CHESTER — The Baptist Church in Chester continued a tradition this school year by doing an end-of-the year cookout for the teachers and staff for at the Chester Grade School and Chester High School for Teacher Appreciation Week.
Pictured here are Chuck Fricke, School Board Member, Ridge Fogerson, Don Berry, Rev. Mike Fogerson, and Virgil Briggs from the Baptist Church. The group received rave reviews for all three events and are likely to be making a return trip to the schools in 2024-2025. Jim Beers Photo
Tuesday May 7 the grilling crew cooked lunch for both the Grade School and High School. his cookout was at the Baptists expense and included a full meal of meats and sides.
Wednesday May 8 the crew was asked to return to Chester High School at the school’s expense and grill hamburgers, and hot dogs for the graduating Seniors in the Class of 2024 for their annual Senior Day Cookout.
Principal Jeremy Blechle then thought it would be nice to allow the other students to celebrate with the seniors, so the cookout was expanded to include all students, teachers and staff.
The popularity of the Baptist chefs’ cooing skills rapidly spread and to close out the school year the Baptists were asked to do one final cookout.
This time it was sponsored by the District 139 Office and the crew cooked for all teachers and staff at the end-of-the-year Teacher’s Meeting and Awards Day prior to the closing of the 2023-2024 school year.