PEABODY — Higgins Middle School got a visit from WPS Institute Wednesday morning. The group also brought along community partners from different careers to show the kids what their jobs are like.
The goal of the day was to help middle school students expand their knowledge of career pathways. There were dozens of classrooms packed with kids listening to community partners and learning about future career paths. Below are some of the many careers the students learned about.
One classroom had Verizon technicians discussing phone lines and how people can now connect with each other from across the state, country and world.
Students were also given the opportunity to try to make their own connections using a set of fiber-optic cables. The technicians explained that they currently use copper wires, but there was also a set made of steel wires, which the students also got to connect. After connecting the wires to the phones, students would be able to call each other through the connection.
Another group consisted of environmental engineers from the Ipswich River Watershed Association, who taught students about the importance of protecting the Ipswich River.
Here the kids got to learn about culverts, which are man-made structures that allow water to pass through a road, railway or embankment. One thing the engineers emphasized was that bad culverts can cause serious problems for the river. For the activity, students got to design their own culverts to see if it would allow water to pass through.
Looking out the Higgins windows you’d be able to spot another group learning how to play hacky sack, juggle and balance objects with the help of Kevin Hogan and Nick Mazzaglia. Kids got to test out their skills seeing how long they could keep the hacky sack in the air as a group.
Students also got to design their own cybersecurity superheroes with Google Cybersecurity and principal customer success manager for Google Cloud Security Stephanie Hivner. They also presented their heroes who had the powers like stopping hackers and keeping computers safe.
WPS Institute does its work with the goal of advancing models of education where learning thrives everywhere, in classrooms and beyond; where students and their families are empowered to shape their own learning journeys; and where entire communities contribute to the development of young children,” according to WPS’ essential outcomes.
By allowing students to not just hear from professionals, but have hands-on activities, they are given the chance to grow and find out new strengths and what they might enjoy in the future.
