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Patriot Millworks students at Hills-Beaver Creek High School recently poured cement during their construction curriculum that typically involves wood projects.
The project took place over a two-day period last week.
“This is the first time I have had this class pour concrete,” said industrial technology instructor Chris Louwagie. “Turned out to be a great learning experience.”
Students helped with the various steps of concrete pouring on Oct. 14 and 15. They measured and staked out the area on the school’s lawn, set the wooden forms, tied the reinforced metal rods together, then poured and leveled the cement.
The 30-by-31-foot slab in the northwest corner of the school provides a level work area for the students to construct wooden storage sheds, work that normally would place in the uneven parking lot.
Junior Tory Knobloch, helped the Millworks students and workers from Dysthe Construction and Buffalo Ridge Concrete level the cement with a power screen.
Knobloch, who is not in the Millworks program, said he has plenty of experience pouring cement for the family farm’s feedlot.
Seventeen students, both boys and girls, are in Louwagie’s fall Millworks class.
Louwagie anticipates the students will come away from the cement project with practical construction knowledge.
“This gives them an idea of the work necessary to pour a concrete slab,” he said. “I hope students taking this class see different job opportunities available to them.”
Costs for the project, including 6 yards of concrete, were paid for through the Patriot Millworks budget.