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Westlane Community Garden - NOW OPEN!
Westlane DSBN Technological Skills Competition
Niagara Falls School's Class in Cool
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Andrew Searle, a Grade 11 student at Westlane Secondary School, solders copper tubing as he works on a compressor during the District School Board of Niagara’s skills competition at the school on March 8. |
NIAGARA FALLS — In today’s tech and information-driven economy, fewer and fewer people are looking at the skilled trades as a career choice.
At Westlane Secondary School, Chip Morningstar is doing what he can to help show students that skilled trades can present a viable career option. Morningstar teaches classes in refrigeration technology at Westlane, where students learn to repair refrigeration systems, among other things.
“We usually have two or three each year who go on (either to college or apprenticeships),” Morningstar said, as he watched over students taking part in the annual DSBN skills challenge. “This course is a great opportunity for students that are looking for a career in the HVAC industry to get a head start.”
The Westlane course is a rarity in these parts, Morningstar said.
“Westlane is the only high school in the region to offer refrigeration at the high school level — public and Catholic. There’s nothing in Hamilton, but there is one in Burlington.”
The course at Westlane goes back more than 30 years, while Morningstar has been teaching it for the past 10.
He said that Westlane has applied to designate the course under the Specialist High Skills Major category, making the program regional in scope. As it stands now, the course is a “magnet” for students from other schools to sign up. Currently, there is a student from E.L. Crossley Secondary School in Pelham in the Grade 10 refrigeration class.
“We’re just waiting to hear back,” he said.
At Westlane Secondary School, Chip Morningstar is doing what he can to help show students that skilled trades can present a viable career option. Morningstar teaches classes in refrigeration technology at Westlane, where students learn to repair refrigeration systems, among other things.
“We usually have two or three each year who go on (either to college or apprenticeships),” Morningstar said, as he watched over students taking part in the annual DSBN skills challenge. “This course is a great opportunity for students that are looking for a career in the HVAC industry to get a head start.”
The Westlane course is a rarity in these parts, Morningstar said.
“Westlane is the only high school in the region to offer refrigeration at the high school level — public and Catholic. There’s nothing in Hamilton, but there is one in Burlington.”
The course at Westlane goes back more than 30 years, while Morningstar has been teaching it for the past 10.
He said that Westlane has applied to designate the course under the Specialist High Skills Major category, making the program regional in scope. As it stands now, the course is a “magnet” for students from other schools to sign up. Currently, there is a student from E.L. Crossley Secondary School in Pelham in the Grade 10 refrigeration class.
“We’re just waiting to hear back,” he said.
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Richard Hutton is a Reporter-Photographer for Niagara this Week, covering Niagara Falls. Covering everything from politics to community stories and everything in between, Richard has won a pair of Ontario Community Newspaper Awards for his work and has been recognized for his long-time commitment to the industry with the OCNA's Silver Quill Award.
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A Different Kind of Greenhouse Effect
Specialist High Skills Major-
Horticulture lead Tyler Graham, second from left, tends to poinsettias being cultivated in a new greenhouse at Westlane Secondary School. Graham was joined by students Brad Vermolen, left, John Bunton and Josh Wood.
Students from Westlane Secondary School and from other schools across Niagara are getting a head start on their green thumbs, thanks to a new greenhouse at the south Niagara Falls high school.
“It makes sense for this area,” said Specialist High Skills Major horticulture lead Tyler Graham said. “We’re in a greenbelt with fruits and vegetables, so it only makes sense to show students how green industry works.”
Graham is also the lead on the Dig It program, which brings together Grade 11 and 12 students from all schools across the District School Board of Niagara who may be interested in pursuing some form of horticultural career, whether it is in a greenhouse or in a field such as landscape design. There are 100 students in the program, including 50 from Westlane alone.
“The numbers are increasing every year,” Graham said. “There seems to be a lot of buzz.”
The greenhouse was guilt on to the school as a part of its technology wing. There is also an adjacent area for hydroponics in what was once an auto shop.
The SHSM horticulture program planted its first seeds at Kernahan Park Secondary School in St. Catharines in 2013, but when the DSBN decided to close Kernahan and convert it to French programming that same year, the horticulture program was moved to Westlane.
Currently, the students have been cultivating poinsettias that are for sale, and in the spring, the greenhouse will be the site of a plant sale.
The students will also be taking part in the Schools in Bloom program, Graham said.
Also in the spring, the program will be partnering with the Links for Greener Learning program, which helps families new to Canada learn how to garden in a climate that may be new to them.
“Some of the kids will lead that,” Graham said.
Grade 12 student Brad Vermolen said the program has helped him in his journey to one day own his own landscaping business. He’ll continue the journey by helping his cousin with his business.
“The plan is to go into landscaping and trying to build myself up to where I make my own landscaping business,” Vermolen said.
The SHSM program, he said, has given his a great foundation.
“It’s been a wonderful learning experience.”
“It makes sense for this area,” said Specialist High Skills Major horticulture lead Tyler Graham said. “We’re in a greenbelt with fruits and vegetables, so it only makes sense to show students how green industry works.”
Graham is also the lead on the Dig It program, which brings together Grade 11 and 12 students from all schools across the District School Board of Niagara who may be interested in pursuing some form of horticultural career, whether it is in a greenhouse or in a field such as landscape design. There are 100 students in the program, including 50 from Westlane alone.
“The numbers are increasing every year,” Graham said. “There seems to be a lot of buzz.”
The greenhouse was guilt on to the school as a part of its technology wing. There is also an adjacent area for hydroponics in what was once an auto shop.
The SHSM horticulture program planted its first seeds at Kernahan Park Secondary School in St. Catharines in 2013, but when the DSBN decided to close Kernahan and convert it to French programming that same year, the horticulture program was moved to Westlane.
Currently, the students have been cultivating poinsettias that are for sale, and in the spring, the greenhouse will be the site of a plant sale.
The students will also be taking part in the Schools in Bloom program, Graham said.
Also in the spring, the program will be partnering with the Links for Greener Learning program, which helps families new to Canada learn how to garden in a climate that may be new to them.
“Some of the kids will lead that,” Graham said.
Grade 12 student Brad Vermolen said the program has helped him in his journey to one day own his own landscaping business. He’ll continue the journey by helping his cousin with his business.
“The plan is to go into landscaping and trying to build myself up to where I make my own landscaping business,” Vermolen said.
The SHSM program, he said, has given his a great foundation.
“It’s been a wonderful learning experience.”
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Richard Hutton is a Reporter-Photographer for Niagara this Week, covering Niagara Falls. Covering everything from politics to community stories and everything in between, Richard has won a pair of Ontario Community Newspaper Awards for his work and has been recognized for his long-time commitment to the industry with the OCNA's Silver Quill Award.
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