Adam Prudhomme
Editor
NDSS’ Welding and Manufacturing students are using their newfound skills to help fundraise for the program, creating a unique line of Halloween themed decor.
Under the guidance of teacher Becky Mair, students have welded metal pumpkins, spiders and apples, which are now available for purchase. The money collected will go towards equipment for the class.
“Our pumpkins are our fall project that the kids start with,” said Mair. “The good thing about it is it teaches them how to tack, how to weld and it eases them into their actual course work projects that they need to complete. And then any of the pumpkins they make we use to help raise money to get what we need in the shop.”
Those interested in purchasing a pumpkin can contact Smithr@Limestone.on.ca or visit the school.
The project aims to cover the shortfalls not covered in the school’s budget.
“Manufacturing is a very expensive world and our tools and equipment are very expensive,” said Mair. “This year our first big project was the plasma cutter. We need a plasma cutter, we’re currently using zip discs to cut everything, which is not easy and not fun. Once we reach that goal we’re going to move into making sure that we have enough welding wire and that we have the contact tips that we need for our welders. We currently have one spare spool of wire so we’ll definitely need some of those. Then it’s finding metal. Usually most of our metal is actually metal that we get from people around the community, businesses that have pieces that are technically new metal but not big enough for what they need so we get some of those donations.”
Mair credits local companies such as Continental Conveyor, RC Industrial, Mitech Machine and Fabrications and Davis and Davis for providing supplies for free or at a reduced cost.
“Not only are these companies helping us to keep going in the shop, but getting those kids that generally are not theory type kids in the shop doing something and getting an education,” said Mair. “These kids that I have in my class, they’re becoming career ready. I run this class like it’s a shop class just to make sure that if my kids want to get a part time job during the summer, during the school year, they could go to some of these companies and be able to do the starting jobs that are required.”
Tech classes are important because they can help a student who might struggle with some of the more traditional school courses to find a purpose.
“For some kids this is their safe space,” said Mair. “They’re happy, they feel confident, they know that I don’t judge them. As a student myself who had an IEP (Individualized Education Program) and I struggled in school, to be honest I hated school. I spent most of my time in a tech class. When I have those kids come through here and I know they’re happy and they’re creating and they’re doing something, how can we turn that away? I have tons of kids that sign up for my class not because they ever plan on being welders, but just because they have the ability to work with their hands, learn something new and enjoy their time in the shop and feel important and successful.”
With Halloween just about here, the students will soon shift their focused to creating a line of Christmas themed art, which they will once again use as a fundraiser.