Campaign News

Chapel Library Construction and Athletic Field Updates

July 09, 2007

Demolition in anticipation of construction of the Chapel Library continues this week. PLEASE NOTE: ALL DOORS TO THE MAIN BUILDING ARE LOCKED AND THE MAIN ENTRANCE IS CLOSED. If you need to come to the school’s main building, you can enter through the side door, near the LS art room. Due to safety concerns we are encouraging every one to use phone contact, email, or snail mail to take care of any business at the school. If you must enter the main building please call the school’s main number (609-921-6499) and let us know that you need to enter the building. We will let you know a good time to do so. The Athletic and Convocation Center is not affected by the Chapel Library construction project.

ATHLETIC FIELD UPDATE:

Site work for the athletic fields project has begun with the installation of run-off fencing around the perimeter of the project. When completed, the project will provide 2 natural turf fields for soccer, lacrosse, and other sports, including the flexibiblity to play baseball.

To learn more about the Varisty Field Project and how you can support it, click here.

$500,000 Challenge Met!

January 08, 2007

Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart announced that it succeeded in meeting a $500,000 challenge before a December 31, 2006 deadline. Funds raised through the challenge will be used to create a Chapel Library for the school. The announcement was made by Bob Monsour, Academy trustee and Chair of the Campaign for Princeton Academy, at an all-school function to kick off the winter term. “I am extremely pleased to report,” said Mr. Monsour, “that we not only met the challenge, but surpassed our target by a wide margin thanks to the strong response of our community.”

The Academy was presented with a $500,000 challenge by a small group of parents in the spring of 2006. The challenge group pledged to donate $500,000 towards the creation of the William E. Simon Chapel Library if another $500,000 could be raised by December 31, 2006. “This small group of parents wanted to be certain that we would have the resources we needed to create a state-of-the-art library and a lovely chapel in the Sacred Heart tradition,” said Tom Byrne, board chair of Princeton Academy. “We are very grateful to these families, as well as to our entire community for responding with such enthusiasm.”

The good news came only a few short weeks after the Academy cut the ribbon on its new Athletic and Convocation Center in mid-December. The 17,000 square-foot facility boasts a regulation basketball court with 4 additional backboards for multiple half-court games. In addition to basketball, the area can support indoor soccer, volleyball, and other recreational activities. The building is outfitted with locker rooms for home and visiting teams, a spacious lobby and a mezzanine level that can house the Academy’s wrestling and fencing programs. The Academy will also use the facility for gym classes, dramatic productions, concerts, and all-school liturgies and gatherings.

“Princeton Academy opened its doors with 34 students in 1999,” said Princeton Academy headmaster Olen Kalkus. “We now have 236 students enrolled, and have outgrown our original library’s capacity. This new facility will become the intellectual and spiritual heart of our beautiful campus, allowing us to meet the needs of our rapidly growing student population in terms of space and the number of volumes on our shelves.”

Princeton Academy plans to begin work on the new Chapel Library in the summer of 2007.

Week in Review- Special Edition 1-2-07

January 02, 2007

Christmas is always a time of special blessing at Princeton Academy. This year, the last day of school before Christmas break included a special ribbon-cutting in the Athletic and Convocation Center. On hand for the special ceremony were board members, parents, students, faculty, and friends.

Following the ribbon-cutting, Princeton Academy chaplain Father Mick Lambeth blessed the new space, which will be used for concerts, liturgies, physical education classes, and athletic events.

The morning program concluded with a Christmas program presented by the boys. The theme was the 12 gifts of Christmas, which were presented to Joseph, Mary, and the Infant King.

Library Chapel Challenge Update: 11-22-06

November 21, 2006

$328,000 raised - $172,000 to go! Thank you to all for your generous support. It's not too late to pledge. Click here http://www.princetonacademy.org/weblogs/campaign/chapel-library-shgoals.html to read about the Library Chapel and how it embodies the Sacred Heart goals.

