By Treena Mielke
The Grade 6 students at Rimbey Elementary School have left a legacy at their school by planting a tree that will symbolize their roots at the school.
“A legacy is anything handed down from the past. We all leave something behind when we go to a new place. We all get to decide what our legacy is. The more I think about it, the more excited I am,” teacher Kathleen Hull-Beagle told the students who had gathered outside for a short ceremony in front of a newly planted elm tree last week.
The tree’s growth will symbolize the students’ growth as they move on to a new school and new experiences.
During the ceremony Hull-Beagle explained that a Siberian Larch Tree has also been planted to honour Mary Palm, who recently retired from teaching Grade 4. She explained that the retired teacher is passionate about taking care and respecting the Earth and that the tree has been planted to pay respect and acknowledge her legacy at the school.
“Though this is a Siberian Larch tree, we may lovingly refer to it as our Palm Tree,” said Hull-Beagle.
Students listed positive attributes of trees including helping the environment, producing oxygen, reducing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, supplying paper, providing shelter and jobs for the economy.
The teacher then gave a quote about the Lorax.
“But now,” says the Once-ler, “now that you’re here, the word of the Lorax seems perfectly clear. Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not. I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues.”
Today we are making you all honorary Lorax’s and we ask you all to take care of these trees,” she told the students.
The trees were donated to the school by an anonymous donor, whom Hull-Beagle said was the brains behind the project.