Washougal High School celebrates Career and Technical Education Month

WASHOUGAL — Students in Career and Technical Education classes in the Washougal School District got hands-on job experience with a project-based curriculum created in partnership with area industry professionals during Career and Technical Education Month in February.

The following are highlights of events at Washougal High School:

• Jan. 31: Washougal High School students joined peers representing 12 high schools across Southwest Washington at the SkillsUSA Regional Welding Competition in Kelso.

“Seeing these students apply their learning in a competitive environment not only tests their abilities but also prepares them for the real-world challenges they’ll face in the welding industry. It’s inspiring to see how these young welders take on complex tasks with such precision and dedication,” said Don O’Brien, metal arts teacher at Washougal High School. Washougal High School sent 11th-grade students Gavan McCallister, Gage Leavitt and Noah Wheeler.

• Feb. 2: Students in Future Business Leaders of America competed at the Winter Leadership Conference at Lower Columbia College in Longview, qualifying for state. The conference brought together FBLA chapters from across the region, hosting student competitions in topics central to business leadership skills.

• Feb. 16: Students served up their first meals out of the Shoug Shack, a student-run food truck. This effort turns the school’s parking lot into an active mobile learning lab for the first time since the food truck’s official ribbon cutting last school year.

This hands-on culinary classroom presents opportunities for high school students to apply academic skills such as math and writing in a hands-on setting while also practicing entrepreneurship, culinary skills, customer service, time management and teamwork.