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CTAE Spotlight: Bulloch students busy building architecture and construction skills

This will be a multi-part series highlighting some of the activities of students in Bulloch County's Career Technical & Agricultural Education (CTAE) program. All information is provided by Bulloch County Schools.
CTAEplumbing
Statesboro High School Construction students learned practical knowledge and skills with an introduction to plumbing projects. Credit: Bulloch County Schools

This will be a multi-part series highlighting some of the activities of students in Bulloch County's Career Technical & Agricultural Education (CTAE) program. All information is provided by Bulloch County Schools.

The purpose of Bulloch County Schools' Career Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) program is to prepare students for successful careers and build an educated, skilled, and efficient workforce for economic growth in Bulloch County.

The system's career clusters, career pathways and student technical organizations are the core of CTAE. The classroom instruction and student-led chapters of national technical organizations help the school system leverage partnerships with local businesses, industries, and institutes of higher learning. This helps our youth explore options, learn new skills, and apply those skills in their careers.

Read on to learn more about students participating in Bulloch's Architecture & Construction Career Cluster.

Statesboro High competes in Regional SkillsUSA competition; Two teams qualify for State

Statesboro High students competed in the Regional SkillsUSA contest in January. The Construction team qualified for state in both the Cabinetmaking and Teamworks contests. Congratulations to these students: Ethan McQuaig (Cabinetmaking) and Daniel Gerguis, Luke Gerguis, Patrick Mock, and Nathan Wallace (Teamworks).

SHS Construction Teacher Josh Hall and Logistics Teacher Glenn Bailey serve as advisors for the school's SkillsUSA teams.

Construction students use skills for literacy

Statesboro High School Construction students put their skills to work to support the Bulloch County Literacy Council's 2nd Annual Reading Nook Photo Contest. Students repurposed a used bedside table into a reading nook to be given as the contest's grand prize.

The project was a true community collaboration as Spike's Habitat for Humanity Restore donated the bedside table, Statesboro First Baptist Church's Caring Threads Ministry fashioned cushions for the reading nook, and the Literacy Council filled it with children's books.

Statesboro Participates in SkillsUSA State Conference

Statesboro High School's Architecture & Construction students attended the SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference on February 24 - 26. The event gave students the opportunity to apply the technical skills they've learned in over 70 career competitions. Simultaneously, students sharpened their workplace and technical skills in leadership trainings, state officer elections, peer networking and more.

Building a Better Understanding of Skilled Trades

In March, Statesboro High School SkillsUSA Construction members visited Julia P. Bryant and Sallie Zetterower elementary schools to help facilitate the Little Builders Workshop event. The workshop, a hands-on building program, is designed for elementary school students in second through fourth grade. The experience introduces the youngsters to skilled trades.

Industry expert Kayleen McCabe and SHS students guided the elementary students through the process of building an actual toolbox that they were able to keep at the end of the lesson. The goal of the workshop is to educate students about career opportunities in the construction industry. Students are also able to apply math and science concepts by taking part in the workshop. Construction Ready provided the building kit, safety glasses, a hammer, and measuring tape.

Trade Skills Speed Challenge

In April, Statesboro High School held its Trade Skills Speed Challenge. Local business and industry partners (Ace Electric, BAK Builders, Southeast Roofing Solutions, & The Sack Company) supported the event and generously provided prizes. Winners were (left to right) Enrique Mendez (3rd Place), Eli Rosado (1st Place), and Brody Ammann (2nd Place).

Statesboro Construction Teams Up with BAK Builders

Statesboro High School Construction partnered with BAK Builders to design and construct a mock-up wall of the new Optim Health System facility being built in Statesboro. The wall will be used by builders to test the performance of certain materials and to evaluate the design.

Visit the SHS Construction Students online album to see more photos of all the students' activities.