At Cora Kelly, Students Get To Work

Students in Kelsey Rasmussen’s class rolled up their sleeves on Thursday to plant two new trees in the schoolyard at Cora Kelly.

The third-graders moved dirt with a wheelbarrow and used shovels to fill the holes for new saplings, which will be longterm additions to beautify the school and improve the environment.

Several other Cora Kelly classes also took part in “Project Plant It!,” an environmental energy program developed by Dominion power company to educate children about the importance of trees. The program is a partnership between Dominion, the Arbor Day Foundation and Alexandria City Public Schools.

Beyond planting, the program teaches students how trees can absorb carbon dioxide, release oxygen, provide wildlife habitat, prevent soil erosion and enhance the beauty of a community. Each participating student received a certificate for his or her work.

Dominion offers the program annually to elementary schools within its coverage area. More than 34,000 students are expected to participate in the program this school year. All teaching materials are provided by Dominion at no cost to the schools.

For more information, visit the Project Plant It! website.