Starting early: Young students explore options Los Robles Career Day
During career day at Los Robles Elementary School Friday, March 8, second, third, and sixth graders shared with their parents what they enjoyed working on, and what their ideas, plans and hopes were for future careers and college education.
By starting early, educators hope to promote goals and ideas for school children to strive toward a career and a dream, and with hard work they can succeed.
In Mrs. Geurin-short’s class, second graders worked on Jiji Math as their parents arrived, then they opened their laptop computers and showed their parents what they were working on and explained to them what it was. Then they talked about numbers, read together, read a poem, and did health surveys.
Adan Armenta, 7, said he wants to be an astronaut, and plans on going to college at UC Santa Barbara. He was reading a book to his mother, who said Adan loves to watch the Science Channel and National Geographic’s “How the Universe Works.”
Mrs. Ward’s third grade class took a career interest assessment for elementary students to figure out their likes and dislikes, and what kind of occupation and interests would work well together, what duties and responsibilities they would have, where they could work, and what kind of education or training is needed for their intended career or vocation.
All classes at Los Robles will be touring different colleges on March
27, said principal Carla Crocker. Kindergarten classes are going to Porterville College, first grade to College of Sequoias, second grade to Cal State Bakersfield, third and fifth grades go to Fresno State, fourth graders to U.C. Merced, and sixth grade to U.C. Davis.
“It’s worth it for the exposure,” said Crocker.
“I think this is a great opportunity for parents to see what we do all day,” said Geurin-short, “To learn all the strategies we use for reading, math, and talking. We really practice conversations.”
In Ward’s third grade classroom, “Dub” Prado sat with his daughter Mia Amor, and she told him what she is studying on the computer.
“I love this class,” he said. “This program can inspire any one of these kids to go to college. I really loved it.”
“I want to go to Porterville College for two years and then to a university to study to be a doctor,” added Mia. “I just want to make people healthy and happy.”
“This is a perfect example of integrated instruction propelled by exemplary community support with the parents involved in their children’s education. Los Robles has the recipe for student success, and they are building the foundation to carry students into junior high and high school,” said Lillian Durbin, PUSD board president, as she stood watching third graders and their parents work together.
Fernando Medina and Eduardo Diaz-cruz, 9 and 8, had both taken the career assessment and come up with some abrupt changes in their notions for the future.
“I thought I wanted to be a car mechanic,” said Medina. “But after I took the interest survey I decided to become a teacher. The assessment gave you options, and teaching really interested me.”
Eduardo wanted to be a firefighter he said, but changed his mind and wanted to become a paleontologist.
The boys were very excited about going on a field trip to Fresno State University to see the campus.
“I want to look at the library and see the book store,” Fernando said.
“Those are two of my favorite things,” added Eduardo, who also spoke excitedly about an enclosed hallway at Granite Hills High school that he’s heard is surrounded by trees.
One of their classmates had his whole assessment and survey filled out, and said he wanted to study to become a veterinarian.
In Ms. Caballeros sixth grade class, students were showing their parents a Powerpoint presentation about their college goals.
They researched which colleges offered the programs they were interested in, the costs, and what kind of funding, scholarships, and grants were available for students at the schools.
Elizabeth Ramirez and Felic tiy Herrera gave a presentation about becoming lawyers. Elizabeth presented in Spanish and Felicity presented in English. It included the college they wanted to attend, all the necessary information about classes and programs offered, where they wanted to live on campus, and all the monies and grants needed to become lawyers.