DANVILLE — A handful of students will help kick off the construction of a new addition at South View Middle School.

This week, construction crews will begin building a new 12,000-square-foot cafetorium on the north side of the building, and on Wednesday, the students — two from each grade level — will join Danville school officials and other dignitaries to break ground on the addition.

"This will be a historical moment for the school and for the students, so it's important for them to be involved," said Principal Brenda Yoho, who pointed out that the ground-breaking will take place 50 years after the school opened in 1961.

A ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. at the school, 133 E. Ninth St., Danville. The public is invited to attend.

It will include remarks by Superintendent Mark Denman and Danville Mayor Scott Eisenhauer; the introduction of the general contractor, McDowell Builders of Sidell, and the prime contractor for the mechanical work, Glesco Electric Inc. of Urbana; and a performance by the school's drumline.

The cafetorium is part of the $12.3 million renovation of the school that started earlier this year. The project includes adding a sloped roof, updating mechanical systems, replacing lockers, painting the building and converting a commons area into two additional classrooms.

The cafetorium will double as a cafeteria and auditorium, with a modern kitchen and stage. It will accommodate 350 students during meals and 650 people during assemblies and performances, Buildings and Grounds Director Ron Henton said.

While the majority of the renovations will be completed by this fall, Henton said the cafetorium won't be done until February.

Yoho can't wait until it's ready. Currently, she said, cooks must prepare meals in the kitchen, then load and cart them to three commons areas throughout the building.

The new setup "will make preparing and serving the food more efficient," the principal said.

Also, the commons areas can seat only about 70 students, Yoho said. While each grade level has its own lunch period, students must report to different areas to eat.

"The cafetorium will allow all kids in the same grade level to eat together instead of being separated," Yoho said, adding they'll be able to interact more. She added staff can use that time to make announcements, hold character-building educational activities or bring in guest speakers.

In addition, the school will have a stage and a new sound system — something that's been on a wish list for years.

"That will absolutely validate our music program by having a place for our band and show choir to perform," Yoho said.

Henton said the renovations are moving along, including adding the roof trusses, which "are starting to take shape." When school wraps up on Thursday, he said, crews will begin installing new "storefront" windows, re-plumbing restrooms, re-wiring classrooms and painting.

Yoho said the school will hold several special events to celebrate the renovations, including an open house in the fall and a special performance in the spring.