The Helias Catholic High School chorus sang the Doxology to close a ceremonial groundbreaking Monday for a long-anticipated school expansion. Where the vocalists stood, on what has been a practice field, will soon house a dedicated choir room.
Vocal teacher Jana Fox ran quickly from turning a shovel of dirt for the groundbreaking to conducting her choir. Fox was among several school and community leaders who were given the honor to turn the first sod.
Then, Helias President Stephen Jones turned a larger chunk of soil, operating a trackhoe, to the entertainment of the more than 600 students in attendance.
"I'm excited to be part of the groundbreaking," Fox said.
The music programs are growing, and the new choir classroom and practice space for the dance team will help continue that trend, she said.
Currently, the single music room serves ensembles including show choir, concert choir, chorus, women's chorus, men's chorus, chamber choir, marching band, jazz band, concert band, show choir band, freshman rock band and Dance Explosion.
"The space isn't always available," for rehearsals outside of the school day, Fox said. "And the small practice rooms are used for storage."
With so many music groups, it will be nice to have separate space, she said. More room allows for more rehearsals which likely will grow participation.
"We're really excited about the new space and looking down the road at the prospect of a performing arts center," Fox said.
The $4.5 million expansion is the first of three phases for the parochial school.
"This was (former president) Di Aur's vision to begin with," volunteer Ed Twehous said. "He thought for the school to stay relevant, we needed to modernize the facilities."
The ceremonial groundbreaking recognized the culmination of that vision, Jones said.
The new wing will include six state-of-the-art science labs, a 250-seat chapel, and new administrative offices with a secure entrance. The project will be underway in July, with the goal of opening for the 2016-17 school year.
"Donors wanted to go ahead for this building, then we'll do a capital campaign for the rest of it," Twehous said.
A five-year capital campaign should begin by September to raise funds for the second and third phases.
The next step would add athletic fields. And the third piece will be a 350-seat auditorium.
"Hopefully, if everything goes right, it will all be covered under the five-year plan - and put some toward the endowment to keep tuition down," Twehous said.