Episcopal School of Jacksonville, Beaches Campus, officially opened its new gym and performing arts center, and state-of-the-art library and learning center, at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, Sept. 9.
The ceremony was led by The Rev. Adam Greene, head of school at Episcopal School of Jacksonville, and Jennifer Ketchum, head of Beaches Campus. Episcopal broke ground on the project on Nov. 12, 2021.
The Episcopal drumline, Talon the Eagle mascot, varsity cheerleaders and the Upper School and Lower School basketball teams all welcomed guests to the event in the gym.
Jacksonville Beach Mayor Christine Hoffman, Beaches Campus students in grades pre-K 3 through fifth grade, Episcopal faculty and staff, parents and friends of the school attended the ceremony.
“This new gym and performing arts facility, and the new Cordell Library and Innovation Center, will allow our students to fully participate in and benefit from our Four Pillars — academics, fine arts and athletics, and spiritual life,” said Greene. “The campus also now has a larger, whole-school meeting space and facility for gathering, important to building our community and strengthening our Episcopal family. Many donors gave generously to this campaign, and I especially thank the Petway family for sharing our vision for this facility from the very beginning. I also give special thanks to Jennifer Ketchum for her leadership and thanks to our construction partners, Summit Construction, for the hard work in bringing this vision into reality.”
The new gym and performing arts center feature a varsity-sized court and two half courts, retractable basketball goals and bleachers, a performance stage and dressing rooms, curtains and chairs and theater lighting system.
As part of the expansion, the school created a new library and media and innovation center named for the Cordell family in thanks for their generosity. The campus’s playground was moved to the site of the current outdoor basketball court and a school-owned building on an adjacent lot was razed to provide additional parking.
“We know the children sitting here today and the children who are not yet enrolled will benefit from this space for years and years,” said Greene. “It is not often a community is involved in an intergenerational project, but this new gym and performing arts facility and library and innovation center will be a part of our school for generations to come. We are so grateful to so many in our Episcopal community who have made these new facilities possible.”
Episcopal School of Jacksonville provides a college-preparatory education within an academically challenging and caring environment focused on a balanced experience. Episcopal’s portrait of a graduate is an individual who seeks understanding, develops a sense of self, lives with honor and purpose and pursues a life of faith.
Episcopal is built on Four Pillars — academics, spiritual life, fine arts and athletics — which encourage personal development in every aspect of students’ lives, helping each child reach his or her unique potential.
Episcopal enrolls approximately 1,400 students from age one to grade 12. The Beaches Campus enrolls students in grades pre-K 3 through fifth grade. The school’s Munnerlyn Campus enrolls students in grades six through 12.
