Grow With Us Capital Campaign Receives M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust Grant

On April 2, at their Board of Trustees meeting, the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust board of trustees approved a $200,000 grant for the French International Grow With Us Capital Campaign. This grant puts the capital campaign at 30% of the goal. It will cover the costs of building the science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) lab, aligning with the Murdock Trust's educational sector priorities.

The Murdock Trust previously awarded our school a grant during the Middle School capital campaign.

"We're grateful for the Murdock Trust's support of our school and programs over the years,” said Scott Hardister, Head of School. “The new STEAM lab will elevate our already incredible programs and impact our students for years to come.”

Over the last three years, we've worked hard to cultivate a robust STEAM program, one of the goals we set in our strategic plan. By investing in a STEAM coordinator, providing professional development for our faculty, and ensuring resources are available for all students, we are laying the groundwork for innovation. The campus transformation combines these elements with an intentionally designed space, empowering our students to engage in hands-on learning experiences that inspire creativity and exploration.

“When kids get into a STEAM space, they enter a design-thinking process, and it enables them to be more creative,” added Julien Tresse, French International STEAM coordinator. “We are preparing kids for the future, teaching them how new technology works so they can be active in our new world. It’s important to build that."

The capital campaign committee and the school are continuing to pursue grant opportunities to help fund the campus transformation. We have also applied for the Softwood Lumber Board Mass Timber Grant and expect to hear about that award in July. The Grow With Us capital campaign requires a collective effort by the entire school community as we work to achieve our goals. If you want to learn more about the capital campaign, please contact Marianne Wilburn, Director of Development. You can also learn more on our campaign website.