Groundbreaking

Holy Rosary Parish broke ground on its new Totten Hall preschool building on July 30.

Holy Rosary Pastor Father Bernie Etienne began the ceremony by saying, “Today is really a culmination of eight years of effort,” referring to the vision and strategic planning required to make the new building a reality.

The new building is necessary due to consistently rising interest in the Holy Rosary preschool program since it began in 2001. It is scheduled to be completed in time for the 2016-2017 academic year.

“Holy Rosary has been and continues to be a leader in our diocese,” said Daryl Hagan, Diocesan Superintendent of Schools. “The new facility will allow for further growth spiritually, academically and physically.”  

The new facility, which will be connected to the school’s kindergarten wing, will bring preschool through eighth grade students together under one roof for the first time. It also will allow distinct areas to be dedicated to different activities, such as play, music and art.

“We’ve been blessed over the years to have the Totten Hall preschool on our campus,” Father Etienne said. “However, our needs far exceed the capacity of our existing structure.

Totten Hall Founder Kairon Unfried, who remains its director today, approached Holy Rosary Principal Joan Fredrich 14 years ago about moving the preschool to the parish’s campus. At the time, Unfried was looking for a new location for the preschool; and as a Holy Rosary parishioner, she was aware that its school was interested in starting a preschool program.

Enrollment growth began immediately with the move, and it has continued ever since.

“This new facility will build upon the growing strength of our preschool, particularly internal advancements such as increased instructional time, a full-day program and the AdvancED accreditation process,” Father Etienne added. “Now we’ll have a top-tier facility to complement our wonderful preschool program.” 

In the photo

Turning the first shovels of dirt for the new preschool building at Holy Rosary Parish are Charlie Michel, left, project manager for Danco Construction, Inc.; Jeff Justice, managing principal of Hafer Associates, Holy Rosary parishioner Terry Davis, a member of the Building and Renovation Committee; Parish Administrator Joe Holtz; Father Bernie Etienne, pastor; School Principal Joan Fredrich; Totten Hall Preschool Director Kairon Unfried; and Diocesan Superintendent of Schools Daryl Hagan.