Lincoln Elementary students and Warsaw Community School board members gathered Thursday afternoon, Dec. 17, for a groundbreaking ceremony that will usher in the building of a new Lincoln Elementary School building. (Photos by Amanda McFarland)

WARSAW — Ground was broken today, Thursday, Dec. 17, at the site of the future Lincoln Elementary School.

Lincoln Elementary School students cheer as Warsaw Community School Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert talks about the new building project.

Donning hard hats, students representing each class at the current Lincoln Elementary grabbed shovels and headed out to the field next to the existing building to participate in the ceremony. Their peers joined them as school board members, PTO volunteers and others from the school crowded in.

Warsaw Community Schools Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert addressed the chilly yet enthusiastic crowd. Hoffert also explained the reasoning behind choosing students to perform the groundbreaking.

“Too many times I see groundbreaking ceremonies where there are a bunch of adults,” he said. “But this is just as much about the kids.”

The decision to build a new building stems from a variety of concerns with the current one, including safety issues. The project also includes major upgrades to Edgewood Middle School and Washington Elementary School.