This morning in room 207
Today at JPJMS junior and senior students from Jordan Academy for Technology and Careers (JATC) talked to ninth grade students about the programs they are in. The ninth graders had chosen the fields they were most interested in, and the counseling center center printed slips of paper with each student’s name and the three sessions they would attend with the room numbers. Each session lasted around 25 minutes. The outreach students from JATC brought materials and equipment from their courses, slide presentations, and enthusiasm about what they were learning.
I was in room 207 with students from the Heavy Duty Diesel Mechanic and Automotive Collision Repair Technician courses. Both of these programs are taught at WJHS. These four students represented their schools (two from Riverton HS, one from Bingham, and one from dub-J) and their programs very well. They explained that good attendance is necessary to being accepted into these programs and that all of the safety certifications must be passed with 100% before you can enter the shop. They also brough a large piston. These students were so knowledgeable and enthused that I was wishing I could join the collision repair class.
After three presentations by these JATC ambassadors a memory was nudged out of a dark corner in my brain. I remembered when I was a freshman at WJHS, and there was a “career fair” where people talked to us about career and technical courses offered by Jordan School District. I went to the cosmetology presentation twice. I let the students cut my hair (would that even fly today?!) and give me one long acrylic nail. the program sounded amazing. But I completely dismissed it as an option for me.
I was shy and scared of going to school with students from other high schools. I didn’t want to leave the familiar. I enjoyed the classes I took my junior and senior years. Did you know that West Jordan HS had jewelry classes with soldering, lost wax casting, acid etching, lapidary, and more? The teacher was fantastic. I also had my first exposure to using a serger machine in sewing. And calculus and physics were 10/10. But sometimes when I think of the opportunities I lost I feel a little wistful.
The JATC offers 32 courses. There are buses to the north and south JATC campuses from every JSD high school. (The two courses taught at WJHS do not have buses, so “get your license! If you’re a junior with your mom still driving you around, that’s just awkward!” or so I heard today.) I love when I hear of students getting training, college credit, experience, and certifications from JATC. Every year JATC has an open house, usually in February. Every time I have gone I am impressed by the facilities, the students, the instructors, and the number of courses. I love that JATC offers such a wide variety of courses to suit students’ different interests. Check out the JATC website (this is a link) if you want to know more about this fantastic program.
