The lights of St. Mark’s Church have always created a striking nighttime picture and now the same can be said for our school. With the pillars and trim painted white and deep red brackets added, it certainly is an inviting entry!

We’re also now proud to display our school name and new cornerstone, both located on the south wall beside the entryway. This cornerstone commemorates the new building, as well as each of the previous sections of our school.

Sports fans, be glad to know the gymnasium is coming along as well. While the concrete continues to dry, crews have completed the white paint and now are personalizing it with a St. Mark’s red stripe. They’ve also tested the newly-installed basketball hoops with a game of Horse and, according to construction superintendent Matt Hollman, they are in good working order—he won! Pictured here is the gymnasium with the automated dividing curtain lowered.

All in all, the project is progressing very well. Thanks everyone for your hard and diligent work!

Crews have been busy painting this week and our new gymnasium is looking bold and bright as a result. Statz Drywall continues their work in the kitchen and commons area and soon those rooms will also be painted.

When St. Mark’s initially discussed needs for a school addition, one of our main concerns was a lack of accessibility. The problem was resolved this week with the installation of an elevator by Otis Elevator. This enables access to all three school levels, as well as giving St. Mark’s compliancy with the Americans Disabilities Act.

And, hey, where are all the trailers? Have you noticed how neat and landscaped the area is becoming? Contractors are gradually clearing out the parking lot—very indicative of the progress. This week even Maas Brothers Construction shut down their trailer and Matt Hollman, our project superintendent, moved his office inside the school.

As Matt says, “Things will look a little different for the students when they come back from their days off.”

What a special day for St. Mark’s School!

At noon, everyone came outside to watch work crews install a new flagpole. As A.J. Ritschke raised the first flag, Mr. Uttech led everyone in a Pledge of Allegiance. Wow, there was lots of cheering going on! And reasonably so—this is a meaningful day to remember.

There’s a lot to cheer about inside the school too. For our school cooks, who have been cooking and serving lunch in the Parish Center for the past month, a new kitchen comes closer to reality with the installation of a walk-in cooler and freezer.  In other areas, Statz Drywall completes work in the computer room, crews have started painting the gymnasium and windows are installed in the newly constructed areas.

We’ve had some beautiful days of autumn this week and our school’s looking beautiful as well. God is blessing St. Mark’s!

Or maybe a sod donor?

So far St. Mark’s volunteers have donated and laid 723 rolls of sod around our new school. It looks fantastic! Pictured above is the north side of the school, including the future play area for Pre-K and Kindergarten students.

St. Mark’s students have an ongoing project of donating $2 per roll for a total goal of 1000 rolls of sod. That means we only have 277 more to go! Our thanks to all who’ve helped with this project in recent weeks.

If you’re interested in buying sod or laying sod, let us know! Call A.J. Ritschke or Fred Uttech at 920-262-8501.

Congratulations to our construction superintendent Matt Hollman and his wife Tammy on the birth of their daughter. God’s greatest blessings to the Hollman family!