On Jan. 14 and 15, 2025, Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) Dragons explored the variety of programs and classes offered on campus during the open houses following the Program Faire. In darkness or light, students and faculty still pulled together to provide a welcoming and informational experience despite multiple power outages.
Typically geared towards underclassmen, classrooms were set up around campus during Foothill Intervention, Reinforcement and Enrichment (FIRE), hosting presentations or providing demonstrations to students touring the classroom. Students from each program volunteered to help present, showing off their knowledge or practicing skills learned in that specific program, simultaneously recruiting students who may be interested in their activities.
Due to high winds, power was shut off at Foothill Tech, so during the second round of open houses, some programs improvised their presentations to make sure students who attended got satisfactory information.
If students are interested in joining a certain program, a Common Application, due Jan. 19, 2025, is required for some, while others also require a supplemental application due at a later date. Supplementals are different depending on the program and help narrow down the applicants.
Of the programs at the faire, some are unique to Foothill Tech including, but not limited to, the BioScience Academy, DTech Academy, GRAFX and Journalism. Some other options include Foothill Tech community based programs including FIRE Leader and Wellness Peer.
Though they don’t require any form of application, Advanced Placement (AP) classes and core electives provided open houses for students who were interested in learning more about the subject. At later dates, programs open their doors to give a little more detail to those who are planning to apply or who just have questions about the application process, or program, in general.
Through the open houses, Dragons were able to discover more about the programs that incorporate subjects they are passionate about and could possibly pursue in the future. Jacob Bento ‘28 said, “I actually saw [the BioScience Academy] in my eighth grade year during an orientation, and I instantly knew that I really wanted to do it … and I just thought it would help me in my career endeavors.”
Logan Peterson ‘28 stated that, “I only just learned more about the programs this week when we were talking about it in class and thought they sounded very fun.”
As the open houses ended, applications started flowing in for each program, allowing teachers and students alike to decide who will become a part of the program and continue to help the classroom thrive.
