Couple’s commitment way to keep late granddaughter’s ‘spirit alive in this world’
It all started with a little girl named Arabella. She was shopping with her grandmother, Kathleen Brower, when she saw a balloon with a butterfly on it. She called it a “flutterfly” and proclaimed she wanted to be one when she grew up.
In 2015, teenage Arabella died in her sleep. Her death served as an impetus for a massive transformation that is taking place right now at her beloved Blessed Sacrament Huguenot Catholic School (BSH) in Powhatan.
Arabella’s grandparents have dedicated much of their recent life to ensuring their granddaughter’s legacy lives within the walls of BSH. Their relationship with the school has grown in the years following Arabella’s death.
“Suffice to say that BSH is one of the most important relationships that Kathleen and I have, an extension of family in every conceivable way,” said Arabella’s grandfather, retired Col. Keith Brower.
They have donated several million dollars to help fund various projects at the school. One of the first was “Flutterfly Park,” a large, state-of-the-art playground that was completed in 2019 and dedicated to Arabella.
Since then, the Browers have not stopped advocating for the school. BSH is in the midst of a campaign aimed at raising $8.5 million to expand and renovate the school. Of that, $6.5 million has already been raised by the Browers, a grant from the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, and existing school funds.
On June 1, the school began “The Knight’s Charge,” a campaign to raise the $2 million needed to complete the endeavor. The Browers have offered to match donations dollar-for-dollar up to $1 million.
The Browers see each task, no matter the size, as a way to honor their granddaughter.
“We continue to support the school because it is the best way we know how to make a measurable difference in young lives and because the school continues to be a balm for our hearts and a way to keep Arabella’s spirit alive in this world,” explained Col. Brower.
Wishes will come true
BSH has identified dozens of projects it hopes to complete in the next few years.
“We always knew how special our school was based on the magic that happens on the inside, but we needed the exterior to match that,” said Head of School Paula Ledbetter who, along with the School Advisory Board, created a wish list and worked with various contractors and architects to make those wishes come true.
A 2,700-square-foot visual arts center will feature large workspaces, polished concrete floors, critique and inspiration boards, pottery wheels and a kiln. This will mark the first time the school has had a new structure built since the 1960s.
The innovative two-story student center will serve students in a variety of ways. Athletes will be able to work on their game by using the basketball/volleyball practice court and weight room. Students can eat in the cafeteria, learn in one of the classrooms or shop in the bookstore.
The green screen studio will give journalism students the opportunity to produce live morning announcements and other news productions, while the black box theater will provide a much-needed rehearsal and performance space for theater students.
There will be an additional classroom in the student center dedicated to STEAM. This space will encourage students to think critically as they utilize 3D printers, robotics equipment and more. An art space specially designed for elementary school students will also be included.
The school’s Parker Gym is the site of volleyball and basketball games, musical and drama performances, assemblies, Mass and graduation. It is getting completely revamped with bleachers, paint, lighting and a new roof. The school will also hire a full-time athletic director to oversee the school’s various sports programs.
Other projects include purchasing science equipment, repairing sidewalks, procuring a bus for athletic use and installing air conditioning units. Classrooms will be updated with paint, LED lighting, and flooring and doors; custom bookcases and a reading nook will be added to the library; and the front office will receive some aesthetic enhancements.
Enhancing the curriculum
Tyler Snidow, the school’s publicist, explained that BSH is not just improving the school’s physical structure, but improving the students’ educational experience as well. It has dedicated funds to enhance the school’s curriculum by adding several dual-enrollment college courses for juniors and seniors.
Partnering with Reynolds Community College, these classes will focus on biology, history, English, math and chemistry.
“With these changes, a senior graduating in 2024 could already have their entire freshman year of college completed. That adds up to real value for students and their families,” said Snidow.
Funds will also be used to support faculty and staff by increasing salaries, paying for teacher certification and hiring employees in order to help meet the needs of BSH’s growing student population.
Enrollment rose 30% between spring and fall of 2020. There are several reasons for this, according to Ledbetter, including the faithbased education, emphasis on values and small class sizes.
Another reason is COVID. Although the pandemic affected supply chain issues and caused delays for the renovation, one positive byproduct is that it also helped increase enrollment.
“First and foremost, we have found that families are seeking a traditional, values- and faith-based education. Parents want their children to receive an education free of political influence and bias. In 2020, it was evident that parents wanted their children to attend school in-person,” said Ledbetter. “Now, we are seeing that it wasn’t just a temporary solution; parents want their children at BSH for the long-term.”
‘A great thing’
This is a far cry from several years ago, when Ledbetter said BSH was on the verge of shutting down. The donations couldn’t have come at a better time.
“It’s important to me that people understand that yes, a major gift is life-changing for BSH, and equally as important are the people who have devoted their lives to working at our school,” said Ledbetter. “I am enormously grateful for those who kept the faith, who never gave up on hoping for a future of our school. It takes heart, commitment and purpose to keep going, and I am lucky to work with people who live that each day.”
BSH welcomes students from all faiths and backgrounds. The Browers are not Catholic, but they realize the benefits of a Catholic education and see their contributions as an investment in the future.
“We have traveled the world for the last 50-plus years, and we know a good thing when we see it — and BSH is a great thing,” said Col. Brower.
