For immediate release: Pontiac Notre Dame holds groundbreaking and blessing today for new science, art and technology wing
PONTIAC, Mich. — Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy held a blessing and groundbreaking ceremony for the new science, art and technology wing to be built on its campus in Pontiac. The event, which included school administration officials, donors, board members, teachers, parents and students, took place Tuesday, June 6, at 11:30 a.m., outside the school’s media center.
In early March, school officials launched the public phase of the “March on to Victory” capital campaign with a goal of raising a total of $5.6 million toward the $7.5 million science, art and technology facility.
According to Andy Guest, Notre Dame’s head of school, to date nearly $5 million has been raised toward the initial goal of $5.5 million. “We didn't plan on holding this groundbreaking so soon, but the campaign has been doing very well. In fact, we have raised more than $700,000 since we went public on March 9,” Guest said at today’s groundbreaking ceremony. “And what is very heartening to all of us at Notre Dame is the fact that as of today, a total of nearly $120,000 has been donated to the campaign by members of our faculty and staff.”
Fr. Leon Olszamowski, s.m., corporate president for NDPMA, is excited about both the groundbreaking and the forthcoming new facility.
“When we look at our school, we’ve always tried to be on the cutting edge,” he said. “The academic program we want to have here now is not to make an education for people living in today’s world, but we want one that is designed for generations to come. This groundbreaking and what will follow are yet more positive steps toward ensuring that we have the educational programs necessary for those future students.”
The new facilities planned as part of the campaign will consist of a one-story science, technology and arts wing to be added to the existing shared middle division and upper division wings. The new wing will house science-laboratory facilities, collaborative-learning classrooms, a robotics lab, a specially designed greenhouse, and a fine arts studio.
Head of School Guest said the timing of the construction start is ideal.
“The school has been around since 1994,” he said. “We’re currently heading into our 23rd year and we’re deciding what type of school we will become going forward. So now we will build the facilities that will take us into the next generations of students.”
Guest also noted that the entire 26,000-square-foot addition will take a full year to build and is expected to be fully operational for student use by the fall of 2018.
TMP Architecture, headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, is the architect for the project and Frank Rewold and Son Inc., Rochester, is the construction manager.
To learn more about the campaign, its impact on students and teachers, and how to participate, please visit ndpma.org/marchontovictory.
Or contact: Gregory P. Simon
Director of Advancement
248-373-2171 ext. 5
gsimon@ndpma.org
Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org.
Follow Notre Dame on Twitter at @NDPMA.
About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.