STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: B.T. Washington Middle School 8th Grader Agnes Dutle
Explores marine science in magnet classes
Posted: October 30, 2025
Agnes Dutle's typical school day can include caring for sea creatures, studying vegetation found in waterways, or kayaking on a local pond.
Dutle, an eighth grader at Booker T. Washington Middle School, is in her third year of taking classes in her school's marine science magnet program. She plans to continue in Magnet and Specialty Programs in the International Baccalaureate program at Warwick High School.
Dutle also plays on the school's soccer team, and outside of school plays the piano and sings in a band, and makes arts and crafts.
"I went here for the magnet because my brother went here before and he loved it; and we have very similar interests," Dutle said. "And also it just sounded fun because of all of the field trips and everything."
During orientation she participated in a demonstration that created habitats for baby oysters. Dutle listened to the teacher explain how key that is in helping them to grow into bigger oysters.
"It was just like wow, I didn't know we were doing that," Dutle said.
She has taken full advantage of the marine science offerings. Dutle has served on the school's Critter Caretaker Team, participated in boating and kayaking field trips, and plans to attend the yearly overnight marine science field trip this year.
"On the kayaking field trips, you go with one of your teachers and it's really fun," Dutle said. "And then there's another activity that we do other than the kayaking. And it's looking at the macro-organisms in the water.
"And it's the marine science piece, which is the macro-organisms, and then you go out and you see the things that we're learning about. So the fish and the egrets and the wildlife."
She likes that students learn about topics and then see them up close.
"Right now we're learning about aquatic vegetation and why they're important," Dutle said. "And then we go out and we actually see them in the bay. And it's really applying what you learned. So I think that's really cool."
Critter Caretaker students do daily maintenance on the tanks holding sea creatures that are in almost every room in the school. They clean algae off the insides of the tanks, feed fish and crabs, and fill up pumps on the tanks that provide oxygen.
"You group into teams of three or four, and it's like also kind of a bonding thing and then you also get to do the marine science aspect," said Dutle, who added that it's one of her favorite things to do at school.
Visit Student Spotlights on the Newport News Public Schools website.
