Students at Rim of the World High School have the opportunity to enroll in classes that teach them real-world skills. These Career Technical Education (CTE) classes fall into six different industry areas: Arts, media and entertainment; building and construction trades; health science and medical tech; manufacturing and product development; public services; and transportation.
Students in the Graphic Design classes learn a variety of skills which they use to produce their portfolios.
On April 17, members of the Rim of the World Educational Foundation and a couple of Rotarians had the opportunity to tour these classes with Stephanie Phillips, the CTE coordinator.
We first went to the TV-Video Production studio, which teacher Teddy Nicholas told us had been created with grant funds. Working with a green screen, students produce Rim Today.
In the Graphic Design classroom, students were busy working on projects for their portfolios. Teacher Rob Wilson offers both beginning and advanced classes; after that the students can focus on what they want their portfolio to look like.
In his classes, Wilson explained, students learn photo editing, image creating, desktop publishing and screen printing.
“We teach them what they need to know to then go to work in the industry or test out of a course at college. These courses give them a leg up,” Wilson said.
The welding space was recently completely redone and now offers state-of-the-art equipment and welding booths. Emily – who teacher Pete Ferrara said is one of his best welders – demonstrated the welding simulator for us. She said it is actually harder to weld with the simulator than in real life.
Using the simulator, Ferrara explained, saves money on materials. Once students gain skills on the simulator, they can move on to actual welding.
The welding booths were recently redone and updated.
Next door in Construction Trades, seniors Kasey and Payten were designing a roof for the shed they had built. Both girls have been in the class since they were freshmen.
The Emergency Medical Responder classroom was dark as teacher Brian Leidner showed the students slides of how to respond to anaphylaxis. He demonstrated the proper use of an epinephrine pen; the students then practiced.
The driving simulators in the Automotive Technology portable really caught the attention of the Rim Ed board members. Rim Ed had recently donated just over $11,000 to update the simulator software.
Student Parker was hard at work, shifting through 10 gears and back down – which he did successfully, earning his Silver Shifter award.
Phillips told the tour group that Burrtec, Anthem and Victorville City Public Works had all contacted Rim High about the simulators, wanting to come and try them and even train their staff on them.
Our final stop was the ambulance simulator. Phillips said she had visited Moreno Valley College to see their emergency services training program.
By taking these courses, Rim High students earn certificates of competency. Some of the classes offer articulation to college, meaning the students can skip the introductory college classes.
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