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 Staff photo/Katie Yantis: A truck dumps dirt along the Miami and Erie Canal towpath where it crosses Ohio 66. The project will make it easier for those using the towpath to cross Ohio 66.
By KATIE YANTIS
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — Hiker, bikers and walkers in the region will notice a
difference in a few sections of the Miami and Erie Canal towpath trail
starting this week.
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Students Exposed To Careers, Issues |
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Friday, 15 May 2009 |
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 Staff photo/Angela Weavere: Corrections officer Kevin Popp displays a West Central Juvenile Detention Center uniform during a presentation Thursday morning at McBroom Junior High School. By ANGELA WEAVER
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — McBroom Junior High School students learned a little about the future and how to deal with certain issues that may come up in their lives during Career and Issues Day on Thursday.
The eighth-grade students listened to 12 speakers from the area talk about their careers, while the seventh-grade students went to six classrooms to hear area speakers talk about teen issues.
Health and science teacher Barb Hamberg has coordinated Issues Day along with McBroom guidance counselor Mary Schumm, who organizes Career Day.
“I’ve taught them a lot of these things already,” Hamberg said. “But the people come in and tell the kids how to adapt to all the issues they face in life. It reinforces what I’ve been telling them.”
Schumm said she began the eighth-grade Career Day 17 years ago and it also is the same grade that students take career assessments.
“It’s one thing to read things in a book — watch a video — but to have speakers come in is really special,” she said, adding that the students can ask the speakers questions and hear about real-life experiences. “The kids know it’s a special day — we tell them it’s a dress-up day and there are guests in the building. It’s a special, end-of-the-year activity.”
Dennis Bulen, a professor of criminal justice at Wright State University-Lake Campus, said he was invited to speak to the eighth-grade students.
“It’s an opportunity to have a personal influence in young people’s lives,” he said. “And I’m putting some realism to the TV ‘CSI’ thing.”
Greg Schumm, who is involved with community relations at the Lake Campus, said he thought the career day is a “great opportunity to open students’ lives in what’s happening within the job market.”
“It’s a reality check on how to prepare for a career and even a career change,” he said. “Like the difference between what a job is and what a career is.”
Attorney Ken Hitchen said he has spoken at Career Day in the past.
“I like the kids,” he said.
“I think it’s good to give the kids the idea of jobs that are out there.”
Siefring and Associates CPA Tami Sanford said Thursday was her first time back to the event in four years, but she attended before then.
“It’s a good way to introduce all the students to a variety of occupations that are available to them in accounting,” she said. “(They learn) where to start, when they get to high school or college, what track they want to take.”
Kroger Manager Tom Burke said he came out to Career Day because Kroger is relatively new in the area.
“We’re showing what we do for the community,” he said. “We hire kids to work as cashiers or baggers and if they want the opportunity, there are options to move up to management.”
Innovative Scientific Solutions Inc. Research Engineer Kyle Frische said he likes talking to the kids.
“I like inspiring the kids to get jobs and get the opportunity to work in a high-technological industry,” he said. “I give the kids a feel of what might be out there in the field of technology.”
Corrections Officers Jeremy Root and Kevin Popp said West Central Juvenile Detention Center, of Troy, has been coming out to speak at Issues Day for years.
“We describe a day at West Central and what it’s like and why they shouldn’t come,” Popp said.
In addition to Root and Popp from JDC, representatives included Cindy Bittinger and Josie Hemmelgarn with the YMCA for health, Lisa Seeger and two students for the Teen/Parent Panel, Tom Schlatzer with Gateway Outreach for chemical dependency, Andy Alanis with the Ohio Department of Public Safety for drugs and Stephanie Calderon with Solid Source for relationships.
“It’s beneficial when they hear it from an outside person who can share with them ideas and things,” Hamberg said. “It’s such an impacting year for (seventh-grade students). It’s a tough time for kids. I enjoy teaching health because it’s a life skills thing; it’s something we use every day.”
Eighth-grade student Logan Simons said he liked Career Day because it is educational.
“It’s safe and fun,” Simons’ classmate Devlan Taylor said.
Seventh-grade student Alli Overley described Issues Day as “neat.”
“I don’t want to go to a detention center,” Overley said of what she learned.
Her classmate Machela Hollman agreed with her.
“It’s pretty cool,” Hollman said of Issues Day.
McBroom Principal Ken Neff said the day is a way to include all students.
“It gives them an opportunity to participate and listen to advice from people about what they’ve done,” he said. |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 19 May 2009 )
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