Turtles find a winter home at Blackville School

Ashley with the turtles.

Blackville School has some new friends, but they're not students!

Grade 12 student Ashley Vickers worked during the summer at the Atlantic Salmon Museum in Doaktown. While she was there she had the opportunity to work with turtles.

The museum is closed for the winter leaving the turtles with nowhere to go. With Ashley's experience with them, Mr. Johnston, a teacher at the school, asked the principal, Mr. Buggie, if it would be okay if the turtles lived at Blackville School for the winter.

Harriet

Mr. Buggie stated that he has never received any unusual requests for animal sitting at the school before. His biggest concern was where to house them safely as well as what to do with them during holidays.

Ashleys loves having the turtles at the school. She said the care for the turtles is not a lot of work and does not take too much time. One day per week she has to stay after school for 45 minutes to clean the tanks.

Although the turtles have been welcomed with open arms, there is one person who shares the room with the new friends.

Houdini

Mrs. Sherrard is at Blackville School on Tuesdays and Thursdays to help students with the transition to the work force after graduation. She helps with resumes, interview preparation, and possible job shadowing. Mrs. Sherrard stated that she likes the turtles and doesn't mind sharing a room with them.

It also looks like there will also be an educational value for housing the turtles. There are plans underway so that next semester Ashley can spend some time educating younger students about the turtles.

by Mariah Hallihan