by Lizzy Marrs, 7th Grade Before school started this year, Allen welcomed its newest student--but it isn’t a person. It’s a bunny named Judy Hopps (after the character in the movie Zootopia). For their senior year, many 12th-grade girls wanted something special. They suggested getting a classroom bunny. Ellie Schwab and Kara Davis took the lead on convincing teachers and administrators to agree with their idea. “At first, we wanted a guinea pig or rabbit to relieve stress from the day,” Ellie explained. She said they liked the idea of coming in and petting the animal to release tension. The group of 12th graders talked first to Mrs. Shelley Caskey, the 12th-grade girls’ advisor, who encouraged them to pursue their idea. Mrs. Caskey said she also believed that a classroom pet would help relieve stress. The girls needed approval from Mr. Engstrom, but he was concerned about health codes. Mr. Engstrom told the girls that if they made a PowerPoint presentation to back up their reasoning of why getting a classroom pet was a good idea. So Ellie and Kara created a presentation for “Back to School Night, on Sept. 8th 2016.” In this presentation, they cited websites that talk about how to care for a class pet and how it benefits the classroom and helps students. As a result, Mr. Engstrom approved the project, and the 12th graders were off to find their bunny. A few of 12th graders went to Petco in College Station and chose the black and white hare, only to find that another person was just about to buy her. They persuaded the buyer that Judy needed to learn more calculus (which is what Mrs. Caskey teaches) and they purchased Judy two weeks before the school year began. Judy’s cage door is always open, awaiting the arrival of new friends. She gets treats such as lettuce and carrots, and a soft bedding all to herself. Now, Judy Hopps lives a comfortable life in Mrs. Caskey’s classroom, with free roaming space, and lots of love. Photo credit: Jackson Petty
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April 2017
Eric FinleyI'm funny and smart. I love to cook. I'm in 7th grade. One fun fact is I love Germany. |