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Students Raise Nearly 250 Trout to Release in Antietam Creek

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Veoleta Stoica (left) and Parker Benfer (right) hold their fingerling trout before releasing it into Antietam Creek (below)

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Ms. McBride scoops out a fingerling from a bucket to give to student to release into Antietam Creek

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Jeiden Acevedo carefully puts his hand over his cup with his fingerling so it didn't jump out before he had a chance to release it into Antietam Creek

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Lorane ESL students release their fingerlings into Antietam Creek

It’s not often that classroom “pets” are released into the wild–much less nearly 250 of them–but that’s exactly what happened this week when students from around the district had the opportunity to raise baby trout from eggs to “fingerlings” as part of “Trout in the Classroom.” This year, students from all three elementary buildings had the opportunity to be a part of the months-long curriculum, which is taught in classrooms throughout the US and Great Britain, and 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 (a young trout), eventually releasing them into an approved waterway. 

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 survive on their own and 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. Students keep a journal of their learning experience by drawing pictures and writing about aquarium equipment, fish stages, ecosystems and the waterways.

In Ms. Kristen McBride’s third grade classroom, students hosted the aquarium and shared their experience with Trout in the Classroom with their third grade penpals from Mrs. Stacia Miller’s Jacksonwald classroom, with whom they started writing letters to earlier this school year. Parker Benfer from Owatin Creek said that she loved writing to her penpal Veoleta Stoica at Jacksonwald about what it was like to raise the fish–as well as other subjects such as their shared love of pizza. The two, who just met in person for the first time on Monday morning, laughed together as they held a clear cup containing their fingerling. “I really liked that we all were able to be together today and get a chance to take turns releasing the fish,” said Parker. Veoleta agreed, glancing at the fingerling swimming in her cup, and said, “Don’t you think it is just so cute?”  

At Lorane, students in all grades had an opportunity to visit with the fish in Mrs. Kellee Fries’ ESL (English as a Second Language) classroom as her ESL students acted as ambassadors, bringing their classmates up to her classroom to visit the aquarium and teach them about the life cycle of the fish and what they were learning. This allowed students to sharpen their English skills, while also learning about the life cycle of fish. Jeiden Acevedo, a fourth grader in Mrs. Marburger’s class, said he really enjoyed that he was given a leadership role to help Mrs. Fries clean and care for the aquarium. “I really enjoyed helping her change the water and helping her test the water in the tank,” he said. But he felt particularly proud when his class was invited into Mrs. Fries’ classroom to learn more about the fish and he was able to lead a lesson on how to care for aquarium water. “When my class came over, I had to teach them how to change the water because they didn’t know what to do.”

This week, on Monday, Owatin Creek and Jacksonwald released 102 fingerlings that they successfully raised into the Antietam Creek in Happy Landings, while Lorane released 136 fingerlings into the creek on Thursday. It was a bittersweet moment for many of the students who took pride in their role in helping raise the fish. “I’m glad we all had a chance to take a turn,” said Parker, as she and Veoleta held their cup together and watched their fingerling swim away in the creek. 

Teacher Appreciation Week: Mrs. Carole Moyer

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"Oh, Carole bleeds blue," said Owatin Creek Principal Mr. Charlie Payne with a laugh when we asked him to describe 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Carole Moyer. A 1985 Exeter graduate herself, married to an Exeter graduate, and with two daughters, Lauren '16 and Olivia '18, who graduated from Exeter, Mrs. Moyer's dedicated her entire professional career to nurturing the next generation of Eagles, initially from her 5th grade classroom at Jacksonwald in 1990, and currently from her 3rd grade classroom at Owatin Creek. Within minutes of learning more about her history and her career, you can't help but feel her sense of pride in Exeter--of being a part of the community as a former student and now as a teacher. In fact, a sense of "community" is a central part of what she tries to establish in her own classroom to help her students feel supported, loved and a place where they belong. "What makes Carole amazing is that once you know her, you become part of her family," says Mr. Joe Bertolet, who has taught 3rd grade with Mrs. Moyer for the past 12 years. "She is so passionate and absolutely loves her students," he says. "She's just a wonderful person."

