On Jan. 13, Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) hosted its annual Open House, an opportunity for Dragons to learn more about the different pathways offered. The event was held after the Program Faire in the prior week on Jan. 9, offering interested students a deeper look into specific programs and electives at Foothill Tech through informative and immersive sessions hosted in classrooms.
Starting promptly at the beginning of Foothill Intervention, Reinforcement and Enrichment (FIRE), students filled hallways and classrooms while various programs hosted Dragons.
The open house is commonly directed towards underclassmen, immersing students in the opportunities given at Foothill Tech. Classrooms staged activities and presentations to inform Dragons of the experiences integrated into the programs.
The programs offered are seen as vital to Foothill Tech’s community. Many Open House attendees mentioned the importance of the connections made through the various opportunities, touching on how they build relationships between students.
“I think that everyone there seemed like they were involved with each other and knew each other and were very confident in what they were saying, and I think that the confidence in the program shows great strength in that program,” Patrick Gregorio Grimm ‘28, who attended the Open House for the DTech Academy, said.
Among the programs showcased were the Bioscience Academy, DTech Academy, Journalism, GRAFX, Associated Student Body (ASB) and Yearbook. As well as leadership programs, including the newer Wellness Peer role and FIRE Leaders.
Many of the program’s Open Houses had high attendance and crowded rooms, with a large number of interested students looking over their options for the upcoming school year. The Bioscience Academy saw many new faces during the Open House, where older students demonstrated skills and knowledge picked up from the Academy to underclassmen.
“It’s very cool that [Bioscience] teaches you CPR and baby CPR, how to stop bleeding, as well as doing stitches,” Gwenthy Stachurski ‘29, who attended the Bioscience Academy’s Open House, said.
For many of the programs’ current students, the experience was a bit of a full-circle moment, as many of them had attended the Open House for their specific program as underclassmen.
“[The Open House] is kind of nostalgic because I did this, I was on the backboard my freshman year before I decided I wanted to join Bioscience, and it’s cool to be able to have freshmen coming into the class and I’m the one demonstrating this time,” Cameron Wolpe ‘27, a current member of the Bioscience Academy, said.
“I think it was really valuable for me just to know how much time I had to plan out my application … It was also really valuable to see some of the seniors and some of the people that were already involved share their experiences,” Ella Miller ‘27, who is currently in the DTech Academy, said.
Foothill Tech’s Open House provided Dragons with the opportunity to explore a wide scope of leadership and academic pathways, as well as gain insight into the experiences provided within each specific program. Dragons applying to programs must submit a Common Application by Jan. 18, with time being allocated on Jan. 16 for a business meeting, where all students will complete the form, taking the next step towards choosing a path for the next school year.
