On Friday, May 5th, Ambergris Caye Elementary School (ACES) held its annual ‘Open Day’. The occasion promotes the school’s environment, climate, and culture. In coordination with Education Month, ACES students chose the theme “career and opportunities”, portraying a career of their choice.
From 9AM to 1:30PM, parents, teachers, and community members visited the classrooms and observed the various careers available for each level of education within Belize. Students dressed according to the job description they chose, and prepared a presentation on the said job. In Standard One and Two, students displayed secondary-level education careers such as a shop keeper, DJ, cook, waiter, lumberjack, Tropic Air cargo agent, Belize Defense Force solider, a traffic warden, tour guide, security guard, and cosmetologist.
Standard Three and Four students displayed tertiary-level education careers like: a teacher, web designer, banker, secretary, and accountant. Standard Five and Six showcased post-tertiary level education showcased careers, including Prime Minister, pilot, lawyer, marine biologist, psychologist, doctor, and veterinarian.
Visitors viewed multiple presentations that included hands-on demonstrations. After each session, presenters answered questions about their particular career choice, and shared their plan of action to achieve those goals.
The well-prepared students made Open Day a success. Many ACES students indicated that they are looking forward to continuing their education up to post-tertiary level, and are confident they will become productive citizens in society.
ACES Principal Amanda Burgos says that Open Day enlightens students on their future options at an early age. “ACES encourages students to stay in school, achieve a degree to be a successful citizen and contribute to their nation. It is important to expose them to the many possibilities when they are young. 
While they know the role of different jobs, they are also experiencing what opportunities they will have with a certain degree of education. When students have a mindset of what profession they would like in their future, they will aim toward it,” said Burgos. “Setting goals is important. Open Day helps them learn how their job contributes to our developing country/ community.”
One ACES parent agreed that it is a great idea to let kids know what’s available in the workforce, as some students are unsure of what path to take, and Open Day provided them with multiple learning opportunities.
ACES thanks everyone who took the time out to attend Open Day. See you next year!
 held its annual ‘Open Day’ on Friday, May 5th.){kind=link}