Alexandria Country Day Unveils Renovations

Alexandria Country Day School unveiled its new renovations in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday evening, one day before students started classes for the 2010-11 school year.

To commemorate the day, all 228 ACDS students ran through a paper banner at the entrance of the school's new gymnasium to the applause of their parents and school personnel.

Along with the gym, the $5 million renovation project included a new dining hall, computer lab, a dedicated performing arts center, office space and a playground. The new gymnasium is regulation-sized and will allow the Bobcats to hold home games for the first time in the school's history.

"So many people made financial sacrifices so we could be here today," said Alexander Harvey, the head of the school. "This is a monumental day in the history of our school."

The expansion project was approved by the school's board of trustees in 2004 and construction began in July of last year.

"This is for our students," Harvey said. "This is their space, their arena. This [gym] is not just for basketball or volleyball, it's for P.E. and our climbers. ... It's to inspire all our students."