Sydenham HS Ahead of the Manufacturing Curve

Sydenham High School has been offering Grade 11 & 12 students the opportunity to explore various trades while still in school for many years. The programs themselves continue to evolve and the provincial government has recently announced funding to deliver new advanced machinery to 40 high schools.

In collaboration with the Canadian Tooling & Machining Association (CTMA) and the Ontario Council for Technology Education (OCTE), 22 district school boards will acquire new machinery and offer students certification training to support their career aspirations. The Career-Ready with CTMA: Expanding Opportunities program has been well received, and to date, students have been eager to participate and explore a variety of trades and precision skills.

In the past, schools offered a variety of courses including Automotive, Metal Shop, and Wood Working. However, with the new equipment and funding more intensive programs and specialities are being developed. Students can opt for co-op work placements and work alongside experienced tradespeople, and professionals. Once they complete the program, their diploma is distinguished from the rest with a red seal, certifying their learned and assessed skills and abilities within a specific sector.

The ‘major tech’ credits in the Specialist High Skilled Major (SHSM) program help establish a background in a specified manufacturing sector and students can explore their various passions and skills in a safe and informative environment.

Sydenham is one of only two schools in the Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston provincial riding, along with Carleton Place High School, that are receiving a CNC milling machine courtesy of the CTMA. CNC (Computerised Numerical Control) machines which can be pre-programmed to do complex work.

The SHS students work closely with the instructor to understand the design and programming elements of this high-tech machine.

The CTMA noted in their press release that their “goal is to expose high school students to technology at an earlier age to engage their interest for a career within our industry,” said Robert Cattle, CTMA executive director. “Not only does this expose students to newer technology at an earlier age, but also gives teachers up-todate equipment to implement in their classroom.” The machines vary and include CNC milling centres, and plasma cutters, to CNC desktop milling machines, high precision conventional milling machines and lathes with readouts. Each school will also receive tool kits and cutting tools, to help support their program, as noted on the press release.

The OCTE past chair, Dave Lewis, noted that “this exciting partnership is providing much-needed support for our manufacturing technology high school programs and will go a long way in reducing the skilled trades gap in this important industry.” There is also an incentive for employers to support this training as they could receive a wage subsidy of 50% of wages paid, up to $5000.00 per student placement.

Along with the hands-on training, Lime-