HOLLAND — Students and staff at Holland Christian’s South Side Elementary had more to celebrate than the end of another school year June 3; they also broke ground on a major renovation project.
In addition to saying goodbye for the summer, the district held a groundbreaking ceremony for significant planned upgrades at 913 Pine Ave. The event saw students and staff singing and dancing, a blessing and sendoff for second graders heading to Pine Ridge in 2026-27, remarks about the project, and dozens of parents and community members in attendance.
“It’s going to be a great year-and-a-half until the place reopens,” said Interim Head of Schools Jeff Pett. “Lord, we’re thankful people have had the vision to renovate (South Side), renew it and make it brand new so it goes out into the future as a place where your word can be taught and learned.”
The renovation will include a “creative heart” at the center of the building to encourage student creativity.
“We are a place that highly values creative arts and community,” said Christy Haig, principal at South Side. “We’re going to redo the art room, we’re going to add a music room, we’re going to make the library and the hallways (multi-use) spaces for everybody.”
There will also be a new playground; an updated office with a secure entry model; infrastructure upgrades including new windows, flooring, lighting and HVAC; and a re-patterned traffic flow and parking renovation.
Haig said the changes will make the school, which serves students up to second grade, a more welcoming place for young learners.
“For so many kids, this is their first experience with school — and we want it to be not only a good one, but an amazing one.”
Since the project involves significant work, students and operations from South Side will relocate for 2026-27, as Holland Christian leases Longfellow School from Holland Public Schools.
Longfellow also housed students in 2024-25 and 2025-26 amid significant renovation at Holland Heights. The building was previously a temporary home for Holland Language Academy and, before that, housed Holland Early College.
The renovations at South Side are part of the district’s “Faithfully Forward.” The fundraising campaign also includes additional secure entrances and parking improvements at Pine Ridge and Holland Christian High School, among other items.
For more information, visit hollandchristian.org/faithfully-forward.
— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Renovations will bring ‘creative heart’ to South Side Elementary
Reporting by Mitchell Boatman, Holland Sentinel / The Holland Sentinel
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By Mitchell Boatman, Holland Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
