The Diane and Bruce Halle Preparatory Hall Opens its Doors at Maryvale Prep

The first day of school is filled with excitement, mixed with the return to the familiar and the anticipation of new experiences. At Maryvale Prep, returning students reconnected with friends and staff, while over 100 new students were welcomed to the academy for the first time, according to Upper School Headmaster Rachel Mercado. The academy has expanded the 7th, 8th, and 9th grades, but that isn’t the only expansion the academy is celebrating this year.

“We’re very excited for the first day of school and welcoming our students back from summer break with the addition of the new Diane and Bruce Halle Preparatory Hall,” announced Mercado. The final phase of construction for the new addition is a two-story, 8,325-square-foot building adjacent to the current prep building, made possible by the generous support of The Halle Foundation.

The first floor includes a multi-purpose room (MPR) with storage and small kitchen amenities to serve as a daily cafeteria, among many other purposes that foster camaraderie, student engagement, and community building. “Previously, we had to walk over to the Archway side and share their lunch space, but with the addition of the new building, we now have our own lunchtime and our lunch space where the kids can gather every day,” shared Mercado.

The second floor adds three additional classroom spaces and four office spaces, including those for Exceptional Student Services (ESS) specialists and the school counselor. Seniors are particularly excited about the addition of a senior commons and a dedicated College Counseling space, generously funded by The Burton Family Foundation.

Katelyn Escobar, a Maryvale Prep senior, is pleased with the new senior commons area, located at the end of the new hall, overlooking the academy’s football field, especially because the senior class was asked to share their input on the final product. “We got to pitch what we wanted in a senior space, and I’m super happy because they listened. Now we have an ice machine, a coffee station, places to lounge, and I’m just so excited to spend my free time with my friends in here, do some homework, and talk to Ms. Ayala in a quiet space rather than in a place that is so busy with people coming in and out,” Escobar said, referring to the new dedicated College Counselor office situated within the commons area. “I’m super happy that this is designated just for seniors. That way, I can sit down, do my homework, eat if I want, get a little snack, and have coffee.”

The senior commons area, or the Burton Family Foundation College Center as it is formally named, is filled with comfortable seating, and lined with college pennants to remind the seniors of the possibilities. This exclusive area for seniors was generously sponsored by The Burton Family Foundation, Wade and Teresa Dyke, Raza Development Fund, The McElfresh Family, Steve and Vanessa Erickson, Denise and Steve Zabilski, and Robert Mathews. It was commemorated on the first day of school with a senior breakfast, which proved to be a great way for the seniors to enjoy the space together before embarking on their “Last First Day” of high school.

“It’s just been a great addition in supporting more students, and the more space we have, the more people in our community we can impact for good and bring here to Great Hearts,” said Mercado. “We’re very excited about that.”

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