Blue and white confetti filled the air as students from The Cushman School gathered in its canopied courtyard on Valentine’s Day to usher in a new era with the opening of a multi-use Play to Learn Facility, a project that’s been in the works for nine years.
Arvi Balseiro, head of school, gushed about the accomplishment before a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the facility’s opening, while standing alongside fellow faculty members and members of the school’s board of directors.
(Shannon Zalman for The Cushman School)
Victor Napoli, past board chair of The Cushman School; Sara Colombo, current board chair; Arvi Balseiro, head of The Cushman School; Lisa Arvin, director of advancement; Lisa Herbert, director of performing arts; and Pablo Gentile, director of athletics (L-R) cut a ceremonial ribbon to welcome the Play to Learn Facility.
“We’re so lucky to be here today. For nine years, we have been working hard so we could have this facility for all of you,” Balseiro said.
This year marks a historic era for The Cushman School, which was founded in 1924 and is the oldest PK-12 private school in Miami. After much anticipation, the Play to Learn center, which will host performing arts and athletics programming and events, officially opened on the school’s main campus at 592 NE 60th St. Planning for the venue initially began in 2014; Cushman broke ground in December 2020 and construction was completed during the latter half of 2022.
Play to Learn was designed as a highly functional space for students to further develop and showcase their engagement in the arts and athletics, two programs deeply embedded in the private school’s curriculum.
(Shannon Zalman for The Cushman School)
Cushman School students wave blue pompoms and hold baseball caps filled with confetti during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Play to Learn Facility Feb. 14, 2023.
The facility features music rooms, a professional stage and dance studio, basketball and volleyball courts, rooftop soccer and track. The multipurpose center will also offer programming open to the neighborhood.
“We’ve always prioritized the arts and athletics in our programming; now we have a state-of-the-art facility that allows us to expand our opportunities to our Cushman family and friends in the community,” Balseiro said.
Students proudly roared as athletics director Pablo Gentile did one of the things he does best – lead students in a “Let’s Go Cougars” cheer. Everyone was handed blue pompoms and white baseball caps inscribed with “Play to Learn.”
Quickly thereafter, administration and staff used traditional oversized scissors to cut the ribbon in celebration.
(Shannon Zalman for The Cushman School)
Noelle Androuin, Cushman School alumni, parent and president of its parent association (L) with Lisa Arvin, director of advancement.
Principal and elementary school director Cheryl Rogers touched on the school’s philosophy.
“We do the right thing for children; we cut through the red tape and teach them to be kind to each other and also to be self-sufficient and of good character. We show them if you learn this, you’ll be the best student you can be,” she said.
Also in attendance was alumni Noelle Androuin, president of The Cushman School Parents’ Association. Hers is a three-generation Cushman family, as both her children and her mother attended the school, the latter when the school’s namesake and founder, Laura Cushman, was still leading the institution.
She graduated when Cushman served as an elementary school, only; its middle and high schools were added later. She continued her studies in Italy but is glad to be back.
(Shannon Zalman for The Cushman School)
Willie Stewart (center), percussionist and chairman/co-founder of the Embrace Music Foundation, surrounded by fellow musicians as he leads Cushman School eighth graders in a performance following his weeklong artist residency at the school.
“Coming home to this has been so beautiful and such a reward,” Androuin said.
Upon completion of the facility in January, percussionist Willie Stewart – chairman/co-founder of the Embrace Music Foundation and the school’s artist-in-residence – led both Cushman eighth graders and students from nearby Morningside K-8 Academy in a week of workshops that culminated in a performance at the Play to Learn Facility Feb. 3.
At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Androuin took in the celebration and reflected on her love of the campus, administration and staff.
“We have a true sense of community here at Cushman,” she said. “When I walk around here it feels like home.”