TACOMA, Wash. – Does your teen constantly hit the snooze button each morning? Bates Technical College will soon offer a better solution for the sleepy.
While studies show teenagers need at least nine hours of sleep each night, texting, Facebook and MySpace may not be the only cause for your groggy teen. A staggering 20 percent of all high school students fall asleep during school, according to a report from the Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement at the University of Minnesota. With classes beginning around 7:30 a.m., most high school students start their day around 6 a.m. This schedule makes it easy for the sleep-deprived student to drift off during first period.
Beginning in the fall quarter, Bates will launch its new afternoon technical high school program, which will allow students to start their school day at noon and end by 6 p.m. Students enrolled in the afternoon high school program will begin with three hours of academics and conclude with three hours of a career education program. Students can choose from four career programs.
• Introduction to electrical construction trades—A combination of lab and classroom work, this program introduces students to safety practices, tools and materials, applied math strategies, project planning and other standards found in the electrical construction industry.
• Introduction to woodworking trades—Students prepare for jobs in the building and construction industry, including boat building, residential carpentry, architectural woodworking and facilities maintenance.
• Mobile electronics installer—Students learn basic installation techniques and equipment used in the mobile electronics industry, including global positioning systems (GPS), home theater and audio systems and security units.
• Power sports and equipment repair—Students learn to maintain and repair a wide variety of two and four cycle engines, power trains, chassis and related components found in power sports vehicles and outdoor power equipment.
“It’s the perfect day for a high school student who has a difficult time paying attention during the morning hours and wants to learn in a more hands-on environment,” said John Grant, manager of high school relations.
Eligible students are between the ages of 16 and 20, without a high school diploma or equivalent. Tuition is free for high school students, who pay only a $25 program fee per quarter. Interested students must register by Sept. 10 and are required to attend a high school orientation offered Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. at south campus, 2201 S. 78th St. in Tacoma, or at 3 p.m. at the downtown campus, 1101 S. Yakima Ave. in Tacoma.
About Bates Technical College
Bates is the state’s largest public technical college, offering certificate and degree opportunities in career education, distance learning, extended learning and apprenticeship training. For more information, go to www.bates.ctc.edu, or call 253.680.7000.
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