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Modernization fits latest hair, art styles

Students at Foothills Composite High School are using some new space to create hairstyles worthy of being captured in a painting.
Grade 12 students Jordan Sicotte, left, and Landry Stasiuk practice hair styling techniques in the new cosmetology classroom on Oct. 20. The renovations have been underway
Grade 12 students Jordan Sicotte, left, and Landry Stasiuk practice hair styling techniques in the new cosmetology classroom on Oct. 20. The renovations have been underway since spring of 2016, and will continue through to January 2018.

Students at Foothills Composite High School are using some new space to create hairstyles worthy of being captured in a painting.

The school opened its new cosmetology room and art room last week in one of the first stages of the school’s $20-million modernization.

Kendra Wegener, the cosmetology teacher at Foothills for 29 years, has been in the same classroom since Cindy Lauper introduced her hairstyle.

She’s loving the new digs.

“It is the best environment in the school in terms of ergonomics,” Wegener said. “We have wonderful technology for the students and the clients.”

Cosmetology was in the west side of the school before moving to its new location on the far-east side on Oct. 19. The improvements include sinks and chairs, which can be adjusted for both the clients and students comfort.

“This is for the students’ comfort,” Wegener said. “The chairs can pop up and down for their own well-being. They don’t have to strain themselves as much because working with hair is very hard on the shoulders and neck.”

There is also plenty of space for Wegener to teach and watch.

“There is definitely more space between stations – it is set up more like a professional salon,” Wegener said. “It’s more efficient… As instructors, the way the room is set up we can the whole class better. This is set up like a salon. The old one was a modified classroom trying to look like a salon.”

For the first six weeks of school the students were in a room with no water.

“We washed our mannequins in the girls washroom,” she said. “We just made do.”

With limited ability to practice on their mannequins, the students did plenty of time studying theory in first few weeks.

Grade 12 student Landry Stasiuk was glad to have the extra space on Thursday, just her second day in the new cosmetology room.

“The last month has been chaotic,” she said while working on a mannequin. “It was super-crowded, not a lot we could do.”

Jordan Sicotte, another senior at the Comp, agreed.

“The new stations are sleek and easier to work with,” she said.

The salon is also strategically placed. It is directly across from the proposed drama classes, providing easy access to work on actors’ for upcoming productions.

The students began cutting members of the public’s hair this week.

While Stasiuk and Sicotte were working on hair, Grade 12 Alberta High School of Fine Arts student Morgan Grover was taking advantage of the extensive natural light in the new art room as she worked on her latest piece.

“I definitely like the lighting in this place and it is very organized,” she said. “Everything is all together, so it’s easier to find.”

The art students have been in the former weight-room since the start of school.

Art teacher Paul Rasporich said the new art room is acoustically sound, which makes it easier to talk to the approximately 30 students in his classroom.

“This is a big open space and it’s acoustic,” Rasporich said. “The light is very good, which is very important.”

Foothills vice-principal Jordan Rhodes said it was important to get the students into proper cosmetology and art rooms as soon as possible to ensure students spent the number of hours required in their programs. The modernization also features a new performing arts area on the east side of the school for the Alberta High School of Fine Arts program. There will also be mechanical work, such as lighting, repairing roofs, done throughout the school as part of the project.

The modernization project is expected to be completed in January 2018.

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