Dear Covenant Families,
March is around the corner, and spring is on its way. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
As the new season approaches, we are celebrating a major gift that will help us further update our facilities. Thanks to the generosity of friends of Covenant and the support of our Board of Trustees, we are renovating our gymnasium this spring.
Starting this Spring Break, two large air handlers will be lowered, updated, and repositioned in the rafters. This will address air conditioning and moisture issues and help protect the gym floor’s lifespan and usability. Soon after, we will install new, ADA-compliant bleachers on both sides of the gym. This new setup will create a more inclusive experience for all our fans and guests, positioning us as a highly attractive host site for post-season volleyball and basketball tournaments. During that time, we will also repaint the walls and columns around the main gym. Then, in early summer, the floor will be centered and refinished to extend its use and allow for bleachers on both sides. We are committed to preserving the legacy of our dear alumnus, Andrew Smith (‘09).
This project benefits our entire school community by addressing key needs and creating new opportunities. Morning assemblies are an anchor to our intentional, all-school spiritual formation. While we enjoy gathering together for them in our beautiful Commons, around a third of our students and all of our staff and faculty do not have a seat for that weekly event. Additionally, our assemblies are often disrupted by deliveries and entries or exits related to appointments, and setting up or taking down tables and chairs requires shorting certain study halls. We look forward to a more accommodating, manageable, and flexible assembly experience in the gymnasium.
The timing of the first two phases of this renovation will still allow us to host our commencement ceremonies in the gym this May. That event will look much the same as in previous years, although the bleachers might be more comfortable and a bit greener. Grandparents Day will need to be held once again in the Commons, but we’re excited to share our vision with our dear grandparents and welcome them into the fully renovated gym in the fall.
We understand that any major project requires careful coordination of affected programs. Our team has worked with vendors and installers to minimize disruptions and speed up the renovation as much as possible. While some activities will be temporarily displaced over the next few months, the benefits of these renovations for our community will far outweigh the inconvenience. We appreciate your support and patience as we steward this wonderful new gift to Covenant.
As always, thank you for your commitment to the Lord, to the Word, to your family, and to Covenant Christian High School.
For the Kingdom,
Andy Goodwin, Ed.D.
CEO & Principal