Spreading Chick Joy

This May, Ground Ed took a few special road trips—this time with a precious cargo of newly hatched chicks! Our team of educators traveled to Pasadena to visit St. Rita School and Frostig School, their communities deeply impacted by the recent fires. With a mission to bring a little comfort and a lot of smiles, we delivered some much-needed fuzzy joy into the hearts of these schoolyards.

Our educators guided students through gentle interactions with the chicks, while teaching about the chicken life cycle and the broader wonders of nature. “One of the best parts of our job is helping share the magic of the natural world with students,” said Ground Ed educator Amy Rosenberg. “Watching their faces light up as they hold a baby chick—it’s just priceless.”

Students from transitional kindergarten through 12th grade, as well as teachers and staff, all had the chance to experience the calming presence of the chicks. There’s something uniquely special about holding a baby animal, something that inspires awe, tenderness, and connection in people of all ages.

Kai C., a student at Frostig School, shared: “You made my day amazing when you brought the chicks.”

Frostig School is located at the edge of Altadena and enrolls students with learning differences, providing a wide range of specialized academic, elective, and support services to help students thrive. St. Rita is a K–8 Catholic school with a strong focus on STEM and academic excellence. Although both campuses were physically unharmed by the fires, many of their students and families experienced serious personal loss and displacement during the crisis earlier this school year.

In the face of these challenges, our chick visits were a small but meaningful way to bring calm, happiness, and connection to the school communities. We were honored to share this moment and extend our chick lesson beyond our district—one tiny peep at a time.