Latest news with #Huron
Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
RDHS students gain real-world skills through apprenticeship program
Three Ridgetown District High School students are taking full advantage of hands-on skills training experience as they explore their career choices. Alex Stirling, Reece Osterhout, and Cam Holman are participating in the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program. The three students work in an apprenticeship trade in the afternoon after attending regular classes in the morning at RDHS. Stirling is doing his cooperative placement at the Main & Market Service Centre, Holman at Fabmaster Welding Ltd., and Osterhout at Huron Tractor (formerly McGrail Tractor) near Chatham. OYAP allows full-time Grade 11 and 12 students to train with certified professionals in a skilled trade. As OYAP participants, the hours students accumulate in their placements may be eligible to be counted towards an apprenticeship. Some OYAP students may become registered apprentices with their Cooperative Education placements while completing the requirements for an Ontario Secondary School Diploma. The program provides employers the opportunity to train the skilled workers they require down the road. As the demand for skilled workers in the construction and manufacturing sectors is expected to increase significantly over the next decade, the provincial government is taking action by introducing programs such as OYAP to fast-track tradespeople into the workforce. Osterhout's apprenticeship at Huron Tractor has already led to a college scholarship for the John Deere tech program, and he will be employed by the company when he graduates. 'After I get out of high school, they're offered a scholarship at Fanshawe in the general tech program with an immediate position with them when I'm done at school,' Osterhout said. Growing up on a farm, Osterhout was leaning towards a career as an agronomist. 'That was before I found this co-op placement,' Osterhout said about his change in career course. 'I always liked working on things in shop class, and I like what I'm doing there (at Huron).' Osterhout attends his two-morning classes at RHDS before driving to Chatham, where his co-op placement hours are 11:30 a.m. to 2:10 p.m., in alignment with school hours. Because of his skill and eagerness to work and learn, Huron granted Osterhout extended time above his placement to 5 p.m. daily. Osterhout said he has done a number of tasks at Huron, including a project that lasted over three weeks. 'They had a tractor come in that had the top of its cab torn off when it went under an underpass,' he explained. 'My job was to assist in repairing the damaged cab and reassembling it.' He said he assisted in conducting the repair job, which took many hours to complete. Stirling, like Osterhout, grew up on a farm and considered a career in agriculture before getting his co-op placement at the Main & Market auto repair shop. 'I've always liked working at the shop here at school and thought it would be a great opportunity to get educated in the trades in a working environment,' Stirling said about signing up for OYAP.' It's been a really great experience; it has gotten me a lot of training, a lot of hands-on work, experience you really can't get just inside school.' Stirling said he has 'done just about everything' in his placement—brakes, tires, repairs, servicing vehicles, and absorbing all of the advice he can while learning from the shop's technicians. 'I still haven't decided what I want to do,' Stirling said. 'I'm looking at anything in agriculture or continuing with a mechanical trade and wherever that may lead me.' Although Holman is looking to go to St. Clair College in Chatham for the power line technician course, welding has always been one of his favourite activities in shop class. 'I've always been interested in welding, so I thought, why not go to some place local to develop my skills and see if it would be a career choice in the future,' Holman said about applying and being accepted for his Co-op placement at Fabmaster. 'I had some friends who did their co-op there, and they loved it.' Holman said he has been doing a variety of welding jobs, as well as cutting and grinding. 'I want to be a power line technician, but welding is definitely my plan B,' Holman said. He added that there are some welding tasks in power line work: ' It's aluminum welding with a different gun, but they're willing to teach me how to do that for my future.' Natalie Budd, English Department, Cooperative Education and Specialist High Skills Major Lead at RDHS, said the three students are thrilled with their apprenticeships. 'Every morning, they come running in to tell me all about the things they've done,' she said. 'They're so excited about what they're working on.' Budd said on top of getting the on-the-job experience, the three students in OYAP and other students in the school's Co-op program are required to make a presentation highlighting the skills they have learned and tasks they have completed with photos and videos of their experience. Budd said she appreciates all the local employers who have accepted RDHS students into their workplace to gain valuable experience as they weigh their options for the future. Along with the OYAP and Co-op programs, RDHS offers Specialist High-Skills Major programming in agriculture, construction, and health and wellness. SHSM, a ministry-approved initiative, assists students in getting a head start on their future and focusing on a specific sector while earning their secondary school diploma. The program is designed to prepare students for success in any post-secondary pathway – workplace, apprenticeship, college or university as they take courses tailored to their sector of interest and gain valuable training in Cooperative Education placements. Successful program graduates receive a special SHSM Red Seal on their diploma, a detailed record of their credit bundle, certifications, placements, and other experiences, and formal recognition on their Ontario Student Transcript. All SHSM students receive mandatory training, including Worker Health and Safety Awareness, WHMIS, First Aid, and CPR and AED training. Students enrolled in construction receive Working at Heights certifications and other training, such as elevated platforms and confined spaces. 