Chinook's Edge students are now benefitting from a $100,000 dual credit grant from Alberta Education that the division used to purchase equipment for high school shops, and support important Career and Technology Studies (CTS) spaces. This Dual Credit Enhancement Funding grant was awarded to Chinook's Edge two years ago, and now the equipment is in place in all of the division's 13 high schools and K-12 schools.
Chinook's Edge used the grant money to purchase equipment such as work tables, shelving units, mitre saws, band saws, drill presses, and a variety of handheld equipment, all related to mechanical trades skills and transitioning students successfully to dual credit opportunities.
"Students throughout our division are already benefiting from these improvements, as they learn essential skills through projects that connect classroom learning to practical, industry-relevant experiences," says Brianne Fletcher, Director, Community Learning Campus.
"We want the best for our students, and equipment that is in line with industry as well as apprenticeship training standards are part of that," says Randy Prediger, CTS Teacher at H.J. Cody High School in Sylvan Lake. Prediger helped to select the tools purchased for schools in the division.
"It's exciting to see students using the new equipment," says Jerod Ferguson, CTS teacher at Innisfail High School. "These are high quality tools our students will see when they train for apprenticeship in post secondary and industry."
The new tools are just one part of an overall division strategy to strengthen students' transitions into advanced trades training.
Students who are interested in skilled trades careers develop foundational skills in their own school, under the guidance of a CTS teacher. Once a student has been successful, they are able to participate in more advanced learning such as dual credit classes offered at Olds College of Agriculture and Technology and Red Deer Polytechnic.
Over the past few years post-secondaries, CTS teachers and Chinook's Edge have worked together to align the skills and experience students need to have before they transition to apprenticeship training. The new tools help with a universal approach for students and their skilled trades career readiness in all of the division's high schools.
"We are grateful for the equipment and thank Alberta Education for the grant," says Fletcher. "Also - thank you to our CTS teachers and to our college partners for the collaborative work to ensure students are universally prepared for successful transitions to post secondary learning in the skilled trades."
"The work we've done together over the past few years has been important," says Ferguson. "Because of that alignment, and now with the industry-standard tools, we are giving our students the upper hand. In our schools students learn what the tools are, how to hold them and use them. When they get to post-secondary they already know these foundational skills."
"This approach gives students increased confidence," says Prediger. "It's a win win, because successful students with proper training means a more skilled work force, and economic growth. The dual credit opportunities we prepare students to take advantage of are phenomenal. I really appreciate the way Chinook's Edge has set this up. I feel privileged to be a part of it."
Chinook's Edge has also received the grant previously to support agriculture technology. Also, the division has received the grant recently to support equipment and programming in hairstyling and welding. These Alberta Education Dual Credit Enhancement Grants are instrumental in helping Chinook's Edge K-12 equipment stay current with industry training standards.
