Sultan High School, Sky Valley Preschool team up to bring lesson full circle

With a new garden project and the on-site salmon hatchery, there is always something interesting going on with the Sultan High School (SHS) biology department.

And last week, SHS decided to share an important experience with a local preschool group. -á

Coordinated by SHS biology teacher Ryan Monger, approximately 50 baby Coho salmon were released into the Sultan River by high school students, as kids from the Sky Valley Preschool looked on. The salmon release, which took place in Osprey Park on Thursday, March 19, allowed the high school students to interact with the preschoolers and demonstrate their knowledge about Sultan's local salmon population.-á -á

"It was amazing to watch my high school students out there showing the younger kids what they had learned,GÇ¥ Monger said. "It really felt like a passing of the torch. I stood on the bridge watching with tears in my eyes.GÇ¥

Hands-on experience

SHS's "Fish LabGÇ¥ is stocked each year with fish from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife hatchery in Gold Bar. The fish, which arrive as eggs, are cared for by students as they begin to hatch and grow. Students learn to feed and care for the fish, which start out occupying one of the hatchery "runways.GÇ¥ As they grow in size, they are transferred into deeper tanks. Once they become large enough, they're released into local creeks and rivers.-á

The hatchery allows students to acquire hands-on scientific experience with the fish, which are an important part of Sultan's heritage.-á

When it comes to the salmon, this year is particularly special due to the fact that it's a "Year of the Pinks.GÇ¥ This fall, the Sultan River will be packed with pink salmon that return there every odd-numbered year to spawn.-á

Thursday's salmon release was not the first time the high school students provided the preschoolers with an interactive learning experience. Earlier in the school year, the young students took a tour of the hatchery, where they were allowed to feed the young fish. The release completed the experience for them in a way that was both memorable and interesting.

"We're so thankful the high school includes us in their science projects,GÇ¥ said Sky Valley Preschool teacher Cindy Goodwin. "They were great with the kids.GÇ¥-á

The young students enjoyed the fish release.

"My favorite thing was letting the fishes go and naming them,GÇ¥ said 4-year-old Addison.

And 4-year-old Joshua said, "I like being with the big kids, especially the boy with the gorilla shirt.GÇ¥

Interactive curriculum

Held at Sultan Elementary School, the Sky Valley Preschool is a co-op school, that is managed by parents who help in the classroom once a week. The co-op environment gives parents the opportunity to be directly involved with their child's early learning. The preschool provides two separate programs: one for children age 3 to 5 years old, and another toddler class for kids from 18 months to 3 years of age.-á

The curriculum aims to engage the students with fun and interactive activities. Allowing the preschoolers to watch baby salmon being released into the river and actually participate in the process was in line with the school's goal of providing a broadly comprehensive set of early learning experiences.-á

Parent Joanna Monger explained that the students are encouraged to learn through play and exploration and by engaging with different learning experiences set up in the classroom.

For more information on the preschool, visit skyvalleypreschool.com.