The O’Neal School 4th Grade Falcons are Animal Advocates!
The O’Neal School Falcons’ 4th Grade students recently completed five weekly lessons about pet responsibility presented by volunteer teachers from the Moore County Citizens’ Pet Responsibility Committee (PRC). At a recent Assembly, both classes gathered in the library ‘nest’ to celebrate everything they had learned about pet responsibility.
Several special guests attended the Assembly; Ms. Wiley, Primary Division Head, Tony Ioppolo, DVM and Laura Rogers (Veterinary Surgical Assistant) from Pinehurst Animal Hospital & Dental Clinic and Beanie Wall (adorable therapy dog) & Suzie Wall.
At the beginning of the Assembly, students were challenged with questions about pet responsibility. The Falcons ‘flew’ through the questions with excellent answers!
The students learned about being advocates for animals. They completed their first act of Advocacy by designing Clinic Bags to be used by the Sandhills Spay Neuter Veterinary Clinic to distribute post- procedure medications and instructions for pet owners.
Several students were recognized for their outstanding Clinic Bag art work and messages: Taylor, Mac, Abby, Bric, Leah, Caroline
Wes k., Wes P, Jack, Addie, Mae & Josephine. They all received a Star Artist Certificate and a ‘no-paint’ watercolor art book.
Students were asked to write “Speuter Stories” about why it is important to spay/neuter their pets. Taylor, Abby, Leah, Harper and Jack wrote excellent stories and received “Creative Writing” Certificates and writing journals with pens.
Two students’ Speuter stories were selected for special recognition and free spay/neuters for pets. Mac will use a free spay for her dog. Addie will be an advocate and donate her free spay/neuter to help a family who needs to spay/neuter their pet. Mac and Addie received framed Speuter Award certificates, paw print medallions and writing journals with pens.
Special guest, Dr. Ioppolo, talked about becoming a veterinarian, his day to day activities at the clinic and the interesting challenges of being a veterinarian. Ms. Rogers talked about being a veterinary surgical assistant. Dr. Ioppolo and Ms. Rogers brought their three-legged dog, Gumbo. They talked about how it is sometimes necessary to amputate limbs and how dogs can easily adjust to changes. Dr. Ioppolo and Ms. Rogers also demonstrated an examination with Beanie, the therapy dog, as their ‘patient’. The students also learned about other careers working with animals. The time with Dr. Ioppolo and Ms. Rogers flew by!
As they left the Assembly, all the students received a goodie bag with a Pet Responsibility bookmark, pencil, eraser, pencil sharpener and pet ‘stamp’. Special candy was in the bag to help them remember: Life Saver (they are Advocates), Hershey’s Kiss (be kind to pets) and Kit Kat (to remember cats)!
After the Assembly, Ms. Wiley and students signed a “Promise Poster”. The poster reminds students to be kind, responsible advocates for animals.
Th O’Neal 4th grade Falcons are now prepared to take flight into Advocacy for pets!
