Embarking on new beginnings, a crowd of staff, family and board members from
Summit Academy School for Alternative Learners – Lorain and Summit Academy Management filled a freshly refinished gymnasium at 346 Illinois Avenue. The January 9 open house celebration marked the opening of school’s new home there.
“The fruition of this project is certainly cause for celebration,” says Guyer, describing the months of planning, thought and hard work dedicated to renovating the building, the former Lorain Secondary school.
Guyer, who joined Principal Jasmine Rengh to greet guests with opening remarks, explained that the school, which serves students in grades K-8, anticipates the return of secondary (9-
12) students to the building on a gradual basis. “Our expectation is to begin that process next school year by opening classrooms to ninth-grade students, reintroducing 10th graders the following year, and so forth,” Guyer explains.
Rengh, Superintendent Heather Singer and staff members welcomed school families and students with warm exchanges, school tours and peeks inside updated classrooms ready to receive them. Classes resume January 21.
“It’s new — new floors, walls, desks – so it’s going to be very exciting for students,” says teacher Mitchell Rodriguez, proudly showing his new fourth- and fifth-grade student classroom.
“There’s a lot more room for students and the possibilities are limitless,” says K-1 teacher Natalie Kasperovich, describing the excitement of making her new classroom welcoming and inviting for her students. “I have one student here right now
and he was super excited coming in.”
School Behavior Specialist Kim Wanosky, LPCC-S, says the excitement among the open house guests made the event all worthwhile.
“It was so good to see all of the smiling faces of students and families as they toured the building and the energy they brought to their new space,” Wanosky says. “The kids were so excited to see their new classrooms and expressed that they are so excited to return…I am so grateful to our incredible staff who worked so hard to make the move happen and the members of management who graciously gave their time to help with everything along the way and made sure this happened for our kids. Summit Lorain is truly a family and I am so thankful that I get to be a part of it.”
Rengh says the renovated school, which includes new windows and flooring, freshly painted walls, a new elevator and other updates, is beyond what she expected.
“I look forward to seeing what the staff and students can achieve both academically and socially in our new space,” Rengh says. “We all have the chance at a fresh start … and it is finally time to embark on this journey.”