25 Aug 2012 Conway High preview party
While crews were still putting the finishing touches on the building, Conway High School students and patrons had a special opportunity in July to get a sneak peek.
The Conway Public Schools Foundation hosted a preview party, with money raised through the event to be used for teacher grants.
Students were on hand at the preview – from cheerleaders who greeted guests as they entered to musicians who provided entertainment throughout the building.
“It was a great night,” said Dr. Greg Murry, superintendent of the Conway School District. “The community members who came were excited to see our new high school. I certainly appreciate the Foundation for its hard work to make the evening possible and for all of our community members who voted in 2010 to make such a wonderful building for our kids possible.”
In addition to a self-guided tour of portions of the new building, event organizers also displayed school memorabilia – from photos and yearbooks to a vintage homecoming queen dress and crown. A photo booth also allowed those in attendance to have their picture taken to commemorate the event.
The new, three-story, 165,000-square-foot school features 10 science labs, eight special needs classrooms, four art classrooms and six computer labs. The building will also house administration offices and a lecture hall that will seat three classrooms of students.
An official open house and dedication are planned Sunday, Sept. 16. According to Jan Spann, foundation president, the group’s purpose is “helping teachers help students.”
In addition to the preview, the foundation has organized the “Honor the Past, Build a Foundation” brick campaign. For $100, a personalized brick will be placed in the new Wampus Cat Courtyard between the new high school building and the new cafeteria to be completed in 2013. Bricks can also be ordered on the foundation website.
Funds from the preview party, brick campaign and other contributions will go into an endowment at the Arkansas Community Foundation, from which annual teacher grants will be generated from the endowment’s net income, leaving the principal preserved as a perpetual source of funding.
For more information on the foundation or the brick campaign, contact Spann at 501.339.7544 or [email protected], or visit cpsfoundation.com.
