Griffith Public Schools invites the community to a Dedication Program and Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony on Thursday, August 1, 2024, at noon to celebrate the grand opening of the new Trish Dodson Love of Learning Center. The new addition at Wadsworth Elementary School is named to honor Trish Dodson, a late Griffith elementary school teacher.
In anticipation of the event, Leah Dumezich, Superintendent of Griffith Public Schools, shared her thoughts on the new facility and its dedication, stating: “It is with heartfelt admiration that we dedicate the Love of Learning Center to the memory of Trish Dodson, whose passion and love for education touched countless lives. This center is a tribute to her unwavering commitment to fostering a love for learning in every child. Here, students will not only gain knowledge and lifelong friendships but also discover the joy of exploration, imagination, curiosity, and the spark within themselves. May this space inspire future generations of Panthers to pursue their educational journey with the same enthusiasm and passion that Trish Dodson so beautifully embodied.”
Griffith Public Schools collaborated with Performance Services to complete the addition of the $14M two-story learning center. This building houses 12 kindergarten, special education, and STEAM classrooms and a large two-story Innovation Space that can be used for education initiatives and professional development. The Innovation Space features whimsical outdoor theming, tiered seating, private reading nooks, enhanced technology and A/V, and a two-story tube slide.
The Performance Services team, Griffith Public Schools, the Town of Griffith, and Public Safety stakeholders collaborated to develop a new site circulation pattern that will greatly improve student and staff safety and the efficiency of the student drop-off and pick-up process. This improvement will reduce the traffic that can potentially back onto the public roads. New parking spots have also been added to support the new building and increase the parking available for community events at the school.
Performance Services has served the learning environment needs of K-12 schools since 1998. The company is a leading design-builder for new construction and renovations, focusing on high-performance buildings with optimal learning and working environments for schools, cities, and towns. Headquartered in Indianapolis, the company has regional offices in ten additional states.
