Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Students from NDSS’ feeder schools had a chance to learn about a career they may not have previously considered during a skilled trade open house held at the high school on Thursday.
Organized by NDSS’ Craig Sindall, who teaches an auto shop class, the Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) Bridges to Local Employment, featured 20 local businesses that set up a booth with experts on hand to talk about their career. Those in attendance included municipal works, towing, construction, auto body repair, emergency services and more.
“It’s to introduce them to the SHSM Transportation that we have the school and all the auto programs and transportation stuff that we have here and all the tech programs,” said Sindall.
Funding for the outdoor event has been in his possession for nearly two years now but it was put on hold due to COVID-19. More time to plan meant the event grew to be bigger than originally intended as over 300 students in Grades 7 and 8 ended up attending. Sindall worked with Lennox and Addington County’s economic development department to bring in local businesses. To help give students an idea of what they do some businesses brought along tools of the trade such as tow trucks, tractors and power tools. Greater Napanee Emergency Services showed their skills in action, demonstrating how they extract a passenger from a car, cutting through the doors of an old van.
The event wasn’t just about getting kids thinking about a career in the trades, but also an introduction of sorts for those who will be attending next September.
“With COVID it’s sort of killed the Grade 8s attending before they come to high school so it’s a great time for them to wander around and see the school,” added Sindall.