Chesterbrook Academy Releases 3,000 Ladybugs on Earth Day

Chesterbrook Academy in Chantilly celebrated Earth Day in a big way.  Decked out in ladybug costumes, 70 pre-kindergarten students ages 2-5 participated in releasing approximately 3,000 ladybugs into the environment on Friday. 

Faten Hammad, the principal of Chesterbrook Academy in Chantilly, explained their school has been celebrating Earth Day all week.  The children planted azaleas on the school grounds, made garden stones, learned about recycling and decorated cup planters.  The school teaches the importance of exploring nature at a young age. 

Throughout the week, students learned that ladybugs feed on aphids (plant lice) and other insects that are harmful to gardens, trees and shrubs.  They learned the importance of ladybugs to our environment and how they help our gardens grow.  The children also learned some new ladybug songs.

During the ladybug release on the playground, each child was able to hold a ladybug and then set it free into the environment.  Some children even asked if they could have one to take home at the end of the day.