Masonry students give back

Words: Todd WilliamsStudents from the Scioto County Career Technical Center’s Masonry Program spent their day giving back to the community.

Larry Moore and his students set out to continue their work on a replacement sign for the Scioto County CAO (Community Action Organization) Head Start on Hutchins Street.

The Scioto County CAO Head Start is a high quality early childhood program, which serves economically disadvantaged and special needs children and their families from ages birth to five years.

The Headstart policy council came together last year and decided it was time to replace the worn wooden sign that had marked the campus since 2002. After deciding on a design, the sign came into fruition with the start of the school year.

“We wanted to collaborate with the school district, and we wanted to establish relationships in the community. Some of the students at the Vocational school have gone to Headstart. But they wanted to give back, and Mr. Moore so graciously volunteered to do that once we asked him. Without hesitation, his students came and followed his lead,” said Parent Involvement Manager Carla Womack.

SCCTC Masonry students adding grout to sign.
SCCTC Masonry students adding grout to sign.
The students have been working on the sign for the past six months, weather permitting.

“We have a long standing relationship with the SCCTC so having the opportunity to bring those young people in, and to let them work on this sign gives them a little bit of understanding as to what Community Action and Headstart are all about. It’s an opportunity for them to learn something new about the community and they can learn from the experience,” said Community Action’s Executive Director Steve Sturgill.

Starting quite literally from the ground up, the sign is almost complete.

“I enjoy this work, it’s a lot of fun, it’s nice to get out of the classroom and use on the job skills. Whenever I drive by I can say “I did that,” and that feels good,” said Senior Wyatt Large.

From mixing mortar, adding grout and smoothing the mixtures, the students are involved in every step of the project, dividing and carrying out tasks just like they would in the workforce.

“The Community Action Organization was built on partnerships like this, and it’s just another chance for us to share our vision and our goals for the community with our other organizations, said Sturgill.

“We’re really happy about it. Obviously the end result is going to be a really nice sign that is going to be here for many years.”

The project is anticipated to be finished in March.
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