NORFOLK — Department of Public Works Director Blair Crane and Superintendent Dr. Ingrid Allardi are pleased to announce that the Town of Norfolk has kicked off its Arbor Day celebration with a poster contest among Norfolk Public School students.
To celebrate Arbor Day, Director Crane, who also serves as Norfolk’s Tree Warden, contacted the Freeman-Kennedy Elementary School to see if they would be interested in participating in the state’s annual Arbor Day Poster Contest.
Typically, the Freeman-Kennedy Elementary School participates in an art project based around Arbor Day in April, however, this year they chose to participate in the state’s annual Arbor Day Poster Contest instead.
The contest invites fifth graders throughout the state to participate and is sponsored by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Massachusetts Tree Wardens’ and Foresters’ Association.
Each year, a new theme is designed for the contest to increase students’ understanding of the importance of a diverse urban and community forest and the role trees play in their community and the world around them. This year’s contest theme was “It’s Time for Trees!”
As part of the contest, Freeman Kennedy fifth-graders created a piece of artwork that conveyed the theme of the contest. Through their artwork, the students worked together to bring awareness to the Town of Norfolk about the importance of Arbor Day and the impacts of climate change via the poster contest.
“The importance of Arbor Day and bringing awareness to our students about the impact that nature has on our environment is something we try to cultivate at an early age,” Superintendent Allardi said.
Two posters were chosen from each homeroom by art teacher Laura Mellick and her husband George Mellick, who is an arborist. Community members, school administration, fifth-grade teachers and students voted via a Google form on the posters chosen. In total, 151 people voted.
The first-place winner was Declan Johnson, the second-place winner was Avery Lepage and the third-place winner was Vera Wainwright.
Upcoming Arbor Day Events
Director Crane will host the second annual seedling giveaway in honor of Arbor Day. This year, 100 Eastern Redbud seedlings will be distributed to attendees. Locations and times to get seedlings are as follows:
- Friday, April 28 from noon to 3 p.m., at the DPW, 33 Medway Branch
- Saturday, April 29 at 11:30 a.m. Norfolk Cemetery, 24 Seekonk St.
- Saturday, April 29 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Norfolk Transfer Station, 33 Medway Branch
Seedlings will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Director Crane will also host a tree-planting demonstration on Saturday, April 29 at 11:30 a.m. at the Norfolk Cemetery, 24 Seekonk St.
“We had a very successful turnout with last year’s Arbor Day celebration and we hope this year yields similar results,” Director Crane said. “We hope families can come together to plant their seedlings and watch them grow together over the years.”
For more information on the Arbor Day poster competition, click here.
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