Click here to see the Groundbreaking video and other great school moments on our Web channel www.valleycatholictv.com

Nearly 200 parents and friends of Valley Catholic and the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon attended the festive groundbreaking event for the new K-8 School Wednesday, May 5. The site where the school will be built was transformed into a Cinco de Mayo fiesta. Everyone gathered to eat, drink, celebrate and watch school representatives don hard hats and dig in the dirt with golden shovels.

VCES Principal Susan Friesen said, “You folks threw a fabulous party last night!!!  Some of us are still shaking ourselves awake to the fact that it is really happening. Teachers are talking excitedly about having rooms that are actually big enough for 28 students per classroom, with sinks and more than just one or two outlets to boot, plus modern technology to assist us with our teaching.”

Students and teachers are excited that construction has begun as more space and newer facilities are a welcome change from being housed in the 1930s Convent and in portable buildings.

Pre-schooler Simon Armstrong digs in the dirt to start the construction of the new K-8 School where he'll be able to attend Kindergarten.

The new facility will be a 67,000 square foot state-of-the-art building, constructed to achieve a Gold rating with the United States Green Building Council LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program. The building will emphasize controlled natural lighting, energy saving mechanical systems, “green” and recycled materials and other strategies as a part of a commitment to sustainable practices. The construction project also calls for a new improved traffic flow for the campus as well as additional parking.

The new K-8 School will be open for students in September of  2011.

A similar groundbreaking event was held for all students earlier the same day where everyone was given commemorative water bottles and ice cream. Pictures will be available at a later date. To view a gallery of pictures from the evening event, please click on this link.

The Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon are pleased and honored to announce that they will break ground for the new K-8 Education Center on Wednesday, May 5. Taking on the largest capital project in SSMO history, the Sisters are proud to begin construction for what will be an amazing home of learning and prayer for Valley Catholic’s students, teachers, parents and the broader community.

Many of you may know that the Sisters will celebrate their 125th anniversary as a religious community from March 2011-March 2012. Over these 125 years, the SSMOs have witnessed the learning and transformation of more than 10,000 young people. They describe building a new, spacious and sustainable school home for their K-8 students as a dream come true and a wonderful way to punctuate their value of striving for excellence in the realm of education. The school’s grand opening will occur in September, 2011 — in the middle of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon’s 125th Jubilee year.

The entire campus is invited to meet under the tent at the corner of St. Mary’s Drive and 148th for a true Mexican fiesta with appetizers, drinks and music!

Please Note: Because a student celebration will be held earlier in the day, the evening event is intended for adults only.