Sal cosmetology secures post-secondary partnership

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Salisbury Composite High School cosmetology students are laying down the foundation to pursue a career in the field.

A new partnership has been formed between MC College and Sal, which is set to allow the students to gain industry-level skills and experiences in hairstyling, aesthetics and fashion design before graduating high school.

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“We just felt there was a need, as a program, to partner with some of the post-secondary schools that were out there so we could get the biggest bang for our buck for our students. With the economy and budget these days, we wanted to find more unique ways that we can help the students,” explained Zena Duguid, cosmetology teacher at Salisbury Composite High School. “We’ve always worked closely with MC College, but what we thought was let’s make this official and let’s get a little bit more out of it.”

With the partnership, Sal students get access to post-secondary level classes, up-to-date textbooks, two scholarship opportunities worth $1,000 each, and access to the newest products in the industry.

“I’m really thankful to my instructors and MC for giving me the opportunity to get a head start on my post-secondary credentials while I’m still in high school,” explained Jolene Audet, a Grade 12 cosmetology student from Sal. “It’s a huge deal for me. It’ll mean more opportunities and a broader resume when I’m ready to begin my career.”

The partnership also allows Duguid and the other cosmetology instructor to train with MC College for professional development four times a year to keep the teachers up-to-date, which in turn, gives the students a big leg up in the industry.

“Their instructors are also going to come here and teach our kids and show them the most up-to-date techniques that are up there, which gives them the opportunity to work with someone besides me all the time,” she joked.

MC College will also provide the newest products for the students to work within their courses and if they are looking to pursue it as a career, they will get credit for the work they’ve done.

“Any credits students receive in cosmetology will be reducing the number of hours they will need for post-secondary, which will also reduce the amount of post-secondary costs for them.”

A nine-month hair program generally runs between $15,000 and $20,000, so this partnership will definitely save some money for students who wish to pursue this as a career.

The class is quite popular at Sal and it seems more and more students sign up each year.

“I’ve got two students right now who are going through the full program and have taken cosmetology with me since their first semester of Grade 10 and have taken cosmetology every semester since. They won’t have to attend any post-secondary schooling and they are getting the instruction as if they did attend post-secondary because of the resources and training MC is providing,” Duguid said. “They’ll be able to leave here, go to a salon, do their apprenticeship, and challenge the exams.”

In the spring, Sal received $10,000 in provincial funding to purchase a hydro microdermabrasion machine, which included ultrasound equipment, a $4,000 micro-needling pen and a hair magnifier for the aesthetics program.

“What these partnerships are doing is giving these kids a leg up because they can leave high school and be near or fully-certified,” she said. “We’re giving them a kick-start and giving them that option.”

tdosser@postmedia.com

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