ROSEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL GEOMETRY IN CONSTRUCTION PARTNERS WITH ACRES OF HOPE

High School Geometry Students Build Park Model Trailers for Mothers and Children in Need.  Students Built Cottage at Acres of Hope in Auburn, CA.

Students enrolled in the Roseville High School 2012-2013 Geometry in Construction Program had a little extra incentive to build their project to the highest possible standards.  They knew from the beginning that it would soon be housing a very grateful family in need of a little help.

This year, the program partnered with the Placer County non-profit, Acres of Hope (www.acresofhopeonline) to build two small Park Model Trailers for use at their new Auburn facility.  This incredible nonprofit organization had outgrown their Applegate location and was upgrading facilities to better fulfill their mission of providing homeless women with children a home and an environment of structured programming, that includes, providing encouragement, practical life-skills training, job skills, and mentoring.

For the RHS GIC program and the Roseville Joint Union High School District, the opportunity to develop a partnership with a service oriented non-profit made the decision to switch and move from Factory Built Housing to Park Model Trailers an easy one.

The 2012-2013 RHS GIC program was made up of two classes of 40 students; primarily Freshman and Sophomores with little or no building experience.  After a crash course in teamwork, blueprints and modeling, it was time to get to work.  In addition to completing highly rigorous coursework in college preparatory Geometry, students began framing these models in November.  Throughout the year, they installed the plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems; installed windows and doors; hung and finished drywall; installed a roof, finished the exterior and painted the units.  The installation of trim, fixtures, cabinets and flooring added the final touches.

Work on professional trades and systems was supported by industry professionals who taught students the skills, supervised the work and helped assess the outcome.  Along the way, students learned how the math they have been learning applies directly to the design and building of the houses. 

In addition to the year long help of our professional industry partners, students also got a helping hand from their parents on “Bring Your Parent to Work” Day in May.  This annual event allows our parents to roll up their sleeves and show off their own skills, while seeing what their students have accomplished during the school year.  Without the help of our extraordinary parents, we could not achieve the levels of academic and building success that we do. 

The 2013 RHS GIC class finished the year with an awards banquet and celebration at Roseville High School. Students were recognized for their dedication and efforts, and special thanks was given to Bob Radcliff from Beutler Corporation for his support, dedication and “over the top” commitment to the RHS GIC program over the past two years. 

The moving trucks came to move the units the first week of June to their new home at the newly remodeled Acres of Hope facility in Auburn, CA. Once in place, they were leveled, skirted and hooked up to the necessary utilities. The addition of curtains and furniture turn these small trailers into cozy little “homes” for those helped by the amazing work of Acres of Hope.

RHS GIC is proud to have been a part of Phase 1 of Acres of Hope and has agreed to build 2 more units that will be used in Phase 2 for the 2013-2014 school year.  We are looking forward to meeting the next group of students who will rise to the RHS GIC challenge.

Thanks to Jeff Bailey and Tyson Maytanes, teachers at RHS for allowing reprint of this article.  Roseville, CA is located near Sacramento.