May
08
2013
Horticulture Update
Our horticulture classes have made terrariums that will be sold at the Master Gardener Spring Garden Expo and Plant Sale this Saturday, 5/11, from 9:00am—2:00pm. The sale will be held at the Office of Government Services, 1200 N. Delsea Drive, Clayton, NJ 08312. In addition to the plant and terrarium sales, the Gloucester Master Gardeners will hold a series of free classes and seminars. Our very own Katie Wofford, ADS horticulture student, plans to assist at our Expo horticulture table from 10:00—11:00.
Our annual garden plant sale will be held this Friday 5/10, from 8:30—3:00, in the ADS Science Room. I expect to have the following items for sale. Prices are extremely reasonable, but supplies are limited. We are offering: Cherry Tomatoes, Yellow Pear Tomatoes, Better Boy Tomatoes, Roma Tomatoes, Basil, Bell Peppers, Garlic Chives, Lily of the Valley, Butterfly Weed, Scented geranium, Peonies, and Arrowhead Vine. All proceeds are used to support the horticulture program.
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Apr
26
2013
Social Studies Fair
The biennial social studies fair took place on Tuesday, April 23rd. Our middle school and high school students had the opportunity to share what they have learned in social studies this year. Besdies being able to present their own projects, students were able to see and participate in projects from all over the school.
Even our preschoolers had a chance to come over to the "big school" to see what the older students have been up to.
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Apr
17
2013
Quails in the Classroom Project - New Updates!
ADS has joined with the Quails in the Classroom Project, http://www.quailintheclassroom.org/ , to help raise endangered Bobwhite Quails. Besides teaching environmental responsibility, this activity helps to provide students with hands-on experience in wildlife biology.
The following is a brief question and answer our curriculum coordinator, Linda McHugh, distributed to classroom staff.
Q & A
Why hatch quail eggs?
- Because the Northern Bobwhite Quail is on the list of threatened species in New Jersey due to habitat loss from development and loss of existing farm hedgerows to fencing. Hatching quail in the classroom is an attempt to re-populate the species.
What will happen to our quail?
- They will be eventually be picked up by Quail in the Classroom staff, banded, and released in a no-hunting area.
What do they eat?
- In our classroom project the quail chicks will eat crushed chicken feed and drink room temperature bottled water. (Chemicals from tap water can be harmful to chicks). In the wild they will eat insects, seeds and berries.
Update 4/22 - Happy Earth Day! There are now 20 healthy quail chicks in the science room. What better way to celebrate the earth than to help repopulate a species!
Update 4/24 - Bad News, Good News. One of our chicks was born with a twisted leg. In nature the chick would not survive. However, physical therapists Andrea Sigmund and Adrienne Nolan have intervened. They created a splint fo help straighten the chicks leg and have begun providing physical therapy. Hopefully the chick will recover sufficiently to be released into the wild.
A quail leg splint PTs splinting the chick
Almost on! Physical therapy to straighten toes
Update 4/25 - Our PTs removed the foot splints today. It is absolutely amazing—the toes that were curled under like a ball are perfectly straight. The little quail still walks oddly because the ankle joints are deformed—but he is getting around very well on his own. We will evaluate him later today to decide if it is appropriate to treat for splay leg—his stance is very wide but may hopefully improve without intervention now that the feet are flat. Wish us luck.
Update 5/9 - The baby quail, now officially known as Tim, continues to improve. All the quails are beginning to fly. They have been moved from the incubator into a small aviary. Pictures will be posted shortly.
Update 5/16 - Our quail chicks are rapidly becoming full size birds. Above is a picture of Tim with his feet straightened. Dr. Andrea is continuing to splint to reduce his leg/hip rotation.
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