Latest news with #GreaterJohnstownElementarySchool
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Investigation launched after Greater Johnstown kindergarten pupil brings 'Jell-O shots' to school; 3 children treated for alcohol consumption, officials say
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Three Greater Johnstown Elementary School students are recovering after being hospitalized Wednesday due to consuming gelatin cups containing alcohol, school officials said. District Superintendent Amy Arcurio said at least two of the students had been treated and released by the afternoon, and each of the students was doing well. The hospitalizations reportedly stemmed from a kindergarten student bringing alcohol-infused gelatin – commonly known as "Jell-O shots" – to school and giving them to three others. 'As soon as school staff were made aware of the situation, immediate action was taken,' Arcurio said in a statement. 'The affected students were quickly taken to the nurse's office for evaluation.' Out of an abundance of caution, school staffers said they contacted emergency medical services, and the students were transported to a local hospital for medical care. Parents were notified and met EMS at the medical center, Arcurio said. An investigation has been launched, and Greater Johnstown is cooperating with local authorities to determine how the student came to possess the alcohol, Arcurio said. 'We want to assure our families that the health and well-being of our students is our top priority,' Arcurio said. 'Counselors and support staff will be available for any students who may need assistance processing today's events.' She said that additional details cannot be shared due to privacy laws, but praised the 'swift response' of staff, administrators, school nurses and school police during the incident.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Johnstown elementary students explore careers in a hands-on setting
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WTAJ) — When you were in elementary school, your teachers probably asked what you wanted to be when you grew up. Every kid always has a different answer, and sometimes it can shape the rest of their lives. Hundreds of children at the Greater Johnstown Elementary School got the chance to see some of the careers from the local community up close. It was for the first ever 'I Have A Dream' Career Fair. 'I wanted to do something in honor of Black History Month for one. That's where the I Have a Dream came from for the kids' career fair. And then I also wanted to collaborate with the community and bring something to the school. I know that normally whenever we have career fairs, for a certain age group, but I want to change it up. I wanted to bring it to a younger age group,' Mercedes Barnette, Community Development Director for Vision Together 2025, said. The career fair was for students in grades Pre-K through four. Nine businesses/companies from public service, literacy, medicine, and innovation interacted with children to show the careers available in their area. Punxsutawney community rallying to help a family in need Kurt Hoffman, the Principal at the Greater Johnstown Elementary School believes the fair will help children who don't know what they want to do yet. 'So it starts here at the foundational level and just builds on into the middle school and high school years into our CTE programs, career and tech ed programs at the high school. That's the idea. We can have all kinds of pathways to success, but if they don't get the vision early on, you know, what's the point?' Hoffman said. 1,200 packets of job info were at the fair. There were also take-home employment opportunities for parents. 'I've just seen a lot of enjoyment, a lot of new knowledge being presented, a lot of, just things that they didn't know. Like what's all involved with the different careers,' Eddie Mikesic, Director of Workforce Development at the Greater Johnstown Elementary School, said. The 'I Have a Dream' Career Fair is expected to become an annual event every February. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'We want them to stay': Vision Together 2025, Greater Johnstown School District host career fair for elementary students
JOHNSTOWN, PA. – An interactive event designed to educate youngsters on career opportunities in their own backyard was offered at an area school. Vision Together 2025, in partnership with the Greater Johnstown School District, held its 'I Have a Dream' Kids Career Fair Thursday at Greater Johnstown Elementary School. In honor of Black History Month, the career fair embraced Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic 'I Have a Dream' message, emphasizing opportunity and success for all. 'We have local organizations and businesses coming together to teach kids about the different careers in the area,' said Mercedes Barnette, community development director for Vision Together 2025. 