Students learn about work on Vehicle Day

Doctors, lawyers, teachers, nurses, firefighters, businessmen, journalists, even the President of the United States. These were but a few of the costumes worn by students at the Marr Cook Elementary during the Goshen school’s career week held April 28-May 2.

All week the students learned about different career choices and were taught character education lessons; the career week culminated with what the school called vehicle day.

“Vehicle day is when we invite companies to bring vehicles to show the students,” said second grade teacher Lisa Burns. “We have a CAT mechanics truck coming, concrete trucks, fire trucks, ambulances, police officer cruisers, and many more.”

Burns said that the vehicle day was designed to give the students hands-on experience with professional vehicles because it shows kids that sometimes vehicles are pertinent to someone’s profession or career.

During career week, the teachers and the students discussed jobs and what it takes to do that job. Each elementary student was required to write an essay about what they want to be when they grow up, and what they need to get there, such as the mandatory education and experience involved in reaching professional goals.

"The main thing that we concentrate on is character education during career week," Burns said. "At this age level, we want to teach them to be good responsible citizens. Character education has to go with career education - people need both to succeed."

Marr Cook Elementary principal Theresa Rohrkemper said that the career week, and the vehicle day, was an experience that the students, and the teaching staff, will not soon forget.

"It has been engaging, fun, hands-on, and it makes a very real connection to what they might want to do in the future," the principal said. "And that is the whole idea."