Setting The Stage (STS) Campaign

In the last 15 years, CLHS has flourished with growth in enrollment and capital improvements. Since the 2007-2008 school year, enrollment has risen from under 400 students to almost 550 students. In that time, several programs in the athletic and fine arts departments have expanded and garnered many accolades, including 38 team state championships and over 100 individual state titles.

While the athletic and fine art departments have had success on both the state and national levels, both of these departments are operated under space constraints. New programs have been added to Concordia's offerings, as well as existing programs have seen substantial increases in participation. Specifically, the band program has grown from less than 10 students in 2009, to almost 50 students in 2022.

Concordia's campus can no longer adequately or even professionally operate with so many shared spaces for students/teams/programs to be successful.

Challenges for Indoor Athletics

Concordia's gymnasium has been an excellent home for many student athletes and alumni over the years since the mid 1990s. However, there is a pressing need for a second gymnasium to help alleviate some of the scheduling issues on campus, especially during the Fall months when Volleyball is still in season and both Boys and Girls Basketball has started. Specifically, in October and November, there are nine Crusader sports teams (3 Girls VB, 1 Boys VB, 3 Boys BKB, and 2 Girls BKB) that vie for access to one gymnasium for practices and games.

Insider our current gymnasium, we are limited to two volleyball courts or two basketball courts when the bleachers are retracted. This challenges the ability to have multiple teams in a program practicing simultaneously. This has resulted in one or more teams having to hold practice on the sidelines without the use of a court or spending time doing strength and agility either on the track or in the weight room.

This school year, the Girls Basketball team has been practicing in the hallway at Concordia, in the mornings before school, or at a local park’s outdoor court to maximize practice time in their pre-season. The Boys Basketball team has also had their season started with alternative practices including in the mornings before school as well as staying late after volleyball practices conclude.

There are over 125 athletes that use Concordia's one Gymnasium on a regular basis for practices or games between the Basketball, Volleyball, and Cheer programs. In addition to the primary uses of the Gymnasium, there are many other uses of the Gym that include VB and BKB rentals, practice locations for our FB and LAX programs when inclement weather happens, Alumni & Friends Morning Basketball, TAPPS Playoff Games, and Houston Methodist Athletic Physicals.

Three Girls VB teams practicing at one time in Gym

Pep Rallies/Assemblies are hosted in the Gym

Challenges for Fine Arts

In the last 15 years, CLHS has flourished with growth in enrollment and capital improvements. Since the 2007-2008 school year, the fine arts department has expanded and garnered many accolades, including 24 Fine Arts Team State Championships.

One of the biggest areas of growth in the fine arts department has been the band. In 2007-2008, there were a total of nine students who participated in band. Now, the Crusader band features just under 50 students.

In addition to band, Concordia’s choir program has seen growth as well as residency atop the state ranks. In the last decade, the concert choir has grown from 50 students to over 70 students.

Both band and choir are the two primary programs that are housed in Concordia’s music room which is approx. 2,000 sq.ft. On a normal school day, band is 1^st period, treble choir is 2^nd period, and concert choir is 4^th period. This requires moving instruments, chairs, music stands, and risers every day to accommodate the two programs’ different needs.

Other programs that utilize the music room weekly include Concordia’s Handbell Choir, Jazz Band, Drumline, and Chamber Choir. The Concordia Players theatre group also uses the music room for back of house needs for their One Act Play and Musical performances that happen throughout the year.

Concordia has been a good steward of maximizing the music room, but the current space does not feature separate and adequate storage and practice rooms to support all of these fine arts programs, students, and directors. The theatre department has been storing their costumes and set building materials off campus in a storage building which is not only expensive, but inconvenient.

One Act Play practicing in the Commons as Cheer was in the Cafetorium

Field Band practicing in the Gym for more space

Band Sectionals in the hallway due to lack of practice rooms

Solutions for Indoor Athletics

Concordia’s athletic department has been a good steward of maximizing the indoor athletic facilities, primarily the current gymnasium and locker rooms. However, as enrollment has grown, there is a need for a second or third gymnasium to better fit the needs of the school.

This would also provide a desirable athletic venue to be rented out on evenings and weekends providing additional revenue streams for Concordia.
This would also serve as an excellent marketing tool to bring families to our campus and providing exposure to potential students.

Over the last year, the athletic department and coaches have identified some needs for additional spaces on campus, specifically related to indoor athletic programs such as volleyball, basketball, and cheer.

The plan includes building a new indoor athletic facility on the NE corner of Concordia’s existing property, directly along FM 2920. This project will feature a new competition gym, at least one auxiliary gym, locker rooms, and storage.

Once built, Concordia would be able to better function with athletes having the necessary space to practice and perform without scheduling around each other like they are now. Not only could volleyball and girls basketball both practice at the same time during athletic period or after school, but this new complex could provide a space for our cheer program as well as open the door to many rentals.

Solutions for Fine Arts

Over the last year, Concordia's Fine Arts department has identified some solutions to create separate fine arts spaces for many of our talented programs and groups. This would allow these programs to efficiently exist while continuing to provide excellent opportunities for their students.

The plan includes a complete renovation of the existing gymnasium and to convert that space to be all Fine Arts support.

Inside the gymnasium, there would be separate band and choir rooms with the choir room also functioning as a recital hall that could be used for student/faculty performances or rented out.
Much needed storage spaces, practice rooms, and offices would be created for all fine arts programs.
There also would be a black box theatre that would be used to host smaller theatre performances such as the home performances of the One Act Play while also functioning as a classroom for the theatre arts and speech and debate classes.
A separate scene shop would allow sets to be built on site for any of the performance spaces as well as providing storage for costumes and props.
Finally, the existing music room would be renovated to be a theatre support area that would include a closed rehearsal space, changing rooms, storage, stage access, and offices.

Once a new space has been established for fine arts, additional groups, programs, and classes could be added:

Jazz Lab
Music Theory AP
Ochestra
Woodshop/Set Building Practicum

Proposed Fine Arts Renovation (1st Floor)

We Need YOUR Help to Set The Stage!

We are making a call to our donors and Concordia community to make a gift or pledge to the Setting The Stage Campaign with a four-year goal of $10 million. Your donation will ensure that we meet the needs of current and future Crusaders so they can be strong and well-rounded Christian leaders.

Setting The Stage Campaign Giving Levels

Goal: $10 million over four years