Gym Floor, Windows, and Site Work Progressing!

October 26, 2006

The hardwood floor awaits sanding, striping, and finishing coats. The bleachers and windows are installed.

Work in the lobby continues with the laying of the slate floor, treads and risers on the steps to the mezzanine, and the lobby restrooms.

Site work continues with grading, curbing, and sidewalks.

$500,000 Challenge Progress

October 06, 2006

$500,000 Challenge Update: The terms of the challenge require that we raise $500,000 in new gifts and pledges by December 31st, 2006. If we can raise this amount, the resulting $500,000 match will help us reach our $1 million fundraising goal for the Chapel Library.

The challenge is made up of significant gifts from five families who have agreed to offer their gifts as an incentive to the rest of the community. Each of these families had very different reasons for pledging their support, but they all expressed the hope that their gift would inspire others to make a new commitment to the Campaign and help us reach our goal.

The sign will be updated regularly as we receive gifts and pledges towards meeting the Challenge.

Hardwood Floor Arrives-Can Basketball Be Far Behind?

September 16, 2006

The long-awaited hardwood flooring arrived for the new gym this week. Can basketball season be far behind? Let's go Hawks!

Princeton Academy Announces $500,000 Challenge

August 27, 2006

This year saw enormous progress at Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart. Our rapid growth continues, and next year we will welcome over 225 students into the Academy. Word of the value of a Sacred Heart education for boys is spreading. Dr. Leonard Sax came to Princeton Academy and spoke to us about the value of single-sex education, and it seemed as though the whole country has been talking about it ever since. Our graduates continue to gain access to fine secondary schools, and our incoming class is as strong as we have ever seen.

Even with our robust growth this year there is more to the story! On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we are very excited to announce a $500,000 challenge grant towards the Chapel Library phase of the Campaign for Princeton Academy. The terms of the challenge require that we raise $500,000 in new gifts and pledges by December 31st, 2006. If we can raise this amount, the resulting $500,000 match will help us reach our $1 million fundraising goal for the Chapel Library.

The challenge is made up of significant gifts from five families who have agreed to offer their gifts as an incentive to the rest of the community. Each of these families had very different reasons for pledging their support, but they all expressed the hope that their gift would inspire others to make a new commitment to the Campaign and help us reach our goal.

If you have any questions about this challenge, or would like to discuss what you can do to help, please feel free to call Eric Swartzentruber in the development office at 609-924-8148.

Athletic and Convocation Center Update

August 26, 2006

Construction on the gym continues with focus on HVAC, interior walls, electric, locker rooms, and the all important hardwood floor. Here are some pictures to show you the progress towards completion.

Construction Update

June 15, 2006

As summer vacation begins, here is an update on the latest news on the gym, chapel library, and other capital projects.

Gym: With final approvals from the NJ Department of Community Affairs in place, progress is proceeding at a steady pace. Once completed and occupied, physical education classes and athletic practices will move to the new gym.

Chapel Library: Work on the Chapel Library is now scheduled to begin during the course of the coming school year, once the gym is complete and occupied. We continue to raise funds for this project and will present news to you on that subject as we make progress toward our goal.

Other Capital Projects: In addition to work on the new Athletic and Convocation Center, a number of improvements to our facilities will be made over the summer. Many of these renovations will be concentrated in the second floor hallway from the Middle School assembly area to the art room. The result will be additional and larger classroom spaces along this hall to accommodate our rapidly growing Middle School. Other school-wide projects include the installation of two new exterior staircases located in front of the third grade exit and the Lower School pick-up area. We will also continue to upgrade each classroom’s electrical service in the Lower School.

All of this is possible due to the strong commitment to the Campaign for Princeton Academy as well as the Princeton Academy Annual Fund by our community of parents and friends. Look for progress photos on the website!

Concrete Poured for Mezzanine Floor

April 07, 2006

Cement trucks with pumps arrived on Monday and loaded concrete up on the mezzanine floor of the Athletic & Convocation Center. Workers wore high boots and spread the concrete, smoothed it with tamps, and let it cure.

