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Stafford County students continue home building

Stafford County students build a home

BY JEFF BRANSCOME

Date published: 7/1/2008

BY JEFF BRANSCOME

Stafford High School student John Pelcharsky, 16, walked into a new Stafford County home with a sense of ownership.

"It actually feels really good looking at stuff that you build," said John, a rising junior.

This past school year, he and about 100 other students helped build a 2,300-square-foot home at 101 Windsor Circle in southern Stafford. They showed off their work at an open house on June 20.

It's the 17th home completed by Stafford students in carpentry, masonry, electricity and drafting classes. The program is called "Bringing Occupational Opportunities to Students," or BOOTS.

John, who competed in masonry at the state level, said he laid some bricks for a fireplace and did anything else that was needed of him, such as mixing mortar.

He said his stepdad, Carl Scheibe, is a carpenter and his father specializes in masonry.

"I guess it's in my blood because I'm really good at it," John said. He said he wants to be a police officer but may do masonry jobs on the side.

This spring, he was in a statewide SkillsUSA bricklaying competition. He lost because his design wasn't correct.

"I was so happy and stuff, I wasn't paying attention," John said.

Stafford High masonry teacher Robbie Phipps said some students don't bother to finish after they do something wrong.

"I was really impressed with him," Phipps said of John. "What I was pleased with is he did finish. He stuck it out."

At the open house, John was one of the last students to leave the new home in the Argyle Heights sub- division. It's on the market for $439,999.

The one-story house has a brick exterior, hardwood floors, a brick walkway and a deck. The finished product is one of the perks of being a tradesman, John said.

"You always have something to brag about," he said.

Jeff Branscome: 540/374-5402
Email: jbranscome@freelancestar.com

HONORED The Stafford County Vocational Educational Foundation was recently recognized by the Virginia Department of Education for its partnership with businesses. Almost 100 businesses have supported BOOTS in the last 19 years, according to the Stafford school division.

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Date published: 7/1/2008