The Shadow
HOT SPRINGS — On Tuesday, April 9, Bath County Public Schools held its second annual Career Xplosion fair in the gym of Bath County High School.
Students in grades five through 12 participated in the career exploration event. A total of 317 students participated.
The Career Xplosion was sponsored by the Bath County Guidance Department for students to learn about a variety of career opportunities. From the 16 career clusters that have been defined by the Virginia Department of Education, presenters were grouped together in their specific career clusters for students to learn about aspects of what they need to pursue in a career.
Presenters in and out of the area came to set up displays, share information about careers in their various businesses, companies and organizations to students.
During the morning session, grades 5 through 7 toured each career station and spoke with various presenters about their careers. Bath County students in grades 5 through 7 were then given the opportunity to visit Bath County High School’s Mertz Technical Center and tour the career and technical classes offered to students. Automotive, carpentry, electrical, culinary, business and computer technology were emphasized on the tour.
During the afternoon session, grades 8 through 12 were given the opportunity to tour various presenter stations based on career interests, speak with the presenters and obtain valuable information toward pursuing career interests.
All students were given interactive opportunities to participate in activities based on certain careers from being able to drive a tractor in a simulation station, see artists paint, participate in a yoga class, simulate welding, drive crime investigation robots, participate in physical therapy sessions, see medical equipment and other hands-on activities during the fair.
Fire trucks, ambulances and state crime vehicles were available for students to tour.
It is the hope of Bath County Schools to expose students to the possibilities available as they prepare for life after graduating high school.
If any business/company is interested in participating in the Career Xplosion, please contact Jane Hall, director of Pupil Personnel and Special Education, at Bath County School Board Office at 540-839-5307 or via email at janeh@bath.k12.va.us.
Bath County Public Schools would like to thank again the participating businesses/companies for attending:
ABS Technology, Allegheny Mountain Radio, Appalachian Conservation Corps, BARC, Bath Community Hospital, Bath Community Rehab & Wellness, Bath County Department of Social Services, Bath County Fire and Rescue, Bath County Health Department, Bath County Public Schools, Bath County Sheriff’s Office, BB&T, Burns Auto, Carter Machines, Clifton Forge School of the Arts.
Also, Dabney S. Lancaster Community College, Department of Aging and Rehabilitation, F.C. Plecker & Sons, Garth Newel Music Center, Highlands Community Bank, Jefferson College of Health Science, Law Office of Taylor Baker, Lincoln Tech, McDonald’s, The Omni Homestead Resort, Rock-bridge Area Community Services, RSG Landscaping, Safehome Systems, Speyside Corp., Springs Nursing Home, Staunton School of Cosmetology.
Also, Summit Community Bank, The Normandy Group, The Owners Club, Trane, U.S. Army, U.S. Forest Service, Valley Animal Hospital, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Virginia Military Institute, Virginia National Guard, Virginia State Police, Virginia Tech Dairy Science, Virginia Tech Entomology, Voter Registration of Bath County, Universal Technical Institute, WACO, WDBJ-7.
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Bath County Public Schools held its second annual Career Xplosion recently in the gym at Bath County High School. In the photo, Senior Special Agent Bill O’Dell of the Virginia State Police, left, demonstrates the Arson Bomb Unit’s Remotec F6 bomb robot. (Photo Courtesy Bath County Public Schools)