'Last year, the kids in construction were excited when they received their certification for working at heights because this allowed them to do more at their co-op placements,' Budd said. The Health and Wellness students complete training in areas such as injury prevention, infection control, diet and exercise for sports, wellness strategies, physiotherapy, and art therapy. Students registered in the Agriculture SHSM are often given an opportunity to complete their Pesticide license. This year, they also attended an agricultural conference planned by the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority. Students are required to attend classroom courses, training, and field trips to businesses and companies associated with their field of choice to gain more exposure to the work settings and skill sets required for the job. Successful SHSM students have doors opened to their chosen careers, including post-secondary education or apprenticeships, to accelerate their paths to full-time employment in high-paying skilled trade jobs. Budd meets with Grade 10 students early in the spring to inform them about the SHSM program, OYAP, and Co-op opportunities. With the success of OYAP, the province is introducing Focused Apprenticeship Skills Training (FAST) this fall, which will allow Grade 11 and 12 students to participate in more apprenticeship learning through additional cooperative education credits. FAST will allow students to take up to 80 percent of their senior courses in co-op education. This program will accelerate entrance into the skilled trades, supported by the mandatory requirement for all students to take at least one Technological Education course, which started last year. Students and parents can explore more about the Specialist High Skills Major program online at Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? 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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Inside KELOLAND: Task force members highlight $600 million prison cap
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — After meeting for more than eight hours in Pierre this past week, members of South Dakota's Project Prison Reset task force have narrowed the focus of where a new men's prison should be built and how big it should be. Huron company added to prison discussion On Tuesday, task force members unanimously supported building a facility, or multiple, at existing Department of Corrections spots or at proposed sites in the Worthing or Mitchell areas. The state has previously spent more than $50 million in land purchase and design costs for a new men's prison in rural Lincoln County at a site that has now been officially rejected by the task force. The goal is to build new prison facilities to house 1,500 to 1,700 inmates with a maximum cost of $600 million. JE Dunn Construction has been tasked with bringing proposals in front of the task force at its July meeting. On this week's Inside KELOLAND, Republican Sen. Chris Karr and Democratic Sen. Jamie Smith shared what they took away from the task force's latest decisions. Karr said state lawmakers have challenged contractors and the state engineer to provide options that meet the 1,500 beds and no more than $600 million price tag. 'I look forward to hearing back at our next meeting about what they come up for us for options,' Karr said. Karr said the previous price tag for a men's prison in Lincoln County at the cost of $825 million was too high to get the necessary two-thirds majority vote in the House and Senate to be approved. 'We need to do something,' Karr said, who added the Department of Corrections' design choices of a campus style prison that is built to last 100 years dicated some of the higher costs. Smith said the longer the state continues to delay taking action, the more expensive future prison needs will become. 'If we only spend the $600 million, we've got to make sure that this is the right thing to build,' Smith said. 'If we build under way too much, we're going to be having this conversation right away again.' Smith said he believes the Department of Corrections needs more space and staff to help incorporate more rehabilitation, treatment options and vocation with inmates. 'Then it's the re-entry too,' Smith said. 'We need to get all those put together to be able to help people be successful in the future.' Karr said in 2024, 63% of the men released from a state prison served less than one year. Karr said DOC is having more success with rehabilitation in Springfield and not Sioux Falls because of a lack of space. 'We're too overcrowded in Sioux Falls,' Karr said. Smith said lawmakers should consider what policies and investments the state could make to keep people out of prison. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Which areas of KELOLAND need more rain?
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Even with all the rain we've had this month, there are still areas that are below average. Meteorologist Scot Mundt shows us who can still use the water. Oglala Sioux Tribe sends measles alert after case in border county There were periods of rain in eastern KELOLAND throughout the day as temperatures remained below average. While we've been getting steadier rain for the second half of May, it still hasn't been enough to bring some in KELOLAND to their climate average, but that's not the case for everyone. This graphic shows the rain compared to the average for May so far (not including today). While many in central South Dakota are above average, it's not the case for eastern or western South Dakota. Sioux Falls remains over an inch below average and Rapid City is around three-quarters inch below. Compared to the year so far, many that have been above average for May are also above average for the year. And the same is true for those that haven't been getting as much rain this month. Check out Sioux Falls, over 3 inches below average for the year. Huron is below by an inch and a third. On the other side, areas are over two inches from Buffalo to Mobridge. As temperatures warm later this week and last into next week, scattered showers and storms will remain in the forecast as I expect things to improve for those that haven't seen much improvement. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
City of Snook hires first police chief
SNOOK, Texas (FOX 44) – The City of Snook has announced the hiring of its first chief of police. Mayor Frank Fields tells FOX 44 News that the city has hired Dr. Steven Huron. He is a 24-year veteran of the San Antonio Police Department, has earned a Ph.D and has been teaching Police Ethics for Texas A&M Commerce. Chief Huron should begin working in early June, and Mayor Fields says he will be a working officer and will help build the city's police force. Chief Huron has a strong focus and background in community policing. Mayor Fields says the city was looking for a candidate who could become a part of the Snook community. The Snook Council had been discussing having a police force for about two years, budgeted funds for this fiscal year and advertised for the position of Chief, beginning in January. Mayor Fields says this hire and the acceptance of a fully-equipped vehicle from Operation Safe Shield is the culmination of all efforts toward creating a police force. Mayor Fields says Snook is experiencing a lot of growth in its residential building, and the population has doubled to approximately 1,000 people. The Council realizes that the development of a police presence is not something that can be created overnight. The city wants to be prepared for continued growth of its population and business community, and wants to be able to serve and protect its citizens. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CTV News
21-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Huron County student reflects on Liberation Day class trip
Central Huron Secondary School students sit on a tank in Europe as part of Liberation Day ceremonies in the Netherlands in May 2025. (Source: Travis Saunders)
