Currents in Education
Career day encourages students to "Be Somebody"
By Melissa Wood
Gallery owner Gloria Gustafson demonstrates how to have fun with water at Coast Ridge Elementary School's bi-annual Career Day.
Photo by Melissa Wood
Arborist Mike Lee shows some of the many things that come from trees with assistant Trevor Martin of Debbie Palmer's third-grade class.
Photo by Melissa Wood
Surrette, who said while growing up he was surrounded by encouragement, kicked off Coastal Ridge Elementary School's bi-annual Career Day on Friday, March 30, for grades 3 and 4 with his show, "Be Somebody."
Alongside video and music, Surrette quickly painted recognizable historical figures that made a difference - something he told the students they could do, even if they weren't world famous.
"Find out what you're good at and make this world a better place," he said.
The paintings that appeared like magic on black canvas before the assembly included Abraham Lincoln, Mother Theresa, Beethoven and Albert Einstein.
As he painted, Surrette talked about ideas and creativity but also respect for and reaching out to others. While painting Mother Theresa, for example, a video played of her helping children in Calcutta juxtaposed with receiving the Presidential Award for Freedom and Nobel Peace Prize.
"Her wish was to make them feel beautiful like the most perfect rose," said Surrette, ripping apart tissue to create a paper flower. The gym filled with "oohs" and "ahs" as he floated the tissue flower in the air and then transformed it into a real flower when pushing it into a box and out again.
Surrette said he's also excited by science, and presented his picks for the top 10 inventions of the future, including a wearable sleeping bag and plug-in slippers.
"To be a scientist is not a bad thing because scientists get to change the world with their ideas and creativity," he said.
Surrette's performance introduced a daylong opportunity for students to learn about a variety of professions and careers in 30-minute presentations. This year's theme was ethics and technology, and the 17 professionals included a priest, coach, art gallery owner, photographer, neurologist and arborist, among others - mostly from York.
Gloria Gustafson, owner of the Village Gallery, said she's been painting for a long, long time. During her presentation in the art room she gave a lesson on how to play with water.
"I'm going to show you a little bit of a fun way to paint," she told them.
In Deb Palmer's third-grade classroom, arborist Mike Lee demonstrated how many things come from trees by handing objects to student volunteer Trevor Martin, including an orange, wooden utensils and an ash bowl made from the ash trees that used to be in front of the Village Elementary School.
"There are so many things that come from trees," he said. "It's a great business to be in because we have no waste and we don't throw anything away."
Career Day in the York Schools affords students in kindergarten through grade 12 chances for gaining a greater appreciation for various types of professions and trades and for understanding the education and training required for future careers, a goal linked to the Maine Learning Results in the area of career preparation.
Friday's Career Day event also offered presenters an opportunity to be engaged in the learning community and spend time with students at the elementary level. Many of the presenters participate in the event year after year.
Career Day was organized by staff members at Coastal Ridge Elementary School, dedicated parent volunteers and Special Helpers in Public Schools (SHIPS) Volunteer Staff Kathy McKenna and Coordinator Melanie Ladd.
