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Smyrna Elementary School is located along the
eastern edge of Carteret County in an area known as Down
East. It is a land that is intimately connected to the
water. Native Down Easters are a tough, independent people
who have historically earned their living from the creeks,
sounds, and marshes that wind their way along the coast.
Because of this connection, Smyrna’s eighth
graders began the year studying issues in water quality.
With encroaching development, now, more than ever, the
health of the coastal ecosystem is at risk. Commercial
fishing is on the decline as traditional fishing communities
feel the pressures of low seafood prices and high real
estate values.
Throughout the school year, Smyrna students
ventured beyond the walls of the classroom to investigate
changes in their communities and the environment. They
collected data in two local creeks and sounds to determine
how trawling may impact coastal habitats. They kayaked
through local marshes, and sampled along the way to gain an
understanding of the value of wetlands. As an extension of
this understanding they raised and then planted Spartina
alterniflora, a native marsh grass, as part of a marsh
restoration project. Finally, they interviewed a cross
section of people in the community on issues pertaining to
water quality, commercial fishing, and development to gain
insight into changes that are currently taking place in the
county.
The class of 2006 leaves Smyrna School with an
increased knowledge of the natural environment. They know
that clean water is not to be taken for granted, and that
preserving it does not come easy. My hope, as their
teacher, is that they will continue to be proactive citizens
who, in the future, will find ways to make the world a
better place. I know they will!
Margery Misenheimer
6-8 Science Teacher
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