(Jersey City -  April 18, 2008) County Prep Coastal Biology class raised oysters in their classroom -- the first class ever to do so -- and then planted them into the Shrewsbury River as part of the Baykeeper Volunteer Day activities to help protect, preserve, and restore the ecology of the Hudson-Raritan Estuary. The project is conducted each year under the auspices of the New York/New Jersey Baykeeper, an organization whose purpose is the revitalization of the oyster population in the local estuaries, an effort that will lead to cleaner water and a healthier habitat for marine species.

Typically oysters are raised in special oyster holding nets in a local estuary, but this year, Meredith Comi, Oyster Program Director for the New York/ New Jersey Baykeeper gave the students at County Prep, under the guidance of their instructors Ms. Stephanie Szymanski and Mr. Frank Katusa, the chance to grow them outside of their natural environment. Students "gardened" the oysters, by using aquaculture techniques, water monitoring, proper feeding, and maintaining the proper salinity of the oyster's environment. The oysters thrived - there was very low mortality rate and they were re-planted successfully.

This experience and others like it that were offered throughout the year, have given students a real world understanding of science, and enhanced County Prep students' environmental awareness. They were able to learn first hand about nature's delicate balance, and to experience the time, effort, dedication, and care involved in addressing important environmental concerns. By contributing in this way to their own locale, theses students come to understand that they, too, are an important part of the environment - and its delicate balance - as well.

Ms. Mendolla congratulates the students on their success, and commends them for their commitment to the betterment and preservation of our shared world.