As we continue our series of our longest-serving teachers here in Exeter during Teacher Appreciation Week, we're so excited and proud to share this interview with Mrs. Moyer, who not only bleeds blue but also has dedicated her career to building and nurturing the Exeter community in our schools.

Q: Why did you decide to become a teacher? 
A: I became a teacher because, quite frankly, I loved my teachers and I always enjoyed school. I was a very shy kid who eventually found confidence through many teachers who believed in me. I was one of those kids who played school with neighborhood friends, using our garages to set up our mock classrooms with imaginary students or younger kids in Farming Ridge who were willing. In junior high I boarded the elementary summer school bus so I could volunteer as a teacher’s helper, which I enjoyed immensely.

Q: Did you ever do anything other than teaching? If so, what?
A: As a new teacher at Exeter I also worked part time in the evenings through Threshold Rehabilitation Services supporting adults with intellectual disabilities and challenges in a residential setting.

Q: If you wouldn’t have been a teacher, what other career would you have pursued?
A: I would have been a Grant Writer for nonprofits with a focus on outreach projects to underserved populations. When our daughters danced with Berks Ballet Theatre I was the company’s grant writer and creating outreach projects was so fulfilling.

Q: Can you please tell us where you’ve taught, what you’ve taught and for how long?
A: I began my teaching career at Jacksonwald Elementary in 1990 as a fifth-grade teacher. It was absolutely a dream job for me as I had formerly been a student at Jacksonwald. Since then I have also taught third grade. I was one of the teacher representatives who worked closely with administration on the Owatin Creek Elementary design. Our entire staff and student body moved to Owatin Creek Elementary upon its completion.

Q: What do you love most about teaching?
A: THE STUDENTS. In elementary school we are self-contained and your class truly becomes a type of second family. As a teacher you have so much creative control to take any subject matter and build dynamic activities and hands-on projects where you see students’ enthusiasm and talents shine! There is absolutely zero chance of becoming bored in a career as a teacher.

Q: What was your favorite grade or subject when you were a student?
A: My favorite subject to teach now is science because it is so active and fun! Throughout school my favorite subject was usually determined by my connection to the teacher. My 1st grade teacher, Mrs. Hannon created the warmest, caring environment and I was hooked! All the girls in my 7th grade English class became very close with our teacher, Mrs. Vroman. We even threw her a baby shower at one of our houses in the evening! My junior high history teacher, Mr. Bickle gave me, a painfully shy girl, a chance to shine and be victorious in Current Event Quiz Shows! Senior high history teacher, Mr. Fleck was so wonderfully dynamic that he made all history intriguing and I couldn’t get enough of it! So for me, growing up, it was more about the relationships than the subject matter.

Q: What’s a moment you’ll never forget from teaching? 
A: A few years ago, one of my third graders was fighting a tough battle with leukemia. The other students wanted to show their support and they brainstormed a fundraiser to purchase a new iPad for him. They worked every spare moment they had to create beautiful themed bookmarks with tassels. With this child’s mother’s permission and approval from our administration the students ran a Hat Day and sold bookmarks to the other students in the school. They created posters to promote the special day and set up shop, totally running the sale. My class raised over $1,400 for our friend and classmate. In addition to the iPad, they were able to purchase Beats Headphones and Wawa cards that were helpful due to the many trips to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The students were a true force and became very close as they rallied around their friend. It was the best moment in my career.

Q: What’s a lesson you’ve learned from your students (or a student) that you’ll never forget?
A: When I run into students and they recall all the fun class pets, the exciting science projects, or the great field trips, I realize that the best thing I can teach a child is to simply love coming to school.

Q: What’s the best thing about teaching in Exeter?
A: The staff is unbelievably dedicated and talented. Every day I learn from the talented people on my team who share their creative ideas, successes in their classrooms and educational ideas! Our specialists look for inspiring ways to build an Owatin School Community that is so positive and child centered. We are led by an administration that believes in Exeter and is proud of Exeter! When I began my career teaching in Exeter, I was so very impressed with the staff’s dedication, creativeness, and love of children. I knew my husband and I would intentionally buy a home in Exeter because I wanted our future children to have that kind of excellent education.

