WOOD RIVER JCT. — Families from all over Washington County attended the recent Chariho Career & Technical Center’s open house to preview the numerous programs the school offers.
The hallways were filled with both excited and curious prospective students as Chariho Tech Director Gerald Auth happily greeted them at the main entrance and pointed them to the programs they were interested in.
“CHARIHOtech provides students—both from our district and from surrounding communities—with access to high-quality career and technical programs that connect learning to real skills. The open house allows families to see those opportunities up close, meet the teachers, and envision what’s possible for their students,” Auth said in an email before the event Wednesday evening.
An example of the hands-on learning experiences Chariho Tech has to offer is the Automotive Technology program. New students walked into a real-time operating auto shop garage, with cars raised on lifts and students from the program changing tires and working on the underside of vehicles.
Students in the program can receive their Automotive Service Excellence certification, get real experience working in an auto shop, and have the opportunity for internships.
“I’ve been here for 10 years, and we’ve had a lot of improvements in funding to make this a modern shop, almost like a dealership,” Automotive Technology Instructor and Automotive Mechanic Peter Faggella said. “We operate as a live facility, so we take on customer repairs – when the students are seniors, they’re handed a job ticket and that’s their job for the day. It’s a nice smooth transition into the workforce.”
Another popular exhibit for prospective students was the Welding & Fabrication program, taught by welder Zack Folsom. The room was decorated with sculptures made of metal like a miniature knight and a model helicopter. There were custom welding masks strewn across the room, and representatives from Electric Boat were hand to talk to students about possible career paths.
Students in the program get hands-on welding training and can receive their American Welding Society certifications. Students learn practical applications and theory, and get access to career related internships.
“I love the fact that I can come in here, and I can build stuff each day…If you keep up with your work, you can build whatever you want,” welding student Noah Waterman said. “This class is very hands-on. As you can see, there are no desks in here, just a couple chairs and work benches.”
Chance Postma, another student in the welding program, said, “I like coming in here and being able to work with my hands. I can build whatever I want, troubleshoot, and figure out how to do it. The process of doing it is just very rewarding.”
Further down the hallway, the Cosmetology program has a full scale in-house salon fixed with large mirrors and other equipment.
Program instructor and Cosmetologist Gina Morgan said students can receive their Rhode Island Cosmetology certificate through the class, where they receive the necessary 1,200 hours of training. A wide variety of skills are practiced such as braiding, manicures and pedicures, wigs, facial treatments, and more.
“We have a lot of students that go right into the industry, either via salon or other aspects of the industry, or we have students that go to college and do something on the side to earn extra money,” Morgan said. “I had a student that went to Johnson & Wales University and she used to charge for haircuts in the dorm rooms.”
The sounds of sawblades and smell of fresh cut wood greeted students walking into the Construction Technology classroom, as students in the program nailed boards together, working on a small structure.
This program prepares students for careers in construction and building trades. Students can receive their OSHA10 certifications alongside HBI training, both of which help to provide skills for entry level employment.
“We work alongside Habitat for Humanity, and we build a home each year – it’s a rewarding project where the kids learn real life construction from foundation to finish,” Construction Technology instructor and Contractor Dave Bannister said. “My favorite part about teaching this class is seeing kids grow into adults, and see them do really well with the skills I taught them in high school. It’s extremely rewarding.”
Chariho Tech has 21 programs in total. The list of the programs and their descriptions can be viewed at https://charihotech.chariho.k12.ri.us/programs.
“What truly sets CHARIHOtech apart is our instructors,” Auth said. “They bring real-world experience into the classroom every day, and tonight gives families from CHARIHO and surrounding districts the chance to meet them, ask questions, and see the passion they bring to teaching and learning.”