Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Partnerships topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
JPS and Jackson Zoo launch school 'adoption' partnership for hands-on learning
Summary
Jackson Public Schools announced a partnership with the Jackson Zoo where each high school will adopt an animal, enabling students to volunteer, feed and help care for animals as part of experiential learning and potential career exploration.
Jackson Public Schools announced a partnership with the Jackson Zoo that assigns specific animals to participating high schools to support hands-on volunteer opportunities and curriculum-connected experiences.
Danavia Bell, science instructor coach for the high school network, described the kickoff and the assignment of animals: Callaway adopted the American cougar, Forest Hill the chimpanzee, Jim Hill the Sumatran tiger, Lanier the Asiatic black bear, Mara the Grevy—s zebra, Provine the white rhinoceros, and a joint assignment of an ostrich and an American flamingo for J.T. and J.M.Z. students. Students appointed to the program will visit their animals, help with feeding and basic care, assist keepers, and participate in fundraising or maintenance activities to support their adopted animal.
Why it matters: The partnership aims to create experiential learning opportunities, expose students to careers in animal care, and use the city as a classroom. School leaders framed the collaboration as a way to develop long-term interest in zoo and animal-care professions and to support a century-old institution that the district described as needing renewed community care and investment.
Source and attribution: Remarks by Danavia Bell, science instructor coach, and Jackson Zoo keepers during the program kickoff at the board meeting.
