School shop helps community

While Sisters High School students work on their birdhouses and hat racks during their wood shop class, Colin Hedren tackles a community-minded project: he's building benches for Central Oregon kindergartens.

"Dennis Dempsey, who is the Educational Service District superintendent, called me and asked if my class could build three small benches for kindergartens in Deschutes County," said Bob Martin, who teaches wood shop and construction at Sisters High School.

"He showed me photos of what he had in mind, and I knew I had the students to do it."

Bob asked Colin Hedren to take on the bench project.

Using spare materials donated by the school, Colin designed and completed the three benches, which will be delivered to kindergartens in Prineville, Madras, and Bend.

"The only cost to the district was the paint," said Martin. "Colin has worked diligently on this project, putting in many hours. He's done a wonderful job."

Besides the benches, Martin agreed to construct a quilt stand for FAN (Family Access Network) to display a quilt the organization plans to raffle.

Student Tim Brislin took on the project, and hopes to finish it soon.

"I would hope to see more community projects," said Martin. "They pull kids into community affairs, and gives the community the opportunity to know what we are doing at the school."

The Central Oregon Home Improvement Association will interview Martin and his construction class this week for a program to be aired in the future on local-access Channel 11. The construction class recently finished three storage sheds which have already been sold to raise money for the course.

Next trimester, the class will be doing construction work around the school district, mostly minor repairs.

Those who have requests or project ideas may call Bob Martin at 549-4045.