Redeemer Lutheran School's New Campus to Enhance Student Experience

The opening of Redeemer Lutheran School’s Penn Hills campus in August will allow students to continue their classes and activities in a bigger and better facility than at the current Oakmont campus, according to Principal Gail Holzer.

“We’ll be able to do all that we do (in Oakmont) much more effectively,” she said.

Students of Redeemer will start the next school year in the renovated Shenandoah Elementary at 700 Idaho Ave., off Hamil Road in Penn Hills. The new facility, which was purchased last week, has a gym, cafeteria, fenced-in playground, two ball fields, music room, assembly hall and stage. It will also allow the school to maintain its 21st century classrooms in terms of technology, according to Holzer.

“Our current school doesn’t have the amenities our new school has,” Holzer said. “We’ll be able to do our same activities in a much larger and spread out area. The area is really pretty and quiet.”

Holzer said currently the students repurpose many of the rooms at the Oakmont campus, which is located in Redeemer Lutheran Church, and have recess in the parking lot.

The new location was purchased with one large donation made by a single donor and other contributions from Redeemer Lutheran Church’s congregation—and was an unexpected surprise at this time, according to Holzer.

“We look at this as a gift from God,” Holzer said. “We realized last year we were growing and needed a new place, but there was not a plan to move so soon. With donations from those who believe in a Lutheran education, we are able to make this move.”

Holzer said a parent at the school, who is also a realtor, came across the vacant-but-still-well-kept Shenandoah Elementary. The Penn Hills School Board sold the building to Redeemer for $285,000.

The school has been vacant for a few years, but Penn Hills School District maintained it because it was used for events, like voting, and thought it might be used again, Holzer said. The school board determined the facility was not needed.

“We never dreamed of a facility this large,” Holzer said. “It doesn’t need much renovation. We’re replacing all the tile, which is the largest job, but after that, there are just minor repairs, weeding, cleanup and painting.”

The new location can hold up to 600 students in its 21 classrooms, which adds a considerable amount of students to the school’s existing 100. However, the new location will not be filled up with students its first year.

“Most of our classes are moving to the new school,” Holzer said. “We’ll determine the needs of our families as to how classes will be in the future. We are here to serve the community, which includes 12 school districts.”

The new location will have all-day kindergarten through ninth grade the first year. Each year a new grade will be added until the school reaches 12th grade. Preschool classes will still be held at the Oakmont campus. Currently, the Oakmont campus contains preschool through eight grade.

In the future, Holzer said she hopes the school can begin offering summer programs and camps.

Holzer said two or three new teacher’s aides will be hired and current part-time teachers will increase the hours they work to accommodate the new and additional classes. She’s in the process of hiring the new aides.

“Our parents are very excited and supportive,” Holzer said. “This is a great opportunity for the kids and they want the school to grow.”

In addition to monetary donations to purchase the school, office supplies, tables and other furniture has been donated. Space can be rented at the new school to help provide additional funds.