Sacred Heart Greenwich enrolled 691 students this fall, an 8% jump over last year, with waitlists in every grade.

Board of Trustees Chair Kevin McCooey shared the figures Thursday, Oct. 22, at the school's annual Celebration of the Heart, a gathering of more than 200 parents, educators, trustees, alumnae and friends at the King Street campus. McCooey also reported that the school's endowment now exceeds $54 million and that last year's Fund for Sacred Heart raised nearly $2.6 million, according to the school's recap of the event.

The evening's biggest announcement was already in the books. The Greenwich Planning & Zoning Commission unanimously approved a special permit and site plan for a new 20,614-square-foot science building on campus, as first reported by Greenwich Time. The project will replace a small faculty housing unit with a facility connected by bridge to the main academic building at 1177 King St.

The building will support programs in engineering design, robotics, computational thinking and artificial intelligence, planning consultant Michele Cronin told the commission. The Greenwich Sentinel also confirmed the approval and noted the plan includes removal and replacement of 54 trees and a pollinator garden. P&Z Chairwoman Margarita Alban asked the school to plant more trees than the one-for-one replacement proposed.

Sacred Heart Greenwich President Michael F. Baber used the evening to update families on Pursuing Excellence, the school's five-year strategic plan now in its fourth year. He noted that 24 student-athletes from the classes of 2027 and 2028 have committed to play at the collegiate level.

Baber also outlined progress on Advancing Excellence, the school's capital campaign. More than $40 million has been committed toward a $60 million goal. The campaign supports investment in educators, academic programs, financial assistance and what the school called "outstanding spaces for teaching and learning."

"A building alone does not transform a life. What happens inside it can," Baber said at the event.

Student Body President Olivia Franco opened the evening with a welcome and prayer tied to the school's student-selected theme, Above All, Love. The celebration closed with the premiere of a video featuring students and educators.

No construction start date or cost estimate for the science building has been announced.