On Thursday, Oct. 8, at 2 p.m. the third graders at Neeta Elementary School in Medford Lakes held their annual monarch butterfly release.
This project is funded by the Medford Lakes Education Foundation and has become a local tradition in the community over the years. The Third Grade students have enjoyed watching the different stages of the monarch life cycle as part of the science curriculum.
They witnessed the Monarchs grow from eggs, to larvae, and finally butterflies over the last month while recording it in daily observation logs.
In preparation of the festivities, parents helped the children make butterfly t-shirts and antennae. Mansion Monarchs supplied the butterflies for this project.
The children chanted, cheered, sang songs, and finally, set their Monarch Butterflies free to migrate to warm weather for the winter. Participants and attendees were also able to enjoy butterfly enclosures for an even more hands-on experience.
“It was a memorable experience for everyone involved in this local historic tradition,” third grade teacher at Neeta Elementary School Jennifer York said.
