60 more years to… Campaign Marks Beginning of School’s Next Phase
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Highlands School (Highlands) today has announced the public phase of the school’s most ambitious fundraising campaign in its 60-year history. The 60 more years to… Campaign aims to raise at least $5 million by the end of 2018.
Head of School, Kavita Vasil made the announcement to the Highlands community Wednesday morning alongside campaign Co-chairs, Danny Markstein and Maye Head-Frei and Honorary Chair, Derry Bunting.
“To celebrate 60 years of the Highlands Mission, we are launching a campaign to fund the beginning of the next stage of our school,” Ms. Vasil told the Highlands community Wednesday morning. “It is imperative that we look to our community for support as we honor our school by providing a superlative education now and in the future.”
Reaching the campaign goal will coincide with another milestone—the celebration of the school’s 60th anniversary. So far, the 60 more years to… Campaign has raised $3.5 million since the start of the silent phase in August 2017. More than 26 individuals have made commitments of $10,000 or more and eight organizations have provided more than $1.4 million in support.
“As a Highlands parent, alumnus and board member, it is a privilege to Co-Chair the 60 more years to… Capital Campaign,” said Maye Head Frei, Chairman of Ram Tool. “As I and my children have benefited from the generosity of those before us, the money we raise today will fund transformational change at Highlands School – to the campus, the learning experience and therefore to the Birmingham community.”
The priorities for the campaign include a new Student Life Center that will help meet several of Highlands’ strategic goals. Four new flexible classrooms will allow teachers to adapt the room based on the current lesson. A new dining hall with a full-service kitchen will provide an opportunity to instill healthy nutritional habits in students and the layout will create a family-style dining atmosphere that will cultivate student relationships. Health and wellness curriculum will be bolstered by the addition of a new air-conditioned gymnasium with large, pivoting double doors that will link indoor and outdoor spaces. A new outdoor classroom will enable students to take advantage of the quality of the campus while extending programming beyond classroom walls.
While the new Student Life Center is the showpiece of the campaign, the project aims also to update the entire Highlands campus to better facilitate 21st-century learning. The current art room will be updated to incorporate various artistic techniques, increase the amount of natural light and provide the opportunity to use indoor and outdoor spaces. Updates will be made to the playground closest to the new Student Life Center, expanding that space and making it more engaging for students. All 23 classrooms on the existing Highlands campus will be updated with furniture, fixtures and electronics to enhance student learning.
We believe the environment is the 3rd teacher. Thus our goal is to create an environment in which our faculty and staff can authentically and meaningfully engage students in order to foster a lifelong love of learning,” said Ms. Vasil. “By reimagining our physical space, students can find renewed inspiration.”
About Highlands School
Founded in 1958 by educator, civic leader, and philanthropist, Evalina Brown Spencer, Highlands School is Birmingham’s progressive and student-centered 4k-8th Grade independent school and six weeks-three year old Family Center, committed to preparing students to thrive and make positive differences in constantly changing world. Visit Highlands online at www.highlandsschool.org for more information.
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