Henley High ag mechanics students host first annual CTE Builds for elementary kids

Feb. 10, 2026 / The Henley High School ag mechanics shop recently became a lively hub of creativity and learning as high school students welcomed first-, second-, and third-graders from Henley Elementary for an interactive woodworking experience.

The program, called CTE Builds, invited elementary students to the high school to complete simple, engaging woodworking projects under the guidance of advanced ag mechanics students. The initiative was designed to spark an early interest in hands-on learning while providing high school students with a real-world opportunity to design, plan, and lead educational experiences.

“This is the first year we’ve done something like this,” said Henley High School senior Kearsten Anderson-Hilyard. “It was exciting to see the younger kids so engaged and proud of what they built.”

Ag mechanics teacher Chris Aylett, who conceived the project, explained the motivation behind it: “Our goal was to give students a chance to expand their skills beyond the classroom -- teaching, planning, and problem-solving in a way that mirrors real-life projects.”

Weeks before the elementary students arrived, Henley High School students worked in teams to design projects that could be completed within a short session. They created budgets, drafted blueprints, built prototypes, and tested their designs to ensure success.

“We had to design the projects ourselves and figure out what worked and what didn’t,” Anderson-Hilyard said.

The class ultimately prepared eight different projects, including catapults, trucks, planes, mugs, flowerpots, layered nameplates, trains, and robots. To make the experience smooth for younger students, the high schoolers pre-sorted materials into individual kits so each child had everything they needed.

Each kid had their own set of pieces, said Henley senior Jeremiah Trout. “They could open the bag and have everything they needed right in front of them.”

Over the course of the two-week program, more than 160 elementary students participated, gaining firsthand experience in construction, design, and teamwork.

CTE Builds also emphasized communication and presentation skills. High school students introduced each project, guided the younger students through the steps, and practiced presenting their work professionally. They created promotional materials and approached the program as if they were running a small business.

“We had to treat it like it was a real business -- making posters, business cards, and presentations,” Anderson-Hilyard said. When asked what their business was selling, Trout summed it up simply: “What we were really selling was our time.”

While each project had its own appeal, students said the elementary visitors were most excited about one build in particular.

“The catapult was definitely the favorite,” Trout said, adding that at the end of the session, students lined up to test their catapults and see which one launched the farthest.

The program is expected to continue next year, with refinements based on lessons learned in its inaugural year. Henley junior Austin Hummel noted that managing materials and preparing backups were key challenges but provided valuable learning opportunities.

“Some groups struggled to get certain parts ready in time, which set us back a bit,” Hummel said.

Hummel is looking forward to being part of the project again his senior year.

“It was definitely worth it,” he said. “Next year, we can build on what we learned this year.”