South School held its first Future Fair this month, providing students with a unique opportunity to explore a wide array of professions and ignite their imaginations about potential career paths. The event, which took place on June 5th, welcomed professionals from various fields, including massage therapy, health and fitness, culinary arts, welding, law enforcement, firefighting, emergency medical services, environmental sustainability, boatbuilding, software engineering, banking, and more.

Students from third through fifth grade eagerly rotated through interactive stations set up by each professional, gaining hands-on experience and invaluable insights into the daily workings of different careers. Students in kindergarten through second grade participated in the outside Touch-A-Truck portion of the event. The Future Fair aimed to broaden the students' horizons, foster curiosity, and encourage them to explore potential future careers. Event organizers, music teacher Victoria Hamilton and school counselor Monica Karam, agreed, stating, “The Future Fair not only provided a fun and educational experience but also underscored the importance of community involvement in shaping the future generation. We plan to make it an annual event.”

Presenters, staff, and administration praised the initiative, noting the excitement and curiosity it sparked in the students. Hunter Grindle, owner of Hybrid Fitness stated, “It was rewarding to go back to the school I grew up in and talk with local kids about their futures.”

Principal Hillary Arroyo expressed enthusiasm about the event's success, stating, "Our first Future Fair was designed to inspire and educate our students about the vast possibilities that await them in the future. By meeting professionals and asking them questions, our students can start thinking about their interests and talents, paving the way for their future endeavors."

Everyone at South School wishes to thank the following participants:

Melissa Waterman, Massage Therapist

Tim Pierce – RSU #13 Food Service Manager, chef, and ice sculptor

Midcoast School of Technology

Maritime Energy

YMCA

Camden National Bank

Fisher Engineering

Rockland Police Department

Rockland Fire Department

Hagar Enterprises

Rockland City Council

Artist Daniel Corey

Ally Young - RSU #13 Human Resources

Hannaford

Senior Sustainability Coordinator Katrina Saucier

Maine Forest Rangers

Hybrid Fitness

Back Cove Yachts

FMC

Northeast Mobile Health Services

United Ag & Turf (John Deere sales)

To be part of next year’s Future Fair, please contact Hamilton or Karam at (207) 596-2020 or by emailing vhamilton@rsu13.org or mkaram@rsu13.org.