2010-2011 School Year: Here we come!

As a new and exciting year begins, it is with great anticipation that I introduce this year's class projects. The students enrolled in the Building Construction program will be maintaining their focus on sustainable green construction technologies by continuing to work on the restoration of the Langdale Mill guesthouse.

Over the last two school years, our students have dedicated countless hours to the careful deconstruction and restoration of this wonderful example of a classic mill house. We encourage you to stop by and take a look at the progresss they have made. The new front porch begs for a rocker and a cold glass of iced tea, while the clean new paint (low VOC of course) coats the durable and low maintenance Hardi siding. Throughout the upcoming year, they will continue to complete the exterior finishes and add a wonderful new mudroom and laundry room to the back of the house.

In addition to the Langdale Mill guest house project, students in the Building Construction program will be embarking on a project that is completely new to the Career and Technical Center. While learning traditional skills and fine wood craftmenship, our Carpentry students will be constructing a series of wooden strip-built canoes. With nothing more than a pile of material, traditional hand and power tools and a set of blueprints, they will learn and apply the skills of great craftsmanship to construct a boat that oozes of history and elegance. I look forward to sharing photos and updates with you as they progress through this exciting project.

I hope you will enjoy following the exciting journey of our Building Construction students throughout the 2010 - 2011 school year. Keep checking back; this year promises to be an exciting one!