Students can take test, become floral designers
KINGWOOD — Preston High School is offering a new floriculture simulated work place class this year.
Floriculture is the cultivation of flowers or flowering plants, especially for ornamental purposes.
Agriculture teacher Samantha Funk said she and her 24 students are making and selling Thanksgiving and Christmas arrangements.
Due to COVID-19 and the inability to take credit cards, the arrangements are being sold only to school and board of education employees.
Funk said the class has 45 orders to go out in November.
“We’re hoping after Christmas or by early spring, we’ll be able to take orders from the public,” she said.
Funk said the floriculture class gives students the opportunity to join the Future Farmers of America program and gives them a credit in fine arts.
Once the students complete the class, they can take a test and become certified floral designers.
Hillsview Floral owner Mike Graham said he has already hired one of the floriculture students to work for him after school.
“This is something he wants to do,” Graham said of the student. “He was really excited when I got the work permit.”
He said working in his Kingwood flower shop will give the student on-the-job training as a paid employee.
Graham also orders the flowers and tools for Funk’s class.
He said he believes the program is “great.”
“They are teaching the students a skill,” Graham said. “Not everyone wants to go to college.”
Funk said when things open up again, she would like to start a flower of the month club.
“If the program grows, I hope we will be able to be a full-service flower shop at the school,” Funk said. “People could order things like corsages, flowers for banquets and Valentine’s Day orders.”
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