On the first day, they sanded …

Continuing with its mission to provide interesting hands-on experiences for students, San Jacinto Unified School District in San Jacinto, Calif. recently partnered with the Sam and Alfreda Maloof Foundation to run a job shadowing clinic. Over a three-day period, students from the Industrial Wood Technologies program at San Jacinto High School visited the historic property and foundation shop in Alto Luma, Calif.

The students were introduced to the workflow of as a new hire in a custom shop. The class concluded with each student completing a small table of Maloof-inspired design, organized by Dennis Hayes, the clinic instructor.

The school’s instructor, Roy Castillo, says it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for his students that they will not forget.

“I try to create curriculum that promotes confidence in the pursuit of competence, and it is in this practice that the staff’s coaching and lessons propelled student enthusiasm,” he said.

On their first day ‘on the job’, students sanded, learned about their responsibilities, and shop principals, and started building the table. The second day featured slip tenon joinery, gluing the assembly, shaping the top, and sanding. On the last day, there was more sanding, carving and rasp shaping.

The foundation’s mission is to perpetuate excellence in craftsmanship, encourage artists and make available to the public the treasure house the Maloofs lovingly created.

For more about the foundation, visit www.malooffoundation.org.

This article was originally published in the May 2021 issue.