Applied Design 

Enhancement Fee:  $55 

This course explores recipes from various countries of the world including local First Peoples traditional food use.  Students will make connections as to why various cultures use different ingredients, cooking techniques and tools.  Students will analyze food sustainability issues and critically think about ethical issues within food systems.  They will understand how health, economic, and environmental factors influence food choice in personal, local, and global contexts.  Students will design, test & evaluate their food products practicing food safe cooking methods.  Students will work cooperatively in groups, clean up and complete written assignments as part of the course. 

Enhancement Fee:  $55 

Textiles 9, 10, 11, and 12 are often combined grade classes which explore themes and projects based on a four-year rotation, so no student experiences the same course twice.  Theory topics, a new skill, and an introductory project are the same for all grade and ability levels.  Students then self-select, with teacher assistance, to be in a beginner, intermediate, or advanced sewing group to guide their project options.  Through a variety of sewing projects students will develop their skills with sewing machines, sergers, and patterns.  They will also explore principles of design and the role of textiles in First Nations cultures.  No previous textiles experience is required to enjoy these courses!

Students will be provided with materials for all required projects; students may be required to purchase their own fabrics to complete additional projects. 

Year 1 (2026/27) looks at natural and synthetic fibres and how they are produced, used, cared for, and disposed of.  Students will work through processing wool from raw wool to dying it with natural dyes and learn how to needle felt.  All students will make a pillowcase with French seams and a stuffed creature.

Year 2 (2027/28) dives deeper into the world of dyes.  Students will experiment with a variety of natural and synthetic dyes to create a unique piece of fabric with which to sew a zippered toiletry bag.  Knitting and / or crochet are the new skills introduced this year.

Year 3 (2028/29) focuses on the fashion industry and its impact on the world.  It explores the ideas of fast and slow fashion and dives into looking at the tools and technologies used in a variety of textile applications at the hobby and industrial levels.  Students learn about extending the life of clothing through mending and develop their hand-sewing skills with embroidery.  The embroidered work is then used to add a decorative element while sewing a tote bag.

Year 4 (2025/26) will allow students to explore textiles throughout history.  Students will also explore the wide variety of uses for textiles items today and possible careers related to textiles.  They will also explore prints and patterns used on fabric (including how to put the prints and patterns onto the fabric) and the cultural importance of imagery.  All students will make a T-shirt to put a print they design onto.

Enhancement Fee:  $35

Students will safely work with various metals, hand tools, machines, and metal joining methods.  Skills covered may include machining, welding and fabrication, jewelry making, art metal, aluminum casting, and blacksmithing. Students will develop and work towards core competencies. Communication competency will be developed in industrial terminology. As well, critical thinking skills will develop through design and problem solving. 

Enhancement Fee:  $50

Art Metal introduces students to the more creative side of metalworking.  We will learn about design and make those designs into reality with blacksmithing, welding, jewelry making, casting and fabrication.

Enhancement Fee:  $35

Students will learn techniques for adjusting plans and drawings, using a variety of tools and equipment, including stationary power equipment and hand tools to develop woodworking techniques; as well as, the importance of woodwork in historical and cultural contexts, locally and throughout Canada. Course work will allow for project individualization and creativity. Basic wood costs are included.

Enhancement Fee:  $25

Students develop safe and competent work practices while studying various sources of power and their applications. The course may also include a basic automotive preventative maintenance section where students interpret manuals to obtain technical information to service and repair mechanical systems.  Students will work towards proficiency in hand skills, precision measurement and operation of basic hand tools.  More advanced topics may include work with two and/or four stroke engines, brakes, steering, suspension, and oil changes. Students practice problem solving skills related to a variety of systems that make up a small engine.