Why now?

People have asked me over the past few months, "Why start a capital campaign now?" Well, my response is, "Why not now?" Since I joined North Cross seven years ago, we have worked diligently to stabilize our finances. We have gone from seven-figure deficits to six-figure surpluses that have allowed us to build up our plant-replacement fund which supports maintenance of our existing structures. Now, we're at a level where we are able to think beyond the immediate and focus on the North Cross School of tomorrow. 

We will celebrate our 75th anniversary of the school in 2019. Seventy-five years. Since we moved to the Roanoke campus, merging with Eaton School to become the North Cross School of today, very little has changed in its overall footprint. Despite the addition of Willis Hall in the early eighties, and then the Carter Athletic Center (which has already been renovated once), most of our efforts have been toward updating existing structures to accommodate the demands of a technology-rich educational environment and a growing student body. Now, we need our buildings to reflect the quality of instruction and enhance the community that exists within these walls.

We are grateful for where we are today, and it is with this joy and gratitude that we approach this next phase. This campaign seeks to recognize and celebrate the legacy of those who made the school what it is today as we, while at the same time, completely reimagining the campus in order to build a legacy for the next generation. 

If you've been on campus in the past few year, especially in the areas on which our campaign efforts will focus, it is visually apparent that our school needs to be updated. Our theatre, our classrooms, our labs, and our buildings are falling apart around us. If we want to have a physical campus that reflects the quality of our program, is there any time better than the present?

The most gratifying thing about this campaign is the early support during the silent phases. Our campaign, outside of major universities and colleges, is one of the largest campaigns in the Roanoke Valley. I encourage you to look around our website, listen to the voices from alumni, students and teachers, and you'll understand the energy behind the future of North Cross. It is infectious. 

We are at a transformational time for our school and our community. We are positioned to propel North Cross into its rightful spot as one of the premier independent schools in the Commonwealth and you will make sure our legacy continues.

With gratitude,
Christian J. Proctor, PhD
Head of School