Each Spring, Science lessons are – literally – brought to life in James Kudlack’s Kindergarten classroom as the students watch eggs hatch into baby chicks and then raise the chicks until they find a new home.

Since 1999 Kudlack has set up an incubator in his classroom to give his students a front seat view of the first stages of the lifecycle of a chicken. School board member (and parent) Dennis Zupin assists with the project each year. The class has named Mr. Zupin "The Chief Farmer in Charge of Hatching." To a Kindergartener, there is no higher honor.

This year's eggs were donated by Chester Gauthier, Ronnie Kosiboski, and the Jeff Wisniski family. The Onekama Parent-Teacher Organization purchased starter food for the baby chicks.

All of the eggs are first marked with an ‘X’ on one side and an ‘O’ on the other. “Every day we turned our eggs just like the hens do,” explained student Reece White. “We put them in the incubator to keep them warm just like the hens sit on their eggs to keep them warm.”

It was a particularly busy year for this batch of chicks. On Tuesday, Onekama School was without power after a tree on the edge of the school property fell into a power line. Never fear: Mr. Zupin earned his title as Chief Farmer in Charge of Hatching as he arrived at school to quickly move the chicks to his house to keep them warm for the night.

By Wednesday all 33 eggs had hatched, and the Kindergarten students gathered around to meet their newest classmates.

“The chicks are chirping and they are all sorts of fun colors,” said Kindergarten student Carly Bennett. “Some even have stripes!”

With each Spring’s hatching, Kudlack’s classroom becomes a heavily visited spot. It is not only the Kindergarten students who are excited for the chicks’ arrival, but also all of the older students who were once wide-eyed Kindergarteners watching this miracle take place.