Reading School District’s 13th & Union Elementary School recently concluded its successful second annual Career Day event, which has contributed to valuable community partnerships benefiting students in pre-K through fourth grade.
Career Day, held on March 14 this year, exemplified the school’s commitment to engaging students with diverse occupational fields and local community partners, strengthening the connection between education and real-world applications. Over 50 representatives from professions including architecture, construction, fitness, healthcare, hospitality, law enforcement, and news media participated in the event.
Building on the success of the past two annual Career Days, 13th & Union Elementary has actively nurtured its community partnerships, as demonstrated by recent activities during Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) testing.
Wawa, a participant from Career Day, recently donated pretzels to third and fourth graders to recognize their hard work and achievement during PSSA testing. Additionally, selected students enjoyed lunch with the principal and the Reading Police K-9 Unit, another Career Day participant, for demonstrating exceptional effort and attitude during testing. This special occasion included a K-9 demonstration enjoyed by the entire third grade.
Further enriching the PSSA testing period, on April 24, third and fourth graders participated in an interactive lesson with a representative from Cafe Sweet Street, yet another Career Day participant. Students had the opportunity to create and test personal airplanes, collaborating with peers and exploring different plane models.
“Career Day is integral to our ongoing engagement with the community,” said Julie Hamlin Weitzel, Principal of 13th & Union Elementary School. “It has evolved into a powerful platform that connects our students with the diverse opportunities within and beyond our local area. By showcasing these opportunities, Career Day enhances our students’ sense of belonging and strengthens their engagement with the broader community.”
Looking ahead, 13th & Union remains dedicated to nurturing these partnerships and expanding opportunities for student engagement within the community.
For more information about 13th & Union Elementary School and its initiatives, visit readingsd.org/domain/974.
