Transportation Show at Arborwood Elementary School bigger than ever

Suzanne Nolan Wisler, The Monroe News
·2 min read

MONROE — Nearly 80 vehicles are expected at the third annual Transportation Show, set for 6-8 p.m. May 17 in the parking lot at Arborwood Elementary School, 1008 Riverview Ave. A color guard will present flags at 6 p.m. Admission is free.

Typically, the show brings about 40 vehicles to the school. This year, nearly double are expected, including an excavator, hearse, snowplow, ambulance, fire truck, police car, tow truck, buggy, Model A, classic cars and boats.

Arborwood teacher Ashley Cornett and her sixth graders have offered the show for the last three years.

Arborwood teacher Ashley Cornett (right) is shown with three of her sixth grade students from Arborwood Elementary: Angel Watkins, Skyler Smith and Emma Taylor. Cornett and her class are hosting the third annual Transportation Show May 17 at Arborwood.
Arborwood teacher Ashley Cornett (right) is shown with three of her sixth grade students from Arborwood Elementary: Angel Watkins, Skyler Smith and Emma Taylor. Cornett and her class are hosting the third annual Transportation Show May 17 at Arborwood.

"Last year we had around 200 people show up. It did rain, so we are hoping for 300-plus people this year," she said.

A disc jockey and the color guard are among the new offerings this year.

"This year we have a DJ, middle school/high school color guard for the national anthem, more games for kids, more food trucks and more vehicles, like semi trucks, Mercedes, cement truck and school bus," Cornett said.

Her students arrange for the vehicles.

Antique cars were among the vehicles at a previous Transportation Show at Arborwood Elementary School. This year's show is May 17.
Antique cars were among the vehicles at a previous Transportation Show at Arborwood Elementary School. This year's show is May 17.

"We have an amazing team of students — Emma, Jocelyn, Angel, Alison and Jeremih — that called several places to get the vehicles," Cornett said.

Another team of students — Logan, Theviru, Skyler, Lizzie, Rowen and Tony — called businesses about sponsorships. Students also designed a show logo for T-shirts and posters.

The Transportation Show also offers several food trucks, a dessert truck, entertainment, a bounce house, face painting and photo booth. Event T-shirts will be sold for $20 and decals, for $5.

A drone photo shows some of the vehicles at the inaugural Transportation Show at Arborwood South Elementary School.
A drone photo shows some of the vehicles at the inaugural Transportation Show at Arborwood South Elementary School.

The show is part of Monroe Public Schools' Project Based Learning program.

“Students have been incorporating our social studies curriculum by researching forms of transportation around the world. Each student has chosen a different form from another country to study, and their learning will be displayed in interactive displays in the cafeteria," Cornett said.

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Some of the more unique vehicles from around the world include: reindeer, tuk tuk (three-wheeled taxis), narrowboat, cyclo, airboat, tanga, yacht, trolley bus, bullet train, gondola and a horse-drawn tram.

Funding for the Transportation Show comes from the Project Based Learning fund at Arborwood and several local sponsors: Arborwood PTO, Tiffany’s Pizza, William’s Insurance Agency, Highlander Market, Brown Bag Boutique, Front Street Mercantile, Lori Lambert-Coldwell Banker Realty, River Raisin Trading Post, Monroe Pediatrics, Sassy Pinstriping and Graphics, Stella Saphires, Bobb Vergiels, Jeff Daniels, Benny’s Home Cooking and Angelo’s Chophouse.

— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Transportation Show at Arborwood Elementary School bigger than ever