There was a lot of activity at the Intermediate School on October 25, 2021 . Students from one of Jacey Hanson’s fifth-grade ELA classes launched a rescue mission for a toad stuck in a grate outside of the school. Students Angel Mota, Xzavier Raycroft and Zach Mullen, who call themselves the “Nature Bros,” wrote a persuasive essay to Acting Principal Julie Smith about why they felt the toad should be rescued. “Herein lies the power of writing,” said Hanson. “These kids noticed a problem, advocated for change and have experienced real, powerful action resulting from their persuasive essay to Ms. Smith.”

In the essay, the boys listed several reasons why they felt the toad, who they named Jimmy, should be free. After receiving the essay, Smith met with the boys to create
a rescue plan to save Jimmy the toad.

The plan included Intermediate School staff and the Hornell Fire Department. Janitors Larry Feenaughty and Barry Boose opened the grate so that Firefighter James Marino could perform the rescue. After Jimmy was safe, he was released in Shawmut Park.

Eileen Marino said, “It’s exciting to see students be passionate about the world around them. The boys saw something that they wanted to change and they put in the effort to make it happen.”

In the days after the rescue, the “Nature Bros” did research on toads to prepare to be interviewed for a special segment on the WRRS, the Intermediate School weekly news broadcast. To watch the interview, visit the Hornell CSD Facebook page and look for the Nov. 12, 2021 edition of the WRRS news.