In a heartwarming display of empathy and responsibility, Peck's kindergartners recently embarked on an enriching journey called Pet Care Week. This unique initiative aimed to instill essential values of compassion and care towards animals in our youngest students.
As part of Pet Care Week, each child "adopted" a small stuffed animal companion, symbolizing their commitment to nurturing and understanding the needs of pets. Their classroom transformed into an adoption center where students journaled about all how they would care for their new pets.
The highlight of Pet Care Week was undoubtedly the special presentation entitled Kind Choices: Animals in Need delivered by St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center Humane Educator Karen Potocek as a part of the organization's K-12 Outreach Educational Program. With enthusiasm and expertise, she enlightened the eager students with an interactive storytelling lesson utilizing a humane education picture book. Students engaged their feelings of compassion for animals by exercising their empathy and participating in instructor-led discussion and reflection.
“Lessons like this from the St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center teach kids that pets are a lifelong commitment and how big of a responsibility it is to be an animal’s caregiver,” says Kindergarten Homeroom Teacher Maribel Mohr.
But Peck’s kindergarten animal rescue initiatives don’t stop there. Next week, kindergarteners will be baking dog biscuits and making catnip toys to donate to St. Hubert’s just in time for Valentine’s Day next week!