Nestled between the scenic shores of Ballantyne, Duck, and Madison Lake, All Saints Academy has long been a cornerstone of the rural community. Now, following a massive million dollar capital campaign and months of construction, the Academy is celebrating a transformative expansion that promises to bridge the gap between faith, community, and the critical need for rural childcare.
The Academy’s roots are deep. Located in the former All Saints School on the north shore of Madison Lake, the facility was originally a convent before transitioning into a preschool and eventually a full-service childcare center. Liz Blaschko has been involved with All Saints since 2000, and has been the Childcare Director at the Academy since its inception in 2007. Being one of the pillars of this childcare center, Blaschko has seen the evolution of this space firsthand. “I started as a parishioner whose own kids attended preschool here,” Blaschko recalled. “Over the years, Sister Mary Beth asked me to teach, and my role just grew alongside the needs of the community.”
While the Academy is Christian-based—incorporating scripture and prayer before meals—it remains open to children of all races, creeds, and religions. “Our mission is to provide a nurturing, Christ-centered environment where children thrive,” says Blaschko.
What started as a modest preschool has morphed into a year-round childcare operation. Today, the Academy serves approximately 80 students, ranging from six-week-old infants to school-age children preparing for kindergarten. To maintain this level of care, the Academy employs a dedicated team of 24 to 30 staff members, many of whom have been with the center for over five years.
Before the new additions were built, All Saints Academy faced significant logistical hurdles. Both Blaschko and Father Schneider noted that the layout forced staff to navigate between disconnected sections of the building.
Perhaps the most daunting task was meal service. With food catered by Wooden Spoon, staff had to transport meals across buildings, climbing stairs and navigating the outdoors. “Traversing during the winter was a huge safety challenge,” says Blaschko. “The simple act of bringing food over used to be a trek through the elements.”
Furthermore, the original infant space was not designed for modern accessibility, making safe exits and daily operations difficult. Father Schneider himself lacked a dedicated office, often working out of a makeshift living room space.
The discussions for a solution began in earnest about three years ago. Led by Father Schneider and Mark Davies, the parish launched a capital campaign to fund a suite of improvements including a new roof, flooring, lighting, and refurbished pews for the church, alongside the massive childcare addition. “We saw an initial estimate of nearly $2 million,” Father Schneider explained. “We managed to bring that down by about $400,000, and the congregation was incredible—raising $1.3 million in just six months.”
Construction began in July 2025. While the center operated as usual through a back entrance, the hard work culminated on January 20, 2026, when staff and students officially moved into the updated facility. Some of the key improvements for All Saints Academy include a new vestibule to enhance security and limit access for student safety, constructed hallways that make traversing between the parish and the Academy a cinch, a brand-new infant wing and repurposed toddler rooms allow for seven total classrooms, and on-site bottle-making stations and a streamlined path for meal delivery.
Though the main upgrades are complete, there are still a few housekeeping items underway at All Saints Academy such as installing new coat racks and reconfiguring an old infant room into a new space, feedback from both parents and staff have been overwhelmingly positive according to Blaschko.
Rachel, a teacher with 20 years of experience who joined the Academy seven months ago, notes the extra space is a game-changer. “The infants are more accessible to us and their families now. In the winter, being able to move around efficiently is a huge benefit for the staff.”
Chris Sanders, a decade-long employee, echoes the sentiment: “It doesn’t even feel like going to work. The new space makes everything flow better.”
As the Academy looks toward the future, including upcoming preschool graduations and Easter events, the focus remains on using their new wave of space wisely. With 57,000 meals served and 1,000 gallons of milk consumed annually, the expansion ensures that All Saints Academy can continue to meet the high demand for childcare in rural Minnesota for years to come.
