Opening the Doors to Our New Academic Wing
After years of vision, planning, hard work and, most importantly, the generosity and commitment of our community, it was incredibly special to officially open the doors to the new Academic Wing on Monday, August 31 and watch our students walk through for the very first time. They are, after all, the reason we built it.
This milestone is a reflection of what can happen when a community comes together with a shared belief in what is possible for our students. Every conversation, contribution, volunteer effort, and expression of support helped bring this vision to life, and we are deeply grateful.
Below, we’re delighted to share excerpts from some of the speeches shared during the Grand Opening Celebration:
Alan Howie, Rundle Academy Principal
A building like this isn't really finished until you, our students, are in it. So now it's your turn to show us how you'd like it.
When this building first opened, it looked spectacular. It was bright, with high ceilings, beautiful views, incredible breakout spaces for collaboration — and so much space! It felt fresh, exciting and custom built.
Then your teachers arrived. And suddenly, it started to look more like a school. Bulletin boards were decorated. iPads and Macs were ready to roll. Classrooms started to take shape. Teachers were planning, organizing, and preparing for your arrival. And you could feel the excitement building.
But today is different. Because you are here.
And now this building is going to become something much more important than a beautiful new building. It is going to become Rundle Academy.
A place where students come to discover what they are capable of. A place where you can build confidence, understand your strengths, develop the skills to learn in ways that work for you, and discover your own path to success. It is a place where you will be challenged and supported, where you will make mistakes and learn from them, where you will build friendships, find your voice, and discover things about yourself that you didn't know were there. And it is a place where we want every one of you to feel that you belong and that you matter.
So, after all the planning, moving, unpacking, organizing — and moving those desks one more time — it is finally time. I can't wait for you to get into your new learning home.
Ty G., Rundle Academy student
Over the last three years, Rundle has helped me become a completely different, but truer version of myself. We all know that Rundle is helpful to many students by supporting their learning, and teaching them in a more individualized way. We have all gained confidence in the classroom by having teachers that understand our LDs and our neurodiversity. But I think the greatest gift that Rundle gives us, is the confidence to be who we really are.
This expansion opens our community to more families and staff, who will get to experience all the amazing benefits that Rundle has to offer. They will bring their own experiences which will enrich our school and make our community even stronger. I am excited to see what’s to come!
Chris Chan and Jill Hamilton, Campaign Co-Chairs
This campaign has never been about a building. It has always been about people.
Over the past several years, there have been numerous conversations with our community members and partners about the campaign including several community events held . Every conversation was an opportunity to share a vision for what Rundle Academy could become and the benefit to our current and future generation of students
Families said yes because they believe in the life-changing education their children receive here. Grandparents and alumni said yes because they understand the lasting impact Rundle Academy has had on generations of students.
Volunteers gave their time, energy, and passion because they believed this vision was worth championing.
Our Campaign Committee volunteers gave their time to make introductions, meet with families encouraging others to become part of something much larger than themselves.
And our donors chose to invest not only in a building, but in the potential of every student who will walk through these doors.
Dr. Jason Rogers, Head of School
Students, as you move into this space, I have three asks of you:
One: take pride in this place. Know that it was built because you are unique, precious, and perfect, and because you deserve it.
Two: recognize that your teachers, your parents, and your grandparents are here to support you. When the load of moving a mountain becomes too heavy, you can lean on us.
And three: continue to believe in yourself. Believe in yourself the way we believed this project would get done in phase one, and the way we believe phase two will get done as well.
And now, we look ahead.
We are excited to continue the momentum of Building Futures as we move toward Phase 2, the Co-Curricular Wing, which will bring even more transformational spaces to Rundle Academy, including the Great Hall, cafeteria, new science labs, Learning Commons and a new gymnasium. Together, these spaces will complete the vision for a campus designed to support the whole student — academically, creatively, physically and socially.
In the coming days and weeks, we will be sharing more about our plans for Phase 2 and our continued campaign fundraising efforts to bring this next chapter to life.
Thank you for being part of this journey and for helping us celebrate what our community has accomplished together. We look forward to all that will happen within these new walls and to the many memories that will be created here for generations of Rundle Academy students.
