Kids Plant Tree on School Playground

About 30 fifth-graders at Haddon Avenue Elementary School braved the scorching heat Thursday and got on their hands and knees to help plant a tree on the school playground.

Assemblyman Tony Cardenas (D-Sylmar) rolled up his sleeves, tucked in his tie and joined them. He was instrumental in getting TreePeople, an environmental organization, to donate 16 trees to be planted in schools around the northeast Valley.

Students at Haddon marked the groundbreaking by planting a 15-foot-tall white mulberry with the help of TreePeople member Adam Skolnick.

It took the students about 45 minutes to complete the task, which included a final touch of mulch around the soil.

“The mulch on top acts as a sponge, absorbing water and releasing it slowly,” Skolnick told the kids.

At the end, the students formed a circle and held hands as Skolnick explained the importance of trees and how they contribute to the environment.

“Trees also need people,” he told the group. “We need to give it water and not hang on it because it’s only a baby tree right now.”

When it’s fully grown the mulberry will be 30 to 40 feet tall and will spread about 20 feet, he said.

“Now we can have shade, and insects and birds will have a place to live,” said Eric Barcena, 10.

Classmate Vanessa Ortega, 10, liked the way the new tree looked.

“It’s really pretty and it makes the playground pretty,” she said, smiling.