Specialist High Skills Major Projects
2006/2007: Semester 1 Project:
Building "Skills For Life!"
Boyd Jansen is building
a great future for himself.
The 17 year old, South
Lincoln High School student
is pursuing a career as a
General Carpenter and
he can now add a
completed home build to
his already impressive
resume.
Boyd was one of 18 students from the District School Board of Niagara who were selected to participate in the 2006/07 first-semester Specialist High Skills Major – Construction house build project. The project was a partnership between Phelps Homes and the District School Board of Niagara and allowed the 18 students to earn secondary school credits while working on the construction site all day, every day.
The District School Board
of Niagara was one of three provincial pilot sites delivering a Specialist High Skills Major in Construction. The Specialist High Skills Major includes the delivery of sector recognized certifications including WHMIS, First Aid and Fall Protection.
Boyd was selected for this program partly based on his resume — which included previous experience through summer and part-time jobs working with a renovation company and a tile setter. In these jobs, Boyd explained that he did a lot of cleaning up and observing the work being done. The Specialist High Skills Major – Construction project enabled Boyd to demonstrate the skills he was learning. He and his follow students can be very proud of the semi-detached home in Beamsville that they built from the foundation up.
“It is so much more than being in a school.” said Boyd “It is learning hands-on knowledge. It is more physically demanding, but also more rewarding.”
In addition to credits and industry-recognized certifications, Boyd has been signed to an Apprenticeship as a General Carpenter through the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP). Boyd is very eager to pursue his post-secondary education through Apprenticeship and then start his own business.
“[The Specialist High Skills Major in Construction] gives us the opportunity to see the processes. We learn how to calculate the volume of concrete, for example. Then we see the process and really understand why we learned that calculation.”
Boyd’s parents were thrilled that he was selected for the Specialist High Skills Major – Construction project. Boyd has always been able to earn good grades in school but he had a hard time maintaining interest when sitting in traditional classroom situations. Boyd always excelled at the practical project work in any subject.
Boyd reflects on his experience, “I look a lot more closely at details – how the trim is cut, how straight the walls are – and I know what I am looking for.”
This experience has opened a number of new doors to Boyd. In addition to starting his post-secondary education through Apprenticeship, Boyd will be attending College one day/week during second semester to explore career building and business related courses, which he hopes will help him start his own business. Attending college for one day a week will enable Boyd to continue with his OYAP training 4 days a week through an all day Co-op placement.
Boyd enthusiastically concludes, “I would definitely recommend this program!”
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2006/2007: Semester 2 Project
Program Description
Specialist High Skills Major programs are designed to provide students with highly-specialized, sector-specific learning and skills development opportunities, which help to prepare them for success in post-secondary destinations. These programs allow students to get experience in real-life environments, on a daily basis, by working with skilled tradespeople.
The DSBN's SHSM in Construction was one of 27 Ministry-approved pilot programs launched across Ontario for the 2006/2007 school year, in five different sector areas.
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Program Partnerships
In partnership with Habitat for Humanity Niagara, the DSBN student home build raises the sense of social conscience in students by enabling them to give back to the local community. Several sponsors and donors contributed to make this build possible including the Home Depot, the Town of Fort Erie, Coldwell Banker, Dufferin Concrete, Fort Erie Faith Community and Altieri Building Supplies Limited.
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Certifications
Students had the opportunity to earn industry-recognized certifications, in part or in full, from the Construction Safety Association and/or the Industrial Accident Prevention Association. Apprenticeship Certificates from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities were also awarded to all 20 students on this home build who were signed to the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program.
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Project Closing Ceremony
The official project Closing Celebration for the DSBN-Habitat for Humanity Niagara Specialist High Skills Major Student Home Build was held on Monday, June 25, 2007, at the Fort Erie build site.
The celebration was held in honour of the DSBN's continuing partnership with Habitat for Humanity Niagara and this semester's outstanding build team, including: 20 students from Port Colborne, Ridgeway-Crystal Beach and Fort Erie, along with lead construction teacher Mr. Ken Willms, and Mr. John Sherk.
The students on this home build project demonstrated on-going professionalism, growth and dedication. Congratulations to the entire team on your achievements, your commitment to the Specialist High Skills Major Program, and on your contributions to the Fort Erie community.
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