Community Corner

St. Charles West Celebrates New Outdoor Amphitheater

Students raised money for the project for three years.

St. Charles West graduate Arturio Moreno surveyed the completed outdoor amphitheater outside of his school May 18, a project he helped work on for two years before he graduated in 2010. 

During his junior and senior year, Moreno helped design and build the three tiered green space outside of the school's cafeteria. On Wednesday, Moreno gathered with other St. Charles West students, teachers and parents to celebrate the completion of the project with student musical performances, snacks and art projects on display.

"It looks different when it's on paper," Moreno said. "You can't imagine how it looks in real life." 

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St. Charles West technology teacher Jeremy Jackson has led a class of students enrolled in the Advanced Solutions and Design and Machine Processes course in building the outdoor space. St. Charles West students raised money to pay for project by selling commemorative bricks that line a section of the amphitheater space near the door. Several students were selling the bricks for $50 each on May 18. Although the amphitheater is largely completed, there's more to be done. 

The students talked about the practical knowledge they've gained from taking the class. 

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"I wanted to help build something that would stay here for a long time and be cool," Junior Dan Everly said."I actually know how to build a waterfall now," 

"I can build a wall," Senior Nick Brush said. 

"I can lay a walkway," Senior Alexander Rael said. 

Moreno said he has been able to put his new skills to use since his graduation. He helped put in a retaining wall at his parent's house. He said he learned a lot from the class.

"We had to work as a team we had to trust each other," Moreno said. 

Audrey Bildner, St. Charles West photography teacher, brought her daughter, Stella, to the grand opening. Bildner is new to St. Charles West this year, and said she's enjoyed seeing how the area progressed. 

"I did see it at the first of the year and it was a pit of dirt," she said, adding that the efforts by Jeremy Jackson are impressive. "He gives me something to aspire to."


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