Fish are friends,, not food

Sharkbait, ooh ha ha

Written by: Mariam Neeb

Starting next school year, a new marine biology class will come to Ritenour with the addition of a giant aquatic tank in the cafeteria.

A new teacher is also joining the staff population. Brian Aguado is a shark researcher from Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in Washington. He has spent five years living on the southeastern coast of America studying various sharks in the area. He has particularly been tracking one female great white shark, named Maybelle, as she swims in the Atlantic ocean throughout the year.

When he learned of the new job, with continued access to sharks, Aguado decided to take a break and continue his career through education.

“I want to help others experience the same knowledge that I have been taught.”

To coordinate with the new class, a giant aquarium will be installed in the center of the cafeteria. With the canopy, or top of the aquarium, reaching to the ceiling and a new class room situated on the roof, the giant tank will be a new home for many marine animals, including an advanced learning space for marine-biology students. The aquarium will be 32 feet tall and 12 foot circumference, giving the fish and other creatures plenty of space to live freely while also giving students enough room to eat and mingle comfortably.

The school will provide all of the safe necessities needed for marine education. Students will have roof access to the aquarium canopy as part of the class to feed, clean and take care of the mini marine ecosystem. Many different types of creatures will call the Ritenour cafeteria their home, including various types of reef fish, crabs, eels, an octopus and even a reef shark. It will be an interesting experience to watch the animals swim around while students eat their food.

There will be temperature regulators inside the tank to ensure the animals won’t get too hot or too cold. And Mr. Aguado will check in on the tank regularly to make sure the habitat is thriving smoothly.

Admin have been discussing having something put into the middle of the cafeteria with it feeling open and empty. They sent the idea of the new learning space to the school board and ultimately got permission to start the installation. The construction of the aquarium will begin as soon as the school year is over in May 2023 and will most likely continue into the next school year. If so, students will eat breakfast and lunch in the upper and lower lobby and possibly in classrooms if needed.

Many students are delighted with the idea of new learning opportunities.

“I think its so cool and I can’t wait to dive into the new year with the new tank,” junior Elizabeth Weissler said.

Not many high schools offer a class for such a specific field of study, so the addition of this class will give students a jump-start into their marine-biology career without having to pay any extra money for college classes.

“I think I’d take the class. It seems like fun,” says Senior Roi Mundin. “I would love to take care of the aquarium.”

Mundin also shared his thoughts about the new teacher.

“The new teacher is scary and intimidating, but he’s cool and nice. But he does have a fishy smell,” Mundin said.