The Lower School community and its friends gathered on the lawn in front of the Beasley house this week to break ground for our exciting new project. Lower School students donned their bright yellow construction hard hats in anticipation of their exciting future and heard from Head of School Jay Rainey, Head of Lower School Amy Scheer, and a longtime favorite teacher, the retired-but-not-forgotten Lower School Teacher and CIT Greg Stevens P’12, ’14, ’23.
Mr. Rainey began by thanking everyone for coming to celebrate the occasion. He spoke of the decades of service the Beasley House has provided first to Mary Institute and then to MICDS. It was a place for people to live and work, and for students to learn. Despite the School’s efforts to find yet another way to evolve the building for current needs, it was deemed impossible. We are forced to say goodbye to this structure while we remain grateful for the ways it has served our community. He talked about how projects big and small around our campus are due to the generosity of people just like the lead donors who were there that day, telling the story about how people plant trees that they will never enjoy the shade of, just so future generations can enjoy them. “Maybe some day you will plant a tree for the children who aren’t even born yet,” he said.
Mrs. Scheer talked about how the Lower School will be transformed in beautiful and meaningful ways, from the brand new library to a warm, welcoming entrance, to a new dining and multipurpose room. All these spaces will be filled with light, curiosity, and imagination. She told the students that these new spaces are more than just buildings, “they are dreams taking shape.” We are designing Beasley around our students and their learning, friendships, creativity, and growth. “At Beasley, we’ve always believed in making school a place where every student feels known, loved, and inspired. And now, our new spaces will reflect those values more than ever before.” She encouraged the Lower School students to be grateful for our generous donors.
Mr. Stevens then took the podium to many cheers from the students. He talked about how even though he is retired, he is grateful to live close to campus so he can still hear the sounds of young children playing and being picked up at carpool, and sometimes even the names of older students being called when they score points in Ron Holtman Stadium. He also spoke about how lucky the children are to be so cared for by people they don’t even know.
Our leadership donors were celebrated and thanked before they took to the shovels for the official groundbreaking. MICDS is so grateful for the support of the McDonnell Family, the Steward Family, the Brauer Family, and the Swank Family.
Everyone enjoyed a delicious cookie to conclude the event. Here’s to a bright future for Beasley Lower School at MICDS!