"Welcome Class of 2020!”
With a oversized scoop of dirt courtesy of an Elmer's front-end loader, the Grand Traverse Academy broke ground Thursday morning for a new early childhood wing. The 17,000-square-foot facility will feature eight classrooms designed for early childhood education, an elementary sized gym and a small kitchen.
Preschoolers at the public charter school, next year's kindergartners (the future Class of 2020) and upper elementary students donned hard hats and watched as operator Eric Seaburg carved a swath of dirt at the west side of the school's campus. Clapping while holding onto their hats in the brisk wind, the students, parents and staff were excited to launch the school's next phase.
"We're not only celebrating the addition of a new wing, but also celebrating the high quality of education that is going to take place here,” added Kerri Ferris, an assistant principal at the school.
The addition follows on the heels of a 30,000-square-foot secondary wing added in 2005. The final phase of the school's main construction, a gym, including a stage, locker rooms and a weight room, was completed in 2003. Driven by increasing enrollment at all ages, the new wing sets the stage for future growth. The school has approximately 1,000 students in preschool through 12th grade.
"Moving our preschool and kindergarten out of here allows us to expand within the elementary program,” said Allyson Apsey, a principal at the school, of the main building space freed up by the new wing.
The expansion is scheduled for completion by the start of the 2007-2008 school year and boosts the number of classes for this age group from the current two.
Excitement ran high Thursday morning among the staff as well, who are eager to spread out into the new space next fall.
"I think it is amazing,” said preschool teacher Sharon Schwartz, who has taught at the school since it opened for students in grades K-6 in 2000. "It's just really nice to see how this school has grown and changed through the years.”
Tammie Normandeau, mother of preschooler Hannah and a one-year-old son, said her home felt the vibe, too, in the days leading up to the groundbreaking.
"The kids have been so excited about it, it's all my daughter could talk about,” said Normandeau, who checked out two or three different schools before selecting on the Grand Traverse Academy. "We just liked the teachers here, they seemed so into their jobs.”