Avon View students building a future

By Nadine Armstrong

The Hants Journal

NovaNewsNow.com

The newest building to be added on to Avon View High School wasn’t erected by local contractors; students at the school built it. The 16 by 25- foot gable-end garage was a course requirement for the grade 10 Construction Tech (C Tech) class under the guidance of teacher Anthony Lockhart.

Although the course is taught at high schools throughout the Valley this is the first time a project of this magnitude was included.

“This is a first for us and the School Board,” Lockhart said, “they’ve been very generous in supporting the project.”

He noted that the course is a popular one for those students who love hands-on work and the project also taught them essential skills when it comes to the construction trades.

“The skills they’ve learned through building this barn will help them in so many ways, from the work force in the future to getting a summer job,” Lockhart said.

Long before the building phase could be built, students needed to design it, draw the plans and estimate and order materials. As well, they also participated in safety training through Construction Nova Scotia, WHMIS, First Aid, Fall Arrest.

“They are getting to make the connection between what is required in the trade and making contacts with actual contractors and building supply stores,” Lockhart said. And that goes along way toward finding future employment in the field.

Spending class time out of doors building is also a big attraction for some students. “They can’t wait to get here,” Lockhart said.

“It’s a lot better then sitting around in class. After two hours of this and then lunch, time really flies,” said one C tech student.

The students unanimously agreed that interest in construction comes to them naturally. “My dad is in the trade and I’ll be working with him this summer. I hope now he won’t give me just the cruddy jobs,” one student laughed.

Several students are planning toward a future in the construction industry, while some just want to get the chance to learn something new. One female student admitted she grew up surrounded by guys and felt she more or less knew the basis already.

“I prefer this to cooking,” she said. “It actually seems like something I could see myself doing for a career.” She added that all the lifting and going back and forth for supplies is a great way to keep fit.

Through the course, students have also learned to never take math for granted. “You really need to have good math skills,” said one participant. “You can’t measure the rise over run or get within an 1/8 of an inch if you don’t pay attention to the math.

Lockhart says this is one out building he’s sure will never be vandalized. “They have a lot of pride in what they’ve build here. If this building gets hurt, they’re going to find out who did it.”