GRPS fifth graders push for official state insect

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Michigan could get an official state insect thanks to a dedicated class of fifth graders at Grand Rapids Public Schools.

The buzz in Emma Witkovsky’s fifth grade classroom at Aberdeen Academy is all about the stonefly.

“It’s just perfect really,” fifth grader Ramir Franklin said about the stonefly.

Iowa and Michigan are the only two states without designated state insects. Earlier this year, Witkovsky put together this book to teach her class about all the states. Each page had each of the state’s symbols. When she got to Michigan, she realized the state was missing an official insect.

So her class decided to change that. They settled on the stonefly as the new state insect, partially because it plays a key role in the food chain.

“The stonefly is the main food source for the brook trout,” Witkovsky said. “Brook trout is our state fish.”

It also indicates whether our waters are clean because the insect naturally stays away from polluted water.

“They are part of high water quality streams, rivers, creeks,” Witkovsky said.

The students became young scientists. They took a field trip to Honey Creek at Seidman Park in Ada to study stoneflies and take water samples to determine its quality.

“It was really fun,” said fifth-grader Amanda Weber. “We caught a lot of crayfish and stoneflies and mayflies.”

All 18 fifth graders wrote five-paragraph essays stating their case and sent them to State Rep. Rachel Hood, D-Grand Rapids. The essays had diagrams showing the life cycle of a stonefly.

“I was blown away,” Witkovsky said. “I was so proud of them. I couldn’t stop grinning from ear to ear, just because they put so much time and effort into it. There wasn’t a lot of complaining either, usually having them write essays is like pulling teeth. But this was not.”

Not long after, Hood was in the classroom teaching the class about lawmaking.

“She put on a presentation and was showing us different types of bills and what the process to go through and what we’ll have to go through too,” fifth-grader Alana Kimbrough said.

Hood was so impressed that she introduced a bill in the House, HB 5563, to officially make the stonefly the state insect.

The fifth graders later showed off their project during a school board meeting and got a standing ovation from the crowd.

“It was glorious,” Witkovsky said. “They really got the recognition they deserved. They put in so much hard work and so many hours.”

On the wall outside the classroom, the teacher has posted other bills that became law, designating a state bird, butterfly and more. She has placed HB 5563 at the top of the board, hoping it joins the rest.

It’s an adventure that her class will never forget.

“It would mean very much to me,” Mitz said. “We worked super hard on it. Random people are proud of us.”

It’s also something that the teacher has learned from.

“I’ve learned not to doubt students ever,” Witkovsky said. “Because they will far surpass any expectation when you let them.”

The bill is awaiting a hearing by the Natural Resources, Enviornment, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Commitee. Hood told News 8 Monday that she hopes it will pass the committee and the House by the end of the school year.

The students can’t wait to celebrate their achievement.

“I would feel really proud of myself and maybe we’ll throw a party, just maybe,” Franklin said.

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