WAGRAM — More than 60 students participated in an Arbor Day celebration at Wagram Elementary yesterday.

Laurinburg’s Beautification Supervisor Walker McCoy and the city Community Development Director Michael Mandeville along with Neal McRae of the N.C. Forest Service, talked to the schools’ third-graders.

Every year, city officials go to a different elementary school to plant a tree with the students.

Students were able to ask questions about the day and it’s importance. They also helped plant a Ginkgo Biloba tree at the front entrance of the school.

Students were then treated to cake, coloring books, stickers before heading back to class.

Penny Killough, a third-grade teacher at Wagram, said that the event is a good tool to learn about Arbor Day.

“I think everyone should experience planting a tree,” said Killough. “It’s great for the environment and days like today show the kids the importance of taking care of the environment.”

The city was also presented with a Tree City Award from McRae.. Laurinburg has been a part of the Tree City program for 38 years and is one of more than 3,400 cities in the nation to recieve this recognition for the 2017.

There are 86 cities in the state participating in the program.

The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters. The goal ofr the program is to create greening communities across the country.

Katelin Gandee | Laurinburg Exchange Students shovel dirt to help plant the tree at Wagram Elementary for Arbor Day celebrations.
https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/web1__DSC9629.jpgKatelin Gandee | Laurinburg Exchange Students shovel dirt to help plant the tree at Wagram Elementary for Arbor Day celebrations.

By Katelin Gandee

Staff report

Reach Katelin Gandee at 910-506-3171