Rocky Knoll Breaks Ground on New School Building Project

Rocky Knoll School broke ground on Sept. 25 to commemorate plans to move forward with constructing a new state-of-the-art facility. 

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Martinsburg, W.Va. school was attended by Martinsburg mayor Kevin Knowles and representatives from the Chesapeake Conference, Rocky Knoll School and Martinsburg church.

The new facility will sit on a 12.37-acre property adjoining the Martinsburg church. The building will encompass more than 26,000 sq. ft. and feature a large gymnasium, commercial kitchen, two fully equipped playgrounds and modern classrooms.

“We are here today because of the sacrifices others have made and because of the vision others have had of the value of Adventist education,” said Jerry Lutz, Chesapeake Conference president, during his remarks.

Construction documents for the new building are currently being finalized. School officials said they hoped to begin full-scale construction in Spring 2023 after selling the school’s existing facility. 

Current Rocky Knoll students shared musical selections as part of the day’s festivities. A bell choir performed “Simple Gifts,” and a vocal choir sang “The Lord’s Prayer” while also communicating some lyrics through American Sign Language. 

During the ceremony, Terry Hess, a member of the school’s building committee, said more than 2,500 students had attended Rocky Knoll over the school’s nearly 50-year history. David Livergood, pastor of the Martinsburg church, said he prayed God would “continue to use this school to be a blessing to the community for another 50 years.”