District News

Technology class completes kayak for teacher

 

May, 2011

 

Late in April, Canajoharie High School technology students put the finishing touches on a special kayak they've been working on since December. Teacher Dwayne Heroth called it a rewarding experience to both teach students and honor a late friend.

Last year, his longtime friend and fellow technology teacher Jeff Chapple passed away. He had taught at Fort Plain and was the husband of East Hill Elementary second grade teacher Mary Jean Chapple. When Mrs. Chapple told Mr. Heroth that her husband had been building a wooden kayak before he passed away, Mr. Heroth decided to finish it.

Throughout the process, about 11 students worked on it and on May 11, Mrs. Chapple put it in the water for the first time under warm sunny skies.

"It was wonderful. I'm hooked. I love it. It was my first time ever in a kayak and it was great," she said. "I had all this help from the students. Getting in and out is pretty tricky but they held on to it for me. I told them I could stay here until sunset."

Mr. Heroth said it was an "amazing experience all the way around," and was impressed with the students' work. He could tell his students were proud when they saw Mrs. Chapple in the kayak.

“Jeff was a friend and I thought it would be good to finish what he started,” Mr. Heroth said in December. “It’s also good because the students are learning about marine construction, fiber glassing and teamwork.”

To christen the kayak, Mrs. Chapple poured a bottle of water over it before heading out over the water.

"It's wonderful for me. It seems so right," she said.

For more pictures, click here.