Shop teacher Joe Brasil (back) with four of his students with the Toyota Yaris that was donated by Hallmark Toyota to Westside Secondary School in November. Photo/LINDSEY PAPP Students from Westside Secondary School in Orangeville who are part of the Ministry of Education’s Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program are beneficiaries of a 2006 Yaris donated to the school last year by Hallmark Toyota.

Shop teacher Joe Brasil says the vehicle is modern, and brings his students into the 21st century.

“Whatever the cars have now, it’s all electronic, it’s all computer-controlled, so it kind of helps give them an edge if they want to pursue their careers” in the automotive industry.

Westside principal Scott Bishop says the school was originally designed to house just over 700 students. Today there are more than 1,000 and with the addition of the 4000-square-foot shop, the school has the space and resources for students who wish to pursuer education in a particular trade to be successful.

The Yaris was donated to give the students experience in diagnostics.

“It allows them to do diagnostic stuff that they wouldn’t see or be able to do on a customer’s car,” said Mr. Bishop.

The shop is open to members of the community who would like to bring in small things for the students to work on, for the experience. The Yaris allows them to delve more deeply into the mechanics of the vehicle than they could with any other car brought in to them.

The SHSM program allows students in Grades 11 and 12 to focus on a career path that matches their skills and interests. They are required to complete eight to 10 specific courses that are meet the requirements of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma while earning valuable skills for their chosen industry.

With the construction of the shop and the extra resources it boasts, Westside is better able to offer these programs to their students in a wide variety of subjects.

“Before we had a proper shop, students were working outside,” Mr. Bishop said.

“Now that they have a facility and additions from the community are making the kids really keen and wanting to be engaged and working on stuff in the shop – to be learning.”