As Easter Sunday worshipers entered Hope Lutheran Church in The Junction through those doors this morning, they went into the recently built lobby that literally bridges what was a gap between the church — celebrating its 90th anniversary this year — and Hope Lutheran School.

Not only is that space now a welcoming place for churchgoers, it also will be usable for public meetings with some more finishing touches. It’s part of Hope’s expansion/renovation construction project, which is mostly complete, 10 months after groundbreaking (WSB coverage here), though workers went back in during spring break earlier this month for more finishing touches. During that week, we toured the church and school with Bil Hood, shortly after reporting (March 28th story here) that Hope’s school has a new joint operating agreement with nearby Seattle Lutheran High School. Read on for more of what that’s about, more photos of Hope’s expansion/renovation work, and details on three chances this week for prospective families to take tours to learn more about the new Hope/Seattle Lutheran collaboration:

That plaque by the front entrance marks the spot of a time capsule with mementos of Hope’s long history. No set date for it to be opened, Hood explains. As you enter, the school is to the left, the church to the right. More than 220 students are enrolled at Hope, and the expansion/renovation has brought them all into one building – with new, light-filled classrooms like this:

Hope’s music program now has its own space too (again, keep in mind, we toured during spring break, so many items were on the move):

Other upgrades as part of the project include a server room for Hope’s computer systems. More computer classes are a future hope, too, depending on the success of a recently launched fundraising campaign to buy this property to the east:

That house is bounded by Hope Lutheran property on three sides, and its owner has offered to sell it to the church. The “Miracle on 41st Street” fundraising campaign envisions that the property could be used for a community facility offering computer classes for all ages, tutoring programs for middle school and high school, and “life skills” classes for a wide variety of people. It’s kitty-corner across the alley from the main Hope playground:

You can see more of the results of Hope School’s renovation/expansion through this “virtual tour” page on the school website.

But in the more immediate future, there’s the new joint operating agreement with Seattle Lutheran, first reported here. Hood explains that will mean academic improvements on both campuses – SLHS is doubling its offering of AP classes, for example, and will offer full freshman honors courses. And the high school’s highly regarded math teacher will teach advanced middle-school math; Hood notes that Hope students did so well on the Iowa Basic Skills testing – averaging at least two years ahead of grade level in several instructional areas — it was clear the school needed to offer more advanced-level courses.

The joint operating agreement also means administrative efficiencies for both schools; Seattle Lutheran’s head of school Adair Hinds will be in charge of both, but Hope Lutheran will have its own principal, after two years without anyone in the principal position; current dean of students and 5th grade home-room teacher Jeff Allen will take over next year. Between the two schools, some positions will be eliminated through attrition, Hood says, such as that of a 7th-grade teacher who is retiring after this year.

But there will still be plenty of Hope-specific staff on site, including those enjoying new office space built during the expansion:

The work is being done by Merit Construction Northwest, which is also handling the work being done right now at Our Lady of Guadalupe. “On time and under budget” at Hope, we’re told, before heading over to peek into the the half-century-old sanctuary, which got some updates, too, including new energy-saving lighting:

And new restrooms nearby:

Before this project, churchgoers had to head into the basement (and there was no elevator – one was added in the construction, and Hood tells us it’s been a big hit, especially with Hope kids who want to ride it just for fun).

Now, back to the school: The new lobby (enter off 42nd) is the place to meet at 8:30 am this Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, for tours of Hope and Seattle Lutheran and a chance to get questions answered by school leaders. You’ll also be able to find out about other programs, including the St. Christopher Academy, for ADD/ADHD students and academically at-risk youth, which moved to the Seattle Lutheran campus last year after 24 years at John F. Kennedy High School in Burien, and the Discovery Program for students with learning disabilities.