News at St. Catherine's

Julie Dayton Field at Performance Park Now Open

Phase 1 of the development of the southern third of campus is now complete.
     Julie Dayton Field at Performance Park officially opened and not a moment too soon. Athletes and coaches immediately started using the new Astroturf field for lacrosse and softball practice. The regulation size field will be used for field hockey, lacrosse and soccer, as well as Physical Education classes and year-round, dry space for recess, outdoor play and athletic competition. In addition, the area includes more than 170 parking spaces, turf field spectator seating, bathrooms, and a new campus-wide HVAC system. The AstroTurf field will be used for recess, outdoor play, P.E. classes, school activities and athletics.

Impactful Generosity
     Performance Park and Julie Dayton Field were made possible by the generosity of many lead donors. The School is especially grateful to Lisa and Charlie Luck whose early lead gift helped launch Phase 1 of developing the southern third of campus. Performance Park, a place to realize human potential, will become a hub of campus activity and community gatherings, as well as a gateway to the new Arts and Innovation Center.

Phase 1 Celebration scheduled for May 8
     The School community will come together on May 8, 5-7 p.m. for the Dedication and Ribbon Cutting of Julie Dayton Field and Performance Park. This family celebration will include a food court, entertainment, and an exhibition field hockey game. The official ceremony is scheduled for 6-6:30 p.m.

Phase 2 is on the Horizon
     The second phase of construction will focus on the new Arts and Innovation Center for use by all girls, across all divisions, and the entire curriculum. This phase includes a new 550-seat theatre with a fly tower, industrial arts/scene shop, dressing rooms, and community spaces for the arts, galleries, innovation, wellness, and gatherings. Construction timing will depend upon fundraising success.

Sunsetting McVey Hall (Theatre and Dance Studio)
     Built in 1937, McVey Hall originally served as a gymnasium and theatre for a student body just under 400 girls. While St. Catherine’s programs have flourished and the student body has grown to 990 girls in the last 81 years, McVey Hall can no longer support the demands and needs of our vibrant arts program. In May 2019, it is our plan to begin removing the current building structure that houses McVey Theatre and the Dance Studio.
     This will be a four-month process of which the initial phase will involve very little work on the exterior of the building.There will be resources in place to support our thriving performing arts curriculum during this exciting transition, including new temporary spaces on campus for theater and dance classes and community partnerships for performance locations. Additional details are forthcoming.
 
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Located in the heart of Richmond, Virginia, St. Catherine’s School is a private, all-girls pre-K, kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school. We provide a well-rounded educational experience for girls from communities across Richmond, Chesterfield, Henrico and all of central Virginia. St.Catherine’s all-girls educational experience is rooted in more than a century of history and tradition. From our revolutionary past to our dynamic present, St. Catherine’s has always focused on preparing students for a boundless future.