Western Primary Unveils New Mobile Literacy Lab

On Monday, Western Primary School hosted a grand opening for its new mobile literacy lab, an innovative program housed in a refurbished RV that organizers say will serve as classroom space and an outreach opportunity.

TKP Photos | Alli Lee

Melissa DeWeese, Western Primary School principal, said the project has been a collaboration between the school, Stellhorn RV & Camping Center and Clifford Signs.

In fall of 2023, Western Primary School was awarded the Excellence in Early Literacy Award from the Indiana Department of Education. This award included the gift of additional grant money for the use of enhancing literacy in the school.

Photo Provided | Western Primary School

During the school year, the Literacy Lab will be parked in front of the school and used daily by students in grades K-2, DeWeese said. When school is not in session, the Literacy Lab will venture into our neighborhoods and community to be used by current students along with those who are also preschool aged.

“Having this as a resource will allow us to teach early reading skills to our future Panthers before they even come to Kindergarten,” DeWeese said.

DeWeese said the Literacy Lab is an example of how her team is continually trying to think outside the box and be creative in how they approach instruction and resources for their students.

After seeing success with their recent addition of a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Lab, it was obvious that students were responding to hands-on activities and creative experiences.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t have a lot of free space available within our building so, through some creative brainstorming, we decided the idea of renovating a RV gave us the opportunity to take what we do within our four walls out into the community as well,” DeWeese explained.

Doug Stellhorn of Stellhorn RV & Camping Center said the local recreational business created the opportunity for Western Primary School to purchase a used RV and provided the service for the renovation of the project.

“With my wife being a former teacher, we were inspired by what they were trying to do and wanted to help make it happen,” said Stellhorn.

Both staff and students are very excited for the opportunity to learn in the Literacy Lab, but they also have big goals for the coming years.

DeWeese hopes to reach as many current and future students as possible and help them develop an early love of reading.

“I think the students and community members will love the versatility of the learning experiences and games that will be incorporated to make learning to read fun and exciting in a new way using a one-of-a-kind location.” 

Area students can visit the Literacy Lab on one of its upcoming scheduled stops. For more information about the new Western Primary School Mobile Literacy Lab, you can contact Western Primary School.

Take a closer look at the literacy lab with our photo gallery.