Trees take center stage during Arbor Day ceremonies at Alvey and Leesylvania schools

At J.W. Alvey Elementary and Leesylvania Elementary, students gathered under slightly soggy skies to mark Arbor Day, a day dedicated to tree planting. These ceremonies were two of several taking place at schools around the county.

Each spring, members of the Board of County Supervisors select schools in their districts to receive a tree for planting on the school grounds. The Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District assists with organizing the ceremonies, and provides the saplings for selected schools. Native trees are carefully chosen by master gardeners based on the request from the school, and the type of soils where the tree will be planted. Professionals come out to the schools and place the donated trees in the ground a few days before the ceremony.

Gainesville Supervisor Pete Candland chose Alvey Elementary as this year’s tree recipient. PWCS Communications team was there as Candland made remarks and shared his story of planting a tree at his school when in 1st grade. The celebration continued with a song and students made a pledge to take care of the new tree — a native dogwood.

Leesylvania Elementary, selected by Woodbridge Supervisor Frank Principi, was gifted a Red-Rocket Crepe Myrtle. Their ceremony was also held indoors due to wet weather. Principi attended the festivities where students and staff shared a Tree planting proclamation, and second-graders led the assembly in song.

Other PWCS schools to receive trees from the Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District are:

• Enterprise Elementary, selected by Neabsco Supervisor John Jenkins
• Loch Lomond Elementary, selected by Coles Supervisor Mary Nohe
• Old Bridge Elementary, selected by Occoquan Supervisor Ruth Anderson