By Staff
School hosts fifth annual COW Day
By KEVIN SCOTT CUTLER
Lifestyles &Features Editor
Wheels of all sizes and descriptions were the hot topic Wednesday during Eastern Elementary’s COW Day.
This was the fifth time the school hosted the Career on Wheels event, which gives nearly 700 prekindergarten through first grade students a firsthand look at employment opportunities that rely on wheels to literally get the job done.
Various local agencies and businesses pitch in to help make the event a success, according to Picone. Everything from a street sweeper to a City of Washington fire truck and ambulance took center stage this year.
The event has become so popular that different groups volunteer to be included.
Wednesday’s activities included a close up look at a Beaufort Equipment Company tractor — the wheels of which towered over the youngsters — and a visit with staff of Beaufort County Animal Control. Law enforcement officers Issac Barrett of the Washington Police Department and Cpl. Walt Zerniak of the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office were on hand with their patrol cars, while nearby Curtis Ormond and Mary Gurley of the Beaufort County chapter of the American Red Cross explained the importance of wheels when providing emergency assistance.
Others on hand included a logging truck, race car, electrical truck, the WITN weather van and the Beaufort-Hyde-Martin Regional Library bookmobile.
The event is entertaining for the youngsters, while giving them a welcome break from the classrooms, but COW Day incorporates aspects of the school’s regular curriculum, too.
The students have also been studying various occupations in the community and COW Day gives them the chance to meet some of those folks face to face.
With special activities such as COW Day, the students are excited about school.
COW Day creates a sense of adventure for the students, and as the big day approaches there is a buzz around school.
Abele also noted that the event wouldn’t be possibility without the backing of the community.
That support doesn’t necessarily mean showing up on the day of the event, according to Picone.
More photos from Career on Wheels Day will be featured in Sunday’s edition of the Washington Daily News.