We are Building Something Wonderful—the Future

If you’ve been on The Bush School campus this spring, you’ve likely seen the bulldozers, the cement mixers, and the workers in hard hats. Maybe you watched the Middle School building come down, finally retiring the creaky bones and drafty windows of its “cozy,” but cramped, classrooms. Perhaps you’ve admired the student mural of the dazzling whale sharks that decorates the construction fence or peered through one of the viewing glasses and watched the concrete being poured. If so, you know a transformation is happening at the heart of the campus.

“We are building the future of The Bush School,” said Head of School Sarah Smith on a sunny afternoon as she waved to a group of Middle School students loading up their gear bags as they headed out for their E-Week adventure. “This will be a space that inspires, uplifts, and supports the needs of our students and teachers for generations to come.”

It’s a new Center Campus—the last major piece in the school’s ten-year educational master plan that is designed to meet the needs of the school’s larger and more diverse student body, enhance teaching and learning, and ensure the community thrives as it enters its second century.

“When the original Commons and Middle School were built seventy-three years ago, The Bush School was a very different place,” said Sarah. “Since then, our student body has more than doubled, progressive education has evolved, and the world that we are preparing graduates to enter has dramatically changed. It’s beyond time that our facilities meet the moment.”

When finished, a new, light, and airy two-story building with high ceilings and large windows—and filled with the warm glow of timber—will sit at the center of campus, providing a welcoming entrance to the school. Entering the spacious lobby, you will be greeted by the bold colors of original art displayed in the student gallery and find yourself in an inviting space where teachers, students, and families greet one another each morning. Wander down the hallway of floor-to-ceiling windows to find the new Commons dining hall with updated cafeteria offerings, improved efficiency, and doubled capacity. For the first time in a long time, entire divisions will be able to share a meal together, and the community will enjoy a new space to gather.

Middle School Director Rob Blackwell is most excited about the building’s second floor. Here, six new classrooms and two state-of-the-art science labs will serve Middle School students.

“The Center Campus building is all about creating a better environment for learning,” said Robl. “Middle schools flourish when students feel they belong. The new space will be a welcoming and warm environment where students can do their best work and teachers can bring learning to life in new ways.”

Along with the new classrooms, dedicated faculty workspaces are being added to increase collaboration and connection across the Middle School teaching team, while the floor will be bookended with gathering spaces drenched in natural light and filled with comfortable seating. These “collaboration hubs” will give teachers and students flexible space to work together or just hang out.

Mike Jackson has been teaching Middle School history at Bush for five years, and judging by the number of smiles he gets as he walks by a group of Sixth Grade students, it is clear he understands this age group. “Middle school-aged students don’t just want—but urgently need—socialization and collaborative learning spaces during this developmental stage in life,” he said. “Plus, I am excited to walk into a building that inspires me to be the best teacher I possibly can be.”

The entire Middle School is getting an upgrade. In addition to the new space, the remaining classrooms in the Republican Street wing will be renovated and the lab space completely updated. “It’s going to be exciting for students and teachers alike," said Rob. “When students walk into a space that is specifically designed for learning, it makes a difference.”

The Harrison Street wing will also be completely modernized and built out with new spaces to serve the entire K–12 student body. In addition to a wellness center and a prayer and meditation room, it will house The Bush School’s Center for Community, Equity, and Action supporting its expanded mission to provide civic engagement and service-learning opportunities for all students. The school is also strategically investing in a new cross-divisional Learning Support Center that will be housed in this new space, enhancing student support throughout the K–12 journey. Upper School Learning Specialist Brit Pauser explained, “A K–12 Learning Support Center at the heart of campus will give us the opportunity to meet the dynamic needs of our students, providing a dedicated space for community, collaboration, and support. The new center will amplify our holistic approach to student support by consolidating tutoring, academic advising, and accommodated testing into a central location and will allow for more peer-to-peer connection for neurodiverse students across our K–12 community.”

This year, despite lacking a space on campus to practice, the Upper School robotics team competed in the EX V5 Robotics State Championship. Imagine what our students will do with a dedicated technology makerspace to support the school’s growing computer, engineering, and design offerings.

“When you put it all together, we are creating a campus that will allow us to fulfill our mission for generations to come—to spark that passion for learning, achievement, and contribution to community that will prepare our students to go out into the world and do amazing things,” said Sarah Smith.

Some things won’t change. The shaded courtyard and its towering pine trees will remain at the heart of campus. Its lawn and gardens will continue to provide an outdoor space for students to catch their breath, eat lunch, and toss a football or do cartwheels between classes. And in the fall of 2027, the school will gather once again in the courtyard with the entire K–12 community in the courtyard to celebrate Convocation and the start of its first school year in the new Center Campus.

Until then, the construction continues. The Big Rock sits patiently in its temporary home, a few yards away from its old spot—a reminder that change is afoot, but new perspectives come with a change in scenery. Middle School students are adapting to their transitional classrooms, while everyone is getting a few steps in on the way to lunch in the MLK center. But in The Bush School way, the school is learning new things through the experience. MLK’s long cafeteria tables work better at building community than the old round ones in the Commons. In addition, Eighth Grade students are connecting in new ways with Upper School peers just by sharing classrooms and common space with them on the Upper School campus. Teachers, no longer siloed in their own classrooms, are finding spontaneous connections that bring greater joy to the work.

“There’s a sense of resilience and flexibility that’s become part of the culture during construction,” Rob said. “It is not just about navigating changes; it is about making the most of them.”

The transition has been smooth, but how are the students feeling about the new campus opening in time for the 2027–2028 school year?

"I can’t wait for the new classrooms and bigger commons!” said Roland C ’33.

The Center Campus, Middle School, and Commons project is possible thanks to the generous support of donors. While a significant percentage of construction costs are financed through tax-exempt school bonds, the school is seeking to raise twenty million dollars for the project through its “At the Heart of Bush” capital campaign.
  

“For over one hundred years, families and alumni have invested in our campus and our community,” said Board President Karim Lessard ’89. “When I attended Bush, I benefited from the generosity of those who came before me. Now is my chance to pay it forward.”

“We have great momentum and strong support for the project,” said Ann Felton, Board Member and co-chair of the “At the Heart of Bush” campaign. “Families, grandparents, alumni, parents of alumni, and foundations have all played a role in helping bring this vision to life.”

To date, the school has reached over seventy-three percent of its fundraising goal. This includes three million dollars in grant awards from regional foundations that value the school’s compelling educational mission, its commitment to financial aid, and its vision for creating these inspiring learning spaces. As the campaign continues, every Bush family will have an opportunity to learn more about the new spaces taking shape at the heart of campus, the impact philanthropy is making possible, and ways to help support the future of the school.

Together, the Bush community is creating spaces that will deepen learning, strengthen belonging, and inspire students for years to come.