Hicksville Learns About Wildlife On Earth Day

As part of East Street Elementary School’s first celebration of Earth Day, students participated in a variety of multifaceted activities designed to teach them about the environment and the importance of protecting the planet.

Representatives from Volunteers for Wildlife visited the school with three different birds — a screech owl, kestrel falcon and red-tailed hawk — to speak to students about the natural habitats, hunting behaviors and unique characteristics of local predatory birds. As precursors to the visit, fourth- and fifth-graders on the school’s Green Team created projects inspired by local flora and fauna and participated in an Earth Day essay contest sponsored by the Humane Society of New York and Nassau County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

As follow-up projects, the Green Team, under the direction of social worker Susan Simon and teachers Mary Shurley and Justina Ketyer, will be planting flowers and vegetables in the school’s “Seeds of Friendship” garden and teaching younger students about gardening and caring for plants.

Story by Syntax, Photos courtesy of Hicksville Public Schools: Volunteers for Wildlife visited East Street Elementary School in Hicksville for Earth Day.