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Students, members of the Charles River School (CRS) community, and officials from the Town of Dover gathered on the lawn for a groundbreaking ceremony for the school’s new middle school building. The new building will be home to grades 6 – 8 and the middle school science program, and will support the school’s progressive and innovative curriculum. Construction is scheduled to begin this month.
The school embarked on a capital campaign to raise funds for this building and grow the school’s endowment just 10 months ago; the school’s ability to raise adequate funds to begin construction in that timeframe is unprecedented in the history of CRS.
“We are a community that is passionate about learning, and that passion has been evident in the community’s resounding enthusiasm for this project!” said Gretchen Larkin, Head of School, Charles River School. “The new space will increase opportunities for collaboration, hands-on learning, and enrich students’ academic experience. We are thrilled this building is becoming a reality, and awed by the pace at which this campaign has progressed.”
The campaign received early and strong support from a number of families, including two of the largest one-time gifts the school has ever received. Since then, many alumni, past parents, faculty, and current families have pledged their support to this exciting initiative.
“CRS students have benefitted from the recognition that ever-improving education needs ever-improving space. The community has always supported this, and whether people’s generosity is motivated by their own children reaping the benefits, or ‘paying it forward’ in recognition of past generosity, stewardship of CRS has always been an exceptional trait among members of our community,” said Carol Lisbon, parent to Amy Branton '95 and Emily Petersen ‘98, current grandparent, and member of the Campaign Steering Committee.
The middle school building will face Centre Street in Dover, across from Dover Town Hall, and enhance the town center with a beautiful façade and green space. The project was unanimously approved by the Town of Dover Planning Board in November 2016.
The building design will provide:
• Increased space for sciences, mathematics, and world languages;
• functional, flexible spaces for project and team-based learning; and
• enhanced technological capabilities to better serve the middle school program.
