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Date: 12/12/2023
HOLYOKE — A grand opening ceremony for a new gymnasium on the Holyoke Community Charter School campus brought students and families as well as community leaders together to celebrate the new addition.
Unveiled with a ceremony the morning of Dec. 2, the new gym hosted its first-ever basketball game after the ceremony, where the third and fourth grade co-op team hosted the Springfield Ballers. The state-of-the-art gym will look to enhance the school’s athletic excellence and serves as a testament to their commitment of fostering holistic student development.
Featuring a full-size high school regulation court, two full practice courts, shot clocks, two digital scoreboards, tailored LED lighting and customizable bleachers that house up to 1,200 guests, the new gym brings a top-notch resource to the school for its athletics.
The school’s lion logo at center court was customized by a creative expressions teacher at the school and was approved by the students, according to Holyoke Community Charter School Principal Dr. Sonia Correa Pope. Pope said she found herself overcome with emotions when standing in the gym the day prior to its official opening and felt a great sense of accomplishment for the school community.
“This is a majestic, divine day for me,” Correa Pope said. “I have always believed that sports are a huge part of the overall educational experience.”
The $8.5 million project had a contract signed in September 2021, but the project was finally completed this November due to coronavirus pandemic related supply chain issues causing delays.
“Today, I welcome you to the Lions’ Den. Our students deserve the best. This is the first chapter of the many that will be written here at HCCS, the place that believes in educating the student as a whole intellectually, physically and emotionally,” Correa Pope said. “We will continue to foster sportsmanship, leadership and commitment towards an excellent athletic program. Community is a key component of our school mission, therefore, the Lions’ Den will allow us to come tougher in ways that will strengthen our connection. I am so happy that this day is here, and you are here to celebrate with me.”
Also attending and speaking at the ceremony was Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia, who was excited to be celebrating the school’s addition and credited school leadership for working through challenges to get the project secured and done.
“This right here, you’re surrounded by progress. This is what progress looks like,” Garcia said of the new gymnasium. “It all starts with a bit of perspective that it takes patience and commitment to follow through and navigate that so we can eventually get to a point where you’ve succeeded.”
Garcia credited Correa Pope for her commitment to the school and joked he thought she still had plenty of ideas for future projects for the campus.
“I, the mayor of the city of Holyoke, room one, is always happy to stand by what’s happening here, what you’re building here and continue to support the efforts that are going on in this space,” Garica said.
The ceremony also featured a performance from the school’s choir and cheerleading squad before the first-ever game for the school was played in their new gym. Following the first game, the grades 5 and 6 team played Belchertown, and the final game of the day saw the grade 6 through 8 team face off against Springfield Preparatory Charter School.
Since 2010, the school has been part of the Western Massachusetts Catholic Youth Organization Basketball League Program, and it has won five championships and has expanded its sports offerings to volleyball, soccer and cheerleading.
Correa Pope told Reminder Publishing after the ceremony that she is thankful for the latest addition to the school and that she looks forward to seeing the positive impact it will make on students and the community.