BROOKHAVEN —Nearly 700 Brookhaven Academy students along with faculty and staff celebrated the groundbreaking on a new building project Friday morning. BA’s website says the building will house 10 classrooms, central offices for the administration, business office, admission and counselor. 

Elementary Principal Page Nelson told the kids the building was designed with school safety in mind as it will provide a more secure front campus and a covered entrance to the gym. Work is set to be completed in August of 2023. 

She prayed for the safety of the construction workers before school board members and administrators grabbed golden shovels to break dirt. They paused for a photo and returned to the crowd just in time for fireworks to shoot up into the air. Kids screamed with excitement and joy. 

“We wanted to celebrate. It was a celebration today,” Nelson said. “I went to school here in 1980 and I never left apart from my time in college. I’m still here. I have taught and now work as an administrator. Seeing the growth has been an unbelievable experience. It is a blessing to be able to share the love of Jesus and educate children.” 

Children waved to a drone flying high above them before being led back inside to class. They will be able to watch history unfold as the school begins the construction project this month. One day they might be able to tell their kids or grandchildren about the experience of watching the new central office building go up. 

Nelson recalls a time where there was just one building which is now the elementary school building. Since then they have grown to include a Pre-K, elementary and high school buildings and athletic facilities. 

Brookhaven Academy’s first complete year in the elementary school was 1972 and before 1971 they were located at Whitworth College in Downtown Brookhaven. This new building will provide more space for the school. 

“The fundamentals have remained the same but we have been able to share it with more people,” Nelson said. “We are at a record high in attendance or enrollment right now. We look to the future with optimism and grow as needed.”