Hindsbury Primary School in Hamlet Gap Celebrates National Arbour Day with Educational Transformation

Hindsbury Primary School in Hamlet Gap, St. Michael, saw a green and educational transformation on Friday as students came together to observe National Arbour Day.

Led by Art and Composition teacher Susan Forde, the day’s activities were designed not only to teach the importance of trees but also to align with the school’s overarching theme for the year, Cultivating an Attitude of Excellence.

The day began with a presentation and quiz during the school assembly, skillfully conducted by science teacher Delisle Bascombe. The focus of this engaging session was the significance of Arbour Day and the crucial role that trees play in our environment. It was a moment of both learning and inspiration for the students.

Throughout the day, classes ventured outdoors to put their knowledge into action by planting a variety of fruit trees. These saplings, donated by the Soil Conservation Unit and the National Conservation Commission (NCC), included sea grape, starfruit, guava, sugar apple, and golden apple. The diversity of these trees reflects the school’s commitment to fostering a rich and biodiverse environment.

Teacher Forde expressed her delight at the enthusiastic response from the students. She noted that they eagerly embraced the opportunity to get their hands dirty, actively participating in digging, planting, and watering the newly introduced saplings. Moreover, students exhibited their forward-thinking approach by already organising watering schedules and devising plans for composting leftover school meal waste to nourish the growing trees.

Arbour Day at Hindsbury Primary School served not only as a hands-on lesson about the significance of trees but also showcased the urban school’s determination to nurture a sense of excellence and environmental stewardship among its students.

National Arbour Day, first observed officially on November 9, 1907, was revived 90 years later by the NCC and is now marked on September 22, the anniversary of Hurricane Janet in Barbados. Many trees were damaged or felled across the island in the first tropical cyclone to hit the island since the devastating 1898 hurricane, 57 years before. (SF)