Lake Oconee Academy first-graders host Career Day

Published 8:00 am Thursday, June 14, 2012

Lake Oconee Academy (LOA) first grade students enthusiastically embraced a social studies unit with a field trip to Rockdale Career Academy in Conyers, Ga., and hosting their very own Career Day at LOA where they welcomed special visitors from the community.

Rockdale Career Academy (RCA), an award-winning technologically innovative learning community serving grades 9 -12, gave the students an up-close look at the many careers paths in today’s workforce.  LOA first graders got a glimpse at career options such as agriscience, culinary arts, broadcast journalism, architectural design and engineering, healthcare science, and marketing, to name a few.

After their exciting experience at RCA, the students invited members of their own community, many of them LOA parents, to share about their careers.  The visitors included Jackie Greer (Greer Force Marketing), Ayal Latz (a2b Fulfillment, Inc.), Marc Maroschak (Plastic Tubing Industries), Doug Higdon (Metro Power), Corrado Corrias (da Corrado Ristorante), Stuart Nichols (Novelis), Frances Copeland (licensed cosmetologist), Laura Whitehead (Little Caesars Pizza), Amanda Hopkins (akh Events), Patty Bentley (nanny), Amy Marasco (childcare provider) and Dr. Haley Lance (Pathways to Healing Chiropractic Care).  The students learned about many things such as budgets and revenue, transportation of goods, how to make a pizza, the environment, recycling, how to change a diaper (they practiced on their own stuffed animals!), cooking, a healthy spine, and how to braid hair.  

 “Our visit to RCA helped bring our career unit to life,” said LOA first grade teacher Mrs. Kelly Ingle.  “The children had the opportunity for real-life, hands-on experiences which also gave them a greater appreciation for the work their parents do each day.  We sincerely thank our community members for taking the time to visit with our first graders.”