Growing growers: Students celebrate, learn at Arbor Day planting

SAN BENITO — It was a great day to plant a tree.

The sun was out, the breeze was blowing and the birds were singing.

All was well at Landrum Elementary during an Arbor Day tree planting yesterday morning.

To make this happen, the school partnered with Schneider Electric, which supplied the live oak tree for planting.

By planting a tree on the school’s campus, the goal is for students to see the tree as a symbol that inspires and reminds them to protect the environment, said Principal Dr. Eva Bisaillon.

Before they could actually plant the tree, Lizzy Putegnat, Account Executive for Schneider Electric and Peyton Loposer, Regional Client Coordinator went over the five “green” tips the young students can exercise in the classroom.

Turning off the computer, saving paper, using a re-usable lunchbox, saving energy are just some tips that can be used by anyone.

By engaging the students with these “green” tips on Arbor Day, the goal is to teach the students about the importance of their personal impact on our environment.

“We are planting the seeds in them to take care of the earth,” Bisaillon said. “I want them to take this experience and remember later on this is what Landrum stood for.”

Bisaillon, a former high school biology teacher who has been an educator for more than 20 years, developed a passion for the environment and protecting it, while teaching biology.

While at Landrum Elementary, she regularly organizes activities that alert the students to what is going on with the environment and teaches them how they, too, can protect it.

After all, Bisaillon said these students are the future.

“They are the ones who are going to live this,” she said.

Making them aware of the world around them is important now more than ever.

“They are so caught up in their devices that this is a critical aspect,” Bisaillon said. “We need to get them in touch with the earth and what it means to have a wonderful place to live.”