Wildlife Rescue Series!

Holly Elementary Welcomes Diane Haynes

Originally uploaded by Jane Ray’s Wildlife Rescue Series

I arrived at Holly Elementary School at 8 am Wednesday morning to the sight of what appeared to be the entire student body out running around the field. Sure enough, this is the most athletic school I’ve ever visited; most of the 180 students I met with are on the track team, and they were getting ready for a big meet that afternoon. Congratulations, Holly!

I spent the morning with the grades 4, 5 6 and 7 students — two groups of 90 students each, for an hour and a half at a time … and we could have gone longer! These students had just completed a unit on wildlife; were studying mythology; handle the school’s recycling; and proved themselves to be on top of any animal- or environment-related issue I could bring up. Their questions were thoughtful and insightful and showed a genuine concern for and curiosity about the natural world. I was seriously impressed.

Several students practiced the technique for containing and rescuing and injured or orphaned bird. The grade 5s performed a beautiful Earth Day song for me, a capella, which was a highlight, and one student stayed behind to perform a magic trick he’d been working on, and to introduce me to his little sister, a kindergarten student.

All in all, it was a great morning! Thank you, Holly Elementary!