St. Francis Xavier Middle School in Appleton hosted a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the launch of its site enhancement project, May 26, 2026. PC: Fox 11 Online
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A school in the Fox Valley is celebrating the start of an improvement project.
St. Francis Xavier Middle School in Appleton hosted a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday to mark the launch of its site enhancement project. Officials said this has been a decade in the making.
“I’m just so grateful for the generosity of our community. I’ve been here only 10 months, and some parents and donors and board members came to me early on last summer, right after I started, and said, ‘Hey, what do you think about this? We need this to happen. Can we do it?'” said Terry Tyrrell, president of the Xavier Catholic School System. “I always believe in the power of a community, but especially Xavier. This is a special community… This is a true representation of the power of our community to come together and get things done.”
Tyrrell said in the last seven months, nearly $2 million was raised to allow for construction to begin on the first phase of the project. In total, the cost will be around $2.5-$2.7 million.
The initiative is focused on improving safety and enhancing the school’s outdoor facilities and grounds, including new parking lots, a prayer garden and upgraded track and athletic fields.
“A brand-new track surface, resurfacing tennis courts, adding a basketball court. Really beautifying the campus and improving the student experience at Xavier Middle School,” said Tyrrell.
Work is set to begin June 15. The goal is for the project to be finished by mid-August, in time for the start of the next school year.
“Students will leave school this Friday and come back in August to a brand-new campus,” said Tyrrell.
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