We hope you were able to see the metamorphosis of our Monarch butterflies as they changed from hungry caterpillars to iridescent chrysalides to beautiful butterflies! The students were very excited to watch the Monarchs and see how they changed from day to day. Many parents, drawn in by their children ("Mom, come see how big the caterpillars have gotten!"), enjoyed following the process as well.

The project began after Paula learned all about Monarchs at a 3-day workshop in August that was run by the Monarch Teacher Network (MTN). The Network is sponsored by the Educational Information and Resource Center (EIRC), a New Jersey public agency. (For more information about the program, visit http://www.eirc.org/content/global_connections/teaching_with_monarchs/teaching_with_monarchs.htm)

For the past few years, the MTN has led trips to the Monarch overwintering colonies in Mexico. Workshop participants were encouraged to apply for one of these trips, so Paula pulled together documentation on NCCL's Monarch project, photos, and copies of students' work, and included it with an application. She soon received the good news that she would receive some fellowship money from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, and would be going to Mexico from February 24 through March 4. (Look for the trip itinerary in an upcoming issue of the newsletter.)

Many people here at NCCL helped make the Monarch project a success. The homeroom teachers' efforts were especially valuable. They volunteered their time, willingly joined in, and even provided additional activities and information to the program. The kids' enthusiasm and active participation made a big difference as well.

There are more Monarch-related activities planned throughout the year, especially after Paula returns from the sanctuaries in Mexico. Stay tuned!