1. thank you
Thank you for joining us to celebrate the groundbreaking of the GroundbreakinG Ceremony
new Fort Dodge Community School District middle school. As
we mark the beginning of construction, we reaffirm the ideals
for which this building will stand. For decades to come, our
middle school will serve the needs of Fort Dodge students by
providing them with a 21st century learning environment that
will allow them to excel in all aspects of the academic realm. Fort Dodge Community School District
This new structure will enhance our students, benefit our
community, and represent the committed values of Fort Dodge. Grades 5-8 Middle School Project
We would like to personally thank the Board of Education
for making this vision a reality. We are grateful for the gen- September 23, 2011 10 a.m.
erous support of our citizens, and we look forward to togeth- 800 north 32nd Street, Fort dodGe, iowa
er building the future of our school district and community.
For updates on the progress of the new middle school, visit
www.fdschools.org. Our Schools. Our Community. Our Pride.

2. middLe SChooL oVerView GroundbreakinG Ceremony
The District’s middle school project represents a consolidation of
the two existing middle schools: Fair Oaks Middle School (grades 5
and 6) and Phillips Middle School (grades 7 and 8). The new school
building will be able to accommodate 1,000 students in grades 5 – 8. “dynamite arr.” by ViCtor Lopez
It will be 173,271 gross square feet on two floors, plus a 650 theater Phillips Middle School Band
style performance auditorium. The building will be composed of Directed by Sarah Holder and Mike Richardson
two wings, each being two stories tall. The east wing will serve as
the academic wing and the west as the activity wing. weLCome
Superintendent of Schools Doug Van Zyl
The new middle school is designed to provide all of our students
with a 21st century education allowing them to excel academically the Star SpanGLed banner
in a caring atmosphere with the best possible resources. The facility Fair Oaks Middle School Choir
will contain special needs classrooms, a library media center, ex- Directed by Marilee Kleespies
ploratory labs, conventional classrooms, science labs, and academic
“learning communities” that allow for project learning, computers, inVoCation
and collaboration. Pastor David Grindberg
The new facility will be located on the property edge of 10th Avenue “morninG” by Janet Gardner
North and North 32nd Street. The project was designed by RDG
Fair Oaks Middle School Choir
Planning and Design and will be completed by Construction Services
Directed by Marilee Kleespies
Incorporated both of Des Moines. The school is scheduled to open
its doors for the start of the 2013-2014 school year.
introduCtionS oF SpeakerS
ViSion without aCtion iS a dream. preSentation oF time CapSuLe
aCtion without ViSion iS SimpLy breakinG oF Ground
paSSinG the time.
“roCk and roLL hey”
Phillips Middle School Band
aCtion with ViSion iS makinG a Directed by Sarah Holder and Mike Richardson
poSitiVe diFFerenCe.
- JoeL barker ribbon CuttinG