What do you want to be when you grow up? Fourth-grade students at William H. Seward Elementary had the opportunity to ponder that question recently during the first annual Career Day event on June 12. Organized by their teachers, this event gave the students the chance to talk to adults with a variety of careers, including firemen, a jeweler, accountants, police and corrections officers, an Army medic, a business owner, the director of the Red Cross, a college professor, a project manager and a computer executive. These adults spent the afternoon meeting with small groups of students to explain their jobs and answer questions.

One of the lesser known of the New York State Learning Standards is Career Development and Occupational Studies, often referred to as CDOS. This standard ensures that students graduate from high school with knowledge of the world of work and mastery of the foundation skills they will need to be successful in a career. Like all of the learning standards, it is to be addressed beginning in kindergarten. Adding a Career Day at the fourth-grade level is a great way to expand upon the students' understanding of career options and pique their interest regarding the variety of positions which may be available to them.

Fourth-grade teachers Sue Fennessy, Loretta Brazak, Missy Chapman and Luba Lysiak were very pleased with the positive responses from both the adults who spoke about their careers and from the students themselves. “It really opened the students' eyes to career possibilities they hadn't even thought of before,” stated Mrs. Chapman. She went on to explain that the students found visiting with the jeweler very interesting and loved the opportunity to test the teacher's diamonds to see if they were real.

The event was a smashing success and will become a yearly event at the fourth-grade level. The teachers wish to thank all of the volunteers who came to speak with the Seward students and helped make this experience so worthwhile.

JoAnn Wixson is principal at Seward Elementary School