The school purchased two new colonies this weekend from a bee supplier in Wisconsin and they arrived to school yesterday. (Hopefully these are more hardy midwestern stock.)
The bees arrive in a screened box with a supply of sugar water that lasts them a few days. The queen is sequestered in a small plastic cell that is capped by a sugary candy substance.
Her cell is placed into the hive so that the pheromones she produces will make the hive smell like her during the time it takes for her daughters to free her.
Once she is in, the remainder of the bees in the box are unceremoniously dumped into the hive.
Once they are in, and empty set of frames ready for honey comb, and a third "super" with a supply of sugar water is added. Then it's on with the roof and the bees are in their new home.
