CPS holds tree-planting ceremony for shade program

HOPE, Ark. — Clinton Primary School from the Hope Public School District held a ceremony for the planting of five trees through the Shade Trees on Playgrounds program Thursday morning.

Through the STOP program, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture Forestry Division provided CPS with five kinds of trees — bald cypress, Natchez crape myrtle, red maple, Shumard oak and yellow poplar — to be planted and provide shade and prevent future skin cancer from developing among students.

“Just under 20 years ago, Forestry Division recognized that there was a big problem with skin cancer in adults and that no playgrounds had shade,” Kristine Thomason, ADA Urban and Community Forestry Coordinator, said. “We have learned through science that if you have shade from a tree, that can cut the UV rays by 50%. We also know that kids who get severe sunburns are put at a higher risk to get skin cancer as an adult. So, we came up with this program.”

The program, which began in 2002, picks about 10 schools every year — 15 this year — to give five trees to. Nearly 1,000 trees have been planted across Arkansas from this program.

It also provides the mulch, watering supplies, planting guidelines and training for each school campus selected.

The ceremony included the naming of the trees, which was done through a contest among the classes at CPS to determine names for each tree with winning classes from each grade.

The following classes from grades K-4 got to name the trees:

■ Kindergarten: Mrs. Askew’s Class - Penelope the Bald Cypress

■ First Grade: Mrs. Tarpley’ Class - Oakley the Shumard Oak

■ SecondGrade: Mrs. Butler’s Class - Talulah the Tulip Poplar

■ Third Grade: Ms. Johnson’s Class - Rudy the Red Maple

■ Fourth Grade: Mrs. Kidd’s Class - Mack the Crepe Myrtle

Each class had a student come up to the podium during the ceremony and tell one interesting fact to the audience about their tree.

Foresters and rangers from Forestry Division offices in Hempstead, Miller and Clark Counties represented to help students plant trees, and will be available for general maintenance with them moving forward.

Renee Sells, Hope Public Schools’ district nurse, told students the trees will be cherished by many who come through CPS in the future.

“These trees are going to be able to protect you, your children and your children’s children,” she said. “They’ll be here for years to come.”

Staff photo by Kelsi Brinkmeyer ■ Kylee Henderson, a student of Mrs. Askew’s kindergarten class at William Jefferson Clinton Primary School, helps shovel dirt into the hole dug for a bald cypress tree that the class named Penelope. Penelope and four other trees were provided to the school through the Shade Trees On Playgrounds Program, which plants shade trees to playgrounds across the state of Arkansas every year to reduce the risk of skin cancer.