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Owatin Students Raise and then Release Baby Fish

The mood outside on a bright and sunny May day last week was slightly bittersweet despite the finally-warm temperatures. Gathered around Antietam Creek at Happy Landings, students from Mrs. Groff's 3rd grade Owatin Creek classroom were delighted--and yet sad--to see their fellow "classmates" swim away. "Bye fishy! Have a good life!" said one, as she held a plastic cup to the creek to see a baby rainbow trout "fingerling" swim away. The release of the fingerlings that morning late last week was the culminating event in a months-long project that Mrs. Groff exclusively teaches at Owatin Creek called "Trout in the Classroom." The curriculum, which is taught in classrooms throughout the US and Great Britain, aims to teach students connections between trout, water resources, the environment and themselves by having students learn about aquarium setup, ecosystems, the life stages of fish, the environment of waterways, and then putting their knowledge to the test by raising fish from eggs to fingerlings, eventually releasing them into an approved waterway. 

Mrs. Groff started teaching the program in 2017 after going through additional training to learn the curriculum through Penn State. She said that her interest in teaching "Trout in the Classroom" was a natural fit since her husband is an avid fisherman and her children, Brooke and Trent, were both named from his passion for fishing in Exeter. "I knew that my husband would help me on this adventure," she said with a laugh.

Students start by learning and setting up a cold-water fish tank in January. Soon afterwards, they receive baby fish eggs, which live in an "egg basket" until they're developed enough to eat fish food on their own and be released into the full tank. In the tank, they grow and mature until they’re old enough to be released into a natural waterway. Throughout the process, students learn about the life cycle of the fish as they develop from an egg to a fingerling--or as one student described, "We saw them as little babies and now we see them as little grown ups." Students keep a journal of their learning experience by drawing pictures and writing about aquarium equipment, fish stages, ecosystems and the waterways. 

After months, the project culminates with students’ favorite activity: the release of their fingerlings at Antietam Creek. Carrying a cooler of baby trout, Mr. Groff accompanied his wife’s class to Antietam Creek last week, where they gave students clear cups filled with aquarium water and a baby fish. Carefully, each student then stood on the side of the creek to release their fingerling, happy–yet sad–to see them swim away.

Like her fish, Mrs. Groff also plans to “swim away” at the end of the school year after teaching for 32 years in the District. We share her students’ feelings of bittersweetness as we mourn the “release” of a great teacher, yet wish her a retirement filled with joy, relaxation… and lots of fishing!

Exeter Students Place in “Nature of Nolde Forest” Art Contest

exeter students pose with their nolde forest artwork
exeter's faith hartman poses by her artwork of an owl

Featuring artwork from across Berks County by student artists in 1st through 12th grade, several Exeter artists placed in the 2022 “Nature of Nolde Forest” student art contest. The annual contest awards three winners in several grade categories, and then displays the winning work throughout the rest of the year on West Reading's Art Plus online gallery: https://www.artplusgallerypa.com/nolde-2021-22.html 

Exeter Senior High winners were: (left to right): Kaelyn Vandenbree (3rd place in grades 11-12); Alizarin Capeland (1st place in grades 9-10); Tyler Casiano (2nd place in grades 9-10); and Morgan Herb (not pictured; 1st place in grades 11-12). At the Junior High, Faith Hartman won 3rd place in grades 7-8. Congratulations to all!

Special Education Athletes Compete in District-Wide Field Day

Congratulations to all of our athletes who took part in today's Field Day! Exeter special education athletes from across the district participated in a variety of events, including softball and frisbee throws, running and walking races and the long jump. Although there wasn't an official medal ceremony afterwards, you can bet there were plenty of hugs, high fives and cheers from the stands in the stadium! Check out our video of the day's highlights.
A special thanks to MP Butterworth & Associates who supplied all of our athletes with tees to remember today's event! We're grateful for your support of our special education students!

After serving 2 million meals, Suzie Haas will hang up her apron

photo of Susie Haas

After 31 years and serving more than 2 million meals to hungry Exeter students, Suzie Haas plans to take off her apron for the last time when the kitchen at Owatin Creek closes for the school year. She’s been an institution in the kitchens at Exeter for as long as most of the parents of the students she feeds every day have been alive. 

“Suzie’s one of a kind. She has a great sense of humor that makes a tough job more enjoyable. She will definitely be missed,” said Courtnay Epler, Food Services Supervisor. Tracy Lis, Food Services Secretary, agreed, “She knows the name of each and every student that comes through the line. On their birthdays, she goes out of her way to make sure they feel special by finding little gifts for them, like rubber bracelets. She really puts her whole heart into the job.” 

