It's course-planning time at North Shore high schools as students prepare their timetables for next September.
For grade 11 and 12 students, there is a unique new program to consider, which is being offered by the West Vancouver school district, but is open to students from North or West Vancouver. The program, called ACE-IT Carpentry, offers carpentry training to students interested in a career in trades or related fields.
"This program fits completely within the normal school day," says Kim Adams, the apprenticeship co-ordinator for the West Vancouver school district.
Unlike a traditional semester system, most North Shore high schools operate on a linear, two-day class schedule. Students' timetables are divided into Day 1 and Day 2, with room for about four courses on each day. The schedule runs the entire school year, rather than being divided into semesters.
The two-day system allows students in the carpentry program to continue with core academic courses on one day and work on the carpentry program for the entire second day of their schedule. That unique format allows students to continue on track for post-secondary university, college or trades training, without closing the door on any of those options.
"It's an enhancement program," says Adams, noting the carpentry program is a duel-credit course for which students can receive a credit for the high school system and a credit for the post-secondary apprenticeship system. Students who complete the course and exam can earn their level one certification in carpentry, which is a standard skill required for work in the construction industry. Construction carpentry is a key skill, which includes jobs such as framing. One of the reasons why carpentry was chosen as the focus for the new course was because of job forecasts that suggest a need for workers in the construction industry, notes Adams.
Students interested in other related areas, such as engineering, may also benefit from an applied skills course such as this one, she adds.
"It's difficult to be only theoretical-based and then walk onto a job site
The carpentry course is open to 16 students, and will be taught at West Vancouver secondary by a certified teacher, who is also a certified carpenter.
Students who take the course in Grade 11, may have the opportunity to continue in Grade 12 and possibly include some on-site apprenticeship as well as a six-week level two course at BCIT. The carpentry course is also a full-day class. It's not defined by a bell schedule, so it's more like a work place, explains Adams. Those students interested in finding out more about the course can visit the West Vancouver school district website for more information and for an application.
