ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
Callahan students Eddie Lewis, Kameron Rucker and Aaron Colomba remove flowers from their pot during the spring flower planting at the school.
BY BRIDGET TURCOTTE
LYNN — Spring is in full bloom at the Julia F. Callahan Elementary School.
The students participated in a gardening activity Thursday, planting hundreds of flowers around the school.
“It’s fun and it’s important for the butterflies,” said Jacqueline Sambu, a second-grader. “We’re helping the school yard look better than it was before.”
The school’s PTO collected donations from florists spanning from Peabody to Everett, such as Tillie’s Farm Stand in Peabody, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Salvy the Florist and Greenhouses in Lynn, and O’Brien’s Florist & Greenhouse in Everett. Parents and PTO members also contributed.
“Our goal was to have one flower per student and I think we have more than that,” said Dawn Maguire, parent teacher organization (PTO) vice-president. “It’s going to look gorgeous.”
The activity was organized as a way to recognize Earth Day, which fell during April vacation, and prepare the school for field day, which will be held next week, Maguire said.
The PTO recently donated two picnic tables for Teacher Appreciation Day. Boy Scout Troop 34 from Sacred Heart School painted hopscotch lines and other markings on the courtyard.
“This is really going to beautify the school, even more than it already is,” said Principal Brian Fay. “We have been busy testing all month. It’s nice to bring the kids outside and celebrate who we are as a school community.”
Divided by classroom, the children tackled an area to clean and garden. The younger grades focused on planting around trees and the upper grades zoned in on larger areas.
Second-grader Yaideliz Lozada was impressed by the array of colors.
Karieam Brown, a fifth-grader, said while he enjoyed gardening, the activity was even more important for the younger children because it teaches them how to plant flowers, and they might go home and plant more.
Kimberly Staples, second-grade teacher, agreed.
“This is going to teach the kids in the community how to garden and clean up outside, and, hopefully they’ll continue it over the summer,” Staples said. “They’re so excited.”
Bridget Turcotte can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @BridgetTurcotte.