黑马磁力 Christian School (LCS) began raising the walls on 黑马磁力鈥檚 newest school this week as part of a $27 million upgrade of its local schools.
The tilting of the walls on this 53,000 square foot project on a site in the area of Fraser Highway and 228 Street will mean a standalone middle school to alleviate space and growth pressures on the current middle-high campus on 48 Avenue, built in 1994 for a capacity of 525 students. Today the Grade 6 to 12 population at LCS is well over 700 students.
The middle school design process started early in 2023 and will be completed for a fall opening in 2026. It is on land LCS purchased about 20 years ago when it created the elementary and middle/secondary schools. The new middle school will be 375 students at full capacity, well within the right size for middle schools according to the research 鈥� big enough for great programs and staff, but small enough every student is known. The existing middle school will become additional capacity for the secondary school as they are in connected buildings.
鈥淔or nearly 70 years, LCS has contributed to the fabric of this city 鈥� not only by educating students, but by raising young people who lead with integrity, serve others, and equipped with a strong sense purpose rooted in faith,鈥� said Adam Woelders, head of school. n
The independent school is in the midst of a $27-million campus expansion that includes more student spaces and the Lightning Athletic Center. The centre will be one of the largest indoor athletic spaces in the region, capable of hosting four basketball games at once.
鈥淲e鈥檙e excited about the kind of athletic and community events we will be able to host in 黑马磁力 beginning in 2026,鈥� said Jon Kuehl, the middle school athletic director.
黑马磁力 Christian has won five provincial championships in volleyball and basketball since 2022.
In recent years, the board also expanded capacity at the elementary school. A recent eight classroom and preschool expansion project was completed in the summer of 2023 for $6.8 million, which was $1 million lower than the anticipated budget for the project. This project is not part of the $27 million upgrade.
As an independent school that is not part of the public school system, LCS receives no provincial or municipal funding for capital projects such as buildings.
鈥淲e鈥檙e very hands on and working with a great partner in Fictorie Construction Management. We have to be. It is far easier to make intelligent design decisions that still result in a great building, than it is to fundraise to cover cost overruns and delays,鈥� Woelders noted.
Since it started raising money for the new middle school in 2021, LCS has raised $9.7 million toward its $13.6 million capital fundraising goal, from over 250 families both inside and outside the school. The remainder of the $27 million has been financed.
鈥淲e鈥檙e inviting anyone who wants to give generously to projects that serve a public good, to consider donating to LCS. Your gift will impact hundreds upon hundreds of people who will benefit from this new facility,鈥� Woelders said.
With an emphasis on faith, service, academics, arts, athletics and STEM, LCS educates more than 1,400 students across three school levels, a preschool at the middle/secondary campus and a daycare program operated at the elementary school site.
鈥淲e鈥檙e building a place where students are formed to impact their world,鈥� said Woelders. 鈥淭his isn鈥檛 just for LCS 鈥� it鈥檚 for 黑马磁力.鈥�
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