Fire Science Academy At WHS Is ‘Educating Tomorrow’s Heroes Today’ By Julie Unger
Wellington High School’s Fire Science Academy, which marked its first anniversary last month, is “educating tomorrow’s heroes today.” The program began the new school year with 69 cadets participating in what is the only high school program of its kind in Palm Beach County. Recently approved as a full countywide choice program, the Fire Science Academy has expanded from one class to a four-year program with Introduction to Fire Science taught by WHS Academy Coordinator James Marshall, and Firefighter 1, 2 and 3 taught by instructors from Palm Beach State College’s Firefighter Academy. “Kids anywhere from Belle Glade to Boca to Jupiter can apply and come to the program,” said Marshall, who has been at the school since 1988. These classes, an optional choice track, prepare the cadets
with the skills necessary to earn state industry certification. An optional precursor to college-run firefighter academies, the program offers experience, camaraderie, skills and discipline. Marshall and Principal Mario Crocetti had discussed creating a public service academy program, and the idea to make it a fire academy came together during the school’s 2012 pre-prom presentation of Shattered
Dreams, which simulates the dangers of drunk driving. As the real-life firefighters entered the field, Marshall noticed that many of them were his former students. Revisiting the academy regulations, they realized that the school would be a perfect fit for a fire science curriculum. “Fire science programs have been, for years, in the community colleges,” Marshall said. “Well, they have changed it to where you could actually run this
10thAnniversary Anniversary|wellington |wellingtonthe themagazine| magazine|September September2014 2014 10th
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