It was a hard-hat moment at the ceremonial ground-breaking for the new science lab at St. Agnes School in Springfield. Shown here are project manager Greg Goetz of R.D. Lawrence; St. Agnes seventh-graders Eric Brydl and Lauren Frank, representing all of the students who will benefit from the new lab; Springfield Mayor Timothy J. Davlin; St. Agnes principal Sister M. Joan Sorge, OP; school board member Jim Donelan; annual fund drive co-chairperson Kelly Gilmore; and science teacher Rita Stuewe.

Springfield Mayor Timothy J. Davlin joined St. Agnes School principal Sister M. Joan Sorge, OP, and other school and project representatives to commemorate the beginning of construction on the school's new science lab.

The ceremony was held May 28 in the seventh-grade classroom that will become the new science lab. Prior to donning hard hats and hoisting sledge hammers for the ceremonial photo opportunity, Sister Joan provided a glimpse of the new lab's features, including the new science tables, special cabinetry and sinks, smart board and projector, and exhaust hood and fan for experiments. She said the "cutting-edge environment" will allow students to explore, learn and grow in the field of science. The lab also will be complemented by a new curriculum, equipment and other classroom educational materials.

"The new lab's capabilities will continue the tradition of delivering exceptional Catholic education at St. Agnes," Sister Joan told the mayor and others. "None of this would have been possible without the generous donations of our school families, parishioners and others who participated in or contributed to both this year's annual fund drive and the annual St. Agnes Parish/School auction."

Mayor Davlin talked to the students about the importance of education and said he envied them for the new state-of-the-art resources that would be available to them in the fall. He also shared details of his favorite science experiment from his own elementary school days.

Construction will begin in June and will be completed in time for the upcoming 2008-2009 school year.