Klamath Learning Center and EagleRidge High School students are linking up for the first time in the classroom.
This past June, a CTE Program of Study in construction technology and Pre-Apprenticeship Construction Program were approved.
It was a conversation EagleRidge Executive Director Kimberly Cappel and Klamath Learning Center Supervisor Toby Flackus talked about doing for a while.
“We are excited to have this opportunity for our kids at KLC and look forward to continuing the relationship between KLC and Eagle Ridge,” Flackus said.
The original idea came several years beforehand. EagleRidge eventually met with its advisors, which included Klamath Community College, and decided which classes would be included in the program. The idea arose with the plan to expand KCC’s welding classes and bring more high school students to the college.
The partnership and programs are the first of its kind in the state of Oregon.
The curriculum and classes are guided by the National Center for Construction Education and Research curriculum, a nationally recognized industry.
Classes for the pre-apprenticeship program are Intro to the Trades, Tools for Success, Intro Craft Skills, Craft Skills I, II and III, Construction Applications and CTE Construction Math.
By taking the new programs, there will an incentive. After completing the pre-apprenticeship program, students will receive dual credit with KCC in Carpentry I and II.
Students will also complete certificates in OSHA 10, OSHA 30, ForkLift and Industrial CPR/AED during the program.
“It was just a natural conversation. We have a great working relationship with KCC and we want to partner with them to ensure they were receiving prepared students for their new construction program,” Cappel said. “The relationship is solid and continues to positively evolve.”
Cappel said there is currently work being done to develop the math program with Pearson Education, which are the makers of the NCCER curriculum.
Cappel is working on refining the math program with the company, Derivita. It will eventually be offered throughout the United States once it is completed.
The new programs are not only offered to KLC or EagleRidge students. Cappel said any high school student can be a part of the programs.
“Since this amazing collaboration between high schools, colleges and industries is unique in Oregon, I think it is very worthy of attention,” Klamath Learning Center teacher, Brent Nichols, said. “As for the part of our district's alternative school, Klamath Learning Center, we are extremely pleased to have a relationship with EagleRidge Charter School that allows students in our district to move where they can best be served in accordance with their needs.”
Inside the classroom
Five of Nichols’ students are taking classes at EagleRidge five days a week with EagleRidge instructor, Seth Durham.
Students will eventually work into getting into the advance classes of the program later this year.
As of now, they are learning fundamentals such as how to apply for a job they want, how to act in a work environment, to name a few.
For Lily Mias, a student at KLC, it gives her a chance to do something that brings back memories from her childhood. When she was younger, Mias spent time welding with her uncle, who improved homes.
She also took introduction to CTE classes at her former school and took workshop classes as well when she was younger. Mias also discovered she is able to take classes at EagleRidge, something she is considering.
With it being the first week of classes, Mias is looking forward to meeting some of her classmates after struggling with something she cannot control.
“Meeting new people is something I have been thinking about. I have an issue with social anxiety, so I want to work around that and start to meet new people,” Mias said. “It has been there for a few years. It is just about meeting new people.”
One of her new classmates is Payton DeLonge, who has no doubt what he wants to do after he is done with high school.
DeLonge is certain he wants to be a welder, wanting to take after his role model, his grandfather, who had his own business as a welder at the age of 18. He had to stop when he was 25 when he began starting his family.
“I want to be a welder. The classes are challenging,” DeLonge said. “I want to continue what my grandfather did. He had a child and gave it up, so I want to do that now and try to continue it. He stopped after he had my dad because he wanted to take care of him.”
Aguilar-FloresJ@kfalls.k12.or.us