PUTTING what they've learnt in the classroom into practice, a group of high school students got on the tools to create picnic tables for their schoolyards.
Fifteen year 9 students from across Glendale Technology High School, Toronto High, Morisset High, Lake Macquarie High, Cardiff High and West Wallsend High gathered at Novaskill Broadmeadow on September 3 and 4, for two days of tinkering as part of an Education Pathways Program (EPP).
Glendale Technology students Cooper Goninan and Ayden Collinson said participating in the Trade Awareness Program had opened their eyes to different opportunities.
"It was fun and helpful for me to look at different industries in the local area and get a bit of an insight on what I could do either during school or when I leave," Cooper said.
"It opened my eyes to what is available in the workforce. I'm thinking of leaving in year 10 to pursue an apprenticeship as a plumber," Ayden said.
The teenagers said the highlight of the program was getting to build two-metre long, timber picnic tables to be enjoyed by their peers.
"We got to use a variety of different hand tools and power tools. I'm proud of the final product and excited to see it back at school," he said.
"The most fun thing was getting to do the picnic bench just getting hands on with a project and using all the tools. It was my first time doing anything like this," Ayden said.
Glendale Technology High School teacher Matthew Skinner said it was great to see the students apply skills they had learnt in school.
"Things that may sometimes not seem so significant to them like maths. It sets them up for success when we look at how we apply these things in trades," he said.
All materials for the tables were provided through Novaskill, which will deliver the picnic tables to each school.
Head teacher careers EPP Cassandra Wells said an identified area among year 9 students indicated they had limited opportunities to engage with industry.
"Creating the Trade Awareness Program is aimed to increase their awareness to various vocations, so when they come to year 10 they might have an idea of what they want to do," she said.
