By Michael D. Clark
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MIDDLETOWN - Fenwick High School officials needed energetic and responsible movers to help pack up their old school of 42 years for a move to a new, larger one.

They got hundreds of them Thursday as most of Fenwick's 450 students and teaching staff hauled away almost all the interior contents of the private Catholic school on Manchester Road as part of the move into a new school along Middletown's eastern border.

"It took about three hours, and it was more orderly than one might expect," said Catherine Mulligan, dean of academics for Fenwick, which has been at its Manchester Road site since 1962. On Sept. 2, the school opens a new campus off Ohio 122, east of Interstate 75.

"We're looking forward to better facilities," said Mulligan of the new Fenwick High School, which is 94,000 square feet compared with the old school's 45,000 square feet and sits on 66 acres versus 18 acres now. The new school was built so Fenwick could eventually grow to about 620 students.

Fenwick junior Elodie Freeman is especially excited about one aspect of the new school:

"The air conditioning. That's what I'm looking forward to," said Freeman.

Freeman said she isn't worried about the move affecting Fenwick's strong student bond and alumni base.

"Our school spirit has always been pretty strong, and the location of our school doesn't make a difference," she said.

E-mail mclark@enquirer.com