Shop project for city dog park brings trade pros to EHS class

EPHRATA — Local resident Bonnie Helvey had an idea for the City of Ephrata's dog park, and it ended up in a high school classroom.

Helvey brought plans for metal storage boxes to the city, hoping to give dog owners a place to stash balls and toys at the park. Staff at city hall liked the concept and enhanced her design, adding a slatted bottom for drainage and a peaked lid. Then they turned to Ephrata High School and longtime metal shop teacher Kent Devine.

Devine, now in his 17th year teaching welding and metalworks at EHS, saw an opportunity to connect a community project to real-world career exposure. He reached out to Moses Lake Sheet Metal to further refine the plans, and invited industry professionals into his classroom to help students construct the boxes while learning about careers in the sheet metal trade along the way.

On Jan. 5, the project came to life.

Representatives from Moses Lake Sheet Metal and Sheet Metal Workers Local 55 visited Devine's classroom and addressed a diverse group of students during a Tiger "flex day" period which expands learning opportunities beyond regular curriculum.

Scott Hart, a Local 55 union representative, spoke about careers in the sheetmetal trades, including wages, healthcare benefits, and the opportunity to earn an associate degree from Columbia Basin College while serving an apprenticeship.

Local 55 journeyman Mike Smith of Moses Lake Sheet Metal shared his own career path with the students, then worked alongside as they shaped the metal into boxes. And company manager Austen Massart provided information regarding the many local industries served by the firm, including food service, agriculture, heating and cooling.

Bringing professionals into the classroom is about "showing students what's possible," said Devine.

"Too many times kids don't even realize all the opportunities for good careers, so I try to get as many options as I can in front of them," he said. "It always leads to followup conversations in classes, and often, kids going into those trades."

EHS student Colten Finch, who has experience creating metal art, said the project taught him something new.

"We never really bent sheet metal into boxes like that," Finch said.

Finch said he's interested in pursuing sheet metal work as a career and is looking into the apprenticeship program described by Hart.

As for Bonnie Helvey's idea?

Five storage boxes will attach to the chain link fence at the dog park. The rest should be finished this week, Devine said.

The project was made possible by Tiger Days, a flex period program being piloted this year at the high school. Students earning C grades or higher can choose from a myriad of teacher-guided enrichment experiences. There were nearly 100 options offered on Jan. 5 alone, spanning hands-on learning in the arts, athletics, career exploration, and life skills – all available during regular school hours.

Meanwhile, students who need additional support to boost their grades in core subjects can use the time for targeted instruction, catching up on assignments, or retaking assessments.

By providing those students with extra support, teachers can move at a faster pace during regular class days. At the same time, it removes such barriers as after-school transportation or students' conflicting schedules like sports participation, according to the district.