Pupils return to changed Augusta Prep campus

Before classes began on Tuesday, some Augusta Preparatory Day School students were already hitting the books.

"I thought it was wild to see kids already this morning cracking the books," Augusta Prep Communications Director Sibhan Carlile said Tuesday about arriving at work that morning.

The private school on Flowing Wells Road welcomed back about 530 students, all of whom will witness a couple of changes to their campus this school year.

Prep officials dedicated a new 800-seat gymnasium on Friday, and work continues on a new fine arts center.

"To see the trees planted and the plaques go on the building and see the (Augusta Prep logo) in the center of the gym floor, to see all the finishing touches being done was really cool," Carlile said.

The Boardman Athletic Center more than doubles the seating capacity of the school's previous gym, she said.

School officials will dedicate the Hull Fine Arts Center on Oct. 6, Carlile said.

"It's acoustically engineered to sound really great," she said. "It has clouds in the ceiling, which are really kind of cool. It's the biggest theatre around as far as the 350 seats go."

The fine arts center will feature more than just school productions, Carlile said. It also will be available to community groups wishing to rent it.

Other than the new buildings, Carlile said, the first day of school was normal.

"It just seemed like business as usual," she said. "The kids all came back and I think they're excited to be back."