Lights, sirens, and plenty of excitement greeted Barbara C. Wilson (BCW) Preschool students on April 16, when they stepped outside the school to find a firetruck, ambulance, police cars, a boat, and even a police dog. At the Touch-a-Truck event, organized by the BCW Parents Association (PA), students had the opportunity to meet 14 first responders from five units in their community.
Greg Warga, a Village of Old Westbury Police Officer and a leading member of the BCW Fathers Group, assisted with the event by reaching out to first responder friends, including those from the Old Bethpage and Syosset Fire Departments, the Town of Hempstead, and the Nassau County Police Department, to invite them to spend the day with BCW students.
For the students, the event offered a hands-on opportunity to connect classroom learning with real-life experiences.
“This event reinforces our Transportation and Community Helpers units and is a great time for parents to join their child’s classroom and experience the event together with the team,” said Diane Condy, Director of BCW.
The Transportation and Community Helpers unit helps familiarize students with the different roles their neighbors play in the community. It addresses safety and explains the many uses of different kinds of vehicles, while creating familiarity with the sound of sirens and the size of vehicles.
Greg said the first responders understood the importance of event and appreciated the opportunity for students “to be able to come out here, meet the first responders, play with the vehicles, and get some experience with us.”
“During school, it’s nice because you can see how the kids are with their classmates and how they interact, and outside of school you get to see those bonds have more time to grow,” said Natalie Kessler, Vice President of the PA. “Sometimes friendships are formed with the parents because of that.”
