Sporting hardhats and clutching colorful ribbons, Blake’s class of 2035 led a procession to the site of the future Early Learning Center (ELC) for a groundbreaking celebration. In fall 2023, these current pre-kindergartners from two campuses will become first grade classmates on one campus, and that spring they will become the ELC’s inaugural graduates. 

At the construction site, each student tied a ribbon with messages and images they had written on it to the surrounding fence. Later that week, on Legacy Day, the rest of Blake’s students, faculty and staff did the same. Now nearly 2,000 colorful ribbons fly outside the site of the future ELC representing the unification of the Lower School and the ties that bring together our Blake community.

In her comments to those who gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking, Head of School Anne Stavney noted the five principles that have guided the vision for the ELC:

• The ELC is child-centered, a place where children are seen as intelligent, creative and capable learners.
• The ELC belongs to all. It is a hub for fostering connection and a sense of belonging.
• The ELC is rooted in nature, built with green materials and designed to forge indoor-outdoor connections. 
• The ELC embraces a pluralistic future—created, from the ground up, for students, families and educators from all backgrounds and lived experiences.
• The ELC sparks curiosity. It’s a special place for inquiry and exploration. And a place that inspires wonder.

See photos from the ELC groundbreaking event and a video created for Legacy Day starring Blake’s class of 2035.