Staff reports
The Beaufort County School District’s Office of Early Childhood held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new traveling preschool bus on Wednesday, Feb. 4, at Port Royal Elementary School.
The mobile preschool will travel throughout Beaufort County, offering early childhood learning experiences for children and their families.
“We believe early childhood learning experiences build the foundation for lifelong success and that all children should have access to these experiences,” said Ashley Gould, Director of Readiness.
The bus is packed with hands-on educational tools and activities, ranging from dramatic play and blocks to art and housekeeping, all aimed at supporting young children during the most critical years of development.
The new bus, which is the district’s second traveling preschool bus, offers more sensory activities and newer technology. For example, it features a state-of-the-art interactive sand table that incorporates virtual technology. Students can dig for dinosaur bones, build volcanoes and watch them erupt, and even catch crabs while exploring an ocean environment.
However, support continues beyond the time spent on the bus. Families can access helpful brochures, pamphlets, videos, free children’s books, and more to take home and continue the learning.
Referrals to family support services are also an important part of the work. “We connect families to whatever resources and additional services they need, right then and there,” Gould said. Those services may include referrals to pediatricians, Head Start, private childcare centers, or social service providers, according to Gould.