Vocational Training And Work Study

In-School Vocational Training

Our school offers unique opportunities for students to gain valuable skills in the areas of Culinary Arts, Wood shop, and Metal shop/Small Engine Repair Technology.  Students may request to apply to a local Vocational-Technical School to determine if they may be eligible to participate in a shared time program, attending LAS for their academics, and the vocational school for their trade.  Students looking for part-time work and job training may participate in our work-study program if their school behavior is positive and they are in good standing academically.

Graphic Design

An introduction to elements of design, spatial relationships, typography and imagery as they apply to practical visual solutions for self-promotion, resumes, logo design, Web design, and marketing materials. This course instructs the student in graphic design skills employing traditional and digital tools, and procedures employed in the communication arts industry. The focus will be on finding creative visual solutions to communication problems using technical skills. Students are exposed to the theory and function of the major software packages and basic digital design principles utilized in the visual arts. Topics include operating systems, typography, vector and bitmap imaging, page layout, PDF creation and editing, file transfer and management, file output, emerging technologies, and other material relative to the digital visual arts workflow.

Web Design

Students learn the basics of the Web design process by gaining an understanding of the four phase process of site development: plan, design, launch, and publish. Through a hands on approach including design principles, best business practices and site analysis, a foundation in HTML and CSS is established and students are exposed to the discipline of Responsive web design. In addition, the class will look at issues of social media, mobile device apps, search engine optimization and web animation.

Welding

Our Metal shop/Small Engine Repair program is one of most popular elective classes at LAS. Students work on metal shop projects from simple fabrication and welding to restoration of vintage race cars and motorcycles. Students learn to operate equipment such as: a Hossfeld hydraulic bender, a vertical mill, a metal lathe, and tubing rollers. Students work on developing vocational skills while acquiring valuable transitional work experiences that may lead to future employment. Students learn basic car care including studying basic engine technology and repair. Students learn how TWO CYCLE engines and FOUR CYCLE engines operate including disassembling, repairing, and assembling.

Students who are interested, are introduced to welding and will be able to explain the welding processes and welding safety, demonstrate a MIG welder, perform basic welding tasks at a professional shop, describe welding and electricity, demonstrate horizontal and vertical welding. Additionally, the in-class work is supplemented with periodic field trips to "real world" job sites that relate to small engines and motor sports technology.

For many students this hands-on program has offered them the opportunity to identify hidden talents and develop skills in ways that cannot be accomplished in a traditional classroom setting.

Art

The Art Program at LAS has been developed to enhance the creative thinking and awareness of every individual who takes part in our program. We believe that the process of making and understanding art can off nonverbal ways to investigate and assimilate fundamental aspects of the self which are rarely investigated elsewhere in life. What makes one student immediately comfortable with the messiness of oil paint, while another is totally unwilling and seemingly incapable of touching it, preferring the comfort of a ruler and pencil? Why is one student able to take in the whole picture with all of its relationships whilst a classmate sees only isolated details? Art is a language and the way a student approaches it tells us much about the way he interprets the world around him.

The resolution of a piece of art can act as an accepting mirror, liberating the individual to move further toward life and understanding and away from aspects of his/her psyche which may be negative and potentially damaging. Teaching this language means offering a route for the student to be truer to himself, which in turn allows him to make greater sense of his place in society and contribute to it in a more meaningful way. The curriculum that follows is intended to provide a framework adaptable to the needs of each particular classroom situation. Differentiated lessons will provide for the integration of a diverse classroom, meeting individual needs while creating a community of learners.

Music Production

Students study music in two separate sects: Music Production, and Instrumental Study. The Music Production students create music on the computer using the latest version of the application Garageband. These students study song form, genres, instrumentation, and conveying emotion and stories through sound. They create a series of projects throughout the year for a grade, and all of their work will be uploaded to their Soundcloud.com accounts. The Instrumental Study students choose an instrument (sometimes two!) to begin learning or to continue studying. They choose repertoire and rehearse throughout the year, with the intention of performing at the end of the year Talent Showcase, held in front of all students and faculty.

In addition to studying to play the instrument and performance techniques, and building a repertoire, this year the Instrumental Study students can record their playing onto Garageband to be uploaded to Soundcloud.com.

The LAS Music Collective is creating music with the purpose of sharing our skills and talents with music-lovers outside of the walls of our school! Students have created their own accounts on Soundcloud.com as a platform to express themselves and tell their stories through music. Students will create, record, and upload their musical pieces directly to their individual accounts. The tracks will then be shared to the LAS Music Collective account where viewers can listen to the cumulative gallery of music created throughout the year. Songs will continue to be uploaded throughout the year as students complete them, so be sure to check back weekly for updates to the music selection!

Computer Photo Editing

Students explore the boundless potentiality of the digital image editing software Adobe Photoshop for use in the visual communications, graphic design, marketing and photography industries. Students manipulate scanned images and digital photographs in preparation for publication layout and design, Web output, use in other software packages, or immediate output. Topics include conceptual planning, photo restoration, layered composite imaging, masking, and the color balance adjustment of imagery used in graphic design and photography.