Publications & Sites 
Winkelman school “Career Day” showcases what makes a community
The first grade Career Day in the Winkelman commons. It is part of their reading unit on "Community." The first graders will be rotating to different parent volunteers to hear about various careers. Zach Ben-Isvy dons football attire. | Joe Cyganowski~Fo
Article Extras
Updated: February 19, 2013 12:17PM
GLENVIEW — Winkelman first graders on Thursday learned what kind of people it takes to make a community work.
It takes doctors, lawyers and engineers, as well as ballerinas, sports stars and teachers, according to the way the youngsters dressed.
The students chose their clothing to reflect the roles that might be in their futures during “Career Day” at the Glenview school that also includes Northbrook students.
And parents, as well as other volunteers, shared their occupations with the youngsters, explaining what they did, why and how.
Among them were: Aaron Malina, a neuropsychologist; Paul Eisenstadt, a Chrysler engineer; Gideon Lipnickas, construction company owner; Jeff Linforth, a Chicago Board of Trade broker; Galina Karpel, an attorney; and Carol Rudnick, a first-grade teacher.
“We’ve been studying communities and community helpers, so the students have become aware of big cities and rural communities, and all the different jobs in them that make the towns work,” Rudnick said.
“This is a follow-up activity to firm things up in their minds.”
Sarah Weisberg, also a first-grade teacher, noted that the parents’ participation in the event demonstrates how they are connected to the community, as well as that the parents want to be involved in the school’s curriculum.
“This brings the outside world into the classroom. It’s like an indoor field trip,” she added.
Ellen Batty, a Glenview first grader dressed like a teacher, said she thought the video of an auto assembly line in Belvidere presented by Eisenstadt was “awesome.”
But she didn’t know if either possible career – teacher or assembly line worker – would be hers someday as a community helper.
Rhythm Chand, a Northbrook first grader, also dressed like a teacher, said she was impressed by Malina’s model of a human brain.
“Did you know that the brain helps you sleep and remember directions?” she asked, adding that looked like a good job.
And Ryan Block, a Northbrook first-grader dressed in a martial arts outfit, said all kinds of communities need judo and karate teachers. The event, which was entirely teacher-generated, supports the reading curriculum and is integrated with social studies, said Principal Maria Kalant.
“It’s a hands-on experience for the children to get a real life perspective of people doing these jobs,” she added. “ And it’s a good way to get our parents involved, too.
