PHOTO BY CHUCK HOVEN

Thursday, May 23, 2024; Max Hayes High School Trade Show, Max Hayes High School, 2211 W. 65^th Street: Max Hayes Construction Program Instructor urges his tenth-grade students to tell guests about some of the projects they worked on this school year. Guests at the trade show included individuals who work in the construction industry or teach at post high school construction programs such as the one at Cuyahoga Community College.

PHOTO BY CHUCK HOVEN

Thursday, May 23, 2024; Max Hayes High School Trade Show, Max Hayes High School, 2211 W. 65^th Street: Nevaeh Williams, a junior in Max Hayes High School’s construction program, says her favorite part of building a bathroom wall is putting in the tiles. She said she learned how to install tiles while working for her mom’s company while still in Junior High at St. Ignatius of Antioch School.

by Chuck Hoven

   (Plain Press June 2024) At the Max Hayes High School trade show on May 23^rd industry professionals from the construction, manufacturing and transportation industries interacted with students learning trades in those industries. About forty professionals came to the school at W. 65^th and Clark Avenue to participate in the trade show.

   Students in the construction program welcomed guests into their classroom. Max Hayes Juniors Olivia Cascianna, Sebastian Reynolds, and Nevaeh Williams were among the students charged with showing their guests a bathroom wall module they had assembled that included plumbing fixtures for a sink, an electrical outlet, and an electrical switch.

   Cascianna and Reynolds explained how they had built a frame for the bathroom walls, put drywall on the frame, used a circular saw to cut holes for the hot water and cold-water pipes and the drain for the sink. Reynolds answered questions about how the electrical outlet and switch were placed in the wall – cutting and sanding the wall to fit them in and securing them to a two by four in the wall frame. He removed them to show guests how they were placed in the wall.

   Williams explained how they had sanded the drywall to make it fit securely and painted the walls. She explained how the tiles were then secured to the wall. Williams said she especially liked putting the tiles in because she had experience putting in tiles while working with her mother’s business when she was still in junior high school at St. Ignatius of Antioch School.

   Eugene Hosterman, a sophomore in the Construction Program at Max Hayes, share details on a construction class project with guest Christopher Huhnke, an instructor for the Construction Program at Cuyahoga Community College. The project involves Max Hayes construction students building twin bed frames for children ages 3-17.

   Students cut side boards, headboards, foot boards and slats for the bed frames. The project involves producing, creating, organizing, and finally assembling parts of a twin bed. Students are involved in measuring the boards, cutting them, attaching strips to the side rails, drilling holes, sanding, and staining.

   Toward the end of the Trade Show, encouraged by their instructor James MacDowell, tenth grade students had a chance to talk about what they had learned this past school year. Students explained that they started out the year learning about hand tools and materials in the shop tool room. They learned to use a coping saw and cordless drills. Students made their own toolboxes, stools, bookshelves, jewelry boxes and frames for canvas artwork. They helped make benches for local community gardens and constructed bird houses. Some students participated in making bed frames for children who needed them. Asked about their favorite projects, one student said he liked building a nightstand because he was able to use it in his room at home. Another student said she made a paper towel holder she is using at home.