SIXTH-GRADE GIRLS from Maple Grove K-8 School were able to get hands-on experience learning to fix a broken water main and more while attending the annual “Women In Trades Career Fair” in Portland this month. Photo courtesy of Battle Ground Public Schools
MAPLE GROVE K-8 School sixth-grade boys are shown here participating in a criminal justice demonstration at the Clark county Vocational Skills Center. Students were given an opportunity to view the multiple programs offered by the center. Photo courtesy of Battle Ground Public Schools
All sixth-grade students at Maple Grove K-8 School got an opportunity this month to get out of the classroom and into the workforce through two memorable field trips.
The sixth-grade girls rallied together and attended the annual “Women In Trades Career Fair” in Portland, OR. Maple Grove students have been attending the fair for the past 10 years and get an opportunity to work side by side with women professionals using carpentry tools and a wire feed welder, meeting challenges like fixing a broken water main, and shimming up a 15-foot steel girder with the women ironworkers.
“The Ironworkers Workshop was very powerful because the ironworkers did a great job of talking to the girls about facing fear, having confidence in yourself and never giving up,” said teacher Doug Shannon.
The annual event, sponsored by Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc., is the largest non-traditional career fair of its kind. It is an interactive three-day fair, with the goal to increase the overall number of women working in the trades. The students attended the first day of the event especially designed for middle school girls.
The sixth-grade boys also got hands-on experience with a field trip to the Clark County Vocational Skills Center (CCVSC). In preparation for the trip the students completed a survey to communicate the career programs they wished to visit. Then a tour, organized by CCVSC Dean of Students Margaret Rice, was developed to give the students an opportunity to view the multiple programs offered by the center.
Students began the tour with an etiquette class and breakfast prepared by the highly-acclaimed Skills Center Culinary Arts Program chefs and students, some of which are Maple Grove alumni. After breakfast the students were able to visit multiple programs, including automotive technology, construction technology, criminal justice, diesel technology, electro-digital technology, pre-engineering/design technology and restaurant management.
“This was an excellent experience for our students,” said teacher Bryan Strickland. “We are grateful to the Skills Center for their amazing programs and this opportunity for our students to get hands-on experience with multiple career fields.”
