The high school girls chatted as they styled hair and exchanged beauty tips, but they weren't at a slumber party.

A group of high school boys lit fires and put them out, with the support of a responsible adult.

Nearby, sparks flew as boys polished their welding skills.

All of the activities were part of this year's open house at the Western Area Career & Technology Center in Chartiers, which serves nine Washington County school districts.

The open house attracted 405 visitors, including past graduates, potential employers, labor union representatives, educators, elected officials, students who are considering enrolling in the school and their parents.

The center offers a wide array of three-year programs, including automotive mechanics, child care, cosmetology, culinary arts, drafting, emergency and protective services, health assistant, machine shop and welding.

Success stories can be heard in just about every area of the sprawling school building.

In the health assistant program, students study anatomy, medical terminology and other subjects and learn direct patient care skills.

"There's a lot going on here. Last year, six seniors were certified before graduation for jobs in the health field," said Dave Adamson, cooperative education coordinator.

A recent graduate is making $18 an hour in a skilled nursing home, said Marianne Tilley, health assistant instructor.

In the school's machine shop, students operated metalworking machines, including lathes.

"In this area, manufacturing is strong. As many students as we have, they can find jobs," Mr. Adamson said.

"Companies cannot get enough skilled machinists to fill jobs," said Al Kammenzind, machine shop instructor. "The average worker in this field is 55, the older ones are retiring, and companies need more young workers in the pipeline. Apprentices start at $12 an hour and move up to $21 an hour."

In the past three years, $500,000 in equipment has been put into the school's machine shop, Mr. Kammenzind said.

In the welding shop, students wearing protective helmets and masks were bending plates, said instructor Stanley Kuntz. "We're working on a piece of lawn equipment for the school. It's a leaf catcher. We're also repairing a rusted-out livestock scale for a member of the community."

During the open house, cosmetology students were styling wigs made of human hair.

"This class is always full, with 50 students, and there is a waiting list," said instructor Kim Wiltrout. They get hands-on instruction in class from Ms. Wiltrout and from visiting stylists from top-of-the line salons.

Cosmetology students practice their skills on volunteer clients from the community, who can get walk-in appointments. The students have regular clients of all ages, Ms. Wiltrout said, and the prices are hard to beat. A shampoo and hair cut is $2.50; a shampoo and blow-dry is $2.50; a perm is $17; color application starts at $12.

"Don't worry. I'm here to supervise them," Ms. Wiltrout added.

The fires were being started and extinguished by students in the emergency and protective services program, which is geared to students who want to work as police officers, firefighters or emergency medical technicians.

Other programs at the school include carpentry, collision repair technology, electrical occupations, heating and air conditioning and masonry.

"Our mission is to create a pipeline" of students who fill the needs of employers in the region, said Mr. Adamson, a Western Center graduate.

The school has 500 students. They attend for a half-day and spend the other half in their district high school. Western Area, however, is one of the few career and technology schools that offers English and social studies classes on site "because sometimes they cannot fit all the required classes into a half-day schedule in their district high school," Mr. Adamson said.

Evening classes for adults also are offered, in fields including licensed practical nursing, commercial drivers' license, concrete delivery professional and culinary arts.

The participating school districts of Western Area are Avella Area, Burgettstown Area, Canon-McMillan, Chartiers-Houston, Fort Cherry, McGuffey, Peters, Trinity Area and Washington.