Elementary students check out a bomb squad robot. One of the many roles of a mayor: Keeping fourth graders entertained. King/Robinson School students came to class to hear from police, firefighters, business owners, and judges about their career journeys — while those same community members were reminded that all of their work is ultimately about investing in today’s youth. That was the scene Tuesday morning as King/Robinson hosted a school-wide Career Day celebration for the first time in years. The celebration, arranged during national career week, aimed to build off New Haven Public Schools’ (NHPS) focus for the past two years on building its career pathways, Assistant Principal Cara Campo said.  This year’s celebration scaled up from previous King/Robinson career exposure offerings to students which typically were smaller coordinated classroom-by-classroom visits. Former Roberto Clemente Principal Mia Duff helps King/Robinson staff to connect with organizations like the New Haven Chamber of Commerce to build a network of visitors. Tuesday’s building-wide effort to expand elementary and middle school students’ knowledge of career opportunities introduced around 20 different careers to King/Robinson students through community speakers.  At around 9:30 a.m., speakers gathered in the school’s library to enjoy bagels and coffee before being assigned to students’ classrooms. From PreK through eighth grade, classes rotated through speakers like Acting Police Chief David Zannelli, fire Lt. Neftali Ortiz, state Superior Court Judge Angelica Papastavros, and Yale doctor Jennifer Afranie-Sakyi.  While welcoming visors to the school’s library Tuesday, Campo said the goal was simple: start early. “We need to get students exposed to career options at earlier ages,” she said.  That exposure, she said, isn’t just about jobs. It was about community — neighbors, public servants, business owners, former students ultimately showing students what’s possible inside their own city. Before the guests dispersed, Principal Tessa Gumbs-Johnson thanked Tuesday’s guests for “providing a wealth of knowledge” to King/Robinson students while also showing up and making them a priority. The format was intentional: instead of a gym assembly or expo-style event as has happened in the past, Gumbs-Johnson said, this time speakers rotated into classrooms for students and adults to engage in a “day of learning.”  “It’s just as important for the guests to see what it’s like in a New Haven classroom,” Campo added.  911, Not 913 Outside in King/Robinson’s front lot, fire and police vehicles were on display for the schools PreK through first graders. Crowded around one New Haven police cruiser were a dozen students with Officer Jennifer Giovanni, who pointed out her car’s radio controls and dashboard buttons she uses when responding to emergencies.  When first-grader Maysun spotted the radio attachment connected to other cars’ PA system, he asked Giovanni for permission to use it. She agreed and Maysun leaned in toward the speaker to announce, “It’s the police.” Just a few feet away other students climbed into a bulletproof SWAT truck reserved for “really, really bad guys,” officers explained. Members of the police department’s bomb squad displayed a large robot controlled by an Xbox controller. Another officer compared the department’s portable X-ray machine to X-rays at the dentist. They explained that one allows them to see inside a suspicious package without opening them.  Nearby, local firefighters and police officers quizzed students on when to call 911 — and when not to. A small cut? No. A broken TV? Definitely not. A fire? Yes. They also practiced memorizing the emergency line 911 after some initially guessed that the right number was “913.” Firefighter Ortiz said giving back is part of the job, just like making connections with and protecting the community. “I never want to stop a child from dreaming big,” he said. “And I don’t want them to think they have to leave their community to be successful.” Fire Capt. Troy Frost, who helped coordinate the department’s participation at Tuesday’s career day, added: “It’s important for children to see us. We were once them. And we want the to know ‘this can be you.’” What Does The Mayor Do, Again? Meanwhile inside the classroom of King/Robinson teacher Kimberly Garcia, fourth graders were puzzling through a different question: What exactly does a mayor do? Luckily, Garcia’s two-dozen students had city Mayor Justin Elicker there to provide the answer. Before doing so, Elicker stood at the front of the classroom listening to the students’ guesses. “A mayor helps people with problems,” said fourth-grader Adeline. “A mayor does speeches,” added Javon. (Elicker confirmed he had, in fact, given one that morning.) Another student suggested a mayor’s job primarily involved doing multiplication.  Elicker then explained that while police officers chase the “bad guys;” his job is to ensure city departments like police have the resources to do their work. After conversations about the role of a mayor, Elicker concluded with a trick of balancing a chair on his chin, earning cheers from all students.  Confidence Is “Like A Muscle” Later in the day, after many speakers had rotated through, a different kind of lesson unfolded for eighth-grade teacher Maxine Phillips’ students.  After meeting a judge and staff from South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority earlier in the day, Phillips’ eighth-grade girls gathered in the school auditorium for a special presentation on self-love and confidence.  The presentation was led by Gumbs-Johnson’s former Hamden High School student and nonprofit owner Mareshah White.  White gathered with the eighth-grade girls to talk about being a 23-year-old community leader and advocate through pageantry and through her nonprofit She Walks with Ambition. Bullied in middle school and often shy in high school, White helped the girls in front of her say positive affirmations and remind themselves of their strengths. She told the girls that confidence “is like a muscle.” White then had the students list off three strengths, one unique quality, and a positive affirmation about themselves. Some spoke about being proud of being creative, patient, trustworthy, good at basketball, and good at speaking their minds. Eighth-grader Janaiyah Bland said White’s presentation resonated and gave her “big sister vibes.” After being bullied herself, she rebuilt her confidence through cheerleading and sisterhood over the last two years.  “If she can do it, I can do it,” Janaiyah said of White. Gumbs-Johnson watched with pride as her former and current students interacted. She recalled White as a quiet student in her office at Hamden High years ago as she was one of two Black educators in the building at the time. She explained that White was just one of many powerful examples of the many community members that has a story to connect with students and remind them their dreams are possible.  For her, Tuesday’s career day wasn’t just about professions. It was about representation and demonstrating to students “visibile trajectory.” “Don’t count our children out,” Gumbs-Johnson said. “This is a school named after greats. And our children here are going to become the greats one day.”  Principal Gumbs-Johnson, Janaiyah Bland, and Mareshah White. Elicker talks taxes and voting with fourth grade. Sixth-grader Payton meets Judge Papastavros and Dr. Afranie-Sakyi. Career Day guests gather in King/Robinson library. Students feel how hard and heavy a police bomb helmet actually is. First-grader Maysun learns about police radio with Officer Giovanni. The post Career Day Marks A “Day Of Learning” appeared first on New Haven Independent. ...read more read less