It has been a long standing tradition that the eighth grade students of Saint Michael School clean-up and beautify the school grounds one day every spring. This year the students had the added bonus of working with a certified arborist to learn about tree and plant care.
Kevin Baily, of North Andover, is not only the school custodian, but a certified Arborist. He received his training and Agriculture Degree from the Essex Agriculture & Technical Institute. Mr. Baily had the idea to tie the annual clean-up to Arbor Day (April 26th) and make it a special learning experience for the students. His experience makes him the perfect candidate to speak to the children about working with trees and plants, as well as running a business in landscaping, which is a second career for Mr. Bailey.
“For years we have had the eighth grade students work to beautify the school grounds. Working on the grounds creates a sense of pride in their school, respect for their surroundings and acts as an example for the younger students,” said Susan Gosselin, Saint Michael School Principal. “It was wonderful to have the students take it step further and learn about tree and plant care from a well-respected member of the school staff.”
