Hamden Hall Country Day School families are tuning in weekly from Covid-19 isolation to view “The Turtle King,” a new in-house video series featuring three hungry turtles and the school’s maintenance team.
The in-school production was hatched from necessity. According to Director of Facilities Jim Hunter, his department has helped care for and maintain the school’s various forms of marine life over winter and spring breaks. During quarantine, that limited guardianship of the school’s eel, three turtles and other fish and sea creatures became full-time.
After the first week of feeding the turtles, the facilities department decided to show students that their aquatic friends were cared for and doing well. Now every Friday, Hunter records the turtles’ caretaker Spencer Chase feeding Darth Vader, Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker, as the turtles are known on campus.
“They sure do like these pellets,” Chase said on a recent episode as he tapped turtle food from a small canister into the tank.
The Turtle King, aka Spencer Chase of the Hamden Hall Facilities Department.
Shortly after the first episode, Chase’s colleagues dubbed him the “Turtle King” for the show’s popularity. Chase quickly embraced the role and sought both costume and set design advice from Hamden Hall’s theatre department. Episodes now feature the Turtle King decked out in a purple robe and a crown. During each video’s introduction, Chase sits on a red velvet throne.
Behind the scenes, the department has faced new challenges, like making sure there are plenty of food and filters for the animals.
“When school was shut down, we needed to find out not only how to feed the animals but how to make salt water and clean the tanks. This was a first for us,” Hunter said.
“The Turtle King” has aired four times since the pilot episode. Episodes have included shout-outs to the senior class, birthday greetings for students and faculty, and more. Click here to watch the series.
Dawn A. Miceli is the communications director of Hamden Hall Country Day School.
