Community School to Build a Centennial Arts Center

The Community School in Ladue, about to celebrate its 100th anniversary has received donations in excess of $3.1 million from several school families to support the construction of a new Centennial Arts Center. This center will have a theatre and support performance art and art classes.

This is an open letter sent by Matthew Gould, Head of School this week to the Community School families.

April 29, 2013

Dear Parents and Friends,

I have extraordinary news to share! Community School is receiving an exceptional gift in honor of its 100th anniversary. Several families will make a generous contribution totaling $3.1 million to support the construction of the Centennial Arts Center: a new wing containing performance space and arts classrooms for our students and their families.

This new addition will create an area that will be used by every child, every day, for everything from classes to graduation ceremonies. Thanks to this incredible gift, we’ll have the freedom to further enhance the already stellar arts program at Community.

Where did the idea to create the Centennial Arts Center come from?

Some of you will remember that the plan to build a new performing arts center was a central component of our 2007 Master Facilities Plan, which informed our last capital campaign.

Although we were unable to complete the performing arts center during that campaign, the funds we raised allowed us to build the Leadership Wing for our fifth and sixth graders, significantly upgrade the kitchen, widen the driveway for greater carpool efficiency, and create a beautiful new porch and entryway at the front of the School.

We now have an opportunity to complete our master facilities plan by building the Centennial Arts Center.
 

How will the Centennial Arts Center benefit our school?

The Centennial Arts Center will provide a number of exciting opportunities to students and teachers alike. It gives us a place to teach, learn and present key aspects of Community School’s arts program – including public speaking, drama, band, chorus, and studio art – as well as flexible space that can support and host other programs (Extended Day, summer camps, P.E., and more) and events (Book Show, Grandparents Day, Thursday Assemblies, Cornucopia, etc.).

How does the new wing fit into Community’s vision for the future?

As part of the strategic planning process that called for the School to raise endowment funds in conjunction with our 2014 Centennial anniversary, Community plans to launch a comprehensive fundraising campaign that includes both increased endowment and the construction of a facility that beautifully supports our exceptional programs.

Thus, while the majority of the $3.1 million gift will fund the Centennial Arts Center, a portion of the gift will be allocated toward Community School’s endowment fund.

What’s next?

In order to capitalize on ideal prices, we have set an aggressive timeline for construction. Over the summer, the current art wing will be demolished and construction on the new addition will begin in the courtyard area between the gym and the upper driveway.

We’ll set up fences and establish safety protocols so all summer camp sessions at Community can move forward as planned. Throughout, we’ll keep you regularly informed on progress and any logistical changes that may arise due to construction.

When kids return to school next August, construction on the building’s framework will be well underway! Not only do we expect very little programmatic disruption this fall, we anticipate the arts center will be completed well in advance of our big Centennial celebration weekend: April 4 & 5, 2014.

I am thrilled with how this new space will support Community School’s mission and philosophy, and would like to extend my thanks to our key lead donors – the Koman and Schnuck families – for their commitment to move this project forward. 

We intend to do more to celebrate this generous gift and the gifts others will make to this campaign as we move forward into our Centennial year.

I will keep you regularly informed on the ins and outs of this project as it evolves, as well as all events related to our Centennial celebrations.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me anytime. 

Sincerely,



Matthew A. Gould, Ph.D.
Head of School