As summer begins, so do school improvement projects across the Northside.
For the area private schools major construction projects are under way with new buildings and new grades added.
Jackson Academy has a new middle school expansion underway, which is part of a multi-phase facilities master plan that launched in August of 2022. This project will add six new middle school classrooms to the north end of the current middle school building and will allow for the relocation of current classes into new square footage and the redesigning of the original classrooms for lower grades and special subjects.
“It will help make space for JA’s new K2 program,” JA’s Director of Marketing and Communications Patti Wade said. “The building for K2 is being reconfigured this summer and will include an outdoor playground dedicated to this particular grade.”
Additionally, science labs within JA’s lower, middle and upper schools are undergoing remodeling and upgrades this summer and plans to include landscaped outdoor spaces and common areas for student activities and breaks. Divisional offices are also being realigned across campus to provide better accessibility for the parent body.
The middle school expansion and associated campus upgrades are slated for use at the beginning of the 2023-24 school year.
Jackson Prep will complete construction and open a brand new Lower School in August that will allow for the addition of Pre-K3 through fourth grade students for the first time in school history.
The new facilities will include outdoor learning spaces for hands-on learning; a common gathering area with reading spaces and nooks and a library with trees and Mississippi-related murals; and state of the art classrooms with mobile and highly flexible furnishings to facilitate student engagement. It will also include a dedicated art studio and a new STEM common space for robotics, engineering, 3D printing and project-based experimentations. There will also be two new playgrounds designed for motor skills development.
In addition to the new Lower School building, there are several other campus enhancements taking place this summer at Prep.
“We are creating an Idea Lab, which will serve our entrepreneur classes, drone teams, robotics, and engineering courses,” Prep’s Chief Operating Officer Denny Britt said. “We are also relocating and making a new space with new furnishings for our Student Learning Center as part of our student academic support program.”
The campus parking and road systems at Prep will also be repaved this summer.
St. Andrew’s Episcopal School is already working on several projects that will be completed this summer. In Ridgeland at the North Campus, the grass football field is being replaced with a new, state-of-the-art turf field that will be ready in time for football season.
“The new turf field offers the latest in advanced technology to support safety and temperature control with a surface that will be cooler than other turf fields,” St. Andrew’s Director of Marketing and Communications Emily Gordon said.
The theater space in the Center for Performing Arts is undergoing renovations as well. The lobby area has already received a fresh coat of paint, new furniture, as well as new art by alumnus William Goodman from the class of 1999. The art was installed during the school’s 75th anniversary celebrations.
In Jackson on the South Campus, the patio spaces around the Early Childhood Center will also be renovated this summer.
“Lastly, St. Andrew’s security measures on both campuses are regularly assessed to ensure they are comprehensive, current, and effective,” Gordon said. “The school will implement new enhancements to its already extensive procedures as recommended by its security firm.”
Madison-Ridgeland Academy’s Director of Advancement Martha Maxey said they are gearing up for an exciting summer as the school has a range of campus projects slated to be completed to enhance the overall learning environment and experience for its students and student athletes.
Upgrades are planned for the elementary and high schools wings of MRA, including technology enhancements, new classroom desks and flexible seating, art casing displays, and new monitors for the hallways. The elementary classrooms will receive a vibrant makeover by refreshing their color and design to complement the newly renovated McPherson Library. High school students will also experience enriched science classes, labs, and a new BioMed program.
The Patriot Track will also be renovated this summer and provide improved traction, shock absorption, and durability, which ensures a safer and more optimal running experience for the track and field team.
“By resurfacing the Patriot track, MRA aims to enhance the overall experience of its student-athletes, allowing them to train and compete on a high-quality surface,” Maxey said.
The baseball field and future softball field will also be upgraded with turf.
“Turfing the field will minimize the negative impact of rain for practice days and game days for our teams,” Maxey said. “This will also provide a home field for our Lady Patriot softball team.”
Christ Covenant’s Advancement Director Richard Henley said it has already been a busy summer and will continue to be so. Phase one of the upper school expansion, which includes the ninth and tenth grade education building, is set to open in August and phase two – the expansion of the 11th and 12th grade education building – is set to begin soon.
“This expansion will allow us to continue enriching the lives of our students through the 12th grade,” Henley said.
The flooring in part of the school’s multipurpose building and on the third floor of the education building has also been updated to offer a more modern look to the facilities.
“We are very excited about the continued growth of Christ Covenant School as we take the next step with the addition of our high school, and we look forward to the impact it will have on the hearts and minds of our entire school community,” Henley said.
