Westfield cuts ribbon on Shamrock Station

Submitted by Westfield Washington Schools

Westfield Washington School (WWS) held a ribbon cutting ceremony at Shamrock Station on Tuesday, May 12 to showcase the educational programs held in the new space.

The public was offered tours of the facilities, where guests were able to explore the catering kitchen, event center, and hydroponic garden where culinary arts and Foodies Rock students prepare a full catering spread featuring appetizers, entrees, and desserts for the night.

Visitors also had the opportunity to visit the Rocks Media House photography and videography studio to see the lighting setup, backdrop, and production space. Attendees also learned about the high school internships offered by this program and the professional media production pathway.

In addition, the attendees toured the Shamrock Connections space and learned more about the support offered for exceptional young adults aged 18 to 22. Connections students utilize their space in Shamrock Station to practice life skills and are also paired with community businesses and organizations to get work experience.

To wrap up the tour visitors got to stop by The Rocks Shop. The shop is student-led and offers Shamrocks gear through online orders currently. Last but not least, WWS’s Shamrock Success is being held at the facility through the end of the 2025-2026 school year.

WWS recognizes the following leaders of the programs at Shamrock Station for their utilization of the space for the purpose of making students Life Ready:

• Nikki Heflin, WHS culinary arts instructor and Foodies Rock sponsor
• Shawn Davis and Bailey Ruble, WHS teachers and co-leads of Rocks Media House
• Sandy O’Neill and Taylor Woolsey, transition teachers for Shamrock Connections
• John Moore, WHS teacher and sponsor of The Rocks Shop, led by a group of his students

During the ribbon cutting, speeches were delivered by KrM Architecture and Meyer-Najem Construction representatives, WWS Superintendent Dr. John Atha, and School Board President Rebecca Ogle.

“This facility represents our commitment to providing leading, hands-on, and impactful learning opportunities for our students,” Ogle said. “From culinary arts and hospitality to media production and life- and employability skills, the programs housed here are already providing students with meaningful experiences that extend beyond the classroom.”

In the future, the facility will continue to offer more opportunities for community use as an event center, including ballroom and conference space rental. Meeting, celebrations, and large-scale events. Foodies Rock’s off-premise and to-go catering services are currently available to the community. On-premise catering and event rental space will become available as community services in the future. The event space includes a grand ballroom with a lobby space and two small meeting rooms. While the space serves a purpose for the community it also provides students with a hands-on learning experience.

“Currently, Shamrock Station is primarily a practice ground for students running events, offering catering services, telling stories through creative media, and preparing for life beyond graduation,” Superintendent Dr. John Atha. “Over time, this facility will become more and more a community asset and a place for connection between our schools and everyone in Westfield through its events and services.”

WWS thanks the community for joining in on this celebration and the district looks forward to a future of community engagement via the space and services offered at Shamrock Station.