In years to come, the fourth and fifth grade classes at DeMello Elementary School will pass by their alma mater and will not only have a visual indication of how much time has passed, but a reminder of the difference they made while attending.

Two flowering dogwoods, one pink and one white — donated by Eversource Power in conjunction with the town Tree Committee — now stand planted in the front lawn of DeMello thanks to the work of fourth and fifth graders celebrating Arbor Day on Friday, May 3.

“I feel like I really put a mark at DeMello Elementary School,” said Jacob Trudeau, a fifth grader and Student Council member.

According to Assistant Principal Adam Hill, the efforts are “all student driven” and give them an opportunity to learn what it means to celebrate and preserve nature.

This is the third year DeMello has hosted an Arbor Day celebration with the tree plantings accompanied by a presentation from Student Council members about the history of the day and background on the trees their school received. Fourth and fifth-grade students also received seedlings to plant around Dartmouth.

Elliot Lemieux, a fifth grader and Student Council member, who shared the history of dogwoods with his peers said, “It was fun, but a little scary when you’re up on the stage talking to a bunch of kids.”

He shared how the bark was used for its medicinal properties as well as to make tea during the World Wars.

According to Eversource’s Kyle Barry, the trees planted are currently 8 years old. He shared with the students some facts about the trees prior to the planting, including a way to tell a tree’s age without looking at its rings. 

He said sometimes, the number of points on a tree where multiple branches grow from can be an indication of its age as each section usually takes one year of growth.

Samara Korejwa, a fifth grader and Student Council member, said the trees will serve as a permanent reminder of the “fun times” at DeMello, but also their important work “because trees are really helpful.”

Korejwa highlighted how planting trees can help combat global warming, adding, “I really liked that we did this because it helps the environment and it helps a lot of animals.”

Lemieux said, “If they're the ones giving us oxygen, we have to respect them, too.”