Building Progresses Over Break

March 27, 2006

Work on the Athletic and Convocation Center continued during spring break as the floor and sections of the roof were put in place.

Raising the Roof

March 10, 2006

The crane returned this week to hoist the roof sections on to the rafters for assembly. Soon, the roof will be in place and the gym floor will be poured.

Higher and Higher

March 03, 2006

Construction continues this week as the walls go up and the elevator shaft nears completion. Cold winter days with bright blue skies provide a beautiful background of the Athletic and Convocation Center's steel framing.

Capital Campaign Reaches $3 Million Mark

February 28, 2006

Campaign for Princeton Academy chair Bob Monsour, headmaster Olen Kalkus, and board chair Tom Byrne announcing the Campaign has reached the $3 million mark.

Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart announced today that it has raised $3 million toward its $5 million goal for The Campaign for Princeton Academy. The Campaign is designed to continue the build-out of Princeton Academy, a Sacred Heart school for boys serving grades Junior Kindergarten through eight. “I am delighted to report that total gifts and pledges to the Campaign have now topped the $3 million mark,” said Tom Byrne, chairman of Princeton Academy’s board of trustees.

“The build-out of Princeton Academy includes several important projects needed to accommodate our rapid growth in enrollment,” said Byrne. “We are building a new athletic and convocation center, creating new chapel and library spaces, renovating our middle school classrooms, adding science labs and expanding our athletic fields. I’m very proud to say we have made significant progress in all of these areas.”

Construction is well underway on the athletic and convocation center, according to Bob Monsour, Academy trustee and Campaign chair. “We expect to be opening the athletic and convocation center at the start of the 2006-07 school year,” said Monsour. “Once this building is complete, we’ll be ready to begin work on the William E. Simon Chapel Library.” The new Chapel Library will be the spiritual and intellectual heart of Princeton Academy’s campus, according to founding headmaster Olen Kalkus. He added that “the Chapel will provide areas for private and small group reflection, while the new Library will significantly enhance the culture of reading that is at the heart of Princeton Academy’s educational environment.”

“With so much in the news these days about how the educational needs of boys are being underserved,” said Kalkus, “it is exciting to be building a school in this community where boys’ needs are being directly addressed. Thanks to the vision of our board, a committed faculty, and the support of our community, we have been successful in creating an environment in which boys can thrive.”

Fair Weather Blessings

January 24, 2006

The construction of the Athletic and Convocation Center has been blessed with a mild winter, which has enabled the crew to work full weeks. These pictures reflect the progress of steel framing and mason work against a magnificent blue sky.

Reaching for the Sky

January 04, 2006

Construction crews took advantage of the dry, milder weather and erected the steel frame of the new Athletic and Convocation Center. The boys came back from vacation to find the gym "growing" up!

Snow & Steel

December 08, 2005

The beginning of the week brought snow and cold temperatures and the end of the week brought the steel! 6 flatbeds arrived early Thursday morning carrying the steel for the new Athletic and Convocation Center. By the end of the day a large crane had off-loaded the steel to various staging areas. Over the next three weeks the new facility will take on 3 dimensions. Be sure to look out back when you visit the school!

Athletic and Convocation Center Gains Strong "Footing"

November 09, 2005

Construction continues with the pouring of the fittings for the new Athletic and Conference Center. Students, faculty, and staff watched with excitement as the trucks poured cement into the forms.

Fire Line

November 01, 2005

Construction workers started digging the fireline trench across the driveway and the quad area between the school and the Manor House today. The "landscape" is changing every day as we proceed with the construction of the Athletic and Convocation Center. Check back often to see progress shots!

Pump House Trench

October 28, 2005

Work began this week on the pump house and pipe trench the Academy needs for fire supression. The pump house, which will be located on the property along Drake's Corner Road, will enable the Academy to sprinkle the new Athletic and Convocation Center, and eventually the rest of the facilities.

