Stewardship Update as of June 2023:
In 2020, Notre Dame Cristo Rey High School acquired and moved from one school building in Lawrence, MA to a more modern campus just up the street in Methuen in order to provide more opportunities and programs for students. Given the need for capital improvements to all five buildings, NDCR embarked upon a $10M Working for Our Future Capital Campaign in June of 2021. Given the success of NDCR's academic and corporate work study model, the response to our Capital Campaign from supporters wanting to invest in progress has been astounding, and NDCR has secured $8.2M in funding to date.
Progress to Date:
Support has come in sizes large and small, and collectively make a powerful statement about our school’s transforming mission. Our donor’s generosity has allowed us to accomplish many important milestones:
- The full purchase and payment of our beautiful, 5-acre campus when we moved from Lawrence to Methuen. We now have a permanent home, in an ideal location, close to the community we serve. We still feel grateful to have this beautiful campus for our students!
- The renovation of our facilities, as necessary. While our campus is beautiful, many areas in our buildings needed an upgrade, and in some cases a complete redesign to meet our unique academic and work-study mission. Improvements have included:
- New flooring in hallways
- New code regulation doors, and three new outside doors
- Painting, and installing new air conditioners, projectors, and shades in all classrooms
- Installing 38 security cameras throughout school
- Rewiring the entire school with IT upgrades and internet capabilities
- Installing signage around campus and in the main school building
- Repairing parts of the roof of the main school building
- Replacing a portion of the gutters and flashing of the gymnasium building
- Installing a combination of heat, air conditioning and air purifiers in the auditorium
- Laying new rugs and installing new bookcases in the library
- Installing new lockers for all students
- Replacing old drinking fountains with contemporary water stations
- Designing and installing a professional-looking remote CWSP office suite, which includes 14 workstations all equipped with internet access and large monitors.
Next Steps:
Next on our short list of renovations include:
a. Installing new flooring in all 14 classrooms
b. Finish repairing the roof of the main academic building
c. Installing new windows throughout the main academic building
Once this portion of our Campaign is completed, we will kick off a new Campaign to raise funds for the construction of a new Innovation and Science Center – a facility to provide our students with state-of-the-art rooms and equipment. Several of our high-tech corporate work partners have been instrumental in helping us shape programs that emphasize STEM elements of our curricula. Creating this new facility will provide our students and teachers the space they need and deserve to succeed in this critical 21st-century academic arena.
A Call to Action:
We would be delighted to have you join our list of individuals, companies and foundations who are investing in the future of young adults from limited means.
The breakdown of our Capital Campaign Vision:
Our Facility Needs (Initial Priorities) -- Taking care of our main school building first!
Purchase price ($5M) + renovation of main school ($2.5M)
- Update all classrooms and science labs
- Replace windows in original school building
- Install new HVAC split units – Heating/Air Conditioning
- Renovate student Lavatories
- Install new elevator – ADA Compliant
- Upgrade all IT systems, cyber security, phones
- Install internal security cameras
- Asbestos Abatement needed in some areas
Our Facility Needs (Next Priorities) -- Our Larger, Master Vision
Dedicated space for the Corporate Work Study Program
- Offices for CWSP staff
- Conference room
- Large space for remote workers equipped with excellent IT connections
- Gathering space for daily workers to wait before they are transported to their on-site jobs
Dedicated space for STEM programs
- Robotics
- Coding/Cyber Classes
- Engineering Classes
Dedicated space for a College Counseling Suite
- Centralized location for counseling
- Counseling staff offices with proximity to each other
- Conference room for college representatives to hold presentations during the school day
- Space for students to gather for help with college applications
Developing the campus & turning grounds into learning spaces
- Renovate Chapel
- Create a space for the Arts
- Teaching garden
- Community space
Other Emerging Financial Needs
- Increase Funds for Tuition Assistance/Endowment
- Increase Funds Faculty Compensation
- Establish seed funds for new program launch (STEM, CWSP Remote Center, etc.)