New Lower School on Its Way!

On May 2 and 3, members of the Penn Charter community commemorated a significant milestone in the school’s history – the official groundbreaking ceremony for the Richard A. Balderston OPC '69 Lower School. 

When it opens in fall 2025, the new lower school will mark the culmination of the current campus master plan, unifying our academic buildings into a vibrant hub – an Academic Village – that will revolutionize the educational experience for the youngest learners while fostering a cohesive learning environment for all PC students.

To kick off the celebration, on May 2, Lower School students, faculty and staff gathered in the Meeting Room to learn more about the new lower school and get energized for the day’s activities. And energized they were! Students cheered and danced when they saw all that the new lower school will offer. 

Through the afternoon, students spent time in their classrooms collecting meaningful artifacts and writing letters that have been placed in grade-level time capsules that will be opened in the years to come. They also visited the construction site to pose for photos in "hard hats."

On Friday, May 3, special guests, trustees, and current and former staff members who were instrumental in bringing to life PC's new lower school gathered for a formal groundbreaking ceremony. This event honored and acknowledged the support of Richard Balderston OPC '69 and Claudia Balderston, whose steadfast dedication has been a driving force behind the project, and other donors and campaign leaders who have generously invested in the new lower school.

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