Hugh McMillan’s Kids’ Corner: PHS skilled trades class builds confidence, and careers
By Hugh McMillan
Contributing Writer
For years I’ve shared in the grumbling that there aren’t enough classes in the trades for our kids. To me, whether students plan to go on to college or not, getting a grasp of the fundamentals of how to work with carpentry, electricity and metals is essential.
Well, I had the delight of participating in this a few days ago at Peninsula High School’s Skilled Trades Pre-Apprenticeship class and observing its director, Eric Morton, encourage our young people to seek perfection in their training.
Eric provided me the following excellent description of the class:
“The Skilled Trades Pre-Apprenticeship class is in its third year at PHS. It is a 360-hour high-quality, hands-on, skilled trades pre-apprenticeship training activity. It is designed to help students prepare to gain employment in the construction industry directly out of high school and/or enter construction or manufacturing apprenticeships, community college programs, or four-year degree options in construction management.
“Students have training in and gain several certifications, including first aid and CPR, flagger, OSHA 10-hour safety, forklift and scissor lift. They learn tool identification and how to use them safely, math, and science as it relates to skilled trades.”
The program is affiliated with ANEW, a Renton-based nonprofit that seeks to link young workers with apprenticeship programs in the skilled trades.
”This class is helping me learn life skills and everyday essentials in life,” said student Colby Marshall. “It’s helping me plan my future as it trains me in carpentry, plumbing, electrical, etc. Without this class, many students would have to go to Bates or Clover Park but this class is right on campus.”
Students work on modules in electrical, carpentry, masonry, plumbing, welding, and other skills, as well as understanding the importance of physical fitness, explained Morton. They work together to construct a building, such as a tiny house. Participation in this program exposes them directly with apprenticeship training facilities and potential employers. Some programs come to the PHS classroom and help with instruction and mentoring.
The Gig Harbor Friday Morning Rotary Club has been a vital sponsor of the program for the last two years and continues to be this year as well. During the last two years, the Rotarians have purchased all the materials for the students to build a tiny house for the Low Income Housing Institute.
Morton said this year’s class is the largest yet, with 23 students, three of them female.
One of the three women, senior Chloe Duttry, said she joined the skilled trades program “because I want background knowledge on all the components of a house. I have applied directly to multiple architecture programs at four-year universities and having an understanding of how a building is constructed is extremely beneficial.”
”I’m learning new approaches on how to take on tools and different time-saving procedures,” said Reid Wasankari. “I’m here to learn more about the use of tools and career paths as well as procedures. I am getting what I wanted and learning more about other topics I least expected.”
”What I want to get from this class is my certifications that could get me long-term and short-term jobs,” said Robert Elliott.
“I’m in STPA class to get more information on all the trades that are offered,” said Jade Hoskins. “I really want to become an architectural engineer and strongly believe this class will help me achieve that goal.”
“As a class we are focusing on carpentry,” said William Pinnell. “We are learning how to frame wall, and are working on a tiny house.”
”This class is giving me experience that I can use right out of high school to get a job,” enthused Andrew Campbell. “It opens up more opportunities for me than I would have otherwise.”
“I plan on being an electrician after high school,” said Tyler Lee, “and in this trades program I learn about working in this trade.”
Isaac Hermse said he “took this class because later on in life I want to have a job in the trades. The class covers a little of each trade which is very useful because it gives me an advantage for when I apply to an apprenticeship program. I want to get the knowledge of being an electrician, which is what I want to be after high school.”
”I’m in this class because I want to be ready for whatever I have to do after high school, and start my job running,” said Wiley Hutchins.
Josiah Howard “had a conversation with my dad on what this could do to further my career after high school. It’s helping me understand different tools and working strategies. I want different certifications to help me with future work and apprenticeships.”
”What I want to get out of this class is education on the trades and the certification that comes with it,” said Gehrig Matison.
”I am in this class because I wanted a fun and hands-on class for my senior year,” said Riley Perkerewicz, adding, “because of the knowledge I am going to obtain and all the certifications that come along with it.”
Celeste Rivas said she signed up mainly because, someday, “I want to build my house.”
For more info, contact Director Eric Morton: <mortone@edtools.psd401.net>
This story was originally published November 13, 2019 at 2:55 PM.