Rockville High School and the Vernon Public Schools celebrated the opening of a new Natural Resources and Aquaculture Lab for the school’s popular Agricultural Science and Technology Education program.
Student leaders of the program’s FFA chapter cut a green ribbon along with Board of Education Chairman Paul Grabowski as dozens of students, local officials and others looked on.
Rockville ASTE has offered an aquaculture program for several years, but it has been inside the program’s mechanic shop. The new building will enable the aquaculture program to expand and give students new opportunities to learn about an important aspect of agriculture in Connecticut.
“This addition is more than just a new facility,” Avery Johnson, vice president of the FFA chapter, told the crowd assembled for the ribbon cutting. “It’s a powerful investment in the future of our students, our school and our community. With this building, we’re giving students the opportunity to engage in hands-on, real-world learning that goes beyond the classroom – experiences that will shape future careers, inspire innovation and deepen our understanding of sustainable agriculture.”
Thanks to the new facility, Rockville ASTE students will be “ahead of the curve” as aquaculture is a growing part of agriculture, Johnson said. Students will learn about and gain experience in fish farming, water quality management and environmental stewardship.
“This building stands as a symbol of progress, opportunity and the belief that the best way to prepare the next generation is to give them the tools to learn by doing,” she said.
Rockville High School Principal Jason Magao thanked school and town leaders, the people who designed and constructed the building, school staff and others for their work and support.
“This center represents more than just tanks and equipment – it’s a living classroom where students will explore marine biology, environmental stewardship and sustainable food systems,” Magao said. “It’s a place where passion meets purpose.”
ASTE Department Head Erika Bahler said the new building is a step forward for the entire ASTE program.
“It’s a pathway that we would like to continue to grow,” Bahler said. “We do find a number of students are interested in marine biology or aquaculture.” The aquaculture equipment used to be housed in the department’s mechanic shop. The move will allow both programs to expand do more.
The aquaculture program is led by Leah Mocko, who has been hard at work outfitting the various tanks and aquariums in the new building.
So far there are a variety of freshwater fish, two freshwater stingrays named Neville and Luna, frogs, two big tortoises, a variety of plants and saltwater fish including starfish.