Burlington Elementary hosts Kindergarten Career Day

BURLINGTON — It’s never too soon to begin thinking of the possibilities of the future.

And, for kindergarten students in Stacie Rutherford’s class at Burlington Elementary, they got a chance on Friday to learn about the potential jobs that await them as adults.

Rutherford hosted Kindergarten Career Day, an annual event in which the class is visited by professionals who tell them what they do for a living.

Among the guests was Lawrence County Commissioner Colton Copley, though he was wearing the white coat of his full-time job, an emergency room physician at Cabell Huntington Hospital.

Also from the medical profession was nurse Sheila Finch, who is Rutherford’s mother. She reassured the students of what they might expect if they have to undergo an operation.

“I know it feels scary to leave mommy and daddy,” she said. “But the nurses and doctors are there to take care of you and make you feel better.”

She presented a slide show on her job and brought in medical tools to show the students.

Firefighter Clay Iso was on hand, donning his protective gear and explaining how he enters a burning building. He passed his gloves and other items around for the children to examine.

While WSAZ meteorologist Andy Chilian used the chalkboard to draw a tornado and explained how dangerous weather can form. He said while he has never seen a tornado in person, it is his job to study such formations and understand them.

He also spoke of one of the more practical aspects of his job.

“That’s what we do,” he said. “We tell you and your parents what it will be like so you know how to dress for the day.”

In the lead-up to the event, the students read stories of different careers and then dressed up for the job they wanted.