Students Release Butterflies at Chabad Preschool

It was the day everyone’s been waiting for at the Jewish Preschool of Lexington at the Chabad Center. Twenty-two students, ranging in age from 3 to 5, released the butterflies they raised from caterpillars into a flower bush in front of the school.

“It’s really hard to let them go,” said Vicky Benedek, the center director. “They think it’s like a special pet.”

The students said a prayer and sang a song while releasing the butterflies, she said.

Raising and releasing the insects while learning about them has been a tradition at the school for about decade, Benedek said.

“They love to see the whole process from when they get it in a little container,” she said. One of the most exciting parts is waiting for them to hatch from their cocoons.