Gym for Generations
Fundraising Initiative
$500
This Week
$8,810
Current
$30,000
Target
Give to support our Gym for Generations campaign
Gym for Generations
Fundraising Initiative
Have you heard? This year’s fundraising initiative is improving sound quality in the gym.
Each year, we try to pick a fundraising goal that benefits the school community as a whole. One of the greatest aids to a sense of community is the ability to gather together. Our gym is a beautiful space that is full of history, but it is old and needs some updating. Someday, we would love to have an auditorium where the entire school community can gather at once. But, for now, the gym is our biggest gathering space, and we use it constantly.
Here are some of the ways we use our gym:
We kick off each new year with a family welcome night.
K-5 students gather each morning in the gym and start their day with a brief morning assembly.
Twice a week, the Grammar School classrooms take turns reciting a poem during morning assembly.
Each month, we have a special assembly to recognize students for displaying the virtue of the month. Each semester, we also recognize the student ambassadors for each class.
Each semester, we hold our K-2 music concert in the gym.
In November each year, we hold a special Veterans Day Assembly.
The gym is used throughout each school day for PE classes.
Through much of the year, the gym is used after school for athletics practices and games.
Each sports season ends with a Sports Awards Banquet in the gym.
The school regularly holds movie nights for upper school students in the gym.
This spring, we will revive our annual “Battle of the Badges” basketball game, a community event where police and fire compete to win glory for their department.
We cherish our historic gym and the role it plays in fostering connections within our school and the broader community. Yet, the current sound quality poses a significant challenge, especially for those who come to support and celebrate with us. Grandparents, veterans, and community members find it difficult to fully engage in these moments. Clear, quality sound is essential for creating the warm and welcoming environment that builds connection..
By contributing to this initiative, you are directly helping us enhance the experiences we share in this space—from assemblies and concerts to community events and athletic gatherings. Together, we can ensure that every word that is spoken, every note that is sung, and every cheer that is cheered is heard and felt. Let’s strengthen the bonds of our school community by giving the gift of sound.
This is only the beginning…
Sound is just the start. Our gym has a rich history, but we want to continuing preserving and developing the space for generations to come. We understand there’s a lot of work to do. Here are a few of the things that we hope to tackle as we’re able:
A renovated basement featuring a weight room, wrestling room, and locker rooms.
A new HVAC system for year-round comfort, done in a way that restores the upper row of windows where they used to be to bring in more natural light.
New bleachers that provide added, safer, more easily operable seating.
A restored ticket booth to welcome guests.
A concession stand window that opens directly into the hallway immediately outside the gym.
New event chairs that bring greater convenience, comfort, and beauty to every event.
New scoreboards that includes some extra features, like a shot clock.
New basketball hoops, including side hoops for extra practice.
A jumbotron screen for movie nights, event slideshows and videos, player profiles, sponsorship information, and more.
These transformations will ensure the gym continues to serve as the heart of our school and community for decades to come—but none of it can happen without your support. Every donation makes a difference. Together, we can turn these plans into reality and leave a lasting legacy for future generations.
Listen to our Gym for Generations Podcast episode with Police Chief Jimmy Durnil and community member Jerry Cravens here.
Past - Present - Future
Community Gatherings
For decades, the gym has been the heart of our community. It hosted everything from school assemblies to town celebrations, offering a space where students, families, and neighbors could come together. Generations have shared meals, cheered on performances, and celebrated milestones within these walls.
Today, the gym continues to be a community gathering place. Whether it's morning assemblies, special recognition ceremonies, or community events like music concerts or the annual "Battle of the Badges" basketball game, the gym unites us as a school and a community.
Athletic Events
The gym has been a proving ground for athletes, from pick-up games to sectionals. Many around town remember it as the place where they experienced their first victory or forged lifelong friendships as the Eagles.
Our gym remains an active hub for athletics, hosting PE classes, practices, and games. It’s where students learn teamwork, perseverance, and sportsmanship—values that will serve them well beyond the court. Go Firehawks!
Historical Landmark
Built nearly a century ago, our gym is a living piece of Ellettsville’s history. Its walls echo with stories of students past and the broader community it has served over the decades.
While our gym stands as a monument to the past, it also serves the needs of today’s students and families. By preserving its structure and enhancing its functionality, we honor its history while preparing it for future generations.
Keeping Traditions
The gym has long been the setting for cherished traditions like concerts, awards banquets, and Veterans Day celebrations. These events have connected students, parents, and alumni across generations. This started before the building was Seven Oaks. But we are proud to continue that legacy.
Traditions continue to thrive in our gym, from student recitations during assemblies to seasonal concerts and sports banquets. Each event strengthens the bonds within our school and weaves the tapestry of the school’s culture.
2025 Founders Gala
May 3, 2025
Just like last year, we will conclude our Gym for Generations fundraiser with the Founders Gala. We look forwarding to providing more information soon. For now, save the date!