'The kids career fair is for elementary school students, and we're getting them at the earliest stage possible so when they go to a real career fair they'll know the ins and outs of it. It also sets them up for a successful future.' On hand were representatives from Conemaugh Health System, Johnstown Fire Department, H.F. Lenz Co., JWF Industries, Johnstown Children's Museum, Johnstown Redevelopment Authority, Aetna and Johnstown Housing Authority. To further promote literacy, pupils received a gift bag with books, and participated in storybook readings with guest characters, which was provided by the Cambria County Library. 'At Vision Together 2025, we have seven priorities and our first one is focusing on investing in our youth and this was the perfect way to do that,' Barnette said. 'I'm hoping these students know they have supporters here and there's local companies here that they can easily transition to whenever they're ready to start working. I hope they'll be inspired and know they can be whatever they want to be.' Fourth-grader Payton Goldberg called the career fair 'cool.' 'We got to see a lot of stuff,' she said. 'I got to learn about different jobs that I didn't know about. It's helping me to get ready for a job.' Leilani Farmer said she enjoyed hearing about the job opportunities. 'It's really cool to learn about this stuff,' the fourth-grader said. 'I want to become an artist and paint and do digital art.' Kurt Hoffman, principal of Greater Johnstown Elementary School, said holding the career fair and having the students get excited about local careers is imperative. 'We want them to stay in Johnstown and be community changers,' he said. 'It's 100% important to reach them at a young age because that's where the vision and the hope starts and where the motivators happen. They're starting to think about what they want to be, so to bring that in front of them is exciting.' Hoffman is hopeful students will know they can be anything they choose to be. 'Whatever they dream they can achieve, and we can help them along the way to learn the skills necessary to launch them into their futures,' he said. Kelly Urban is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. She can be reached at 814-532-5073. Follow her on Twitter @KellyUrban25.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Vision Together 2025, Greater Johnstown School District to hold career fair
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – An event meant to spark curiosity and future aspirations in youngsters will be held at an area school. Vision Together 2025, in partnership with the Greater Johnstown School District, will present the 'I Have a Dream' Kids Career Fair from 9:25 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Thursday in the gymnasium at Greater Johnstown Elementary School, 196 Westgate Drive, Johnstown. The event is designed to introduce district pupils to local career opportunities while connecting parents with employment resources. In honor of Black History Month, the career fair embraces Martin Luther King King Jr.'s iconic 'I Have a Dream' message, emphasizing opportunity and success for all. 'This career fair is not just about inspiring children, it's about creating real opportunities for families in our community,' said Mercedes Barnette, community development director for Vision Together 2025. 'By exposing students to different careers early on, and providing parents with employment resources, we're working toward a stronger, more connected Johnstown.' The fair aims to educate pre-kindergarten and elementary school-aged children about various career paths through interactive, hands-on activities. 'We want to introduce kids to local professions and provide them with activities so they can understand what the careers are and provide them with a little bit of motivation to have a successful career later in life,' Barnette said. 'With Vision Together 2025, we have priority goals that we focus on and our first one is developing current and future leaders and investing in our youth, so we want to get them as young as possible to try to mold our young leaders minds to start thinking success now.' The career fair also has a goal of creating community connections. 'That will strengthen the ties between local employers, educational institutions and families to address some of the economic challenges that we're having,' Barnette said. In addition, students will be given employment resource packets to take home, ensuring parents have access to valuable job opportunities and career advancement tools within the local workforce. On hand will be nine area companies who will showcase their industries in a way that will excite and engage youngsters. 'They will be providing presentations that the kids can understand,' Barnette said. 'The activities will help them learn while having fun.' To further promote literacy, pupils will receive a gift bag with books, and participate in special storybook readings with guest characters throughout the day, which will provided by the Cambria County Library. Barnette said the plan is to expand the career fair into additional schools, along with hosting public events for children and adults. 'The biggest thing is learning about what occupations are out there,' she said. 'I hope we can mold their minds to start thinking careers now so that when they get to high school and experience career fairs they'll understand the concept. It's giving them a jump start to a successful future.'
