COEUR d’ALENE — Before the first school bells ring on Aug. 27, Lake City Junior Academy has some chores to do.

"We do this every year at this time," Principal Adam Weeks said Monday. "We have parents come and do a super deep cleaning of the school."

To assist the custodial staff and tackle detail projects the janitors can't always get to, the small Christian school invites parents, families and community members to roll up their sleeves and help with cleaning, dusting, gardening, painting and whatever else needs to be done during a "work bee" before the school year begins.

"It's a big hurrah for our community," Weeks said. "Let’s get this school ready for our kids coming."

The work bee will be from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday. Breakfast will be served. Weeks said child care will be available for those who want to bring the kids, "but we also encourage them to have their kids work alongside them." Youths 13 and younger must be in child care or be accompanied by an adult.

Lake City Junior Academy is also undergoing construction to add a parking lot, playground and 12-classroom building that will add 14,500 square feet to the school and allow more students and grade levels. The school serves students from pre-K to 10th grade, but it will be able to expand to include 11th grade next year, 12th grade the following year and ultimately serve more than 150 students.

The school opened in 1909 and has been at its current site since 1958. The $8 million building project is expected to be done by Christmas, Weeks said.

Maranatha Volunteers International, a nonprofit that builds churches and needed structures around the world, is handling the construction. The volunteers will be on site for the next week: Locals who are interested in framing and construction are invited to pitch in their talents from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

"We'll get them out there with a hard hat," Weeks said.

Lake City Junior Academy is at 125 E. Locust Ave. in Coeur d'Alene on the campus of the Seventh-day Adventist Community Church.

“It takes a village. Come be a part of preparing our school for learning," Weeks said. "We get an opportunity to make sure our kids have a safe and clean place for them to learn. It takes all of us coming together to make it happen."

Info: 208-667-0877