19 Jul 2015 Grand opening Aug. 10 for Courtyard and Cyber Cafe

Grand opening festivities are planned 5 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 10, for the new Courtyard and Cyber Café at St. Joseph High School.

St. Joseph teachers Kathleen Hiegel Gueringer and Monica Lieblong came up with the idea for the project, which has been led by a student board of directors. The goal was to create a place that would enhance collaborative learning and allow teachers and students a place to experience a digital learning environment both indoors and out.

The project represents hours and hours of work by students, parents, alumni and others in the community to convert an existing space at the school.

“We banded together, young and old, in order to dig by hand and haul out bucket by bucket more than 35 cubic yards of dirt just on our first Saturday,” said Lieblong. “We had over 140 volunteers on the first Saturday!”

The grand opening will also introduce 1879 Coffee & Co., created and operated by students. “They are working together with our cafeteria manager, Jeff Crowder, on providing Smart Snacks and promoting a healthy environment,” Lieblong said. “They have also worked with Susie Freyaldenhoven, our technology coordinator, and plan to host events for students and parents in terms of technology advances and safety.”

The public is invited and encouraged to attend the grand opening, which will include a ribbon-cutting, blessing, refreshments and prize drawings. For more information, contact Kathleen Gueringer at [email protected] or Monica Lieblong at [email protected].