StM News

Exciting progress continues on the George Cottage Threes classroom rebuild at St. Martin’s Episcopal School, where a restoration project has grown into a full reimagining of our early childhood environment. When complete, the new outdoor playspace will span 10,000 square feet and include several thoughtfully designed play elements created especially for our youngest Saints. In addition to the expansive outdoor area, this phase of the project includes four renovated early childhood classrooms and a new Literacy Center adjacent to the Lower School Library—bringing research-based, Reggio-Emilia–inspired design to life.

On Saturday, November 8, St. Martin’s hosted a Community Work Day to support the construction of the new early childhood outdoor learning spaces. More than 40 volunteers—including Upper School students, parents, faculty, alumni, and Cottage families—worked side by side to advance the playground build.

Throughout the morning, volunteers helped prepare the grounds, assemble components, and support installation across the 10,000-square-foot playspace. Many of the student volunteers once attended George Cottage themselves, making their contributions especially meaningful.

“It’s so beautiful to see everyone coming together to build something our children will enjoy for years to come,” said Head of School Whitney Drennan ’94. “The sense of community is part of what makes St. Martin’s such a special place.”

From Rebuild to Reimagination

Several years ago, following fire damage, St. Martin’s made the intentional decision not just to repair structures, but to reimagine the future of early childhood education on campus. The Cottage renovation project represents that vision—pairing child-centered design with the school’s commitment to offering one of the best early childhood programs in the New Orleans and Metairie area.

While specific play features will be unveiled soon, the new environment is being shaped with an emphasis on outdoor discovery, sensory exploration, and open-ended play—key elements aligned with Reggio-Emilia philosophy and best practices in high-quality preschool and early childhood learning.

Looking Ahead

There is still work to be done—both inside the classrooms and across the outdoor playspace—but momentum is strong, and progress is inspiring. As construction continues, the St. Martin’s community is already imagining Cottage students playing, learning, and discovering in these joyful new spaces.

We look forward to sharing the finished George Cottage classrooms, Literacy Center, and outdoor playspace with our entire community soon.