Something’s fishy at Buckhorn Public School
New program gives students a chance to learn about local aquatic species
This program started last spring at Buckhorn Public School. In May student fish techs went to each classroom and did a presentation about Atlantic salmon. After the presentation they asked all students for questions they have about salmon.
Those questions were the basis of Fishy Fridays at the school. On the Fish Wonder Wall in the foyer are posted questions such as “What are some predators for Atlantic salmon?” and “How cold will the water be and what makes the water cold?” The answer to that question is 4 C. Atlantic salmon are cold water fish and like to develop as eggs in cold water. The classroom hatchery is kept at this temperature to keep the development of the egg and sac fry (alevins) at a slow pace, much like in the wild.
By this time you should have an idea of what the picture is. There are 12 students who are part of the fish tech team. Every morning and afternoon a student records the daily temperature of the water. Another fish tech comes at 3:20 p.m. and finds the water’s daily temperature average, records and shares the info with the rest of the school.
In the picture the two small black dots in each opening are fish eyes. This is a fish egg hatchery. The fish eggs came from the Harwood Fish Culture Station on the south shore of Rice Lake. The Federation of Anglers and Hunters delivered the eggs and presented information about the life cycle of Atlantic salmon. The “fry” will be stocked on May 29 into Cobourg Creek. The school will also go to Alderville’s Sandercock Creek to plant native “plants” along the shoreline of the creek to reinforce the importance of maintaining/sustaining a healthy habitat in which fish may live. Grades 4, 5 and 6 will also travel to the Atlantic Salmon Fish Hatchery at Fleming College in Lindsay, a community partner.
The connections being made at the school don’t stop there. There are also some wonderful pieces of art done by children in Miss Davidson’s Grade 3 room with a First Nations influence and Mr. Shaw’s Grade 6 room. Something fishy is going on! Maybe learning and relationship building.
More about Public Works
Ivan Coumbs added a few ideas about the roads department after last week’s article was sent in so here they are. The Trent Lakes Roads department does all its own sweeping with two loaders and a pick-up broom on all the surface treated roads. They apply gravel to 18 km of roads each year during the spring and fall and apply calcium to these roads.
More about garbage
Have you started composting and find yourself wondering what to do in the winter when your compost bin is full? There is now a compost site at the Buckhorn transfer station. Remember what goes in: Bread, rice and grains. Cooked foods. Coffee grains and filters. Dairy. Eggs and shells. Fruit and vegetables. Baked goods. Meat, fish, fat and bones. Tea bags and leaves.