Flowered Up: Haine Elementary Students Plant Trees, Shrubs

Despite Friday’s rain and gray skies, students provided a bright spot when they planted a series of pink-flowered cherry trees on the school’s campus.

Using shovels and rakes that their teachers and parents donated, the school’s fourth-graders took turns testing their landscaping ability by planting eight trees near the school’s playground. Several flowering shrubs and another two trees were planted in an interior courtyard.

“They are definitely excited about this,” said John Schmidt, a fourth-grade gifted support teacher at the school.  

Schmidt organized the planting after the trees and shrubs were donated to the school through a partnership with the United Way of Butler County and Westinghouse Electric Co.

Haine wasn’t the only entity to receive greenery. After Westinghouse moved its headquarters to Cranberry in 2009, the company pledged to donate 3,000 trees, one for each job the company projected it would to bring to the area, to Butler County.

Last spring,  the company, in coordination with United Way, planted 750 trees. This year, the company continues to work toward its promised goal, planting another 500 trees. There are plans for 100 trees to be planted at Cranberry’s Community Park.

Schmidt said the project fit in nicely with the school’s ongoing sustainability efforts. In the week prior to the planting, he said, students learned about the trees and how to put them in the ground.

Working with Seneca Valley High School senior Lydia Genewick, who got involved in the planting as part of her senior project, Schmidt said he chose Kousa Dogwood and Kwanzan Cherry trees because they are native to Pennsylvania.

“They’re hearty to this climate, and they’ll do well here,” he said.

The trees also will serve as a reminder of five Seneca Valley students who died in car accidents over the past few years. Genewick said the trees were planted in memory of Charles Stunkard, Shannon Quail,. All were students at Seneca Valley Senior High School.

“I’m all for helping these trees,” Genewick said.