Those who drive along Route 23 in Morgantown past Conestoga Christian School (CCS) may notice a few changes to the school, including a new modular unit, as well as a construction project on the side of the building, which will house four new classrooms.

The changes are being made to accommodate growth in enrollment, which currently stands at 380 students in preschool through 12th grade.

The school recently broke ground for the new addition, which will house the fifth grade and two music rooms. It is expected to be completed by January 2025. "There will be four classrooms - two on the bottom (floor) and two on the top (floor)," explained Ken Parris, head of school. "The bottom floor will be academic classrooms. The top floor will be music rooms to help our fine arts department grow. (Students) will get out of their classrooms and come to a music room. It will be a dedicated space for fine arts."

The current school building has a fine arts area, but it is used by students in kindergarten through 12th grade. "The (new fine arts room) will have two areas, one for elementary and one for the secondary (students)," Parris explained. "The area where we do music now is where the weight room will go. We will then have a dedicated band room (in the former weight room)."

The new classrooms are located on the east end of the school building along Short Road. "Our last building expansion was in 2005, and they purposely left all this land ready," said Parris. "Our last expansion team was looking to the growth of the school."

Additionally, over the summer, the school was gifted a modular unit to temporarily house the fifth grade as well as a lunch room for elementary students. The unit was installed three weeks before the end of school last summer. Workers added skirting around the unit and made other improvements, including adding an entrance ramp.

"The roof was damaged, and contractors came out and the HVAC people, and now it looks like it has been here forever," said Parris, noting that the unit will remain in place. "When we are done, (the modular unit) will be a lunch room for our kids, (giving them) a special place to eat. This could be in place for many years to come as a special blessing."

Both teachers and students are excited about the new classrooms. "For a while there was one window at the end of the hallway. Little kids and big kids were plastered to the window watching the equipment, including the big crane," added Elisha Hall, CCS event coordinator. "They loved to see it and hear it."

CCS is located at 2760 Main St. (Route 23), Morgantown. To learn more about the school, visit http://www.conestogachristian.net. Prospective students and their families may schedule a tour of the school by calling 610-286-0353 or emailing admissions@conestogachristian.net.