Q: Did you graduate from Exeter or have kids who went through Exeter? 
A: Both my husband and I are proud Exeter graduates, Jon in 1984 and myself in 1985. My undergraduate degree is from Shippensburg University and my Master’s Degree was earned from Kutztown University. Our daughter, Lauren, graduated from Exeter in 2016 and from Duquesne’s Honor College with her Master’s Degree in 2021, earning the university’s “Outstanding Student in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology”. Currently she is a Speech-Language Pathologist in Pittsburgh children’s clinics. Our daughter, Olivia, graduated in 2018 as Exeter’s Valedictorian and she recently graduated from Villanova University with a degree in Quantitative Finance. She is a Capital Market Analyst in Manhattan. We attribute their success in college to all the outstanding teachers they had throughout their years at Exeter. Their learning environment at Exeter was always nurturing with high expectations. Their Exeter teachers were all top-notch, highly dedicated professionals and we feel extremely fortunate.

Q: What have you learned about the profession since becoming a teacher?
A: Teachers play such a big part in developing a child’s self-confidence! A teacher must meet the needs of varying learning styles, adapt activities to fit students’ abilities and interests, and manage a multitude of elements to create a wonderful classroom climate. My most important educational partners are the parents and guardians of my students. Parent / Teacher communication is like water, it’s VITAL. Anyone I’ve ever had in class will remember Weekly Evaluations and Monday Mail, weekly parent communication I’ve utilized my entire career.

Q: What teaching accomplishment fills you with pride?
A: Whenever I’ve done special projects where my students learn subject matter and then go on to present to other peers or younger students, I am filled with pride. Some examples include learning about igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rock and then becoming a Traveling Geologist to teach first graders. Learning about water pollution and solutions and then presenting at the EcoFair by running a watershed demonstration is exciting. One of my after-school reading / writing groups read about Little Free Libraries and then they started one in our hallway, recycling more than 1,000 gently used books from students’ homes. Students presenting animal research with maps, diagrams, classification flowcharts on Google Slides and projecting with our SMART Board to their classmates brings out the leader in each child. I appreciate those Exeter teachers who helped me, a very shy child, find her voice. The best part of my job is when I too help a child find his/her voice and talents!

Q: What’s one skill that you hope all students learn from you?
A: Our classroom motto is that leadership is shown when you’re someone who makes others feel good about themselves. We create rainbows with sticky notes filled with super positive things we see in each other. Don’t we all want to be with people who make us feel good? That’s a life lesson that I want my children to carry with them.

Q: What advice would you give to yourself as a first-year teacher?
A: I would tell my first-year teacher self that finding a professional and personal life balance is going to be a challenge. But I want myself to remember that beyond the in depth lesson plan writing, experiments, data, and grading of papers- the most important thing is that you show your students you love them and see their talents! (AND people who know me well know I haven’t really found a balance yet- but I do know not everyone gets to do a job they love every day!)

Owatin Creek’s Eco Club Creates Upcycled Chandelier

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Several of the students and the teachers who worked on the chandelier show off their finished work before it was hoisted up to be hung in Owatin Creek's cupola.  

If you're heading to the Owatin Creek Art Show this Friday from 5:30 to 7:30PM, please take a moment and look up at the cupola skylight to see a colorful chandelier created by students in OC's after-school Eco Club. Mrs. Britta Hyneman, Owatin Creek's art teacher, said that the project was inspired by glass artist Dale Chihuly, and began with students collecting plastic water bottles that would have normally been thrown away or recycled that students turned into beautiful pieces of glass-inspired art when they colored the bottles with Sharpie markers and cut them into spirals. The bottles were then mounted onto a wire frame and hung from the school's cupola this week.

