Clare Valley school caring for Mother Earth

On Monday, 23, students and staff of the Clare Valley Government School spent the day celebrating and caring for Mother Earth as a part of an educational Earth Day programme.

The day’s activities included presentations by representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture Garth DeShong and Michael Gloster as well as Nigel Weekes from the National Parks Authority. {{more}}Joan Ryan from the Solid Waste Management Unit did a solid waste water demonstration with the Grade 6 students at the Clare Valley beach. The Grade 6 students made a presentation: “EARTH; Environment, Air, Rivers, Trees and Health” as the morning finale.


Michael Gloster of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries teaching students about planting trees.

The afternoon was filled with tree planting around the school. Michael Gloster of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, presented information about different kinds of trees and demonstrated how to properly plant a tree to the Grade 6 students. Each class planted at least one tree in the schoolyard and will be responsible for caring for the trees they planted. The Kindergarten class did seed planting led by Grade K teacher Mrs. Alexander.

After school, the Bring It On 4-H club of the Clare Valley Government School organized a beach clean up as a part of the Earth Day programme. Local members of the community also pitched in to help with the beach clean-up. Over 20 bags of garbage were taken off the beach along with many larger items, including an old fan, a worn TV, rusted wire, engine parts, and several rum bottles. The bags and gloves ran out before the beach was completely clean, but every bit of garbage taken off the beach is that much less garbage on the beach.

The event was coordinated by Peace Corps volunteer Melissa Johnson to teach the children how they can better care for their environment. Earth Day is officially celebrated on April 22, all over the world.