On April 4, 2023, Saint Patrick School students, staff, honored guests, and members of the Carlisle community gathered for the groundbreaking ceremony marking the start of construction on the school’s new STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) wing.
The Most Reverend Ronald W. Gainer, D.D., J.C.L., Bishop of Harrisburg, Antoinette Oliverio, Principal of Saint Patrick School, and Reverend Donald H. Bender, Pastor of Saint Patrick Church addressed the crowd and offered remarks on the momentous occasion.
Speaking on the impact of the new addition, Oliverio said, “It will house a state-of-the-art facility and will enable us to bring an educational discipline that aims to spark interest and a lifelong love for art and science for our children here at the school.”
STEAM Addition Highlights
The new addition showcases the school’s commitment to provide students with a hands-on learning experience focused on STEAM education and the career paths that are projected to be highly in-demand in the future. The 12,300 square-foot addition will feature multiple STEM/science classrooms with flexible seating for elementary and middle school students, a hands-on art room with a kiln and potter’s area, a large music instruction room with acoustical sound boards, and flex classroom space. The middle school STEM area will be outfitted with state-of-the-art furnishings and equipment and the two elementary STEM rooms can be combined into one large instructional space. Three individual instruction rooms for private testing, meetings and one-on-one learning are also part of the addition. Office space, and conference areas allow for special meeting and instruction support. Additionally, outdoor space has been planned for future greenhouse and growing initiatives.
The project has been in planning for over a year with input from teachers, students, and Saint Patrick’s parishioners. The school has been working alongside design build contractor Pyramid Construction Services, LLC in Wormleysburg to prepare the designated site for today’s groundbreaking and start of construction. Anticipated occupancy for the new addition is January 2024.
St. Patrick School, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, serves students from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade. Current enrollment is just under 400 students.