Crushed Stone

October 28, 2005

Work was finished today on the layer of crushed stone that will lie beneath the foundation slab of the new Athletic and Convocation center. Many truckloads of the crushed stone were trucked in, spread out, and rolled out smooth over the last several days. Many thanks to Daku and Sons for completing this phase so quickly!

Trenches and Conduits

September 16, 2005

Construction continues on the new Gymnasium and Convocation Center. Here workers dig a trench to bring updated electrical service to the new facility, as well as to the main academic buildings.

"Breaking Up" Is Hard To Do!

August 24, 2005

Heavy equipment arrived to break up four areas of hard rock that needed to be removed from the Athletic and Convocation Center construction site. The excavation has gone well, but one section of rock proved to be a challenge. In the picture above, flames are seen as the hydraulic-powered steel bit attempted to break up one of the rocks.

Site Work Continues on Athletic and Convocation Center

August 19, 2005

Digging Deeper

July 25, 2005

Site work preparation continues with laying of pipe, clearing of dirt, and unearthing of rock. Check back frequently for photo updates!

Clearing the Gym Footprint

July 20, 2005

The construction crew started moving the earth to clear the way for the Athletic and Convocation Center. The landscape is changing quickly at Princeton Academy and we are thrilled to see progress. Stop by, take a look, and feel the earth move!

What a "Site"!

June 24, 2005

Site work for the new Athletic and Convocation Center began this week with chain saws, bulldozers, cherry pickers and grinders clearing away approximately twenty trees. Upon completion of the tree work, the fire system line will be trenched, bringing us ever closer to the raising of the steel. Stop by and have a look; you won't recognize the place!

Groundbreaking Marks Beginning of New Era

June 03, 2005

With hardhats, umbrellas, shovels, and smiles the Princeton Academy community gathered together to celebrate the official groundbreaking for the new Athletic and Convocation Center. The rain did not dampen anyone's spirit as everyone took hold of a shovel and turned over some dirt. The construction is officially under way!

Speech by Bob Monsour at Groundbreaking Ceremony

June 03, 2005

What follows are the remarks of Bob Monsour, Campaign for Princeton Academy chair, delivered at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Athletic and Convocation Center.

The Passion to Begin

I am delighted to be here on what can only be described as another great beginning for Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart.

Many of you have supported us since the very beginning when a small group took a bold step and dreamed of purchasing this campus and starting an all-boys Catholic school. Like the start of Princeton Academy itself, this groundbreaking represents the creation of something new and important for our community. It is here that our students will play and our community will gather in celebration. We are deeply grateful for the commitment of so many whose generosity has made this day possible.

The Campaign for Princeton Academy, of which this new Athletic and Convocation Center is just the first step, will bring the same depth and strength to our facilities that our academic programs have had since the first students arrived at this campus in 1999. On completion of this building, the chapel will become a wonderful Library and Chapel and that will be followed by continued renovations and enhancements of our classroom spaces.

I’d like to take a few moments to share some thoughts on how great things really get done. Things like this school and this new building.

In the world of business, some would say that great things get done by the actions of management teams and boards of directors…the strategies they set and the directions they give.
In the world of independent schools like Princeton Academy, it is sometimes said that great things get done through the actions of the Board of Trustees, the policies they set and the headmaster that is hired.

Having been involved in the beginnings of companies in the business world and having arrived here shortly after the beginning of Princeton Academy, my experiences and observations tell me that the creative spark for any organization is the individual, or a small group. Like a high-technology business taking off, Princeton Academy sprung from the vision and the passion of its founders.

It is at the beginning, where you find the real entrepreneurs, the discoverers, those who have the vision, the passion and who work tirelessly to establish the mission. Their risk is our good fortune; their conviction is our community’s benefit. The curtain is opened and we are all stunned at the production. It’s bold, imaginative leadership at its best. A new organization has been born and a new level of hard work begins. The beginnings are great fun to watch, and the ride is sensational. It’s the entrepreneurs in our midst. They had the passion to begin.

