Crossroads News

Crossroads Holds Alley Party, Building Dedication Ceremony

Families, employees and friends come out to celebrate.
On Sunday, Oct. 4, the 21st Street Campus was transformed into a block party filled with music, food, art projects, science experiments, carnival-style games and even some spontaneous line dancing. The annual welcome-back-to-school Alley Party was preceded by a special dedication ceremony for the School’s new Science Education & Research Facility, which opened in September and houses the Middle and Upper School science programs. The ceremony was attended by members of the Crossroads community; Santa Monica Mayor Kevin McKeown and other representatives of the City of Santa Monica; as well as the designers and builders who helped create the 25,000-square-foot facility.

In his remarks, Head of School Bob Riddle noted that the vision and design of the building were a collaborative effort that included “dozens of students, alumni, teachers, artists, administrators, staff, trustees, donors and so many others … The end result is a building, a space, a teaching and learning center that is a true reflection of our mission, our ethos and our values.” Mayor McKeown also addressed the crowd, calling the new building an asset to the city and noting, “Education is important. Science is important. And Crossroads is an important contributor to our city of Santa Monica.”

The ceremony concluded with a K-12 choir honoring the more than 100 men and women on the project’s construction team with a performance of the song “Something to Point To” from the musical “Working.” It was followed by the Alley Party, a free annual event for the Crossroads community featuring food from beloved local eateries, a never-ending supply of homemade baked goods, student musical performances, bounce houses and science- and arts-based activities.
 
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