Ribbon Cutting Day: Unveiling the New Gym and Community Hub

On Thursday, January 23, students from each grade helped cut the ribbon to celebrate the official opening of our new gym and community space. The event began with excited families, donors, and alumni warmly welcomed by members of the SGS Leadership Team. Many attendees reconnected with familiar faces they hadn’t seen in years. Each guest received a pennant featuring the new SGS mascot, the Bees, before stepping into the gym for the very first time. As they entered, the room filled with audible gasps of awe and excitement as attendees pointed out the purple bleachers, the large, skyward windows, and the prominent SGS logo at the center of the gym floor.

The ceremony opened with Head of School Brenda Leaks delivering a heartfelt welcome and expressing gratitude to those in attendance. In her remarks, she stated, “This is a celebration for all it took for us to get here, all the people who were a part of us getting here, and all the supporters who will continue to gather here well into the future.”

Following Brenda’s welcome, two students presented a land and labor acknowledgment, which was followed by speeches from Board Chair Tonya Peck and Leigh Toner, Head of the Design Steering Committee. Standing atop the SGS logo with the purple ribbon behind her, Tonya emphasized how the gym exemplifies the strength of collective action.

“The new gym is a testament to our mission, demonstrating the powerful impact of community,” she said. “If we can do this for the gym, imagine what we can do for the world.”

The crowd—filled with students and community members—waved their purple Bee pennants in celebration. Next to speak was April Lorenzo, Director of Athletics. As a longtime staff member at SGS, April has advocated for years for a dedicated athletic space. After years of transporting student-athletes to gyms across Seattle, having a home gym was a dream come true. She thanked current and former coaches, saying, “All of you [the coaches] have been a huge part of the athletics program and helped it grow to where it is now—and where it will continue to grow with this brand-new space.”

The ceremony continued with Brenda introducing three students to perform the official SGS Bee cheer. Wearing their SGS Bee shirts and brimming with excitement, they ignited the crowd with their performance, prompting cheers and a flurry of pennant waving.

The event reached its crescendo when four students—one from each grade—stood ready with scissors to cut the ribbon. With a collective countdown from the crowd, the ribbon was cut, unleashing a wave of cheers and applause.

For twenty years, SGS students lacked a large gathering space or gym. Now, thanks to the incredible support of our community, that has changed. Funded entirely through philanthropic contributions, this new space is more than a building—it’s a home. A place for sports, talent shows, art exhibits, and countless other events, this gym will serve as the heart of the SGS community for generations to come.