"Students are so excited about this project," said Mrs. Hyneman, who received help from Owatin Creek teacher (and Lorane paraprofessional) Mrs. Stephanie Van Sickle, who helps her run the after-school club. "We had more than 35 students participate in this project who learned that we can take ordinary objects that we often throw away and turn them into an unexpected, unique piece of art. I'm so proud of their dedication to this project--they collected and prepared more than 600 water bottles for this chandelier!"

Eco Club is a free after-school club that meets to learn how to help preserve and protect our earth. Each meeting features an upcycled art project. The club is organized by parent volunteer, Mrs. Van Sickle, and OC teachers, Mrs. Hyneman and Ms. Kristen McBride.

Owatin Creek Places First in Berks K’Nex STEM Challenge

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"The Blue Takis" from Owatin Creek with their solar charging recycling robot

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"The Lorane Drops" from Lorane with their eco-friendly carwash

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“The Soaring Eagles” from Jacksonwald with their sustainable greenhouse

Using K'Nex and loads of imagination and intellect, Exeter teams from each of our elementary schools competed in the STEM Design Challenge at the BCIU this week. Placing first in the competition against 44 other elementary schools from across the county was Owatin's team of Nora Hart, Owen Kercher, Avery Manndel and Olive Weis who designed a solar charging recycling robot! Meanwhile, Jacksonwald's team of Abraham Cepeda, Bradyn Gowdy, Katie Nguyen and Anniston Stevens created a sustainable greenhouse, and Lorane's team of Anthony Cocchimiglio, Drew McClain and Shashanth Tummeti designed an eco-friendly carwash. Owatin's first place finish may allow them to compete with other winners across the state in Harrisburg this spring! We're so proud of these Eagles for their teamwork, brain power and problem solving ability! Congratulations to them all!

District to Host Drug Awareness Workshop for Families in January

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“This,” said Exeter Township Detective Sergeant Rocco DeCamillo as he pointed to a table filled with confiscated THC-laced gummies, brownies, cookies and treats, “was not manufactured to appeal to adults. It was manufactured to look like candy to appeal to kids.” 

As part of the district’s professional development sessions with educators and staff last month, Detective Sergeant DeCamillo spent his day walking teachers, administrators and staff through the ever-complex and constantly-changing landscape of what drugs police are seeing being sold and being used in Exeter Township by adults and minors alike. “Things have drastically changed in the last 20 years. When the majority of us were in high school, marijuana was natural and looked like pot. Now, there’s so much synthetic stuff out there that’s chemically-produced with no regulation or oversight–and much of it’s been disguised to look like candy.”

Superintendent Dr. Christy Haller and Assistant Superintendent Mrs. Dawn Harris organized the session with Detective Sergeant DeCamillo and the district’s Student Services Coordinator, Mrs. Alycia Lenart, to bring a greater awareness to teachers of what’s out there, what it looks like, and how to engage students and their families with help for substance abuse. The sessions proved to be so popular with educators that Detective Sergeant DeCamillo and Mrs. Lenart decided to offer a similar session to parents and families so that they, too, could learn what police are seeing in the local community, and how to receive support through the district when families are faced with substance abuse. The parent and family session will be held on Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 7PM in Exeter Township Senior High School’s Large Group Instruction (LGI) room. 

During his presentation to teachers, Detective Sergeant DeCamillo said navigating the “new normal” of drug use and drug accessibility is not easy. Oftentimes, he said as he pointed to all of the items on the table, local retailers don’t even know what’s legal to sell and what isn’t since laws vary from state to state. “Most of this stuff is perfectly legal in New Jersey,” he said. Mrs. Lenart added, “I think there’s also a perception that since it’s legal in certain states, it must be perfectly safe, and it’s really not,” she said, as she ticked off statistics that indicate that 90% of ER admittance for marijuana or THC overdoses are from edibles. “It takes anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours for kids to feel the effect from an edible. Since most teens don’t have great patience, they think it’s not working, so they eat more, and more and more and then wind up in the hospital. That’s why it’s so important to bring awareness to this very scary issue.”