You’re never too young to learn about possible career pathways

Kasson-Mantorville School District is holding their career events for elementary students again this year on Nov. 21 focused Nov. 21 on the engineering and construction fields.

K-M’s “Immersive Experiences” series, which is now in its third year, is designed to give students face-to-face exposure with professionals in different careers.

Throughout the day, second-grade students had the opportunity for various career exploration activities through hands-on lessons given by local experts in the engineering and construction industries. Benchmark, for example, worked with students on rocket propulsion, and students enjoyed the thrill of seeing their rockets fly.

McNeilus Steel demonstrated with videos how their machines work in a manufacturing setting and showing products that these machines can make.

Representatives from the Minnesota Department of Transportation were to help students build a bridge the children can traverse. And students also learned about wind energy from NextEra Energy Resources, according to a K-M School District press release about immersion day.

The K-M Immersive Experience is a partnership between K-M Public Schools and local industry partners that focuses on early career awareness, which results in greater career stability, satisfaction and success. “Our immersion experience days allow our KoMet learners to explore a different career field each year as they move through our system at K-M Elementary School,” said Ashley Kaplan, director of student and staff support systems.

Ideally, early awareness helps students to consider how they want to build their educational path, the district’s press release said. When students can see themselves on a path, their interest increases and leads to understanding as to the skills needed for different types of work.

This type of career exploration is valuable to students even at these early ages, academics say.

The Nov. 21 event was the first of five immersive experiences to be held this year at K-M. On Feb. 16, K-M third graders will learn about careers in the fine arts. Kindergarten students will learn about “helping” careers on March 8, and first graders will engage in earth science/geography experiences on April 15. Fourth graders will learn about health science careers on May 7.