Making `time’ at RCS

RCS students are making time for an old skill – woodworking.

Students in two design and drawing for production classes spent a month combining wood working and computer design skills to create wooden clocks. We are not talking standard, hang-on-the-wall circular clocks, rather clocks with elaborate designs such as guitars and stars.

“The work of these students is absolutely amazing,” said art teacher Binnie Chriss.

Technology teacher Michael Fisher said the project – which underscores a reemphasis on woodworking in the technology program – has been an “absolute hit” with the students.

“The student’s reaction to the project has been incredible. I had student staying after school everyday to keep working on their clocks – just for the fun of it,” said Fisher.

The project involved utilization of several skills:

• Use of the Computer AutoCAD computer program to design the piece of wood for the clock
• Lamination – the students laminated three pieces of pine or poplar together
• Woodworking – the students used band saws and other equipment to carve and cut their designs and then to bore out the hole needed to place the clock mechanism
• Staining

The project is not only popular with the students, it also promises to be popular with parents, friends and relatives.

That's because some students are giving the clocks to parents or other relatives as Christmas presents.