First-Grade Students Team Up to Help Local Animals

On Tuesday morning, ’s media center was filled with students in homemade puppy ears with names like “Chocolate Chip” and” “Spot” written across the front. 

The school’s four first-grade classes were celebrating their 101st day of school with a 101 Dalmatians twist. But it wasn’t just about fun. The students also have a serious goal in mind: bringing in donations to care for the dogs and other potential pets at local animal shelters. 

Roberta Petznick, one of the first-grade teachers, said they want to teach children how to be humanitarians and give back. Children have a natural compassion for animals, she said, and they connected with this mission.

Shortly before the 101st day on Feb. 15, the school heard about the more than 100 dogs rescued from a home in Medina County and taken to the Medina County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. 

The students were “mesmerized” by the story, Petznick said, and confused about why people would be cruel to animals.  

Barb Cuy, another one of the teachers, said kindergarten classes typically celebrate their 100th day of school, so celebrating the 101st seemed like a natural step for first graders. Students do academic activities related to the number throughout the day. For example, the four classes were gathered in the media center to see what it looks like when 101 people are in one place. 

And the donations drive was a project the students could relate to, Cuy added. It was planned before the Medina event occurred. 

“And then the shelter needed us,” she said. 

The teachers had sent a letter home asking for donations for the drive earlier in the month, but sent a new one home on Monday with some of the Medina shelter’s specific needs. By Tuesday morning, the end of the hall was already overflowing with bags of dog food and pet beds.

The classes will be collecting donations through the end of the month.