Somers Elementary Students Learn Lessons in Careers, Socialization

With their mats spread across the classroom floor, nearly a dozen fourth and fifth grade girls sat on their knees, hands on their bellies with their eyes closed and simplied breathed.

In a hushed voice, teacher Heather Lazeren encouraged them to be calm, to think about the moment. Possibly without their knowledge, Lazeren was teaching the girls how to relax.

Lazeren’s yoga class was just one of 24 workshops offered at the Somers Elementary School to fourth and fifth graders as part of the Social Skills and Career Convention, a special event held every other year.

The convention is meant to reinforce the social skills and character development that students have focused on throughout the school year, according to Maureen O'Reilly Winseck, a school psychologist, who, along with Pat Clark and Rebecca Liephart, organized the event. Seven teachers and 17 outside professional spent the day of April 1 at the school talking about their careers and what has helped them succeed.

The workshops ranged from a presentation by two Springfield police officers that spoke about staying safe to Rep. Penny Bacchiochi talk about the characteristics of being a leader. Others included a dental hygienist, an attorney, an EMT, an engineer, how to be a good listener, teamwork and demonstrations by Richard’s School of Self Defense to help improve students’ self esteem and self-defense.

Fifth grader Ashlie, 11, said she enjoyed the sessions she was able to attend: yoga, how to start a small business and creating special placemats for the children at the Ronald McDonald House in Springfield, MA.

“It’s special because next year we will be in middle school. It’s a great way to learn about different careers and a great last experience in elementary school,” she said.

Donna Cote, a retired music teacher who came back to the school to volunteer, said the convention enables students to “think outside of a normal day.”

“It exposes them to things beyond the classroom. It’s an opportunity to show them that they do, we do, have a level of responsibility,” Cote said.

For teacher Andy Philips, it was a chance for him to talk to students more in depth about his experience competing in the Iron Man triathlon and the importance of perseverance.

Biking, swimming and running have been hobbies for Philips for several years. Many of his students followed his progress during his training in 2010 and he has brought his racing bicycle into the classroom before to talk to students about its mechanics.

Philips showed the students his logbook, talk about how lonely it can get riding a bike 112 miles without companionship. Philips said that during at least one point of the total 140.6-mile race (this includes the 2.4 mile swim and 26.2 mile run), he had considered quitting. Then he thought about how hard he’d trained, how much he’d invested in preparing for the race and the goal he had set for himself.

“I talked to them about taking steps, setting a realistic goal and enjoying the process,” he said last week. “If something doesn’t work, be flexible, make changes, but stick to your goal.”