Edited by Ada Perlman

It’s no secret that furry friends make people happy. Can fish do the same?

Stitch can try. According to the East Rock Record Fall/Winter 2025 survey, 82 percent of students would like to have a class pet.

In the past, East Rock Community & Cultural Studies Magnet School has had butterflies, a lizard, a snake, and a guinea pig. Yet at the beginning of this school year, none remained.

That recently changed. Kristen Hebert, a kindergarten teacher at East Rock School, welcomed a blue fancy tailed Betta fish into her classroom. She sees many benefits to having a class pet, especially a fish, which research shows can lower blood pressure and help people feel more relaxed.

“There’s a health benefit. That’s why this year I’m going to get fish,” Ms. Hebert said ahead of the pet’s arrival. She said the school is not allowed to have poisonous pets or pets that kids are allergic to which is why a fish seemed like the right choice.

In the weeks leading up to the fish’s arrival, Ms. Hebert said the class voted on the name which was based on the Disney movie Lilo & Stitch. Students also voted on a Betta fish or a Black Moor goldfish. Ms. Hebert will take the fish home over vacations, but whomever is the line leader will be responsible for feeding the fish.

Ms. Hebert emphasized the value of the fish as a way of teaching students about responsibility. “They have to remember to feed it. I’m not going to remind them,” she said.

In addition, Ms. Hebert hopes the fish can help soothe some students.  The fish tank area, she said, “will be a place for kids who are a little hyper to go sit and watch the fish and calm down.”

Kim DiGiovanni, a 3rd grade teacher, said class pets could help in science classes. “It would help students learn how to take care of a pet,” she said. She noted that students could learn more about where the pets live, what they eat, and when they sleep.

“You could observe them,” said Ms. DiGiovanni.

Sabrina Breland, principal of East Rock School, recalled being about nine years old and having a guinea pig as a class pet when she was a student at East Rock School. She explained that East Rock has not had pets recently because a student was allergic to dogs. As a student herself, Ms. Breland said that she “loved the class pet because it taught me how to take care of something else other than myself.”

Like Ms. Hebert, Ms. Breland said fish are the easiest pets to take care of in a school. She said teachers must keep in mind students with allergies when deciding about class pets.

For many students, class pets are fun to be around. Depending on the pet, their faces can express emotion and they can interact with students in unique ways. Pets can have patterns that are interesting to look at and provide something different to a classroom.

According to the East Rock Record survey, 80 percent of students believe that having a class pate makes the school day go better.

Jason Lin, a 4th grader at East Rock, said he would be excited to have a class pet if it helped students in educational ways.

“If they’re beneficial and if the teachers allowed us to use the pet for beneficial purposes,” said Lin. He noted that he is not allergic to anything.

One fifth grader did not like the idea of pets in school. “I feel like I would just be distracted if I had a class pet,” he said. Sam Barsalou, a 2nd grader, agreed. Although he would love to have a parakeet as a class pet, he also saw drawbacks.

“I can get distracted by parakeets because they make loud noises,” he said.

Christalee Rodriguez, a 3rd grader also wanted a class pet. She said she has a lot of pets at home; at school she would want a kitten.

In Ms. Hebert’s classroom Stitch has quickly become a focus of student attention. “The kids are so excited!” she said beta fish can live up to 5 years and are native to Asia.