Huber Street second grade students sang Arbor Day songs with lyrics, “We are all made of stars, we’re all made of trees,” after the Clarendon School band greeted visitors and parents with the Star Spangled Banner. Singers and listeners of all ages danced along.
Students at the two schools, along with Clarendon Middle School, sang about the earth for Arbor Day on Friday April 29. Students also designed bright Arbor Day posters and the best won $25 Amazon gift cards.
Mayor Michael Gonnelli and Freeholders Anthony Vainieri and Albert Cifelli gave Arbor Day-inspired speeches telling kids to “stop and smell the flowers.”
Sixth grade Clarendon students planted flowers in front of Clarendon school and in the school’s courtyard.
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Various groups also planted seedlings to grow into large trees. The New Jersey State Forestry, a division of the state’s Department of Environmental Protection, donated 2,200 seedlings for Arbor Day. Leftover seedlings will be distributed to residents at the Green Festival Saturday, May 7.
In addition, the Department of Public Works raised $10,000 from corporate donors to plant trees near the baseball field at Clarendon School.
Sixth grade Clarendon students planted flowers in front of Clarendon school and in the school’s courtyard.
“This was our 23rd Tree City, and our 25th Arbor Day that started under Mayor Anthony Just. Kids are always excited about it,” Mayor Michael Gonnelli said after the poster winners were announced. Tree City USA is a community involvement program to celebrate the importance of trees and clean air and water.
Clarendon School principal Steve Viggiani thanked Mayor Gonnelli, the Town Council, and the Earth for the Arbor Day ceremony in his opening speech.
“The idea of an annual day set aside for planting trees captivated school officials and was soon made a school function,” he added. “Now it has become an occasion for all of us to stop and remember the importance of our environment.”
Clarendon and Huber Street chorus instructors Susan Redvanly and Joan Niemiera led the singing.
Samantha Meyers can be reached at samantham@hudsonreporter.com .