Student project flies away

Painted ladies filled the sky above the garden at Healdsburg
Elementary School last week as students released the butterflies
into the wild.
The insects were part of a school-wide project designed to teach
students about the lifecycle and process of metamorphosis. At the
return of spring break, each classroom was equipped with a mesh
butterfly pavilion and several larvae.
“The kindergarten wing has always done this butterfly project,”
said Librarian Donna Romeo, who orders the butterfly kits. “But
recently a second grade teacher told me that the project fit her
students curriculum so then I asked first grade teachers and it
turns out they have a painted lady unit, so I ordered them for the
whole school.”
Romeo approached HES Principal Stephanie Feith to ask her if the
kits were within the budget to offer the project to all
students.
As soon as she received the go-ahead, Romeo began pulling out
butterflies books in the library and informing teachers of the
month long project focus.
“This project fits with the curriculum but more importantly they
get to see life happen,” Romeo said.
Butterfly paintings, diagrams, and drawings line the walls and
classrooms of the school and staff members say that the students
hardly talk about anything else.
“They stand in the lunch line and tell the lunch lady how they
saw another butterfly come out and how it use to be a caterpillar,”
Romeo said. “They are just so excited and it brings them together
as a whole school.”
Teachers call down to Romeo in the library when all of their
classroom butterflies have come out of their chrysalis. Romeo
quickly runs down to gather the students and bring them to the
school garden for release.
“It is going to live in our garden,” said Enzo, a first grader
in Ms. Vikki’s class.
Part of the project is also teaching the students that some of
the butterflies don’t make it. Several butterflies come out of the
chrysalis with crinkled wings and can’t fly but Romeo says that it
doesn’t seem to bother the students.
“We have had a couple pass but we gently move them aside right
now, we can deal with death when they get a little older, we just
want them to know it is a part of science and leave it at that,”
Romeo said.
Over the next week classrooms will release their painted ladies
and wrap up their unit on metamorphosis.
“This is just a happy thing and such a neat project to kick off
spring and bring a level of excitement to the school and for all
students and teachers,” Romeo said.
Staff Writer Robin Hug can be reached at [email protected].