COEUR d'ALENE — Fine arts classes at Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy got a much-needed upgrade over the weekend with the opening of a new wing of the school.

Construction on the fine arts wing — which will house all of the band, choir, drama and art classes for grades six through 12 — began last spring. On Saturday, Nov. 21, members of the community joined staff and students to open the new wing during a ribbon cutting ceremony.

"They loved it and were very excited," said Laura Beyer, assistant to the principal. "We let them walk through and take a look at it after the ceremony, then we moved everything in."

Beyer said the new classrooms will immediately benefit the school's fine arts classes, particularly due to the addition of a stage. In the past, Beyer said, all of the student performances took place either at a church in downtown Coeur d'Alene, or at Coeur d'Alene High School.

"We are really excited to be able to do that stuff here now," she said.

Before the completion of the new wing, the school's band classes had to rehearse in what Beyer called a very tight, cramped, room.

"It's going to give them so much more room," Beyer said of the new band classroom. "Now they can spread out, and when you have a bunch of kids with a bunch of instruments, that's definitely a good thing."

Art classes at the charter academy used to occur in a regular classroom. Beyer said the classroom did have a sink, and a kiln, but it wasn't built to facilitate creative pursuits.

"One thing that's really cool about their new classroom is sky lights, which let in a bunch of natural light," Beyer said. "That will really help with their art because natural light is important — it's a really beautiful room."