Meet Our School Tortoise: Shelly!

Welcome to the official page for Shelly the Tortoise, our much-loved school pet at Read St. John's CE Primary School!

About Shelly

Shelly is a Hermann’s Tortoise who joined our school family in 2020. She lives in a cosy, specially designed enclosure in the school garden and loves sunbathing on warm days.

  • Age: 28 years old

  • Favourite Food: Dandelion leaves, strawberries, and Kale

  • Hobbies: Exploring the office, napping, and watching the children play

Why We Love Having Shelly

Shelly teaches us about responsibility, care, and respect for animals. Each class takes turns looking after her, making sure she has fresh food, clean water, and lots of love.

We also use Shelly’s routine to help teach science topics such as:

  • Life cycles

  • Habitats

  • Hibernation (Shelly sleeps from November to March!)

Shelly’s Timetable

  • Monday to Friday: Outside time in the playground (weather permitting)

  • Weekends & Holidays: Shelly goes home with Miss Agar

  • Winter: Hibernation time! We track Shelly’s sleep and learn about it in class