Westmaple Rededication

On Sunday, November 28, as part of our Grand Opening and Dedication celebration we had the special opportunity to rededicate our Westmaple Nursery. After a summer of construction that lead to the renovation of our three existing classrooms, the building of two new classrooms, and a new teacher's workroom, we were happy to once again stand together in the main hallway of Westmaple. Presiding over the rededication was Pastor Mark Wuggazer. This was notable on many levels, not the least of which was the fact that Mark's Grandmother, Myrtle Wuggazer, was the founder and first school director of Westmaple Nursery. Mark's father, Pastor Duane Wuggazer, long-time Senior Pastor at Redeemer, still sits on the Westmaple Board of Directors. Along with our current Westmaple Director, Pat Raezler, and many of our Westmaple teachers, we all enjoyed the children as they serenaded us outside the new classrooms.

Meet the Teachers...

Westmaple parents and their children are stopping by the school at the end of the week to meet their '10-'11 teachers and see their new room for the coming school year. School starts Monday, September 13.

Only small details remain to be completed, including wireless connectivity throughout the school wing, carpet in the main hallway, some additional furniture items (on order) and some added cabinetry.

The teachers, as always, have done a wonderful job setting up their rooms...

Classroom Doors Nearly Open

The final construction work is underway at our Westmaple Nursery. Final inspections are also underway. And the teachers are busy preparing their classrooms for the return of children after Labor Day.

Most of the major work has been completed. For the three existing classrooms this includes new ceilings and lights, new carpet, new room-controlled heating and cooling, a new fire suppression system, and new paint.

For the two all-new classrooms the work includes all of the above enhancements plus new bathrooms, new cabinets and new cubbies for the children. A new school director's office and new teacher's work room were also completed during the renovation process.

Inspections are required at a city, county and state level to meet all requirements for the care of our children. We are more than midway through this inspection process. Everything is proceeding on schedule.

Work left to be done includes new carpet in the main hallway, exterior trim work around the front entrance, some final cabinetry work in the new classrooms and the arrival of new tables and chairs for the new classrooms.

The teachers began their preparations this past week, returning their belongings to the classroom, but not until a thorough post-construction cleaning was complete. Children return with their parents for an advance peek at their new rooms (and teachers) on September 9 and 10. Redeemer members can tour the "new" Westmaple at the Homecoming picnic on September 12. Classes begin the following day.

Progress Each Day

Lots of progress to report in areas that aren't always visible to Redeemer members and visitors. Take a look.

Work installing sheet rock on the walls in the lower level classrooms has started ...

Work on the renovated music room, including new bathrooms has started ...

Work on the new nursery has started, including the new crib room ...

Work on the final carpet and millwork in Westmaple has started ...

Work on the new gym floor is about to start (this coming week) ...

Work on the landscaping and lighting around the new parking lot is about to begin ...

First Projects Nearing Completion

The first two major pieces of Sacred Space are nearing completion.

The renovated gymnasium, with it's new worship and performance stage, audio/visual systems, all-purpose floor, exposed wood ceiling, new (dimmable) lighting, and air conditioning will be done by Labor Day. In fact, you can get your first look this coming Wednesday, August 11 at the camp reunion concert -- the first event hosted in the new space. Only the new floor remains to be installed after the concert, but before Labor Day. In the photo below you can the new acoustical panels which have been hung around the gymnasium, improving sound quality in the gym for all events -- worship, coffee hour, dinners and of course theater. In this photograph you can see the new exposed wood ceiling, three of the sixteen new energy-efficient light fixtures and one of the two new ceiling mounted audio/visual projectors.The second major piece of Sacred Space nearing completion is the renovated Westmaple Nursery wing. Two new classrooms, a teacher's work room, and a Director's office have been added to the three newly renovated classrooms. In the photo below you can see the new carpet has been laid, the cabinetry is complete, the new teacher-controllable HVAC is installed and the new ceiling tiles are ready to be placed after the new fire suppression system has it's final inspection.

Blue, Yellow, Pink, ...

Who is thinking about school on a lazy humid day in August? Well, for starters, the city, the county and the state -- all of whom must review, inspect and sign-off on Westmaple's readiness for our students next month. Fortunately, work proceeds on schedule, both inside and outside Westmaple.

Workers in the new classrooms are busy building cubbies, cabinets, and sinks for the children. The bathrooms, complete with junior fixtures are nearly complete. The new ceiling grid and lights are already in place. Meanwhile, the existing classrooms are receiving a face lift as well. New carpet and padding is being installed this week in the existing rooms. New ceilings and lights have already been installed.

Each room, new or existing, has received a fresh coat of paint ... selected by the Westmaple staff ... in shades of blue, yellow, pink and white.

Westmaple Entrance Takes Shape

The new entrance to our Westmaple Nursery took shape this week as the doors, windows and columns were installed. More exterior trim and detail will be added in the next few weeks around the windows and the entrance porch. Through the double doors you enter a heated vestibule, visible from the new director's office, and then proceed through the main Westmaple hallway and the five new and renovated classrooms.The sidewalk has been poured around the Westmaple entrance. Parking lot repairs will take place along with the work around the back of the gymnasium.

Design Update: Westmaple

Westmaple has unfortunately turned away families for many years. This year’s waiting list is already at 46 families and growing. Fortunately, Sacred Space will add two additional classrooms to the three existing rooms. With alternate day scheduling, we hope to bring as many as 50 new families to Westmaple and perhaps Redeemer.

The two new rooms will be built on the north end of the existing Westmaple wing. The new rooms will be similar in size to the existing rooms, and have the same amenities, including carpeting, built-in toy cabinets, 25 child cubbies, and child-sized fixtures in the new restrooms. The existing rooms will also see upgrades, like new room-controlled heating and cooling. Finally, much needed storage will be added for the Westmaple staff.