Park School helps the environment

These two students work together to put some flowers into a pot during
Park Elementary School's Earth Day celebration.

Park Elementary School Principal Dr. Dell McFarlane uses a gas blower
to clear away some of the clippings beneath the bushes.

It isn’t often you see Park Elementary School Principal Dr. Dell McFarlane wearing a straw hat and using gardening tools and equipment around the school’s exterior.

But this year’s Earth Day celebration had the Riverdale school administrator doing so.

Students, parent volunteers, teachers, and staff spent part of the day outdoors on Thursday, April 22nd cleaning up and beautifying the school grounds.

Dr. McFarlane was seen raking around the bushes and using a gas-powered blower to help with some of the improvements. Even Park School Social Worker Debbie Devine-Anderson donned her “crazy hat” for the day.

Because Earth Day also happened to be Take Our Daughters and Sons To Work Day, second grade Teacher Mrs. Lopez had her son helping out as well.

Donations from Dolton West Elementary District 148, Park School’s Parent Council, Mrs. Cromwell, Mrs. Reidstra, Mrs. Scott, Mrs. Langston, Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Young, Mrs. Hull, Mrs. Adkins, Mrs. Gore, Mr. Moreno and Mrs. Moreno, local businesses such as Food 4 Less, Jewel-Osco and Ultra Foods, as well as teachers and staff, helped make the day possible.

This was the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day which began on April 22, 1970. The yearly celebration was founded by Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson and is intended to be a time to appreciate and take care of the Earth’s environment.

Dr. McFarlane and Park School Social Worker Debbie Devine-Anderson
wore some special hats that day.

Park School second grade Teacher Mrs. Lopez helps her son
and a student with some of the clean up.

Principal McFarlane gets some help with raking.

Park School Safety Facilitator David Jennings and Parent Council
member Mrs. Gore were on hand to help out as well.