It’s never too early to start thinking about the future, and Frenship elementary schools are committed to equipping and informing students of the endless opportunities that lie ahead of them. College and Career events are a great opportunity to show young students that planning for their future starts now.  

Several of the elementaries highlighted the importance of planning ahead through various themed dress-up days as a part of their college and career events. The dress days included “Dreaming of a Bright Future – PJ Day”, “Show Your True Colors – College Shirt Day”, “My Future is Bright – Sunglasses and Neon Day”, as well as a day to dress up as your future career aspirations.   

At Willow Bend Elementary, students from all grade levels rotated through three different sessions across the campus, featuring over 30 diverse presenters. These professionals represented a wide range of industries, including nursing, the army, the oil field, first responders, dairy farming, real estate, carpentry, sales, computer programming, and more. 

Jessica Neitsch, the counselor at Willow Bend, explained that the goal was to introduce students to a wide variety of career professionals, allowing them to explore the many possibilities for their future. 

“Our students love Career Day every year,” said Neitsch. “It is never too early for students to start thinking about their career path. Having diverse presenters helps expose the students to multiple career choices and envision themselves in those roles.” 

Across the district at North Ridge Elementary, Counselor Haley Beardemphl decided to bring college and career awareness to life through the daily newscast, NRTV. Her goal was to reach as many of her students at once with everyone tuning in to the news every day.  

Beardemphl invited several groups of CTE students from Frenship High School to join the morning newscast. Students from Frenship.TV, the Pharmacy Technician program, the Culinary program, the Medical Assistants program, and the Nurse Aide program made a guest appearance.  

During the morning news broadcast, Beardemphl hosted a talk show interview segment with the high school guests where they got to speak about the CTE program they are involved in, what opportunities they have had from being involved in the program, their plans for college and their future career, and how they feel that their education at Frenship and their involvement in the CTE programs have prepared them for their future plans.  

Beardemphl felt that bringing in the high school students made the lessons more real and personal for the elementary students. They get to hear exactly what is available to them, and how they can get involved someday.

“It’s very tangible and feels so much more within reach,” said Beardemphl. “Frenship is offering so many great opportunities that are a catapult into amazing futures in college and careers for all of our students.” 

Some of the high school guests mentioned when they were in elementary school they dressed up as doctors and now they are graduating high school this year with plans to go to medical school. It's a full circle moment and Beardemphl hopes that the elementary students see that their dreams can become a reality as well. 

“They are learning that what they do in elementary school matters,” said Beardemphl. “That they are not too young to start dreaming and seeking big things for themselves.”

The Frenship elementary schools will continue to host college and career events at the end of October and into November. Frenship is dedicated to educating all students about the endless opportunities beyond graduation, this begins with our youngest students because it is never too early to think about the future.