Lincoln Elementary School kindergarten teacher Melissa Forster and a few of her students check in on incubating eggs that are being streamed live to the school community at jpsny.org/chicken.

When Lincoln Elementary School students surpassed their $10,000 goal in this year’s Kids Heart Challenge, Principal Katie Russo wanted to celebrate their achievement with something memorable — and one idea really took flight.

Kindergarten teacher Melissa Forster suggested something unique: bringing the experience of hatching chicks into the school. With the help of a Lincoln parent, Forster secured fertilized eggs, an incubator, and even a future home for the chicks once they hatch.

“I just wanted to make it accessible for all students,” Forster said. “The live stream helps everyone take part, even if they can’t stop by the art room in person.”

Enter the Lincoln Chicken Channel, a live video feed — at jpsny.org/chicken — broadcasting the incubation process to classrooms throughout the building. The setup gives students the chance to observe chick development in real time — from monitoring temperature and humidity to candling the eggs to check for signs of life.

The idea was pitched during a faculty meeting, where Russo encouraged teachers to come up with fun, creative ways to celebrate the school’s success. With support from physical education teacher and Kids Heart Challenge organizer Chris Hammond, the plan quickly hatched.

The eggs are expected to begin hatching in early April, and excitement is building as students check in daily via the live stream.

“The Chicken Channel is such a fun example of the creativity our Lincoln staff brings to school every day,” added Russo. “They’re always looking for new and exciting ways to engage students, and this idea has truly taken off. It’s not just entertaining–it’s educational, calming, and brings a little extra joy into our school community.”