While today marks the beginning of construction for our new Athletic and Convocation Center, it also marks a special time for the entrepreneurs of Princeton Academy; those who had that passion and vision. Just two days ago, the Board of Trustees held its last meeting of the year. At that meeting, we honored those trustees who have served the school since its founding and now leave the board as their terms of service come to an end. Among them are: Mark Johnson, Hoddy Klein, Tom Meagher, Jim Radvany and Lou Tesoro. Sr. Carolyn, while among the early trustees, will continue to serve as a trustee and thoughtful guide in our journey forward. Fidelma Woodley, while also a founding trustee, now leaves with her family on a new adventure in a new place that will most certainly be blessed for her presence. And while many don’t know this, Rose Neubert, who you now know as the Business Manager at Princeton Academy, served as a founding trustee of the school, and continues to share her energy with enthusiasm and thoughtfulness for our mission. There were many others involved in those early days in various capacities, all of who deserve our thanks and honor.

Whenever a group like this comes together, it is often at the suggestion of a particular person; someone with a burning passion, someone very persuasive, someone with a special zeal that sparks the imagination in others, allowing the group to imagine the great beginning for an all-boys Catholic school called Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart.

For us, our community and our benefit, that person was Tom Meagher. With the support of his family; his wife Debbie, who worked hard as the founding and long-serving former president of the parents association; his sons Dylan and Cody and his daughters Haley and Caitlin; Tom spent countless hours recruiting and inspiring this group of equally committed founders, and also recruiting our headmaster Olen Kalkus; convincing him that coming to Princeton was just a small side trip on the path between the Czech Republic and Colorado.

And, as we launch yet another new beginning for the Athletic and Convocation Center, it was Tom once again who spearheaded the work on this project and laid much of the groundwork for what will be a wonderful new facility for our boys. Tom, we, and those that follow, will be forever in your debt; for without you, this school and this building would not have been possible. I am truly honored to have become a small part of these great beginnings.

Thank you, and God bless you all.

The Bulldozer Has Arrived!

June 02, 2005

With ground-breaking a little more than 24 hours away and in the midst of field day activities, the contractor delivered a bulldozer on Thursday, much to the delight of the boys. As the contractor moved the bulldozer off of the trailer and in to place at the construction site, the boys yelled "They're building the gym! They're building the gym!" Join the excitement on Friday, June 3rd at 2PM as we break ground for the new Athletic and Convocation Center!

Princeton Academy Signs Contract to Build New Athletic and Convocation Center

January 06, 2005

We are pleased to announce that on Monday, January 3, Headmaster Olen Kalkus and several Princeton Academy trustees met with representatives of Geo Matrix, a Pennington-based construction company, and signed a contract to build a new athletic and convocation center. The meeting concluded months of negotiations which began prior to receiving final approval for the project from Princeton Township's Planning Board last November.

Immediate next steps in the project include securing the necessary building permits for the initial site work, which includes tree removal, excavation and drainage, as well as those permits necessary for the building itself. The Academy has filed plans with Princeton Township's engineers seeking approval for site work, an important but straightforward step before groundbreaking can take place. With the contract in hand, construction drawings are now being prepared to secure the permits required for building construction.

As Bob Monsour mentioned in his letter in November, last year we focused on three elements of the athletic and convocation center project: raising the funds to initiate this building project, obtaining approval from the Princeton Township planning board, and entering into a contract with a builder. With the construction contract now signed we have cleared the last significant hurdle, and a date for breaking ground will soon be set.

As we celebrate this accomplishment toward the completion of phase one of the Campaign for Princeton Academy, a task force headed by trustee Irvine Gaskin has already begun work on the plans for transforming our current gym and chapel space into a new library and chapel.

Our most profound and heartfelt thanks go to all of those in our community who have shown such strong support for the Campaign for Princeton Academy.