MANDEVILLE, Manchester — The oldest of the students are only six years old, but at a combined Career and Jamaica Day at the Caledonia Early Childhood Institution recently, many of them got a chance to don professional garb for selected occupations.

Tiny doctors, dentists, bankers, pilots, stewardesses, ship captains, teachers, secretaries, soldiers and pharmacists were among those who paraded across the school’s playground.

Aspiring policemen, firefighters and nurses got an opportunity to see up close personnel from the Manchester Fire Department, Manchester Health Department and Mandeville Police Station.

Barbara Frith-Miller, principal and founder of the institution, told Observer Central that the children were excited about having an event of that nature and the parents “went all-out”.

She said that the Career Day was the second of its kind since the inception of the school in 2003.

“We want to make it an annual event. This is just a part of getting them (children) to be more aware of what they would like to become,” said Frith-Miller.

An early childhood educator with over 40 years’ experience, the principal believes that when children’s minds are stimulated from early “they do very well”.

Love for children is important for longevity in her profession, she said.

There are six academic staff members nurturing the growing student body.

Frith-Miller said that the views regarding the performance of her graduates have been positive.

“(We) have very good feedback from the (primary and preparatory) schools that these children enter. They do very well,” she said.