Early College of Forsyth students are learning to work with their hands as part of a special partnership with Sawtooth School for Visual Art.

The after-school woodworking course was put together by Ted Barton, an Early College English teacher who also teaches classes at Sawtooth. Early College offers a tight focus on academics that helps students earn a degree years sooner than through a traditional high school, but Barton saw a need among his students for classes that would also foster their creativity. Now, he’s piloting a six-student extracurricular class that he hopes will begin to address that need.

“We have a diverse student body at Early College, and some of them would like to pursue fine arts,” Barton said. “We don’t have any formal arts education at our school, so this is a chance for them to get some hands-on experience.”

Over the course of three months, students complete four woodworking projects that help them develop skills with sawing, carving, paneling, and more, resulting in physical products they can keep. Not only does it test abilities that don’t come up much in a typical classroom, but it’s also an opportunity for them to make something tangible as proof of what they’ve learned.

“It’s been surprisingly easy getting into it,” said Early College Senior Jenrette Bass. “I like being able to get hands on and make something that’s all my own.”

Early College students set themselves up well for their professional future with their accelerated curriculum. Some of these students may go on to incorporate their newfound woodworking talents into their careers, while others will hold onto it as a hobby. In either case, discovering a pursuit that makes them feel fulfilled is its own reward.

“I’m not really the best at a lot of things in school, but I’m good at this,” said Early College Junior Arianna Santos. “I’m good at it, and that really makes me happy.”