BOG WALK HIGH SCHOOL
Students and staff at Bog Walk High School were filled with energy on Tuesday, January 26, when Youthlink stopped by. The very welcoming principal, Patrick Phillips, handed us over to Cecil Donald, Youthlink coordinator and gradeeight senior social studies teacher, who took us on an enlightening tour which included the student farm, the newly renovated football field and many more interesting places.
After countless photos of all the school clubs and coordinators, the Bog Walk greenhouse as well as staff members, the highlight of the day was visiting the school’s vehicle ramp. It was eye-opening to learn and see that working on the vehicles (giving oil changes, washing and carrying out undercarriage work) provide the students with invaluable work experience. According to Bog Walk High’s work experience coordinator, Mr Champagne, “We are preparing them [students] to be more skill-oriented in order to operate in a world like this.” Auto mechanic teacher Ms Reid also shared that via the Alternative Secondary Transition Education Programme (ASTEP), students from Linstead Primary and Junior High School partake in auto mechanic work at Bog Walk High to expose them to what learning mechanics entails.
Visiting the student farm was another highlight. There, Youthlink got an appreciation for the work students do – for example, being in the chicken coop, feeding the chickens which produce eggs for the school to sell, and checking up on the cabbage which will soon be ready for reaping.
After spending much time at Bog Walk High School, Youthlink can, undoubtedly, declare that the students are very wellrounded and the staff members are caring, creative and interactive.