School.

Our current Principal-Teacher is Julie Wallewein has lead out in our school since 2022.

“Oh, the memories of the four years", writes Wayne Curtis, " I spent in this school house! The building was moved behind the church from Cache Creek. I guess it is about 10-12 miles from town. There were windows on only the one side. There was a small room in the back of the building with an exit. Outside the door was a tree. When I got into trouble, I recall Mrs. Howland taking me out to that tree and letting me select which branch I would get my hide tanned with.
Off to the right was a baseball field. One day Terry was taking a few practice swings with the baseball bat and Linda was not watching where she was walking and got clobbered in the head. She was out cold for a few minutes, but survived OK.
I notice that on the picture there is a misprint, “Clear Lake HEIGHTLANDS”.  It only took me 53 years to catch that one!  Mrs. Howland’s husband, Elmer, was one of the foremost bird authorities in the area. I recall him taking us to Lower Lake early one morning and showing us a Sand Hill Crane. He also pointed out my first Wood duck.
Mrs. Howland was my teacher for four years. We three Curtis boys came to the Seventh-day Adventist School from Burns Valley school in 1956. Our parents were not Christians at the time, but mom (Mary Sparkman Curtis) had been baptized in the church as a teenager, but had drifted away during the war. Our parents decided to try us at the Adventist school that year. We asked them if we could go to Sabbath School with our schoolmates. They not only said yes, but came with us. There were baptized in the Lakeport church in August 1956 by Pastor Frank Steunenberg. I was 10 years old when we left Clearlake, but the roots have kept me anchored in the Lord ever since.

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