PHOTOS: Arbor Day celebrations around the district

Community Consolidated School District 21 held three celebrations for Arbor Day last week across three schools: London Middle School, Field Elementary School and Whitman Elementary School.

At London, the sixth-grade class took turns planting a sugar maple they named “Lorax” that will live for 120 years and help collect carbon dioxide from the air. The service project was led by core teachers Caitlin Huff and Tracy Crowley. Bartlett Tree Company also donated 100 tree seedlings to staff and families at the middle school that ordered one, and committed to planting and taking care of these trees. 

Whitman students in Chad Bradish and Claudine Mele’s classes helped plant an eastern white pine, which was generously donated by Bradish. 

“We wanted to teach kids the importance of trees, and this was a great way to culminate that experience,” he added.

The entire student body at Field congregated along the south lawn to celebrate the planting of a hybrid elm. Students took turns singing songs, dancing, reading poems, or accessorizing the tree.