Program of raising fish grows to middle school
Students raising fish isn't new in the Butler School District, but this year marks a first for Butler Middle School's participation.
Last fall, the dingy swimming pool room in the heart of the middle school began transforming into the building's answer to an existing fishery program at the intermediate high school. Fifth grade science and social studies teachers Bob Takacs and Dave McCool built the room into a bona fide fish nursery this year with help from Dave Andrews of the intermediate high school, employees of the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission and donations from the Golden Tornado Scholastic Foundation. Oh, and plenty of hardworking students, of course.
No, they didn't fill the pool with catfish. It remains empty, but the space alongside it is filled with fish tanks, hydroponic gardening setups and lots of excited fifth graders.
The two men hope to put every middle schooler in the district through the program as it grows into a standard part of science curriculum. Students like Chloe Schoentag, 11, say they like their new school pets.
“I just love it,” Chloe said. “I love volunteering for school stuff.”
Chloe was part of a team of four fourth-grade girls who gave a tour of their fishery program to sixth graders a few days before Saturday's catfish stocking at Glade Run Lake. The girls said they've spent recesses and lunches working with the fish just for fun.
Brynn Cornibe, 11, confirmed that they're learned as they've worked.
“I think it's fun to actually work with animals and get to know about their species,” Brynn said.
The program took on a life of its own at the school this year. The two teachers started making goofy videos promoting the program and teaching science. Those videos can be viewed at https://www.basdk12.org/3/Content/1400.
They even stuck a special underwater camera in their catfish tank and livestreamed the fish on YouTube. After Saturday's stocking, they switched the camera over to a trout tank.
McCool sounded a little like an empty nester on Saturday as he recalled the change.
“Last night I was in there draining the tank,” he said. “It was a pretty weird feeling.”
