Photo by Bill Croney, The Northfield News Northfield's Keri Capron, a second year student in The Building Trades program at the Randolph Technical Career Center(RTCC), works on a small project last Thursday morning while she waits for the class to go to Randolph Center to work on a roof project. Keri said she finds the "hands on" style of learning at RTCC fits her perfectly. The Northfield News

Northfield's Keri Capron has chosen a different and non-traditional way to spend her senior year in High school. Keri is enrolled in the Building Trades program at the Randolph Technical Career Center (RTCC).

This is her second year in the program and she finds it very rewarding.

"I have a really good time in the program. There is lots of hands on time and the projects are directly related to the classroom work. I have a hard time sitting in a classroom. For anyone who has a hard time focusing it's a really good experience. The teachers styles here are different," she said.

Keri also sees real value in the Building Trades program. "This helps you prepare for the real world. For example right now we are working on a roof for a lady in Randolph Center. Also my family does a lot of carpenter work. This gives me experience to help them out." The Northfield senior said.

She has found the teaching style and philosophy of RTCC more to her liking than a traditional high school setting. "They break things down better here. They always give you examples before you are assigned a job, The math here is directly related to the program and the English is related , too," Keri Said.

As well as spending her school day in a non-traditional program Keri finds herself the only girl in the class of 12. But that doesn't bother her. " We've got a great class this year. And, besides I get along better with guys anyway. I like being the only girl,. You don't have to listen to other girls," she said.

In addition to all of her other Building Trades responsibilities Keri has taken on a mentoring position. She works with a 10 year old fifth grader from Randolph Elementary School. "I work with Carter (The fifth

grader) in our classroom. It's good for him. He has a great time. We do lots of small woodworking projects and he has been trained to use the scroll saw, drill press and wood burner as well as various finishing materials. It is a good experience for me, too," she said.

That mentoring project just might fit well into Keri's future plans.

She said she wants to go to Vermont Technical College

VTC) next year and specialize in carpentry program. Maybe! "Or I might shift gears and major in Early Childhood Development and get my LNA (Licensed Nurse

Assistant) certificate," Keri said.

Whatever she chooses it would seem that her time in RTCC's Building Trades program has prepared her well.