Learning Life Skills

Building Better Bumblebees program teaches students safety, life and automotive skills

Mar 31, 2023

Academy high School students learn how to check the oil in the cars during a life skills program earlier this week. The program, Building Better Bumblebees, also focused on managing debt and first aid. Jacki Wright photo

DAVID STONE | TEMPLE DAILY TELEGRAM

Students at Academy High School are learning basic safety and life skills this week as part of the school’s Building Better Bumblebees program.

“The program gives our students the opportunity to learn important skills such as how to tie a tie, how to stop bleeding and managing credit-card debt,” said Jacki Wright, a spokesperson for Academy ISD.

“They also are attending demonstrations on automotive basics and cybersecurity,” she said.

The automotive training introduced students to the inner workings of a car and instructors demonstrated how to check oil and other fluids, jump-starting a car and how to change a tire.

“This was a half-day event where students rotated through several stations,” Wright said. “A different skill was taught at each station.

Building Better Bumblebees skills classes were led by Academy High School faculty and staff.

“The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service shared its Reality Education for Drivers program with our students,” Wright said. “The RED program’s primary goal is to steer young drivers toward safer driving habits and away from possible citations.”

“The program teaches the importance of driving sober, safely, securely and within the speed limits,” she said. “Pam Todaro shared her personal tragedy of losing her son, Dillon Chase Davis, to drinking and driving.”