Thurston High showcases students in performance, robotics, athletics and CTE demonstrations

Thurston High School used the board meeting to showcase student programs that staff say link classroom learning with careers and postsecondary opportunities. Principal Rudy Shaner introduced a musical excerpt from this year’s production and invited students to demonstrate robotics and CTE work that administrators say is expanding hands-on pathways.

The presentation included a Grama Club musical excerpt and a robotics demonstration in which students described their robot, ‘‘Hephaestus,’’ and explained competition formats such as autonomous time slots and teleoperation. A student explained how the team built the robot and noted changes this year, including a new “swerve” drive. ‘‘This is a robot we built this year. We named it Hephaestus,’’ the student said.

Athletics and extracurricular participation were also highlighted. Athletic staff reported fall participation of 158 athletes, winter participation of 150 and spring participation of 181, and noted several seniors have received athletic scholarship offers. ‘‘We have had several students who have been offered scholarships,’’ the athletics director said during the presentation.

CTE and career pathways drew extended attention. Staff described the Innovation Center and a medical-skills class that has 30 students eligible to test for Certified Nursing Assistant qualifications upon graduation. Culinary instructors introduced a new chef instructor and described competition and work-based learning opportunities (SkillsUSA and ProStart) that they said can lead to paid national competition trips and employer connections. ‘‘I am super, super excited to be here,’’ the culinary instructor said of the new program.

Why it matters: district leaders framed these demonstrations as part of a push to broaden postsecondary options beyond traditional four-year routes and to provide tangible career skills. Administrators emphasized that building-level changes — coaching, expanded seminar uses, and new CTE sections — aim to increase student engagement and readiness for college and careers.

The board heard the presentations, asked clarifying questions about program capacity and scheduling, and thanked staff and students. The meeting moved on to the business portion of the agenda after the showcase.