Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 8/31/2022
MONSON – To provide the youngest children at Quarry Hill School with real-world experiences, the Early Childhood Center has obtained chickens for the students to care for.
Cheryl Clarke, superintendent of Monson Public Schools, came up with this idea in the spring. She told Reminder Publishing that in May, they had space in the back of the school after redoing the roof. Once they got rid of a satellite dish, there was an empty space which Clarke thought was a “perfect place” to put chickens.
“I knew of a family [in town] that had chickens,” she continued. “They donated four babies.”
At first, the chickens were kept in a crate with a light on them. After some time, a coop was constructed for the chickens to be moved to. Clarke shared that Monson High School students enrolled in a home repair class were responsible for purchasing a kit and building the coop. “It was a joint effort,” she said, as facilities also built a little pen on the side for the chickens to roam.
After slowly integrating the chickens to their new home, they realized two of the chickens were roosters and needed to be rehomed. The parents who originally donated the chickens, donated two more so that they still have four, shared Clarke.
She explained that the Vocational Independence Program (VIP) at Quarry Hill serves children 18 to 22 months, teaching them life skills. When the students return to school for the 2022-23 school year, they will be taking turns in learning how to take care of the chickens.
From pre-k to Grade 2, Clarke said the science standards include learning how plants and animals change with the seasons, which coincides with this new program. “[It’s] all tied into the curriculum,” she added.
In the fall, Clarke noted that the chickens will be ready to harvest. Around this time, she will also be visiting each class to read books about caring for chickens.
“We want to expand as many opportunities for children as possible,” said Clarke.
Since receiving the chickens, she shared, “It’s been great.” Throughout the summer, students and their families have been able to visit the growing birds.
For now, Clarke said they will stick with the four chickens and “see how it goes.” However, she noted that they may be adding a goat or another animal to join them – providing additional learning opportunities for the children of Monson.