Ailani Maximo-Beltran – PCHS Bulletin
“Fun, oceanic, and community" are the words Savanna Finley, Marine science advisor and teacher, used to describe the afterschool organization.
Students learn about the local ecosystem of the Sarasota Bay area and will have opportunities to learn about marine careers and how to pursue them. In this club, people will be able to explore this interest and be with others who share this interest.
Finley provides hands-on experiences beyond the classroom by participating in beach cleanups, fishing, and providing community service hours. The advisor takes her club to Emerson Point or Ken Thompson Park. With Finley’s special permit, students will go out with nets and bring the specimens they catch to her classroom aquarium. Students can name the fish caught by them in the aquarium and take care of them.
Students will also collect marine debris and contribute to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. While doing beach cleanups, they count how many pieces of a certain material is debris. Any student who is interested in community service hours is welcome to cleanups.
The afterschool club is not just for those who are taking a marine science class at Parrish Community High School but is welcome to anyone interested. The meetings are held in Finley’s classroom at 5-211. The meetings occur every third Thursday of each month. Finley states “We’d love to have anybody who wants to join whether they have had a marine science class.”
