Creature Comforts

PRAIRIE IS HOME TO PLENTY OF FURRY, FISHY FRIENDS

—By Barb Volbrecht, Communication Manager

Throughout the years a lot of dogs have passed through Prairie’s hallways, but none have been as purposeful or impactful as Bell, our comfort dog.

Short for Bellamy, Bell is a white doodle that hangs out in the Middle School office a few days per week, passing her time touching the lives of students, faculty, and staff.

From sitting patiently with kids who might be having a bad day, to visiting classrooms in an effort to ease test anxiety, to helping students conquer a fear of dogs, wherever there’s a need for comfort, Bell is there.

“She has a habit of when she comes into the room, she’ll lean next to you,” says Kathy Boero, Head of Middle School and Bell’s handler. “When it’s somebody who needs that extra support, that physical connection, she keeps that intact with the person. The body language is indescribable, but you feel it when you see that close connection.”

Any pet owner will tell you that their animals are more than just pets, they’re members of the family. The same goes for Bell – students and faculty from all three divisions routinely stop down to see if Bell is home for a quick head scratch or a snuggle.

“What an animal brings out in people can be a bit of an escape from whatever is bothering them,” says Boero. “She meets the needs of a whole variety of ages in a really loving way.”

THE BELL FILE

Years at Prairie: 5½

Past Life: Prior to arriving at Prairie, Bell lived in a home with autistic boys. When the family felt she was growing too large, she was returned to her trainer and ultimately made her way to Wind Point.

You’ve Got Mail: Bell has her own mailbox in the Primary School that Prairie’s youngest students can use to send her a note or letter.

Team Player: Bell is a member of Prairie’s COMPASS team, the interdisciplinary support group that assists with numerous academic, social, and emotional needs.

Dedicated in memory of student Andrei Rutkowski, the Prairie fish tank is not technically a fish tank. It’s a grow-out tank for live coral and invertebrates.

In recent years, the watery home was converted into a sustainable, living reef aquarium in an effort to practice true reef conservation. The lighting was upgraded to full spectrum marine lighting to support the growth of live coral colonies; as the coral grows, it will be cultivated and relocated to other aquariums, preventing the disruption of our actual planet’s oceans.

Corals coming out of Prairie’s tank will be recognized as aqua cultured animals and will receive appreciation for being responsibly raised in captivity. The tank has anemones as well – invertebrates that reproduce on their own in these optimal water conditions.

The fish are healthy and happy to put on a show whenever students and faculty stop to study the clear waters and variety of species.

BOY, THESE STUDENTS AXOLOTL QUESTIONS

—By Sarah Turek, Upper School Science Teacher

I previously had (and still have) a hissing cockroach in my classroom, and the response to anything living that the students can watch or handle is always positive. It gave me the idea to add a new animal each year.

I chose the axolotl this fall because it is such an interesting animal - a salamander that spends all of its life in the water, arrested in an adolescent state. That is, the axolotl is neotenous, maintaining its larval form throughout its life and never losing its gills.

I brought the axolotl to the classroom as a six-week-old tiny little guy and it has thrived in its new home, thanks to the help of Nolan Gasser ’25.

Nolan is an aquatic animal enthusiast and has given generously both of his time and resources. He created the current aquascape, tests the water, does the water changes, and helps me troubleshoot other challenges as they arise.

Along with the axolotl, the tank started with four adult snails that continually reproduce. It’s neat to see the snail eggs along the corner walls of the tank and the tiniest of snails that occupy the driftwood, rocks and other surfaces. Additionally, we have some aquatic plants beautifying the space, including a healthy blanket of duckweed and some waterweed used in AP Biology labs.

I love catching students staring into the tank watching the axolotl…even if it means they’re not fully engaged in my lesson. Observing plant and animal life in the classroom leads to observation in our daily lives. The questions students wonder, the things they Google and excitedly share – I get to witness so many curiosities that come with introducing classroom pets to our space.

For years now, ducks have been laying eggs and hatching ducklings in the Giving Garden. However, since you can enter the garden only from inside the building, on more than one occasion the ducklings – unable to fly and under the scrutiny of nearby hawks – have been carefully coaxed out Door #4 by faculty members.