The Berkeley County Schools Pre-K Program partnered with the Martinsburg Public Library to create an art exhibit for families during the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s Week of the Young Child, according to an April 22 article by Ainsley Hall in The Journal.
The event aimed to engage young students and their families in celebrating arts education locally. The exhibit allowed children to see their own artwork displayed without needing to travel outside their community.
Sara Wolfe, director of pre-k programs in Berkeley County, organized the program. She said that while several students submitted work to the West Virginia Arts Alive exhibit in Charleston, only five pieces could be sent. “We were like,’Why don’t we showcase it right here, in our own town?’ Parents can come in and they can see and children can see without having to travel all the way to Charleston,” Wolfe said.
The display featured 65 pieces including paintings, sculptures, LEGO builds and more from Berkeley County School sites as well as headstart pre-k’s and collaborative childcare pre-k’s. Wolfe said that art is a key part of daily learning: “Everyday children can pick the art center during center time, giving them the chance to develop new skills and have fun while they’re learning.”
Berkeley County Schools supports community engagement through events such as this one according to its official website. The district maintains 32 educational sites according to its official website and serves more than 19,000 students with over 3,400 staff members according to its official website. It provides education from pre-kindergarten through high school while promoting multiple pathways for student success according to its official website, reporting a graduation rate of 98 percent according to its official website. The district serves the Martinsburg area in West Virginia according to its official website.
Wolfe’s decision highlights efforts within Berkeley County Schools’ curriculum that encourage creativity among young learners while strengthening ties between schools and local institutions.