It’s quiet in the building this week! As in past years, the school quiets down during the summer while students participate in bridge programs with outside organizations. This year we have students taking classes at Community College of Philadelphia, Esperanza College, and Peirce College. Next week, a group of students leaves for Lancaster, PA to attend a summer session at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology. These bridge programs prepare students to succeed in postsecondary education by exposing them to a new educational environment and helping them earn credits that will jump-start their college career.
Our bridge programs aren’t limited to postsecondary education, however. This week, 13 students began a welding program at the Finishing Trades Institute in Northeast Philadelphia. Students who successfully complete the program will be eligible to participate in a pre-apprenticeship program and continue working towards a career in welding, a field known for good wages and high demand. This is the first year that YouthBuild has offered a welding program to students.
A few staff visited the students up at the training facility yesterday, and we were blown away by the FTI facilities and how quickly and enthusiastically our students are learning! Here are some pictures from the visit:
The instructors also let staff get in on the excitement. Here’s a Vine video of Marty Molloy, Director of Vocational Training, trying out the plasma cutter:
Forging partnerships, cutting plasma – all in a day’s work for @mwmolloy: https://t.co/YfuBrpjJdE
— YouthBuild Philly (@YouthBuildPHL) June 20, 2013
Students participating in the program have texted Mr. Marty this week to say things like “Thanks , I really like what I’m doing. I love it.” They’re posting photos of their equipment and their work on Facebook, too! It thrills us to see them enjoying and taking pride in what they’re learning.
We’re so excited about this partnership – stay tuned for more information and updates as the program progresses!
