Student Kaitlyn W. gains real-life experience in North’s new SHOP
Before it has even been officially dedicated, six students at Westerville North High School were selected to be the first to work in the building’s new SHOP, a fabrication lab that emphasizes innovation and collaboration. They are not just there for the fun of it. They show up after school during their own time on Tuesdays, Thursdays and days off to work on creating a 3D model of the addition that Acock Associates Architects is designing and building for Corna Kokosing headquarters in Westerville. Dennis Blair from Blair IT approached Westerville North about the eye-opening partnership and it is anticipated that other local business will soon be jumping on the bandwagon to give students the opportunity to work on real-world projects. The six pupils (Johnathan Hord, Kaitlyn Wetta, Chad Holder, Evan Lawrence, Carlee McAfee, and Trent Morr) were tasked with seeing what they could come up with and so far, the project is going well and is on schedule.
Wetta jumped at the chance to participate, saying, “This is an opportunity to see what actual projects will be like – it connects me to the future.” The senior believes her experience in The SHOP will serve her well when she attends the University of Cincinnati next year to major in Aerospace Engineering.
Consultant Curtis Smith, Otterbein University’s Makerspace Lab Operations Manager, is excited about the prospect of offering both students and teachers hands-on learning opportunities at the high school level. Otterbein recently opened a new facility on campus called The Point, which provides pupils with everything they need to learn, tinker, experiment, build, test, and compete in tomorrow’s economy. The SHOP at Westerville North High School, he says, will offer younger students the same types of experiences.
Smith has worked closely with North’s Assistant Principal Scott Gaddis and Westerville City Schools College and Career Readiness Coordinator Anne Baldwin to develop a vision for the Shop and are finding ways to allow as many students as possible to gain access. In 2014, Westerville City Schools introduced laser cutters, 3-D printing and new technology to middle school students through mobile Fab Labs as part of the new Innovation Generation education and workforce initiative. 
For those wishing to see The SHOP and learn more about the District’s Engineering Pathway, Westerville Partners for Education and Westerville City Schools are excited to present a new series called Tomorrow’s Learning Today. Community leaders, outside experts and school representatives will come together to facilitate an ongoing conversation about what Westerville City Schools is doing to understand the needs of tomorrow’s workforce by working with business and our community; and fully prepare students for tomorrow’s world of work. The goal is to build a common understanding of today’s learning and workforce realities and to explore how we can work together for everyone’s success.
Our schools impact not only our youth, but our entire community. The first Tomorrow’s Learning Today series will focus on Hands-On Project Learning and the Maker Movement. Celebrate the opening of The SHOP at Westerville North High School (950 County Line Road) on Monday evening, March 6. The event will begin in the commons at 7:00 with a panel discussion, and then everyone will be dismissed to the SHOP for a ribbon cutting ceremony and student demonstrations, including a preview of the Corna Kokosing project.