Community members, dance students, the Town Crier, the school’s eagle mascot, and school and city officials came together to dedicate the new Patrick Henry School and Recreation Center at an official ribbon cutting ceremony in early February.
The new environmentally sustainable facility is the third new school to open in Alexandria this school year. The new 136,600 square-foot school building is designed for 21st century learning with flexible learning spaces on each floor, quiet rooms for small group instruction, a black box theatre and a cafetorium with performance lighting and sound. The LEED silver building will host students from kindergarten through eighth grade, expanding capacity to 900 students from 650 students in the old school.
“This new Patrick Henry School and Recreation Center was shaped by parent, staff and community advocates who worked tirelessly to make this project happen. It takes that kind of dedication to build a school like this and now it is our turn to say thank you to our community,” said School Board Chair Cindy Anderson.
City Manager Mark Jinks said, “It was once said that it takes a village to raise a child. That village includes residents, elected officials, administrators, planners, architects, engineers and construction trades workers who plan a school, and build a building, that supports the teachers, who teach the students, and which support our village in raising our children. The new Patrick Henry School and Recreation Center will truly become an important asset in helping its neighborhood and Alexandria thrive.”
The final phase of the project includes the construction and installation of a full-size rectangular synthetic turf field, baseball diamond overlay, outdoor basketball court, three playgrounds and adult fitness equipment.
