DAPHNE — Julie Wiggins first fell in love with Bayside Academy when her older children went to school there.

Today, her daughter Lara is a youth minister and her son, Luke, is preparing to attend medical school.

Now, her first-grade son Warner, is a Bayside student and Wiggins’ admiration for the private school has only grown over the years, she said.

“I just love the individual attention that the children receive and I love how they help prepare them for the future,” Wiggins said.

“It has made a world of difference for our family. This is where we’ve found our educational home and we love it here.”

Her enthusiasm was echoed many times Friday morning, when students, faculty and supporters joined together on the school’s bluff overlooking Mobile Bay.

At that time, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for a new education building.

Construction is set to begin immediately on the approximately $3.9 million project, said Lorna Huey, chairman of Bayside’s buildings and grounds committee.

The two-floor structure will have 16 classrooms equipped with state-of-the-art technology and learning centers for third- through sixth-graders, she said.

Each learning center will have a science lab and language/computer room.

A teacher work room will also be located on the top floor, with a teacher conference room on the bottom.

Additional facilities are necessary to continue to provide a quality learning environment, said headmaster Tom Johnson.

“The building is not being built to add new students,” Johnson said. “It’s being built to enhance our facilities and our academic programs. We want to place more emphasis on science, math, technology and language,” he said.

Joe Sullivan, chairman of the Bayside board of trustees and its “Anchor the Future” capital campaign, credits school supporters for transforming these goals into reality.

“It’s always been a wonderful place for children, but now thanks to them, it’s going to be even better,” Sullivan said.

To date, this fundraising effort has netted pledges for $6.6 million with an overall goal of $10 million, he said.

Anne-Clinton Groom, mother of third-grader Carolina Groom, is also a member of the capital campaign.

Groom said she is excited both by what has already been accomplished and what still remains to be done.

“We’ve already rebuilt and made a beautiful playground, plus we’ve also done the field and track as well as the beautiful flag staff,” she said.

“Now we’re breaking ground on the lower school building. And later we’ll be breaking ground on a new fine arts building.”

Part of that success is due to the school’s “wonderful family atmosphere” that encourages participation at all levels, she said.

In a press release distributed at Friday’s ceremony, Bayside officials said that groundbreaking for the “first and only Fine Arts Center on the Eastern Shore” is scheduled for summer 2007.

As envisioned, the proposed center will include a mainstage theatre with seating for approximately 300-350, areas for stagecraft and dressing rooms, a lobby and art gallery, as well as a performing arts and reception hall with a bay view and balcony.

Bayside Academy has 750 students in kindergarten through 12th grades.