To celebrate both Earth Day and Arbor Day, the sixth grade class at the Lower School planted 200 pine trees around the campus. Under the watchful eye of Pingry employee and resident landscape artist Anthony Gagliardi, and sixth grade science teacher, Ramsay Vehslage, 65 students determined the best locations for optimum growing conditions. Armed with trowels, mulch, water, and ambition, they “dug in.”

The students were already studying botany in their classroom and were participating in lab experiments that involved Wisconsin Fast Plants. These plants have been specially altered to grow quickly in a classroom environment so as to be used as teaching tools. Mr. Vehslage recalled last year’s daffodil planting event and, after conferring with Mr. Gagliardi, decided to try trees this year. The seedlings are not only a science lesson in progress, but also a gift to the school.

The students are keeping a log of their trees’ progress. Many of them realized that when they return many years from now, they will be able to truly see the growth of their trees.

The earth and the Short Hills campus thanks Mr. Gagliardi for his knowledge, guidance, and time involved in planting 200 trees.



© 2006 The Pingry School