In March of this year, the students of the two Mount Saint Agnes’ grade 3 classes held their “Toad-ally Terrific tag sale”, which was a fundraising event to support the Amphibian Project that is supported by the Bermuda Zoological Society [BZS].

After the two-day event, the students were able to raise over $1,300 for the Amphibian Project.

The students conceived the idea to have this tag sale after their visit to the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo with BZS educator, Dr. Jamie Bacon.

The class Dr. Bacon taught focused on the current conditions of the ponds in Bermuda; they learned that due to the pollution in the ponds, Bermuda’s toad are becoming deformed. The students left the class in dismay, as they considered that if it could happen to the toads, that it might happen to them as well.

The students were very interested in what they could do to help the situation. Dr. Bacon had explained that if machines, that created bubbles, were placed in the ponds, within a few months to a year the effects of the pollution and deformities of the toads could be reversed.

The students decided that they wanted to raise money to contribute towards the purchase of the bubble machines, so with the encouragement and support of their teachers, Ms. Jennifer Chisnall and Ms. Mary Moulder, the students created the “Toad-ally Terrific tag sale”.

The day included a bake sale, photo booth, raffle, games and a sale of the students’ own donated toys, games and books. These donated items were also used as prizes for the games the children designed.

Each student spent time developing a toad inspired game for other visiting classes to play, and some of the games were even created using recycled materials. There was toad bean bag throw, toad bingo, toad ball, toad pull, and even a game called toad pond, where you rescued a magnetized toad from the messy swamp.

For the students, one of the highlights of the event was when Dr. Jamie Bacon came to visit the tag day.

“I was amazed to see how inventive the children were in creating games to raise money for the Amphibian Project,” said Dr. Bacon. “I sure enjoyed playing their games and very much appreciate their fundraising efforts.

“We will use their donation to determine if hydrocarbon-eating bacteria live in the polluted pond that our protected diamondback terrapins feed in and to help us clean up that pond.”