Last Friday in Saskatoon, 19 students from Weyburn Comprehensive School represented Weyburn at the 21st Annual SKILLS Canada Saskatchewan Competition.

This isn’t the first time Weyburn has sent students with the skills to pay the bills. It began with shop teacher Rod Nieviadomy and then teacher Leah Beam. Now, up to nine teachers with different skills and trades work with the students to prepare them for the competition.

“It is just taking our best of our best, and lots of preparation, hours and hours of time teachers put in with the students to make sure that they are prepared for the scope of criteria that each category presents for the competition to make them eligible for medaling,” said Accounting and Entrepreneurship Teacher at W-C-S, Margot Arnold.

Eight of Weyburn's competitors brought home nine medals for W-C-S.

Reece Pittman won the Gold and Callie Efford the Bronze for Hairstyling Braiding. Efford also won the Bronze for Hairstyling Bridal. Hailey Neiszner won the Silver for Beauty Therapy. Alex Hala won the Bronze for Electronics. Curtis Kretschmer won the Silver for IT Network Systems for Admin. Wanru Anderson won the Bronze for Pastry and Confectionery. Olivia Michel won the Silver and Brett Bowler won the Bronze for IT Software Applications.

“We just are very grateful for the opportunity to highlight the tremendous experience of these students and their achievements, and we are very proud of them all, so we're hoping that this program grows and that we can get more students into more categories,” said Arnold.

Teacher Leah Beam said while one Weyburn student did bring home a gold medal, that particular category does not go on to Nationals, so WCS won’t be sending anyone to Nationals this year.

“It's a really good opportunity for all of our students. Whether they place or not, it's just a great opportunity to go out and practice their skills and see what some of the other schools are doing and see some of the other competitions. It brings everyone together,” said Beam.

She noted the SKILLS program is all ages. In fact, the gold medal winner was a Grade 10 student.

“We have lots from Grade 11 and quite a few grade 12s,” she said, adding it helps to include the experience on their resumes and may even lead some to take a trade in school.

Arnold shares what’s next for the competitors.

“They will just continue out the semester and get their credits, but if they're Grade 11, they can compete next year at the 22nd Annual Sask SKILLS competition. If they're in Grade 12, many are going on in their chosen fields,” she explained. “Our level is secondary, but there are many categories that are post-secondary, so if they’re going on to a post-secondary institution in that category, they can enter again at that level when they’re done here at WCS.” 

 

The 2019 WCS SKILLS Canada Saskatchewan team. Back row (L-R): Jada Boren, Olivia Michel, Jada Dunkley, Kellisa McLean, Alex Hala, Lucas Knight, Tyler Douglas, Isaac Loburg, and Wanru Anderson. Front row: Brett Bowler, Hannah Hulbert, Meagan Dutchak, Reece Pittman, Callie Effort, Hailey Neiszner, Curtis Kretschmer, and Hunter Denten. (Photo courtesy of Margot Arnold).

Kellisa McLean participated in the competition in Saskatoon, in the SKILLS category of Public Speaking. (Photo courtesy of Margot Arnold).

Hunter Denten competed in the SKILLS competition in Saskatoon in the Electrical category. (Photo courtesy of Margot Arnold).

 

A group photo of the competitors, coaches and medal winners. (photo courtesy Margot Arnold)