聽 聽 Last Friday, students at Kipling school had the opportunity to develop a better understanding and a deeper personal connection with their world.
聽 聽 聽Students throughout the school received a young Green Ash Tree provided by the Shand Greenhouse through a SaskPower program. As Jennifer Doell explains: 鈥淭he SLC chose to do this. We ordered 600 Green Ash trees. That means that we'll have enough for all of the students and staff. We also intend to send some to Kennedy Langbank School. And, we'll also be distributing trees somewhere in Kipling to anybody in the community who wants one.鈥�
聽 聽 聽Grade 11 student Sara Zepick remembers receiving a tree once before.
聽 聽 聽鈥淚 remember that I was given a tree during 'Earth Month' when I was in Grade One. My brother and I each brought home a little evergreen tree, and we planted them on the farm. They're still there...and they are taller than I am now!鈥�
聽 聽 聽She says that this new tree will have a special place around their existing home.
聽 聽 聽鈥淲e are living in town now. So, this little tree is going to have a place somewhere beside the house here.鈥�
聽 聽 聽Sara says that she enjoys being able to take part in this program again.
聽 聽 聽鈥淚 think it's really good to be able to do something like this...to be able to see the tree grow up as you grow up...and remember.鈥�
聽 聽 聽Elementary School students also had the opportunity to help some very special 'friends'...who have until now been living, growing and changing in the Grades 3 & 4 classroom...find their way home.
聽 聽 聽As Jana Bright explains: 鈥淭hese are 'Painted Lady Butterflies'. When we first received them, they were just tiny caterpillars. We watched as the caterpillars molted (shed their skin) 5-6 times. Then, they formed their chrysalis. During the process, kids in Kindergarten to Grade 6 also had a chance to spend some time with the butterflies. The Grades 5 & 6 classes made several observations about them. The Grade One class got to see some hatch as well as the students in this room.鈥�
聽 聽 聽Jana went on to note that the students were determined to give their small charges the best chance at a successful 'flight into freedom' possible. 聽
聽 聽 聽鈥淲e've been waiting for a good day to release them. They haven't had the chance to really fly in wind. So, we've been waiting for a day that isn't too windy. Mrs Kish and her Kindergarten students had the chance to release a few butterflies yesterday. We plan to take the rest of them over to Bell Park today and release them.鈥�
聽 聽 聽So, that afternoon Jana led the eager group of children and teachers out into the park. Several students were delighted to have the opportunity to bring a butterfly out of the enclosure and release it from their hand.聽
聽 聽 聽Clearly, the experience was enriching for both the environment and for the students that were able to see 'their' butterflies take flight. As Jana says, 鈥淚t's really neat...having the students watch them grow through their life cycle and become butterflies. This project also ties in nicely with several science curriculums...so it's a good fit.鈥�
聽 聽 聽Students learn a great deal about the world around them during their time in school. However, experiences like these, which allow students to understand their place in their environment and the impact (both positive and negative) that can they can have on it, may be one of the most valuable lessons they can learn.
