OFM_Profile_Foundation Academy_1223_Profile 11 / 9 / 23 4 : 18 PM Page 1 PROMOTION B U S I N E S S S P O T L I G H T “ It’s not just an educational space , but a special - ized educational space , ” Cioffi says . This includes a full television production studio , giving students the chance to learn how to use a green screen and the latest technologies in con - tent creation , edit applications in post - production and use sound production . Additionally , there will be space for coding and gaming courses . “ It’s built specifically for certain disciplines to address the pro - fessions that are becoming prevalent today , but also to engage students ’ passions , ” Cioffi explains . Love , learn and lead Offering further specialized educational opportuni - ties to its students is just another way Foundation Academy builds upon its portrait of a graduate , instilling in them the three traits of love , learn and Building a Solid Foundation lead . The hope is students will love by God’s example , foster a continual desire to learn , and lead As Foundation Academy continues to grow physically , the their generation in a positive direction that reflects the love of Christ . Christian school is geared toward helping its students “ Those traits of love , learn and lead are some - thing that are going to serve them well today , but grow spiritually and academically to prepare them for the also for the rest of their lives , ” Cioffi says . future . by KRISTEN DOWD While Plant Street and Lakeside are the intro - ductory part of a Christ - centered education , a top Christian school in Central Florida , Foundation Academy is no stranger to spiritual and according to Cioffi , Foundation Academy views mental growth . And thanks to a $ 17 million expansion project , the school is getting used to quite a itself as an educational experience that is built year Asbit of physical growth , too . after year , from one campus to the next , to ulti - “ There is such a demand for a private Christian school education at this point , ” says Joseph Cioffi , mately build a foundation for life . director of marketing and communications at Foundation Academy . “ We’re determined to accommodate “ What are you going to come away with besides families and students who want a top - rate education that is grounded in Christ . ” agreat education ? ” Cioffi asks . “ This is really the cap - stone of an educational experience that won’t only last Education and worship you for this lifetime , but the lifetime beyond . ” The expansion project is all taking place at Tilden , Foundation Academy’s upper school , which is nestled on 67 acres in Winter Garden and approved to serve up to 1,200 students . Currently the campus is home to about 550 students in seventh through 12th grades . Foundation’s two lower school campuses — Plant Street and Lakeside — are for students in kindergarten through sixth grade , with Plant also offering pre - kindergarten . The Tilden expansion project will move sixth grade students from Plant Street and Lakeside to the upper school . Overall , it will accommodate over 300 additional students at Tilden . The expansion project stems from a master plan developed in 2016 . A 17,000 - square - foot classroom addition and a new athletic annex were completed in 2020 . Underway now is a cafeteria and worship center , slated to be finished in August or September of 2024 . Following will be a 40,000 - square - foot classroom build finished in time for the 2025 - 2026 school year . As the largest ministry for Winter Garden’s First Baptist Church , Foundation Academy will be able to further the Foundation Academy church’smission once the new buildings open . The facility will be a shared space , used primarily by the school during the week . Plant Street Campus The church will utilize the space on the weekends and during 125 E . Plant St . , Winter Garden special occasions and events . ( 407 ) 656 - 3677 “ Being a Christ - centered school , our worship having a place of its very own is pretty important , ” Cioffi says . Lakeside Campus “ Currently , our gymnasium serves everything from drama to 8464Winter Garden Vineland Road , sporting events to chapel . Having a multipurpose gymnasium Orlando inan environment that is experiencing unprecedented growth is ( 407 ) 614 - 1780 achallenge for our operations team and our overall culture . Having something central that’s dedicated to wor - ship is needed for our school and our church is paramount . ” Tilden Campus From a curriculum standpoint , Foundation Academy President Dave Buckles , Vice President of 15304 Tilden Road , Winter Garden Education Carol Grosshans and Tilden Principal Sarah Reynolds are always taking a comprehensive look at ( 407 ) 877 - 2744 where there’s a need to expand educational offerings . This planning came into play with the new classroom spaces being built on the Tilden Campus , too . FoundationAcademy.net ORLANDOFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM december 2023 ORLANDO FAMILY 9