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itime Academy of Toledo. For Cinco de Mayo, students in Toledo?s school used simulators to navigate waters in Mexi- co. ?It?s so much fun to see these kids light up when they?re learning and exploring ? and enjoying learning. The kids are learning to love to learn.? Poznek said the Philadelphia school takes frequent mari- time-themed  eldtrips, such as its most recent visit to Penn Terminal, where students were given the opportunity to learn about what the terminal does and how it serves the maritime industry. ?It?s exciting for a group of students to stand in front of a ship and learn about the operations that occur.? The school has also taken its students aboard bulk carriers, tugboats and tall ships.Maritime educators advocate that infusing maritime themes in primary and secondary schools helps to hold students attention while generating, enthusiasm, excite- ment, camaraderie and discipline. That positivity seems poised to transcend to the commercial sector. The next step ? industry cooperationFor many maritime schools, the next step is to connect students with potential employers, or as Sulzer describes it, ?pass the baton.? Graduates from these programs have received an introduction to the maritime world and are well positioned to take up jobs within a sector that so des- perately needs new workers. ?The  rst thing is we get kids to graduate. The second is we help develop their academic standards,? Sulzer said. ?The third thing, which is where we are now, is we need to take these young people and hand them off, whether it?s to an employer, a maritime academy, a union trade school or two-year maritime col- lege. We need to hand them off to make sure they don?t fall through the cracks.? Poznek said the Maritime Academy is very much tied into Philadelphia?s local maritime community, with con- nections to the Port of Philadelphia and most of the city?s maritime organizations. ?As a result, Poznek said, ?the maritime industry knows about our school; they know about our students.?Next, the school plans to expand internship and extern- ship possibilities ?for students to actually go out into the business community and interact with the maritime busi-nesses, and of course learn more about maritime oppor- tunities,? Poznek said, adding that the school has recently hired a new guidance counselor to help students explore potential maritime careers. According to Fisher, the New York Harbor School es- sentially prepares its 450 9th-12th grade students for posi- tions in the marine and maritime  eld: ?It?s introducing MARITIME TRAININGMaritime Academy offers the only elective class in small engine repair which is unique to public school education in Philadelphia (Photo courtesy Maritime Charter High School in Philadelphia) www.marinelink.com MN 45MN June14 Layout 32-49.indd 45MN June14 Layout 32-49.indd 455/20/2014 10:24:28 AM5/20/2014 10:24:28 AM