BRAD HORN/Nevada Appeal Katie Antti, 11, from left, Shaelin Morefield, 11, and Hannah Harville, 10, sing 'Blessed Be Your Name' at the Hilltop Community Church on Sunday.
A school's anniversary held off-campus, in an empty field, may sound more like the workings of an overzealous student body. But it was, in fact, a sanctioned event for students and faculty of Sierra Lutheran High School on Sunday.
The locale for the afternoon celebration, in an empty lot across from the Hilltop Community Church on Sunridge Drive next to the new fire station, was by design and "a long time coming," school officials said.
"We're celebrating five years and getting ready for the next 50," said the school's executive director, Norm Brauer.
Brauer, and other school officials as well as parish leaders and parishioners from five churches in Carson, Minden and Gardnerville, was on hand for an afternoon of hymns, worship, food and music to celebrate the groundbreaking for the new $6 million campus of Sierra Lutheran, set to be complete by the fall of 2009.
"Well, we are excited to see the school be built," said Minden resident Betty Bouey, a parishioner at Trinity Lutheran Church in Gardnerville. "I'm here to see the dedication."
Pastor Eric Borchers of Trinity Lutheran was quick to laud the efforts of individuals from many different parishes who've worked to keep the school both infused with students, and enthusiasm, in spite of operating on a temporary campus.
"I just think we've gone through the transition and now it's really going to continue to be a great institution," he said. "I think it's a testament to many different churches working together for the common goal of a Christian education."
Parishioner Charlie Kitchen, a Carson City resident whose children were educated at a Lutheran school and have since gone onto college, described the benefits he found when putting his children through non-secular student life.
"My kids were raised in Lutheran schools," he said. "When my daughter went to UNR, she was in the first class of the honors college. Of the 140 or so students in the honors college, five were educated in Lutheran school.
"I feel there's just a different quality of education."
Nick Depaoli and Mike Darby are two Sierra Lutheran freshmen who will step foot on the new campus their junior year.
In spite of entering high school - currently located on Water street in Minden - with just 50 students total, both said they have high hopes, academically and athletically.
"I'm here for basketball and a lot of college opportunities," said Depaoli. "I think today's a good day."
• Contact staff writer Andrew Pridgen at apridgen@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.