Groundwork for generations: How one alumnus is helping build on a firm foundation

At Eastern Christian School, our mission has always been to provide Christ-centered education rooted in faith, excellence, and community. Through the campaign, we are seeing that mission lived out in remarkable ways. The six-classroom addition at our Wyckoff campus is not only a response to growing enrollment but also a testimony to the strength of our community.

From the very beginning in 1892, EC has been built by the faithful partnership of families, churches, and alumni. Today, that legacy continues—not only in the generosity of donors but also in the work of alumni who return to give back in unique ways.

One such story is unfolding right on the construction site. The excavation and foundation work for the new addition has been led by Phil Tuit, EC Class of 2002, an owner of R.M. Tuit Paving and Trucking. He’s also a current EC parent. For Phil, this is more than another contract.

“Being a part of this project was pretty neat for us because we get to see where we learned all these years… and it’s also special that my kids are here now, learning the same great values that we learned back then”.

Phil and his team have spent the summer preparing the site: excavation, drainage systems, and utility installation. Their skilled work has laid the literal groundwork for the classrooms that will soon welcome EC students. Yet, for Phil, the significance runs deeper.

“This is not just another project for us,” he shared. “It’s special because we get to give back to the community that gave to us so long ago, teaching us all our core values”.

The word foundation resonates deeply with Phil’s story and with this campaign. As an alumnus, he experienced firsthand the spiritual and academic formation that EC provides. As a parent, he sees those same values shaping his children today. And as a contractor, he has the privilege of helping create space where future generations will grow in Christ.

The six new classrooms will allow EC to serve more students with excellence, relieve space constraints, and replace temporary modular classrooms. This expansion represents more than physical space—it represents opportunity. Students will explore academic disciplines, deepen their relationships, and grow in a community where Christ remains at the center.

But above all, these classrooms represent legacy. They will be places where students open God’s Word, pray together, wrestle with big questions, and prepare to live as Christ’s transforming agents in the world. Just as Jesus taught in Matthew 7:24–25, when we build our foundation on a rock, the foundation stands firm through every storm.

Phil expressed gratitude for the spirit of partnership among all who are contributing: “It’s been great to be part of this project. We’ve been working with some great contractors, and everyone has put their best foot forward.”

That is the story of Eastern Christian School – a community of faith, families, alumni, and friends building something greater together. With God’s blessing, and with the generosity of our partners, we are not only adding classrooms. We are building faith, hope, and a legacy that will bless generations to come.

Hear more from the Phil and catch a few glimpses of the job site and the tools that are helping get the job done!