A Pivotal Moment in Indian Creek School History!

On Thursday, October 22, Indian Creek School proudly announced campus unification plans for the 2021-22 school year. This vision - a school where all students, Pre-K through grade 12 can learn together on one campus - will shape the School's future and benefit all current students and generations of students to come. 

Here are the top 10 things families need to know about the ICS campus unification project:
1) All students in Pre-K3 through grade 12 will be together on one campus in Fall 2021! 
Bringing Indian Creek students, faculty, and families together on one campus has been the School's vision for years. The ICS community is thrilled to have this dream realized at long last for the start of school in Fall 2021.
 
2) Every student will benefit from our new and refurbished state-of-the art learning environment! 
ICS is building a state-of-the-art addition and renovating the existing building to create updated and age-appropriate teaching and learning spaces. Plans include the addition of a 3200 square foot Academic Resource Center and Learning Lab for grades 6-12 on the second floor and a 1500 square foot Pre-K - grade 5 Learning Commons on the first floor. The lawn area overlooking the Athletics Complex will be transformed into a community patio and terrace that will host outdoor events and serve as a beautiful outdoor lunch area for all. Additional outdoor enhancements will include two new playgrounds and an outdoor basketball court.
 
3) The unification building project has already started!
Phase 1 of this project began last summer, as ICS broke ground on a dynamic facility to be known as the Eagle Dome - an air-supported enclosure, which will create versatile indoor space to be used for athletics, as additional instructional space, and as an enhanced event location. Eagle Dome will be operational by mid-November. This fall, ICS has also invested in significant upgrades to the lighting in the Becker Auditorium. This best-in-class system will elevate the Performing Arts experience through immersive special effects, and enhance the meeting environment for assemblies, events, and other community gatherings.
 
4) One campus, one school, three neighborhoods! 
The expanded and renovated school building will be organized into three developmentally-appropriate and inspiring spaces for Lower Grades (Pre-K3 - grade 5), Middle Grades (grades 6-8), and Upper Grades (9-12.)
 
5) The unified ICS campus will become a community hub with the family experience at the center of it all! 
Being a part of a family's life is an incredible honor. Indian Creek's unified campus will provide an experience that is worthy of this privilege. Providing families with one location to bring children from age 3 to grade 12 will provide the "family school" experience. The robust, developmentally-appropriate extra-curricular activities made possible by this plan will enable parents, siblings, and students to come together after the school day to take advantage of all that ICS has to offer. The goal of this one-campus plan is to create a school which will become an extension of every community member’s home, where the everyone can all come to learn together.

6) Construction begins this spring, but no need for hard hats! 
Contractors have assured us that construction will NOT interrupt teaching and learning on campus. The addition will begin construction in February, and the renovation will take place this summer.
 
7) The legacy of the Evergreen Campus will endure!
The administration and architects have listened to students, faculty, staff, alumni, and parents about which pieces of the Evergreen Campus are meaningful to bring to the new unified campus. Important pieces of Indian Creek history that will be a part of the next chapter in the life of the School include the bell from the Evergreen Bell Tower, David's Court, and Mirah's Garden, among others. Of course the Indian Creek philosophy of valuing every student, excellent teaching and learning, and strong teacher-student connections will also endure.
 
8) This project will enable Indian Creek to devote the School's resources to our program and people!
This updated campus unification plan is fiscally responsible. When the campaign target is reached, Indian Creek will not incur any long-term debt for this project. Unifying our community on one campus will reduce operating expenses, allowing the school to dedicate funds to program, faculty, and staff.
 
9) A Celebration of Community!
The ICS community will receive an invitation in the coming weeks for the opening of the Eagle Dome and our One Creek Campaign Kick-off event. This masked and physically-distanced event will be a true celebration of the Indian Creek School community. We look forward to sharing some big news and inviting everyone in our ICS family to participate in the campaign at some level!
 
10) Be a part of this pivotal moment in ICS history!
A campaign has been quietly underway for two years. The Board’s visionary philanthropic leadership combined with that of our early donors gives us the confidence to move forward with raising the remaining funds at a rapid pace. While we look forward to sharing details of this fundraising initiative at the campaign kick-off event, those interested in making a transformative gift during this phase may contact Director of Development Traci Ramsey at tramsey@indiancreekschool.org.

For more information on Indian Creek's campus unification project, check out this video of last Thursday's Creek Conversation, in which Head of School Booth Kyle was joined by Board of Trustee members Chris Mannix '91 and Julius Smith '09 to share more information about the plans.

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Indian Creek school is a co-educational, college preparatory independent school, located in Crownsville, Maryland.  Students in Pre-K3 through grade 12 receive a vibrant educational experience based on excellent academics steeped in strong student-teacher connections.