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Bishop Ireton breaks ground for new wing

Zoey Maraist | Catholic Herald Staff Writer

Bishop Michael F. Burbidge blesses the site of the school’s new wing, assisted by Fr. Edward J. Bresnahan, chaplain. ZOEY MARAIST | CATHOLIC HERALD

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The lot of cleared earth is the site of the new wing of Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria. ZOEY MARAIST | CATHOLIC HERALD

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Red hard hats with the school’s mascot, a cardinal, were worn during the groundbreaking. ZOEY MARAIST | CATHOLIC HERALD

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Members of the school community break ground for the new wing of Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria. ZOEY MARAIST | CATHOLIC HERALD

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Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria
broke ground Sept. 18 on its new wing — a 40,000-square-foot building that will
include a library, science labs and a cafeteria. Bishop Michael F. Burbidge
blessed the site — a lot of cleared earth next to the existing school building.

He prayed, “All merciful Father, you
have created all things through your son and have made him the unshakable
foundation of your kingdom. Through the gift of your eternal wisdom, grant that
the undertaking we begin today for your glory and our own wellbeing may
progress day by day to its successful completion.”

Head of School Tom Curry welcomed students,
alumni, faculty, and community members, including Father Thomas P. Ferguson,
vicar general and Ireton graduate, and Alexandria Mayor Allison Silberberg. The
majority of the student body watched the groundbreaking via livestream from the
auditorium. Curry recounted the history of the high school, which opened in
1964. 

“In the late 1950s, the pastors of six
nearby parishes had an ambitious plan: to serve the Catholic population of
Alexandria by building a high school for boys, something they believed Catholic
families dearly deserved and needed,” he said. “To purchase this land and to
build the structure would require $1 million in the early 1960s. 

“Today, inspired by that same life-giving
spirit, we embark on a 21st century version of their vision. To fund that bold
ambition is going to cost more than 20 times that,” said Curry. “Today, we
launch the Future Is Now Capital Campaign for Bishop Ireton High School. We
need to raise a minimum of $6.5 million.”

Jennifer Bigelow, diocesan superintendent
of schools, felt she is blessed among school leaders. “I’m so excited to be
joining you as we begin the next chapter in the rich story of Bishop Ireton High
School,” she said. “I’m so privileged to be part of a groundbreaking ceremony —
that does not happen in every diocese in this country. We are truly fortunate.”

She detailed the many changes that the
new wing and subsequent renovations will bring to the community, including space
for more students. The new wing will have science labs, a library, an AV studio
and a much larger dining hall, she said.

“The (new) courtyard will include patio seating
and a garden that connects to the St. Francis de Sales chapel and the campus
ministry center,” said Bigelow. “Also planned are several renovations to the
existing interior — more classrooms, art studios, an alumni center, teacher
workspaces and a repositioned school store. (There will be) a new auxiliary
gym, a fitness and weight room, a space for training and physical therapy, and
new locker rooms.”

At the close of the ceremony, members of
the school community donned red hard hats and shoveled a little dirt, officially
breaking ground on the building project. The structure is scheduled to be
completed next fall. 

Ron Umbeck, the longest-serving teacher
in the diocese, remembers what the school was like when he began teaching math there
52 years ago. From the construction site, he could point to the corner room
where he taught geometry to 47 sophomore boys. “It’s
been my life. I’ve grown up here.”

Michael Bennett was one of two donors
who gave the two largest gifts in the entire school’s history, said Curry. Bennett,
his three daughters and his granddaughter all graduated from Ireton — the first
three-generation alumni family. 

“I grew up on Route 1 in Alexandria and
the Oblates saved my life,” Bennett said. “Father McNally told me that I was
going down the wrong road, that I had so much promise. He showed me how good I
was in math. I always liked accounting and he pushed me that way and I’m a CFO
today.”

As a member of the board of governors
for the school, Bennett was grateful to witness the occasion. “(This was) a lot
of hard work with construction people, raising money, working with the diocese,”
he said. “To bring this all together and then to see everybody here today, it
made me cry.”

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