Construction Academy Start Building!

The Academy kids are ready to build! FINALLY!!! Students were divided into 4 teams, with each team designing and constructing a different style "shed". As they work on the project, students are integrating skills learned about safety, time management, team member interaction and professionalism in the workplace. One shed will be selected and donated to Whatcom County's annual Home Show sponsored by our local Building Industry Association. The shed will be raffled, with proceeds being used for student scholarships. The other 3 sheds will be sold with funds returned to the program to help purchase building materials for next year's construction project.

Wow, the year is wizzing by and so many things are going on.....The kids received a special gift from Intalco - workboots! The vendor came into their classroom during the first couple of weeks of class so they could measure the students feet, and then in October, the students were invited to go out to Intalco for a tour and that is when they also received their shoes. The students are busy right now in the books and are quite anxious to begin building an actual project. Some of the students participated in getting their OSHA 10 certifications. In October, the kids also had an opportunity to get their First Aid certifications. There have been many interesting speakers who have already stopped in, and of course there was the pizza and cupcake party to celebrate National Construction Careers Week on October 19.

Students Prepare for First Day!

Academy Students were treated to jobsite tours on August 6 to see for themselves what it was like to work on an actual construction project. Before the students could even go on the site, they had to be "suited up" with hardhats, safety vests and glasses. After a quick safety briefing, off they went to the sites at the corner of Woburn and Barkley where Tiger Construction and Dawson Construction are working. Students got to see three diffrent projects: a parking garage, a new bank and a mixed use commercial/residential building. Each of the projects was in a different phase of construction. The students had great questions and had the opportunity to meet the Project Supervisors and Dawson Construction's Safety Director.

Welcome Aboard New Instructor!!!

We finally can take a deep breath of relief because we have found the perfect instructor. His name is Ted Goeres and he comes to us from the other side of the Mountain. His family is relocating to Bellingham and his wife will be the principal at Assumption Catholic School. Welcome to Bellingham Ted - we are happy you are here! Ted brings many years of teaching experience, but he also is a journeyman carpenter and trained under Jim Metz in Mount Vernon. I think he even helped build the Cascade Mall in Burlington. His passion for teaching and his students was clearly evident in his interview. He has a big job this coming school year, but we feel that he is up for the challenge. So Ted, welcome to Meridian High School and get ready to have some fun.

Looking for the Perfect Academy Teacher.....

We are ready to look for our perfect construction academy instructor. This will be a part time position, but will require a full time passion for the students in the program! The instructor must have a valid Career and Technical Education Trade and Industry certificate from the State of Washington with endorsement in construction trades or the ability to be certified. It would be great if our applicant had actual field experience. The job will require the instructor to teach students how to be good employees including teambuilding, conflict management and accountability. The instructor will also have to nurture and develop relationships with the business community to assist with setting up and monitoring internships. If you know someone or are interested in applying for this position and have further questions, please give Linda Cowan, Whatcom County Tech Prep Director a call and she will be happy to speak to you. You can reach her at 360-752-8458.

Registration Night!!!

Hey! It was great to see many of the students and their parents for our first Construction Careers Academy class Registration Night! We have all worked so hard on this whole concept (especially Linda Cowin and Liz Evans) for over 2 years...it is really exciting to see it finally unfold! I can't express enough to the students what a HUGE event this is. There are soooo many jobs out there just waiting to be filled. Trust me...I know! At Andgar, we hire: welders, plumbers, HVAC service technicians, sheet metal workers, estimators, project coordinators, mechanical engineers, metal roofers....the list goes on and on.

THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IS THE BEST!!!

Registration Night!!!

Last night the first group of Whatcom County Construction Academy students arrived for Registration Night at Meridian High School. It was pizza, pop, t-shirts and paperwork....the kids are excited and it will definitely be a year of great opportunities for them. I can already tell that this class is going to be "the best of the best".