Learn. Lead. Live.
The Linsly School opened the 2018-2019 school year on Tuesday, August 21 with a record enrollment of 467 students from seven states and twenty different countries. Linsly Headmaster Justin Zimmerman announced the new school theme for the year, “Do What is Right. Not What is Easy.” at the opening of school meeting. Each year the school theme focuses on a different character trait for students and teachers to focus on throughout the remainder of the year.
The successful opening of school coincides with the completion of major renovations to Banes Hall this summer, which is the result of an anonymous donation and an estate gift.
The project involved the renovation of every classroom in Banes Hall, the main academic building, from top to bottom. According to Zimmerman, renovations focused on enhancing the student learning experience.
As students return to school they will notice a new drop ceiling with high efficiency LED lights, new magnetic whiteboards and SMART Boards, a fresh coat of paint, new furniture, and new carpeting in every classroom. In addition, seven main bathrooms were renovated from top to bottom. Local companies and contractors did a tremendous job finishing the project during the summer months, without impacting the students or school year.
“Every classroom now has new furniture which will be comfortable, mobile, and perfect for collaboration, group work, and engaged instruction,” explained Zimmerman. “We have created a model environment for both teaching and learning, and one that matches the needs of our students and teachers.”
The renovations to Banes Hall were the result of strategic planning work led by Headmaster Justin Zimmerman, who began working with administrators, faculty, and Board members to prepare a new Strategic Plan outlining initiatives for continued long-term success, after his appointment as Linsly’s Headmaster in 2014. With many of those goals in mind, and because of the generosity of so many, Linsly has continued to make important enhancements to the school for their students.
A priority on that list included major renovation work to Banes Hall. While the building is a handsome building that continues to serve students well, major upgrades were necessary.
Zimmerman further explained that estate planning and the support of generous alumni and friends of the school have contributed to these major school-wide renovations.
“Mr. Lawrence Woodward “Woody” Franzheim, a Wheeling architect and the architect of Banes Hall, passed away in July of 2017 and his estate was left to Linsly,” explained Zimmerman. “A portion of these funds were combined with the anonymous gift to allow Linsly to complete the renovations, updates, and improvements to Banes Hall.”
While Mr. Franzheim’s architectural work can be seen in a variety of places in Wheeling, including The Children’s Home, the gymnasium at Wheeling Country Day School, the Salvation Army building, the Florence Crittenton Home, and other businesses and homes in the Wheeling Community, the Banes Hall project on the Linsly campus was the largest architectural project in his career.
Because of strong alumni support, and a well-established list of priorities, the Board of Trustees and administration are now able to focus on other exciting projects. For example, during the upcoming school year, the Board of Trustees will be considering several additional projects that will help enhance the student experience.
Mr. Zimmerman said, “Our primary focus is always on our students, and finding ways to help improve their preparation for college and life. If we keep our focus on students, we know it will help us remain one of the nation’s best independent college preparatory schools.”
The last decade at Linsly has certainly been a historic one. Mr. Zimmerman remarked, “none of the recent projects would even be possible without the support of generous alumni, foundations, and friends of the school.”
Mr. Zimmerman said, “It’s also a credit to the teachers and administrators who have worked at Linsly for so long. If students have a powerful experience they are more likely to give back later in life, and those gifts are what drives future and continued long-term success.”
This article is written and brought to you by The Linsly School.