-
A kindergarten student from St. Dunstan School holding stuffed animal version of a giant panda, one of the wildlife the class has sponsored through the “World Wildlife Fund.” Other wildlife sponsored are the Vaquita porpoise; Przewalski horse; African elephant calf.
(Photo by James Spray)
Catholic San Francisco
Jan. 5, 2021
Kindergarten students at St. Dunstan School virtually added a few new animals to the Nativity stable for Advent 2020.
“This year, kindergarten wanted to focus on global issues and world animals, animal conservation, and helping to end harm to animals across the board,” Annamarie Pacheco, kindergarten teacher, told Catholic San Francisco.
Following the students’ new interest and her own love of animals, Pacheco did research on the “World Wildlife Fund.” Before the pandemic kindergartners nurtured “live class pets,” Pacheco said. “This year, it’s a bit different so we sought out wildlife animals we could help.”
The kindergarten class raised $400 to sponsor four endangered animals. The children will get updates on each animal type and how the animals are doing throughout the school year, Pacheco said.
The wildlife sponsored are the Przewalski wild horse faced with habitat loss in Mongolia; the giant panda facing habitat loss in the forests of China; African elephant calf facing poaching threats in sub-Saharan Africa, and the vaquita porpoise facing illegal fishing practices in Mexico’s Gulf of California.
The school has adapted to the rigors of the pandemic, Pacheco said. Kindergartners number 27 this year.
“We have nine students online and 18 students in person on location at St Dunstan,” Pacheco said. “We are in the gym because we are the biggest in person class. Some other grades are here with smaller ratios but all teachers are teaching some type of hybrid online and in person.”
Pacheco said she is proud of the archdiocese and St. Dunstan for meeting the pandemic challenges head-on. Pacheco has been a Catholic school teacher for 14 years the last four at St. Dunstan.
Pacheco said school families and parents are supportive and generous helping to ease the crunch of the coronavirus. Pacheco called St. Dunstan’s James Spray “an awesome principal” who is “great to us and our families.”
“This is definitely a different year in teaching,” she said, “but our Catholic values in helping and supporting global issues are still alive and present daily. I am so happy to be back with all kids both in person and online!”