Many of my posts over the past six months have concerned announcements of new construction projects in the neighborhood. Yesterday at Rosati-Kain High School there was a ground-breaking ceremony for a 12,000 s.f. 3-story addition that is being constructed at 216 N. Newstead Avenue. The partially-demolished building in the photo was the convent that housed both Sisters of Notre Dame and at one time included a few Sisters of St. Joseph who also taught at the 100 year-old high school.
The $4.5 million dollar facility will contain a new learning commons area, technology upgrades, a new expanded chemistry lab and research area for which the school received an Emerson Gold Star Grant, and an expanded courtyard commons. Renovations will also be made to the building constructed in the 1920's that faces Lindell Boulevard.
Sister Joan Andert, above, president of Rosati-Kain, presided over the festivities. Archbishop Robert Carlson, faculty members, and several alumni also spoke at the 11 a.m. ceremony. Mayor Francis Slay was represented by staff member Heather Wegman, R-K class of 2002. 28th Ward Alderman Lyda Krewson was among those in attendance. Sister Joan thanked her for coming and for her support.
Archbishop Carlson spoke about the contribution Rosati-Kain has made to the community and blessed the future building site.
Sister Joan thanked three alumnae, Joan Lipic, Mary Beth Daniels, and Kathleen Palumbo for their participation on the Build the Dream…LIve the Legacy Committee. As of June 13, they have raised $3.4 million toward a $4.5 million goal for the project.
Archbishop Carlson and Sister Joan donned hardhats and grabbed shovels for a photo op.
There are currently 360 students enrolled at Rosati-Kain, an all-girls high school. Enrollment is expected to increase to a maximum of 400 students with the new addition. Pictured above are current and future Rosati-Kain "Cougars."
Everyone who attended the groundbreaking ceremony was sent home with seeds to plant in "convent dirt" (though Sister Joan remarked that everyone knows there is no such thing), to help Rosati-Kain blossom into their next 100 years.
Newstead was closed from Maryland to Lindell while the ceremony took place. It will remain open during construction. The new facilities are expected to open in the fall of 2015.
Hi Nicki, I just returned from dropping my daughter at Rosati-Kain Photography camp. She plans to start school there next year and, after taking lots of photos around the school, she told me that she “really, really likes the Central West End”…always a city girl 🙂