With a snip of the scissors and a roar of appreciative cheers, one of Foxcroft School's iconic buildings, Court, was rededicated Thursday, September 29, at a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Head of School Catherine S. McGehee and Board Chair Anne Michele Lyons Kuhns '87.
Court, which had served as a dormitory since the 1930s, has been renovated and repurposed as a lovely welcome center that houses the external arm of administration offices — Admission, Advancement, Marketing and Communication, and Business. It also has spaces used daily by students and other members of the community such as the School Store, campus post office, an outdoor terrace, and a large seminar room with state-of-the-art technology.
Due to the weather, the ceremony was moved indoors, limiting attendance, but the many students, faculty, administrators, past and present trustees, and donors present were undaunted. After being welcomed by Student Head of School Chloe X. ’17, they heard from Kuhns, McGehee, and Mercedes Rudkin Gotwald, a 1972 graduate and current board member who spoke about Court’s history, including the years her daughters, Sophie ’10 and Olivia ’12, lived there. The Rev Robert L. Banse Jr. of Trinity Episcopal Church in Upperville, who had given the invocation, then blessed the building.
McGehee, Gotwald, and Kuhns then crowded into Court’s small foyer with former Head of School Mary Louise Leipheimer, under whose tenure the project was launched; capital campaign co-chair and former trustee Ellen McNeille Charles ’55; and current trustee Victoria B. Mars '74, to cut a ribbon held across the threshold by Chloe and Student Vice Head of School Elle L.
The renovation of Court is part of a multi-building, multi-year Residential Initiative that has included the construction of Foxcroft's first green building, Stuart Hall, and major renovations to the other four dormitories as well as the associated faculty apartments.
During the $8 million project, the footprint of the building was unchanged even as the interior was essentially gutted and remade from scratch.
"The result," said Gotwald, "is this beautiful building which from the outside looks like the Court we have all known and loved but on the inside, represents the latest thought in collaboration, technology, and workplace environments."
Head of School Cathy McGehee had help from former Head of School Mary Lou Leipheimer, Board Chair Anne Michele Lyons Kuhns '87, trustees Mercedes Rudkin Gotwald '72, Ellen MacNeille Charles '55, and Victoria B. Mars '74, and senior student leaders Chloe X. and Elle L. with the ribbon cutting during Court's rededication.
Due to weather, the ceremony was moved inside. The main foyer was filled with guests, including students, faculty, administrators, past and present trustees, and donors.
Student Head of School Chloe X. '17 opened the ceremony by welcoming the assembled guests.
Speakers included Mercedes Rudkin Gotwald '72, Head of School Cathy McGehee, Board Chair Anne Michele Lyons Kuhns '87, Chloe, and the Rev. Robert L. Banse, Jr.
A number of former Foxcroft leaders were on hand for the event, including (from left) former trustees Katherine Grayson Wilkins ’73; Thomas Lane, and Axie Clark Diana '60, Mary Lou Leipheimer, Beth Lamond, who was assistant to six heads of school, and former trustee Sally Bartholomay Downey '78.
Student participants of Project Rebuild, here with Dale Stotler, Danny Borror, and Deborah Anderson of Foxcroft and Will Stann and Zach Canady of Forrester Construction, reminisced about the progress they saw the building undergo throughout the hands-on seminar.
Attendees were treated to delicious -- and beautiful -- cookies baked by trustee Hope Jones '82.
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An all-girls boarding and day school in Northern Virginia, Foxcroft prepares young women in grades 9-12 for success in college and in life. Our outstanding academic program offers challenging courses, including Advanced Placement classes and an innovative STEM program. Our premiere equestrian program is nationally recognized, and our athletic teams have won conference and state championships. Experience the best in girls' boarding schools: visit Foxcroft.