Kenwood Elementary Principal Lisa Geren called me today, sounding thrilled. A brood of ducklings recently hatched in her school's enclosed courtyard.

They hatched sometime Monday morning, she said, and she expects them to live there for five to eight weeks until they can fly away on their own.

"Students throughout the building are fascinated with the first-hand view of nature from the main hallway windows which surround two sides of the courtyard," Geren said. "The mother and ducklings grouped together in front of the glass doors of the kindergarten room and peered in as Mrs. Tee taught her students. They were drawn to their reflection in the glass."

She said the enrichment class is hoping to add some sort of water feature for the ducks that they'll maintain carefully so it doesn't add more mosquitoes to the area.

This isn't Kenwood's first tie with animals - Geren has a literacy dog program, which allows students the option to read to her rescued Bichon Frise, Sally Sue.

Geren sent me some photos, taken by Heather Miller.