Luke Bennett (centre, baseball hat) offers a look of apprehension as his Kindergarten classmates at All Hallows Elementary in North River release a Painted Lady butterfly during sports day activities at the school on June 19.
The students followed the flying insects development through the egg, caterpillar (larva), chrysalis (pupa) and butterfly stages as part of the science curriculum.
The Painted Lady is perhaps the most widespread butterfly in the world, and has a lifespan of a between two to four weeks.
Shown holding the butterfly is Preston Russell (right). Young people throughout the region will now have plenty of time for butterflies and other creatures as they enjoy summer vacation.
Editor's note: this photo appeared as the main image in the June 26, 2012 print edition of The Compass.
