St. Columbkille Renovation Updates

Announcement

Dear families and staff,

I am pleased to announce that transformative changes are on the horizon for St. Columbkille Elementary. After months of dedicated planning and securing financial support, parish leaders are set to begin renovations at the end of this school year!

While there is much to look forward to, I am most excited for the opportunity to welcome more families to St. Columbkille and the Holy Family community, as the renovation will expand our school’s capacity to serve three sections in each grade level, K-5. Beyond that, the new layout will house all school activities – including lunch and early childhood programming – under one roof, elevating the day-to-day experience for our students.

Temporary Relocation for 2024-2025

As always, safety and efficiency guide our work, and we are making arrangements for a temporary transition of students during construction to St. Joseph the Worker (preschool through grade 1) and Resurrection (grades 2 through 5). Our St. Columbkille students will find a warm welcome during the 2024-2025 school year, and we are deeply grateful for the partnership and neighborly hospitality of these hosting parishes and schools. As a result, we’ll avoid day-to-day disruptions and provide an environment conducive to learning and growing in our faith. We know there will be many questions about the logistics of these transitions and we are confident we can address them as plans come together in the next few months. 

Stay Informed

We invite you to attend one of our upcoming community meetings to be held in the St. Columbkille gymnasium:

• Sunday, Oct. 22, at 11:30 a.m.
• Monday, Oct. 23, at 6:30 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 26, at 1:00 p.m. 

There, we’ll provide a preview of the building plans, welcome community questions and discuss campaign opportunities. Please join us!

As plans continue to develop and throughout the renovation, we'll keep families and staff updated through ParentSquare and our renovation updates page on the Holy Family website, where you’ll also find answers to frequently asked questions. Though we are still working through many of the details, you may always direct your inquiries to Principal Willman, Fr. Schatz, Fr. McDermott or me. You may also submit questions through the website.

Campaign Support

I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the tremendous momentum already underway for St. Columbkille’s $14 million Our Future in Christ campaign. In its earliest phase, the parish has secured more than $6.2 million in pledges – a resounding endorsement from the St. Columbkille community for this defining moment in its school’s history! As a project partner, Holy Family has pledged $5 million, leaving $2.8 million to be raised. Those who wish to contribute to the project may contact the parish office at 563-583-9117.

We truly look forward to embarking on this transformational journey with you!

Yours in Christ,

Phil Bormann, Holy Family Chief Administrator
Meredith Willman, St. Columbkille Principal