Words Heidi Hackman & Colleen McNamee, District Career Coordinators, SD 63
Photo Sarah Hartley Photography
School District is excited to be celebrating 15 years of our highly successful VIU/SD 63 Hairstylist program with the opening of the teaching salon, Studio 63. Over the years there have been many changes to make the program better for students as well as refreshes to the salon. Sometimes a change in scenery is all a student needs to reignite their creativity and energy, just like a refresh of the salon. Kailey Elton is a wonderful example of this “refresh.”
Kailey attended North Saanich Middle School, but decided she needed to meet new people so in ninth grade attended Stelly’s Secondary instead of following her cohort to Parkland. While at Stelly’s, she found new friends and they decided to apply to the hairstylist program. Kailey “never understood school and why I had to go, or why it was so hard for me to learn compared to my classmates.” She went into the program as a way to earn credit towards high school graduation, but finished the program with so much more. Kailey said she “noticed I was more motivated to work and my work ethic became a lot better. Another change I saw in myself was my confidence, learning and achieving a new skill and trade helped me become a better version of myself in many different ways.”
Anastasia Antoniadis has been the instructor since the program started in 2010, the one constant in the program. She said that “Kailey has a natural talent” that she doesn’t see very often and that “Kailey is a whiz with colour and has a strong work ethic which makes her an excellent hairstylist.” When the program finished, Kailey wasn’t sure she wanted to be a hairstylist but talking with her mom, Jennifer, Kailey decided to try a new salon which is owned by a friend of her family. Once again, a change in scenery was exactly what Kailey needed. “I decided to continue working with hair to help myself decide what would be best for me and what I like and dislike about it. Trying different things is the only way I think I will be able to find what I love doing the most. And I am really starting to love hair more than I expected.” Kailey has been at Luv Salon since July and is completing her Youth Work in Trades (youth apprenticeship) program.
Kailey is putting her talents to use and you can find her on Instagram @hair.by.kailey
Studio 63 opens on April 10. To make an appointment please call 250-652-5381. For more information on Saanich School District Career programs and the Youth Work in Trades program please contact Heidi Hackman at hhackman@saanichschools.ca or Colleen McNamee at cmcnamee@saanichschools.ca.
