Publications & Sites 
Turtle Tea once again a hit at Clarendon Hills school
Griffin Purcell (left) and Rachel Patel give a presentation about the Diamondback Turtle during the annual Turtle Tea at Walker School in Clarendon Hills. | Buzz Orr~Sun-Times Media
Article Extras
Updated: March 11, 2013 4:53PM
CLARENDON HILLS — A long-standing Walker School tradition once again resulted in plenty of smiles.
The annual Turtle Tea started 22 years ago by first-grade teacher Kristin Jung and a former colleague brought smiles to the faces of the participating first-graders and to the parents and grandparents who attended the event.
“This is one of the things the kids really look forward to,” Jung said. “They get to do some public speaking and research, and they really do have a lot of fun with it.”
The Walker first-graders were given a specific type of turtle on which to do research and work with a student partner to prepare a report. The reports were read to visiting parents and grandparents during the Turtle Tea. Students also sang songs about turtles, and turtle-themed refreshments were served.
“It was very good, awesome, and it was my birthday, too,” said first-grader Chloe Vande Lune, who turned 7 Feb. 20. “I got to tell a lot about my turtle, which was a red-eared slider. It’s kind of funny because turtles don’t really even have ears.”
Fellow first-grader Vivian Sweeney said she enjoyed the research aspect of her project, which was about the alligator snapping turtle.
“It’s really interesting because you have to learn facts that were really, really cool,” she said.
“I went to celebrate with my mom and dad,” Vivian said. “We went to Dunkin’ Donuts, and I had a bagel and hot chocolate. My parents were very proud of me; they were almost embarrassed because of how good I was.”