Suzie began working at Lausch in 1991 and stayed there for 20 years until the building closed. From there, she moved to Jacksonwald until 2017, and then to Owatin Creek five years ago. While she said that technology in the kitchen’s changed a bit over her career, the premise of cooking and serving healthy and nutritious food hasn’t. Reflecting on her time in the kitchen, she said that being a “lunch lady” is a career that’s tougher than most think–especially during the pandemic and dealing with the supply chain issues of the last year–but she said that great co-workers, a family-friendly schedule and getting to know so many kids were all the favorite parts of her work–as well as the food they served. “I’ll miss our brunch the most!” she said with a laugh. “And my orange-slicing machine!”

Lorane student returns to Lorane–This time as a teacher

photo of Taylor Kerling with other teachers and students

Above: Taylor Kerling (center) is joined by (left to right): Isabella Peralta (4th), 1st grade teacher Adam Ousley, art teacher Tia Cosgrave, Elise Schwartz (4th), music teacher Nina Delewski, and Reese Glenn (kindergarten). All dressed like Taylor for "Dress Like Your Teacher" day at Lorane. 

Below: Taylor, when she was a Lorane student. 

photo of Taylor Kerling in kindergarten

You might say that today’s “Dress Like Your Teacher Day” teacher appreciation spirit day was a full-circle moment for Taylor Kerling, who is a first-year teacher at Lorane–as well as a former Lorane student. “I honestly didn’t think this would happen,” said Taylor, blushing, surprised to see students who dressed like her. Even teachers paid homage to Taylor today–including Nina Delewski who once taught Taylor. “To be a part of the Lorane family is one of the most amazing blessings,” said Taylor. 

When we first caught up with Taylor to do a story on her return to Lorane now as a teacher, it didn’t take long for us to recognize Taylor’s authentic admiration and appreciation for Exeter teachers and how she says she owes her career to them. Taylor is Exeter. She’s a first-year Health & Physical Education Teacher at Lorane. She’s a 2017 alumnus. (Her mom is an alum, too.) And she says she owes her success thanks to the incredible and genuine care that Exeter teachers gave to her when she attended school here.

“I wanted to become a teacher to be to others what I experienced here in Exeter. I know that seems like a stereotypical answer, but it couldn’t be truer. I had such a great experience here in Exeter with teachers who taught me so much more than just the curriculum. They taught me how to be a good person. They helped me develop into a genuine and caring person. I had wonderful opportunities and had so much fun learning. By my junior year, I knew I wanted to be a teacher, and I knew I wanted to return to Exeter to teach.” 

Her appreciation for those teachers, also, isn’t lost on those who had her as a student. Music teacher Nina Delewski dressed like Taylor today because she wanted to show her support for an “amazing” first-year teacher. “She fits in so nicely here because this is where she grew up,” adding that it was initially a little surreal working with a former student. “That’s a first for me!” she said.  

One day soon, though, Taylor may find herself in the same position as Nina as she already seems to have a few students who showed their appreciation for Taylor by dressing like her, including Isabella Peralta (4th), Elise Schwartz (4th) and Reese Glenn (kindergarten). When we asked them what they wanted to be when they grew up, all three responded with an emphatic, “A gym teacher at Lorane like Miss K!”

Teacher’s journey inspires students and colleagues

photo of Michele Bautsch

During the last 20 years, Michele Bautsch has worked in nearly every building in Exeter, and has held nearly a dozen different job titles, but none have been the most fulfilling to her until this year when she achieved her goal of becoming a full-time certified special education teacher–a journey that she said she owes to teachers and administrators who saw her special light, talent and love in working with emotional support students and kept encouraging her to further her education to have a classroom of her own. “I never thought I would become a special education teacher at 54,” said Michele, adding a touch of her signature encouragement: “It is never too late to go back to school and get the degree you deserve. It takes a lot of effort, but in the end it is all worth it.” 

Michele’s journey began in teaching when she earned an elementary education degree after graduating from college. However, when her children were born, she decided to stay home to care for them. When her girls, Rachel ‘12 and Jordan ‘14, entered school full time, Michele looked to return to work as a teacher, but her teaching certification had expired. It was then that she began her 20-year journey in the district holding a variety of teaching aide positions at Jacksonwald, Owatin Creek, Reiffton and the Senior High, mostly working with students who have special needs. Looking back, she said she always loved working with younger students, but it was seeing her impact on older kids with emotional needs that she found the greatest satisfaction, which propelled her to return to school in the fall of 2019 to recertify as a special education teacher. Next week, she’ll graduate from Alvernia with her master’s degree in special education–and a 4.0. 

Although Michele is quick to thank the administrators who encouraged her and inspired her to chase her dream of becoming a certified teacher, you’ll find that it’s those same people who are inspired by Michele’s own journey and perseverance. “She shows her students day in and day out that hard work pays off and that you can always strive for more for yourself,” says Secondary Special Education Supervisor Jillian Brodhead. Owatin Creek Principal Kristi Coble agreed, and added, “Seeing Michele in action with students, it was always evident she was meant to be a teacher. Her dedication to student success and to continue her education in order to do so is inspirational!”