Career Day At Newtown Middle School

By Susan Coney

More than 20 presenters participated in Newtown Middle School’s Career Day Program held on Friday, October 28. Professionals from all walks of life held interactive, visual, and hands-on sessions geared to eighth grade students, sharing with them information about their particular job, career, or craft.

Presenters arrived at the middle school at 11:15 and enjoyed a lunch with staff and students in the library. Seventh grade students acted as ambassadors by escorting the presenters to the classrooms, where they would be speaking to eighth graders. They also provided them with any materials that they might need such as portable LCDs used in giving PowerPoint presentations.

Three sessions were offered and eighth grade students signed up to listen to the presenters of their choice. Time was given at the end of each presentation to allow the students to ask questions.

Guidance counselor Al Beatini said that the career day program has been in existence at the middle school for years but has expanded in the past few years to include a variety of careers ranging from golf professional Frank Sergiovanni to quality control toy tester Robert Knapp. All professionals that spoke to the eighth grade students had ties to the Newtown community, either by living or working in the area.

Zoo educator Jim Knox, whose daughter Katie attends the middle school, came to talk to the students about job opportunities available in zoos and aquariums. He told the students that zoos and aquariums offer a diverse range of job opportunities, but that typically only about one-third of those jobs are devoted to contact with animals. He stated that there are many, many jobs available at zoos and aquariums, ranging from zoo keepers and handlers to veterinarians, as well as educators, public relations specialists, graphic artists, and marketing directors.

Mr Knox emphasized that to work in a zoo requires patience and that students who wish to work in higher positions such as a large animal handler might have to first start out by caring for smaller creatures such as snails or work cleaning cages as a way to get a foot in the door.

Mr Knox answered student questions regarding the pay someone might earn working at a zoo facility. He told the students that people who work at zoos and aquariums do not earn high pay as compared to those who work in other fields such as a stockbroker or attorney. He told the students that they need to consider several factors when deciding on a career such as how much salary they require for the way they want to live versus other factors. “It [zoo work] is not a glamorous, easy way to make a living. It is not a high paying job but the rewards come in other ways. I really enjoy what I do. I share my knowledge with people of all ages. I get to be with and handle the animals. I love my job,” he told the students.

As Mr Knox talked with the students he brought out some of his assistants — a scorpion and a boa constrictor — to help in the interactive discussion.

In another classroom Newtown resident Andrea Capozziello talked to students about what it is like to be a hair stylist. She provided a very popular workshop type of presentation in which students learned to apply temporary highlights, curl and style hair on wigs and each other. The entire room was a hub of activity as the students kept busy with hands-on activities and watching demonstrations.

Eighth grader Susan Mason said that Ms Capozziello’s presentation was really fun because it allowed the students to experiment with new things and be interactive.

The final presentation concluded at approximately 1:50 when the presenters returned to the library to fill out a brief evaluation of the days events. Newtown Middle School guidance counselors Al Beatini, Kate MacKinney, and Sue Connelly run the event each year.