On October 31st, PCS Career and Technical Education (CTE) Health Science classes collaborated with SERVE Pathways, a rural healthcare career education initiative, to bring ICU Day to sixth graders from Burgaw Middle, Cape Fear Middle, Penderlea, and West Pender Middle schools.
Led by Ms. Faison-Lambe from Heide Trask and Ms. Garris from Pender High, fifty-four high school students hosted interactive stations for groups of sixth graders. They taught lessons on the Heimlich maneuver, CPR, finding a pulse, proper use of PPE, and more.
This event was made possible through the inspiration and effort of multiple programs and partners. Burgaw Middle staff prepared the host site, while Pender and Heide Trask High Schools brought knowledge and excitement for health science as a career. Edye Barbour from SERVE Pathways contributed resources, ideas, and purpose, while PCS Transportation and the PCS CTE team managed logistics and created an engaging “ambience.” CFCC staff served as volunteers, creating another connection between students and potential future opportunities.
CTE Director and event MC, Dominique Bates, shared, “The most important thing is that these sixth graders can see the amazing opportunities available to them through our schools and in our communities. We want them to realize that in just a few short years, they’ll be the high school students with a long list of opportunities ahead of them.”
Several middle school teachers expressed appreciation for the opportunity and how meaningful it was to see some of their former students, now high schoolers, leading sixth graders through the activities. Ms. Mills, a sixth-grade teacher at Cape Fear Middle, shared her thanks with the CTE team: “Thank you all for a wonderful event! It was so well organized, and our kids absolutely loved it!”
