By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The future Little Panthers Preschool and education center along the 281 Bypass in Great Bend may look quiet on the outside. Inside is a hub of activity as construction crews continue to make progress on both sides of the facility. Workers from McCownGordon Construction were not too busy to take some out to visit some Little Panthers at their current building on 21st Street. Preschool Teacher Morgan Little said her students learn best with hands-on learning experiences, and McCownGordon were just the people to help during the preschool's weekly theme of construction.
"I thought this would be a great opportunity to learn about construction and get them excited about their new building," she said. "That's going to be a big transition. Right now, we're in a church and we're moving to this big, amazing building."
Little reached out to USD 428 Assistant Superintendent John Popp, who contacted Heather Gigax, senior project engineer with McCownGordon. She brought in some workers to show the preschoolers the many aspects of construction work.
"They were amazing," Little said. "They had a slide show ready for the kids that quizzed them on different tools and equipment they used. They showed pictures of actual tools they had. They did demonstrations with hammers and screwdrivers. They had a drone fly through the new building and give the kids a look of what it looks like right now. That was really cool."
The workers brought blocks and Barbies and stuck around after the presentation to further engage with the students. Best of all, McCownGordon handed out mini tape measures the students were able to take home.
"(The kids) could probably tell you what length everything in my classroom is at this point," said Little. "They learned so much from that presentation. They wanted to keep being engaged and measured everything in our room.
"We just want to give them a big thanks. I know talking to little kids can be scary sometimes. They were awesome and went way above and beyond with everything they did."
The USD 428 Education Foundation recently announced its capital campaign to help raise money to equip the new facility that will serve up to 288 three and four-year-old students. The new Little Panthers Preschool is expected to open next August.