DIXFIELD — In just a few short weeks, with the help of hundreds of hours of volunteer work, a bright, shiny, roomy classroom was ready for its students at the Seventh Day Adventist School on Pine Street.

The church, located just a short distance away on Blayne Street, made a bid on the former Irving’s Forest Products office building at an auction, and it was accepted. Then the work began.

Office and hall walls were removed, stairways relocated and a multitude of painting and minor repairs were made. Now, the book-filled classroom is inviting to the students and to the after-school Pathfinders and Adventures Clubs.

For teacher Theresa Sweet, the classroom, together with an art and music room and a conference room, allows for additional activities and lots of space for the 11 students attending.

For decades, the school was housed in the fellowship hall of the church. But whenever a church event was to be held there, all the makings of a classroom had to be removed, only to be put back when classes were started again.

The church was also looking for ways to reach out to the community,  Sweet said.

“There was a lot of discussion about whether to do this and how to use the building,” Sweet said as she directed youngsters to get to work in their math workbooks.

The new school building is considered Phase I of what could be a long-term project, Sweet said. The building has lots of room, inside and out, so there are many possibilities.

Among the church’s mission is an effort to reach out more to the community. For the past few months, church members have served a free lunch for anyone who wants or needs one at the Mexico Town Hall.

Phase II calls for eventually installing a kitchen that could then serve people in the building. The building is large enough to accommodate serving a dozen people at a sit-down meal. There are thoughts, too, that the church’s fellowship hall could be moved to the newly acquired building.

The third phase could include moving the entire church to the building, but that is in the early discussion stage.

For now, the youngsters, grades 1-8, have a chance to learn academics, Christianity, and art and music.

Mary Fenstermacher teaches all those who want to learn to play the piano. This is her third year teaching, and all but one child is taking advantage of the lessons. Other volunteers come in weekly to teach Spanish, art and hand chimes.

Children and their families often participate in helping children and others in this country and other countries by coordinating projects to gather clothing, health items, toys and other articles for distribution.

After school, Cindy and Rocky Schlager lead two groups similar to Boy and Girl Scouts, where youngsters earn patches for developing various skills.

“We try to teach children to be leaders and to be good citizens,” said Cindy Schlager, who leads the grades 1-4 group, Adventures. Her husband leads the Pathfinders for grades 5 and up.

Any child is welcome to join either group for a nominal fee of $35 a year by calling the Schlagers at 585-2389. The groups meet weekly.

During the school’s open house in late August, Sweet said dozens of church and community members turned out to see what was happening to the building.

“Community people sometimes just come in to check on things,” she said.

Sweet has taught in Adventist schools for many years, including several years in Rutland, Vt., where she reopened a closed Adventist school.

She believes her vocation is an important calling.

“I want to help children have a better understanding of God and to use their skills to help others,” she said.

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