Barnegat Schools Unveil New STEM Bus With Hands-On Learning Lab

BARNEGAT, NJ — Barnegat Township School District marked the completion of its new STEM bus with a reveal event June 15 at Cecil S. Collins Elementary School, where students in grades K-2 took part in a hands-on volcano activity aboard the mobile learning lab.

During the event, students filled the volcano cavity with baking soda, dish soap and red food dye before adding vinegar and watching it erupt. The district said the repurposed bus will now travel to Barnegat schools with hands-on activities for students in kindergarten through grade six.

The bus also features artwork by Barnegat High School junior Sophia Dellova, who designed the wrap. The district said Margaret Reilley, District Supervisor of Language Arts Literacy, Social Studies and Visual/Performing Arts, coordinated with the high school art department so the student's work would appear on the vehicle.

According to the district, Director of Special Projects Daniel Gundersen organized and coordinated the STEM bus project for months. The district said Gundersen worked with Dean Adams, Educational Facilities Coordinator, Christopher DeCicco, Facilities Supervisor, Katherine Van Tassel, Business Administrator/Board Secretary, and Lisa Vargas, Transportation Supervisor, to turn an old school bus into a traveling STEM lab.

The bus will also function as an outdoor classroom, according to Nora Green, Supervisor of Science, Tech & STEM at BTSD. The district said students may collect an item such as a colorful leaf outside, then bring it onto the bus to examine it under a microscope and learn about its structure and parts.

“I love this project because it’s such a creative way to bring STEM learning directly to students,” said Green, who oversees the activities that will take place on the bus. “It provides a unique space for them to explore, experiment and problem-solve – all skills that will benefit them far beyond the classroom.”

The district said Superintendent Brian Latwis recently completed the AASA National Superintendent Certification Program – East Cohort and credited that program with sparking the idea for the STEM bus.

“The STEM bus project originated while I was participating in the AASA program, which emphasizes the value of building a shared vision for student achievement, social-emotional learning, and leading system-wide improvement efforts,” said Latwis. “It is wonderful to see the idea come to fruition, and even better to see the students enjoying the hands-on activities that take place on the bus.”

The district said the bus is expected to visit Barnegat schools as part of its STEM programming for younger students. More information about Barnegat Township School District is available at barnegatschools.com.