Grade 8 through 12 students at John Paul II Collegiate recently finished a semester of industrial arts, and a sampling of their projects was on display in the school library last week.
Industrial arts instructor Jeff Kardynal says there are four areas of study: woodworking; welding; some electrical; and drafting and architectural design.
Starting with 鈥渕assage鈥� cars, shelves and wooden loons in Grade 8, the projects become increasingly challenging.
In Grade 12, says Kardynal, the students come up with a design, do a technical drawing on CAD, prepare a cut and cost sheet, a bill of materials and written instructions. That takes them about halfway through the semester, then they take their project to the shop.
It鈥檚 really a prototyping process, says Kardynal, because what looks good on paper doesn鈥檛 always work out when it comes to building it.
鈥淪ometimes a project might look simple when it鈥檚 done, but is actually quite difficult because of the trials,鈥� says Kardynal.
Savannah Martin agrees. She had to make several alterations to the design of her hammock stand before it was completed.
Kardynal says Savannah is one of his first female聽 Grade 12 students interested in welding.
She plans to pursue a career in the automotive world, most likely as an automotive technician.
Savannah says her father, uncles and several other relatives are mechanics, so she felt guided in that direction.
鈥淚 like cars,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 actually have a 鈥�81 Trans Am of my own that I鈥檓 rebuilding with my stepfather.鈥�
She has been looking for apprenticeship opportunities.
It鈥檚 new to JPII, says Kardynal, but the school is partnering with different businesses in the community.
Students who want to pursue training in a trade can work under a journeyman to earn a school聽 credit plus hours toward their apprenticeship.
In theory,聽 sometimes they can get paid as well. But, says Kardynal, because it鈥檚 a learning experience, it鈥檚 most often volunteer.
It is also a good way to make connections in the community, he says.
