St. Francis Catholic High School in Sacramento will hold a ground-breaking ceremony on Sept. 22 to unveil plans for a new fine arts and library resource center.

The event, which begins at 1 p.m. in the school parking lot, will include blessing of the construction site by Bishop William K. Weigand and turning the earth by members of the school’s capital campaign leadership team.

An artistic design of St. Francis Catholic High School’s expansion project which begins this fall with construction of a new fine arts and library resource center and entry courtyard.

At a celebration following the ceremony, plans for the new building will be on display and architects will be available for questions.

The building project is part of the diocese’s capital campaign, “Preserving Our Past, Building Our Future” which is providing $5 million for a long-needed expansion at St. Francis.

St. Francis is conducting its own capital campaign in conjunction with the diocesan campaign to support its $20 million phased expansion project.

Phase one includes construction of the fine arts and library building, an entry courtyard, and added parking. Phases two and three include the addition of a gymnasium, dining hall, aquatic center and playing fields.

Marion Bishop, president of St. Francis, said that breaking ground on a building to relieve inadequate classroom space can’t come too soon.

“It’s going to be a moment of pure joy,” she said. “We’ve had some hurdles to overcome, but everybody’s been pulling for us, and we’re finally there.”

In early August, the city Planning Commission approved the school’s expansion plans. To prepare for construction, relocation of four portable classrooms from the construction area to the athletic fields adjacent to the school was completed.

St. Francis is currently in final negotiations with federal officials to lease a portion of the National Guard property adjacent to the school to expand parking facilities.

Bishop said the project has received substantial support from alumnae who will serve as greeters at the ground-breaking ceremony.

“Our alumnae have laid the foundation ushering in the next phase of our history. It’s because of the legacy they’ve left that we continue to grow,” she said.

The fine arts and library resource center will feature a cross-topped tower with stained glass windows. It will house classrooms for painting and sculpture; rehearsal studios for choir, orchestra, and dance; a 500-seat theatre; a gallery lobby; and a library.

The library has been designed with high ceilings and numerous windows to maximize natural lighting and will include small meeting rooms as well as a state-of-the-art classroom with a mobile laptop computer lab.

Faculty and staff provided funding for the entry courtyard, which will include a bronze statue of St. Francis of Assisi created by artist Adan Romo, a St. Francis teacher.

The fine arts and library resource center will be completed by November 2003.

Bishop Quinn Catholic High School in Palo Cedro is also breaking ground for expansion during the 2002-2003 school year.

Construction of a new building with nine classrooms is expected to begin in November and be completed by the second semester.

The architect for the new school building is Dan Rossetto with Nichols, Melburg & Rossetto, and the contractor is Ken Gifford. Both companies are based in Redding.

Approximately 200 students are enrolled this fall at both Bishop Quinn and at adjacent St. Francis Middle School. Raymond John, principal of the middle and high schools, said space for instruction at the high school is being stretched thin.

“With that many students, we really needed to add some classrooms,” he said.

Bishop Quinn is receiving $2.5 million from the diocesan capital campaign for building and operating needs, which includes funding of the new building.

John said financial support from parishes in Redding and Anderson and the community at large has been overwhelming.

“The school is the headquarters for numerous community events,” he said, “so when we said we had a need, everybody came through.”

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