When rising fourth grader Molly Jethwa picked up the Newbery Medal-winning book “The One and Only Ivan” last year to do her summer reading, she didn’t know what to expect, other than a story about a gorilla. But, Jethwa soon found out, this was more than just a made-up story. “It was a really good book,” she says. “It told the story of what’s happening to some gorillas, and it’s [based on] a true story.”

The book follows the life of Ivan, a lowland gorilla who lived in an enclosure at the B&I shopping mall in Tacoma, Washington, after being captured from the wild as a baby. Ivan spent 27 years of his life in the mall before local animal welfare organizations successfully campaigned for his release to a facility better equipped to care for him. Ivan eventually moved to Zoo Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia, where he lived until his death in 2012 at the age of 50. One of the most notable things about him was his artistic skill; he liked to create colorful finger paintings that he often “signed” with a thumbprint.

The story had an immediate impact on the girls, says fourth grade teacher Jeannie Emala. “As kids, they respond so much to animals – they love animals and can relate to them.”

The theme of the fourth grade year is global awareness. So, inspired by the story, Emala and fellow fourth grade teacher Renuka Gandhi came up with a unique challenge for the girls: to research gorillas, learn about the problems they face and then come up with a way to help. Over the course of several weeks the girls worked in groups to read books about gorillas and take notes on four different topics pertaining to the animals’ lives. The classes also discussed endangered animals and the pros and cons of captivity and wildlife sanctuaries. Then, the girls made posters and gave oral reports about what they had learned. As the culminating project, students wrote letters to Lower School Director Pat Nothstein about why Bryn Mawr should fund the symbolic adoption of a gorilla through the World Wildlife Fund, which uses the donations to fund conservation efforts. “They had to be very persuasive – they had to show three facts they knew, three things they learned and three reasons to do it,” explains Emala.

Fourth grader Aara Sampath was surprised and a bit saddened by much of what she learned about the majestic animals. But, her research also showed her just how important it was for her to use her voice to advocate for the gorillas. “They need help because people are hunting them for their body parts and to make medicines,” Sampath explains. “It’s very sad.”

Collectively, the letters made quite an impact, both on emotional and practical levels. “They included a lot of interesting facts like what gorillas eat and how they sleep, gorilla troops and the family dynamic,” says Gandhi.

And, adds Emala, “They were so from the heart.”

Moved by what they read, Nothstein and Lower School Assistant Director Anne Eggleston Broadus ’88 decided that not only would Bryn Mawr fund that the adoption of one gorilla, but that they would personally match the donation and adopt a second gorilla. In December, the girls were thrilled to receive their newest class pets, Buddy and Tag: two gorilla stuffed animals symbolizing their "adopted" wild counterparts. Now, these furry friends serve as a daily reminder of the importance of caring for our world and the animals in it. After all, as Jethwa notes, “Humans came from gorillas, so we should definitely help them!”
Located in Baltimore, Maryland, The Bryn Mawr School is a private all-girls pre-kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school with a coed preschool for ages 2 months through 5 years. Bryn Mawr provides students with exceptional educational opportunities on a beautiful 26-acre campus within the city limits. Inquisitive girls, excellent teaching, strong student-teacher relationships and a clear mission sustain our vibrant school community where girls always come first.