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arbor day

Kent students plant, share eco-projects

Kent students plant, share eco-projects

Kent Center School kindergartner Landon Sensenbrenner shovels dirt onto the newly planted flowering dogwood tree Friday, April 24.

Ruth Epstein

KENT — Christopher Martin, a former high school teacher who moved to town five years ago, spends his time volunteering at Kent Center School – and recently offered a spot on his Elizabeth Street lawn as the site for an Arbor Day tree planting.

The entire school walked to Martin’s home Friday, where fifth- and sixth-grade science teacher Christopher Rose spoke about the flowering dogwood that will soon blossom there. He pointed to another mature dogwood down the street that towers over houses, noting that some day the little one being planted will be that size.

A representative from each class stepped forward to pour a shovelful of dirt into the planting, which was made possible through the Kent Conservation Commission and the Kent Garden Club.

Back at school, students, staff and guests gathered in the gym for the annual Arbor Day celebration featuring projects involving music, art and recycling. Fifth-graders talked about the history of Arbor Day, noting that Birdsey Grant Northrup, a Kent native, founded the state’s observance. The first celebration was held in 1887. In 1970, President Richard Nixon declared the last Friday in April as National Arbor Day.

Eighth-grade students unveiled their environmentally-themed murals, the school joined in song and winners of a billboard design contest sponsored by Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority were announced.

Teacher Ane Starr reported that the school had collected 1,000 pounds of plastic fill over the year.The effort earned the school a bench made from recycled plastic.

“What an accomplishment,” she said. “We’re taking care of our earth not just for today, but every day.”

Ruth Epstein
Reporter
arbor day

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