PRC Closing Session at Carthage Elementary School
The closing session of the Pet Responsibility Program at Carthage Elementary School was held Thursday, October 26, in the school auditorium. For five weeks the fourth graders, totaling about 60 students, had learned about being more responsible pet owners. From the initial session of defining the problem of having too many unwanted dogs and cats in Moore County, to the end of the sessions of being advocates for our pets, the children did an outstanding job!! Attending the closing session was the school principal, Deborah Warren, numerous parents, PRC teachers Tammy Foster, Doris and Bill Russell, and classroom teachers, Kayla Carter and Brooke Sturgis. The PRC Mascot, Speuter (Mary Smith), was there and Bill Russell emceed the assembly.
Doris led the kids in a brief discussion of the five previous lessons and the students did a fantastic job of providing answers to her questions.
The students were asked to decorate white sandwich bags during the course of the program. Tammy and Bill awarded the “Star Artist Awards” to the top four artists of these bags. The winners were Gia, Lily F., Jah’Niah, and Lily D. These bags are given to the Spay/Neuter Clinic to dispense medications to the owners of pets after receiving their procedures.
Speuter not only helped the kids understand how she got her name, but gave a heartwarming description of her life with a poem about how she was rescued and how her life changed. Speuter was actually the author of the poem.
Bill and Speuter awarded the spay/neuter prizes to Coy, Isabella, Caiden, and Kassandra. These students were selected by writing a story about why their pet deserves to have this procedure and help with eliminating the overpopulation of dogs and cats in Moore County. This is a free prize for the winners and paid by the Moore County Kennel Club.
Retired veterinarian, Dr. Tim Boyte, was the assembly speaker. He addressed the students of not only being a veterinarian and his career, but also being a previous Carthage Bulldog. He graduated from Carthage Elementary before attending Union Pines High School and NC State Veterinary School.
The culmination of the program was asking the kids to respond to the “Promise Poster” reading and then signing it with colorful markers. This poster is on display at the school to indicate that a new group of animal advocates are at Carthage Elementary School.
