CHESAPEAKE, Va. – StoneBridge School administrative leaders broke ground on a 13,000-square foot Upper School building, Monday June 26, surrounded by representatives from TowneBank, the Chesapeake City Council, Core 22 Design Build, and several members of the StoneBridge School community.
The groundbreaking marked a significant event in the school’s 40-plus year history, which began in the basement of founder Carole Adams’ home in 1980.
The school is able to begin construction with generous loan terms from TowneBank, along with the help of committed donors, the Smithfield Foundation, and Beazley Foundation, and the TowneBank Foundation. The formal ceremony signaled the culmination of a five-year giving-driven capital campaign and a major step in the school’s overall campus improvement strategy.
“This is 43 years in the making. It is momentous to say the least,” SBS Chairman of the Board Eric Plumlee said.
“Throughout the changing seasons, what’s remarkable to anyone who’s been a part of the StoneBridge community is how steadfast and how persistent and how diligent the school has been about trying to secure the future of StoneBridge.”
Plumlee publicly thanked TowneBank, The Beazley Foundation, Glenn Nunziata and the Smithfield Foundation, and everyone who has partnered with the school and given sacrificially to help fulfill the school’s mission.
“We’ve had some incredible challenges, but we’ve had some incredible partners,” Plumlee said. “They have been invaluable to us.”
Dave Hare, president of TowneBank Chesapeake, noted how partnering with StoneBridge School upholds the bank’s founding mission to build community assets.
TowneBank’s mission is “to create a sustainable organization whose primary focus is enrich lives and to serve others,” he explained. “Today’s groundbreaking is just another great example of fulfilling that vision of which TowneBank was created.”
Building Part of Long-Term Plans
The dream for a dedicated Upper School building has been a long-term goal. The Lower and Upper School merged on to the current campus on Jolliff Road in 2011. Renovations allowed for the Lower School to be housed in the main building, while the Upper School used modulars.
The donor-driven campaign has sought to optimize the school’s learning spaces by including art and STEM labs, better secure the campus, and have the facilities reflect the excellence of its community.
Head of School Noel Thomason acknowledged the significance of the building in raising up the next generation.
“The building is just a tool, a part of what we use to accomplish the mission,” Thomason said. “I just think it’s extraordinary for our students to be able to experience excellence in the classroom and safety and security.”
StoneBridge is a classical preschool-12th grade Christian school serving Christian families through a Biblical Principle Approach® education. The school seeks to empower students in Christ and equip them for life by helping each child reach the fullest potential in Christ.
