Needham Bank Partners with Charles River School on the New Middle School Building

11/1/2017

Photograph of five people with construction helmets and shovels.Dover, MA– Needham Bank announced their support of the Charles River School (CRS) Elevate and Celebrate Capital Campaign through a monetary contribution to the campaign, as well as financing for the new middle school building. The new building will be home to grades 6 – 8 and the middle school Science Program, and will support the school’s progressive and innovative curriculum.

CRS embarked on this capital campaign just 16 months ago, and has already raised $9.4 million toward the goal of $10 million; this success is unprecedented in the school's history. In addition to raising funds for a new middle school building, the campaign will help grow the school's endowment to enable growth in new programs, faculty development and financial assistance. The new middle school building arrives at a time when the school's enrollment is growing due to increased interest in its progressive, hands-on learning model. CRS anticipates the building will be completed in the spring.

“We are a community that is passionate about learning, and that passion bas been evident in the community’s resounding enthusiasm for this project!” said Gretchen Larkin, Head of School, Charles River School. “The support of our community partner, Needham Bank, has been invaluable to us, both in the financing and the campaign commitment. We could not be happier to work with our neighbors to make this building a possibility for our school.”

Photo L-R: David Reidell, Director of Finance, CRS; Joseph Campanelli, President & CEO, Needham Bank; Lacey Teixeira, VP Commercial Lending, Needham Bank; Gretchen Larkin, Head of School, CRS; Sarah Lapides, President, CRS Board of Trustees; Eric Morse, EVP, Needham Bank.

The middle school building will face Centre Street in Dover, across from Dover Town Hall and next to Needham Bank’s Dover Branch, and enhance the town center with a beautiful façade and green space. The project was unanimously approved by the Town of Dover Planning Board in November 2016.

“When we began meeting with the Charles River School to discuss our financing and partnership options, we knew immediately that we had to be involved with this project,” remarked Joe Campanelli, President & CEO, Needham Bank. “While every bank lends on financial data, Needham Bank believes that we lend on the character of the school and the people responsible for running it. The new building will improve the educational opportunities for students at CRS, and also better the center of town.”

The building design will provide:

  • Increased space for sciences, mathematics, and world languages;
  • functional, flexible spaces for project and team-based learning; and
  • enhanced technological capabilities to better serve the middle school program.

To learn more about Charles River School, visit www.charlesriverschool.org.

About Charles River School
Founded in 1911, Charles River School (CRS) is an independent day school in the center of Dover, Mass for grades PreK – 8. Located on a beautiful 16-acre campus, CRS honors the pursuit of academic excellence and the joy of childhood. Learn more at www.charlesriverschool.org.