Travis Sonmor, a Foothills Composite High School welding student, demonstrates his welding ability during the school’s Career and Technology Skills Day on Thursday. There were 13 trades and careers showcased during the day that highlighted just some of the
educational opportunities at the composite school. photo by Bruce Campbell
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By Bruce Campbell
Staff reporter
Foothills Composite High School students learned first hand there is more to education at the school than reading, writing and arithmetic.
The school held its fourth annual Career and Technology Studies Skills Day Thursday in which students and the public were invited to try their hand at various skills.
“It is a celebration of the various trades that we offer at the school, the classes we offer that make us a composite school,” said welding teacher Virgil Green. “We showcased 13 programs ranging from fashion and cosmetology to welding to computer graphics.”
Grade 12 student Jordan Martins was helping to man the photography and printing workshop.
“It went really well. I had about 20 kids go through my station,” Martins said.
Brittany Hornsby and Carlee Faubert try changing a tire at the Career and Technology Studies Skills Day at Foothills Composite High School Thursday. photo by Bruce Campbell |
Photography is what Martins is studying, but he got to try his hand at other trades, as well.
“I tried welding which I hadn’t done before,” Martins said. “I did a straight line weld, it was interesting.”
Lizzie Carr, a Grade 10 Fine Arts student, took in the fashion show and was impressed, despite the fact she prefers a more punk style.
“It was more preppy than what I prefer,” she said of the fashions. “But I was very impressed. The clothes and the hairstyles looked very professional. The whole thing was professionally done.”
Green said the skills day provides an opportunity for all students to see what is available.
Those 1970s stereotypes of the trades being for students who couldn’t make it in the mainstream classroom have gone the way of the Pet Rock, mood rings and K.C. and the Sunshine Band.
“We have highly academic students in our CTS classes,” Green said. “These are kids who are looking at the demands for the trades now and the opportunities they provide.”
Grade 10 student Jessica Hernandez took welding last semester.
“I didn’t really know what welding was last year,” she admitted. “This school gives you the chance to try different things.”
Fashion student Heather Mayes gives Tyson Rast a hand during a sewing demonstration at Foothills Composite High School’s Skills Day on Thursday. photo by Bruce Campbell |
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