Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria officially opened a
new wing of its building in a Feb. 3 ribbon-cutting ceremony inside the
school’s new cafeteria. Bishop Michael F. Burbidge blessed the space and cut
the ceremonial ribbon with diocesan Superintendent of Schools Joseph Vorbach.
The construction project marks the biggest renovation in school
history, said Head of School Kathleen McNutt. “I am overwhelmed with joy by
this day,” she said. “This has been a long time coming for this school and it’s
such a gift for the students to have it completed.”
Bishop Michael F. Burbidge and Superintendent of Schools Joseph
Vorbach cut the ceremonial ribbon. ZOEY MARAIST | CATHOLIC HERALD
During the opening ceremony, McNutt
thanked the many people who worked together to make the project a reality. “As
Bishop Ireton entered the 21st century, the technological revolution and the
national focus on STEM instruction called for needed changes on Cambridge Road.
Thanks to the vision, dedication, persistence and amazing efforts of (community
leaders), the plan for this academic center, a new front entrance and a new
auxiliary gymnasium came to life,” she said.
So far, the school has raised $5.6
million of the $6.5 million they hope to raise through the capital campaign
they began two years ago at the start of construction.
To make space for the new wing, the former
residence of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, who originally staffed the
school, was torn down in 2017. Now in its place is an airy cafeteria with
indoor and outdoor seating, a teachers’ dining room and acoustic ceiling panels
in Ireton’s colors: red and yellow. On the level above the cafeteria is the new
library, which has individual study rooms and outdoor seating. Come spring, ivy
will crawl up the metal lattice, called a bio-wall, above the patio.
McNutt believes it’s the students’
favorite new addition. “The old library was really a combination of two small
classrooms,” she said. “The new library is a well-thought out and planned space
with learning areas, stacks, study rooms, a lab and a separate library
classroom, so it's a whole new space for them. They can make of it what they
need — (a space for) project-based learning, quiet study, or they can just have
some down time.”
Other new additions include STEM labs, with
a classroom for robotics. The new auxiliary gym has a basketball hoop, a wall
of mirrors and the Ireton cardinal emblazoned on the floor.
At the close of the ribbon-cutting
ceremony, Bishop Burbidge thanked the Ireton community. “You’ve provided (the
students) such a special gift, where every day they come into a safe, joyful
environment, grow in their relationship with the Lord and each other, advance
in learning and have a smile on their faces,” he said. “You have every reason
to be extremely proud of the great opportunity you've given to our students.”
This story has been updated.