For the first time, there are corridors to hang children's artwork. For the first time, Mass is held in a church, not a gym.
Augusta's Immaculate Conception School has reopened in office space shared by the Church of the Most Holy Trinity on Telfair Street, a move that brings many additions to the school, including new teachers, programs and sports.
The last time Immaculate Conception moved was 96 years ago, when a group of Franciscan sisters running an orphanage for black children was invited to run a boarding school on Laney-Walker Boulevard.
The school served them well, said Principal John Pike, but it had only one bathroom and the students were divided among four buildings, the newest of which was built in 1958.
Classes started Aug. 14, a week later than expected, because construction crews were still at work transforming the three-story Baird Building.
The building was once owned by First Baptist Church of Augusta and used for Sunday school, so it already had many of the features needed for Immaculate Conception, including a kitchen and a stage, Mr. Pike said.
A sprinkler system was added, a few walls were moved, new flooring was laid and each hall was painted.
Renovating the former school on Laney-Walker would have cost $5 million or $6 million, said the Rev. Tim Donahue, the pastor of Most Holy Trinity. The church instead took out a $500,000 loan for the renovation of the offices, which are across from the church.
"That's how much they are invested in Catholic Christian education," Mr. Pike said.
The original campus will be put up for sale, and there has been talk of turning it into a museum.
Most Holy Trinity's offices now share first-floor space with pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and first-grade classes. Elementary school pupils occupy the second floor, and middle school pupils study on the third floor.
A playground and a gym are under construction, and there is work to be done in the library and the technology lab, a program added this year.
Immaculate Conception also added a religious education teacher and art classes. Girls volleyball, basketball, and track and field were added, too.
So far, Mr. Pike said, enrollment has held steady at about 88 students, but he anticipates growth.
"For almost 100 years, IC has been the place where all are invited to be in the company of God," Mr. Pike said. "With this building, we're looking to the next 100 years."
Reach Kelly Jasper at (706) 823-3552 or kelly.jasper@augustachronicle.com.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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Congrats to IC. So many illustrious Augustans were educated at this predominately black institution on Laney-Walker Boulevard. It's refreshing to see that the school is in a position to thrive for several generations to come. Many of IC grads have become very successful, innovative contributors to not only the Augusta community, but to the larger national and world societies at large. A great followup story could track many of the outstanding citizens that have enjoyed successful careers after having walked the storied halls of Immaculate Conception School. And special thanks to those Nuns who performed their missions while living in what some would call the mean streets of the HOOD. Tough, couragous little white women. Meanwhile, good-luck IC. Njoy your past and your future.