Earth Day is coming and students from Brentwood Elementary are getting their hands dirty again.
Last year the school’s Green Team, led by Integration Support Teacher and Green Team Leader Fiona Mosher, planted apple trees along the border of the school’s playing field.
All 15 trees the students planted survived their first year and are just beginning to produce leaves, said Mosher, adding that in the next few weeks, the trees will be treated to some permanent fencing around them thanks to a donation from Slegg Lumber on Keating X Road and the Saanich School District grounds team.
“We all feel very lucky to live in a community where everyone pitches in to make these types of projects a reality,” she said.
This year, in celebration of Earth Day which happens next week on April 22, Green Team students planted a Garry oak outside of the school which was donated by retiring teacher, Sheila Drew.
“We decided to plant the tree in an area where the existing primary playground will be expanded,” explained Mosher.
“The oak tree will be a cornerstone to the play area and in time will provide shade to those who play under it.”
Brentwood Elementary’s Green Team is made up of Grade 4 and 5 children who help with various green activities at the school.
The students and teacher leaders also recently brought back a program called Walking, Wheeling Wednesday where every Wednesday, students and staff are encouraged to get to school without taking a car.
“The Walking, Wheeling Wednesday helps reduce our carbon footprint and keeps us fit,” said Mosher.
“We hope the fun of the initiative catches on and that more and more people will walk or wheel to school on the other days of the week,” Mosher said.