Ritenour Celebrates Grand Opening of the Ritenour Center for Educational Excellence

More than 100 students, parents, faculty, civic leaders and community members attended the grand opening celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Ritenour Center for Educational Excellence (RCEE) on Aug. 7. The event, located at 10901 St. Henry Lane in St. Ann, also welcomed friends and family of Julie Hahn and Janine Milam-Haynes, the namesakes of the Julie Hahn Center for International and Gifted Learners and the Janine Milam-Haynes Early Childhood Annex on the RCEE campus.

The district closed on the 3.92-acre site, formerly known as Holy Trinity Parish and School, in August 2024 for $1 million. The property features 30,000 square feet of space, including a main school building that houses the Julie Hahn Center with two wings of classrooms and a cafeteria, and the Janine Milam-Haynes Early Childhood Annex that provides five additional classrooms, a multipurpose room and several spaces for individual or small group learning.

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, several powerful speeches shared by Julie Hahn, assistant superintendent for data, interventions and student support, and family members of Janine Milam-Haynes, inspired the crowd. Milam-Haynes, a 28-year Ritenour educator at Marion Elementary School, passed away two years ago.

Hahn said she is excited to watch how the center serves Ritenour students who are rooted in potential, purpose and promise.

"The beauty of this center is in its mission - a place where we’re going to nurture talent, protect dreams and where every child will be seen for the strengths that they bring in here," said Hahn. "This center tells you that our students belong here, that they matter here and that they will grow here."

Rod Milam, the brother of the late Janine Milam-Haynes, said he was proud to see his sister's name on a building where students will be nurtured because it reflects the work ethic and passion she had for students throughout her career in Ritenour. 

Her name is there, but the work goes on," said Milam. "The children will keep coming, and the work keeps coming...The students who come through this center will earn their place in this school, in this community, in this country and in this world."

 Hear more inspiring words that were shared throughout the ceremony. 

Learn more about the new facility.