by Kelsey Mevs – Features Editor
They eat negative emotions, travel back in time, and respond to different voices.
Meet Martello and Bartello, Ms. Cohen’s former class rocks, as well as Little Red Robin Fish and Bob, the counseling office’s former pet fishes. The wacky pets serve to teach students responsibility, bring some fun to classes, and help classmates bond.
“Our class was ridiculous and we knew we could never care for a turtle or a goldfish. So we came up with Martello,” said Janae Hershenson, a former World Studies sophomore.
The rock was found outside Ms. Cohen’s home with the help of Ms. Moore and adorned with googly eyes and paint. It was named Martello through a class vote, with the name just beating out “Dwayne.” The rock uses they/them pronouns.
Each week, a student brought the rock home and made a Google slideshow recounting Martello’s adventures with them. Martello’s rules and behaviors were outlined in a class brainstorm at the beginning of the year: along with negative emotions and homework, they eat ice cream and chicken nuggets. Martello also enjoys being held and learning about new people, which is the reason for their being brought from home to home.
“It is really silly, but if no one calls it embarrassing it’s a fun time,” said Cohen.
Even when problems arose, the class bonded together to make sure their pet lived on. The paint from Martello’s googly eyes and hair was sensitive to liquids, so ground rules dictated that they couldn’t swim and needed to be kept away from water.
In the middle of the year, Janae Hershenson misplaced Martello during her time taking them home. Thus, a new pet was born: Martello’s twin brother/cousin Bartello.
The new “rock” was made out of clay by Peri Rodman, one of Cohen’s former students, during her Ceramics elective. The class wove the unfortunate loss into a part of Martello’s story, explaining his absence as a need for him to break away and do some solo traveling.
For the class, Martello and Bartello were more than rocks—they were a bonding experience. Their shared photo album and memories live on as reminders of how Ms. Cohen’s students came together as a classroom to add some fun to their school days.
“[Having a pet] was fun,” said Hershenson. “Even if you don’t talk to someone a lot, you remember the rock together.”
However, Martello and Bartello aren’t Sharon High’s first class pets. In the past, the school counselors took care of a variety of betta fish. According to guidance counselor Ms. Kaye, the department bought their first fish, Bob, to “brighten up” the office and spread cheer to students who were seeking help.
Students loved coming into the office to see the small fish bubbling around his bowl. The tank was also decorated with intention, featuring a seashell that honored a retired counselor.
When Bob passed away, the counselors continued the tradition with a fish dubbed “Little Red Robin” for his bright neon pigment. The fish responded especially well to Ms. Kaye’s voice, swimming excitedly to the top of his tank when she called.
Unfortunately, Little Red Robin passed away during a heat wave in which temperatures rose to record highs.
The counseling department bought another fish in 2022 as the school transitioned to the new building, but it had to be donated to a special education classroom due to the temperature of the counseling office.
Having a class pet benefits both students and teachers. It’s meaningful to have a bonding experience between peers and to have a small friend on bad days.
“It’s nice to have a little fun sometimes,” said Kaye.
