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Growing to ServeMiddle School Decision Date SetBy Wolf Jedamski Last fall the Collegedale Church in Church Business Session voted to affirm an earlier board decision to set two financial parameters to be reached in order to begin construction of the new middle school. Those were: A) 50% of the construction costs in cash would need to be on hand and, B) 100% of the construction cost pledged. The business session also specified that the school would include a music suite to be shared by the middle school and Collegedale Academy. The latest estimate on the total cost of the project is $8,501,100. With the current cash already donated as well as the total amount pledged, we are $609,270 short of reaching goal A and $2,629,268 from reaching goal B. Those are still very daunting numbers, but there is a way to reduce them. IF we were to proceed with a phased building approach, building the middle school as a 1st phase and leaving the music wing as a 2nd phase to be added later, then we have already reached parameter A, 50% cash on hand, and are only $700,000 from fulfilling parameter B, 100% pledges. We could conceivably break ground this year. There are just a few windows of opportunity to begin construction in order to reach a completion time at the start of a semester. The next one would require construction to begin in October. We would therefore need to set a date towards the end of September as the deadline for us to reach our fund raising goals in order to start construction by October 30. In consultation with the leaders of the Greater Collegedale School System, the Church has scheduled a Business Meeting to be held Sunday, Sept. 7, at 6:00 p.m. to seek membership input and approval for modifying to a phased project. We have less than two months to finish our fundraising in order to start construction during this next window of opportunity. Join us in prayer, in paying on your pledges, talking to your friends who may not have pledged and perhaps volunteering to help the pastors and visitation volunteers visit those who need to make a decision. Let’s get this done! Expanding the mission and ministry of A.W. Spalding Elementary School…
 | "A.W. Spalding is a Christian community of learners dedicated to extraordinary accomplishments. The school seeks to inspire its learners to think deeply, live fully, serve unselfishly, and love God completely." It's a bold mission, and not what you might typically find at most Seventh-day Adventist elementary schools. But there is nothing "typical" about the environment in which Adventist schools must educate and nurture our students today. With the world in chaos, many families struggling, and Satan's efforts to steal our youth stronger than ever, our schools must partner with home and church and find a way to still fulfill our commission to grow disciples for Christ. Yes, that is an extraordinary accomplishment, but it is at the center of all activities which occur at A.W. Spalding. As one of the largest Adventist elementary schools in North America, A.W. Spalding must be a leader. We must create successful programs here which can be duplicated in other places. We feel we must serve as a model of academic strength integrated into a curriculum that overtly emphasizes Spirit-led service, values, mission, and true discipleship. You can see these principles at work each day on campus from the level of academic excellence, to the volunteer chaplains who minister to each classroom and guide students in mission endeavors, and to the opportunities student have to receive training and exposure in active evangelism. Nothing can deter our focus to disciple our children and equip them to serve in the world...not our budget, not our size, and certainly not our facilities. Room to Grow, Room to ServeA.W. Spalding has reached a point where our facilities can interfere with our bold mission. Every space in our present building is full, classes are beyond what we consider optimum size, and our community continues to grow. At the same time, we need room to expand our continually growing emphasis on spiritual growth and mission. The program we desire requires a dedicated prayer room to encourage private time with God and to have a place for students to take their concerns to the right person -- their Savior. We need a place for Bible studies, and ongoing service projects/community outreach. Every current space is used, and yet there is still so much more that could be accomplished. In short, the current building is a barrier to the environment we strive to create at A.W. Spalding. Crowding currently limits our mission, and we must not let that continue. Solutions are underway which ensure that Spalding can: - disciple our children and give them an opportunity to be disciples in the world
- affirm Adventist values that are taught in the home and the church as well as offer academic excellence and opportunities in sports and music
- equip our children for mission
- be a safe environment for our children
- to be a model of excellence in the Seventh-day Adventist educational system and to be a training center for other schools across North America
The Greater Collegedale School System has moved ahead with the plan to build a middle school across the street from Collegedale Academy. This new facility will also have shared space for programs which affect the elementary grades, the academy, and also provide room to train current and future teachers across North America. There will be a prayer area, a place for community service projects to be organized, room for outreach training such as KID University, and a more up-to-date academic environment. It is also a goal of the GCSS to be a meaningful asset to the community by making parts of the facility available for general use outside of school hours. A successful building campaign will provide a facility for a school that is committed, not merely to expansion, but also to significant growth in the areas of mission, discipleship and academic strength. This is an exciting time for A.W. Spalding. Please join with us in making this vision a reality! PO Box 3002, Collegedale, TN 37315
Phone: (423) 396-2134
Email: awscampaign@southern.edu Construction Updates
Commitment Sheet
The Stewardship Way
Elevations
First Floor Plan
Second Floor Plan
Site
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Content Copyright © 2000-2009 Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists Site by Luke Miller • <prevario>