David Broyles | The News
Tharrington Primary student Carson Hall reminds classmates about recycling as well as reducing and recycling to help protect the environment. Students performed a variety of acts for Earth Day.
David Broyles | The News
Tharrington Primary students from Patti Bobbitt’s class perform a rap song about water. Second-grade students in the audience followed this by offering suggestions to benefit the environment. The program was held Monday as part of a leadership and Earth Day program.
David Broyles | The News
Tharrington kindergarten student Briyce Thomas holds a sign demonstrating how one of the seven habits taught in The Leader In Me program relates to being responsible on Earth Day.
B.H. Tharrington Primary School students recently were able to celebrate Earth Day through the lessons learned in The Leader In Me program.
The Monday morning ceremony was titled Celebrating the Earth One Leader at a Time and was moved into the school gymnasium because of the chilly morning temperature.
Following a welcome given by Kristen Bedsaul, prekindergarten and kindergarten students sang a song about worms and bees in honor of Earth Day. Another song urging good stewardship of the environment was sung to the tune of “Take Me Out To The Ball Game.” Next came presentations from first-grade students to demonstrate the theme “The Best Earth Day Ever.” Skits and second-grade presentations explained how principles from Stephen Covey’s book, “Seven Habits of Happy Kids,” relate to Earth Day.
Tips included in this portion of the program included composting, using more solar energy and repairing leaking faucets. A lively rap song about water from Patti Bobbitt’s class also was performed. Kindergarten student James Gorney, first-grader Lynzie Thomas and Emily Billos, a second-grade student, explained community involvement projects students would be doing. Another theme in the program reminded students to reduce, reuse and recycle.
Student spokespersons all agreed using the principle of first things first for them on Earth Day would include a range of projects including weeding flower beds at the school and planting flowers at the Shepherd’s House, a shelter in Mount Airy.
The ceremony closed with Emily Sawyers giving an invitation for participants to meet at the flagpole in front of the school for a flag raising ceremony and the Pledge of Allegiance. Students serving as the flag raising team were Steven Johnson, Ian Gilley, Sierra Hazellwood, Sunshine Lor and Abigail Powers.
Tharrington kindergarten student Briyce Thomas said The Leader In Me program at the school had been rewarding for him.
“Leader In Me is important because you learn to do the right things even when nobody is looking….somebody may be looking,” said Thomas. He also said it was about setting good examples and he and his classmates learned to not talk when the teacher is talking.
“It’s been easy for me (to do this), but the teacher did have to tell us 10 times,” said Thomas. “When you do stuff and keep on trying, you get better at it.” He said some principles he had learned included being pro-active and “playing kind with people.”
The theme for Earth Day internationally this year is “The Face of Climate Change.” The movement seeks to highlight the solutions and showcase the collective power of individuals taking action across the world. Many activities are geared around inspiring leaders to act and inspiring everyone to redouble their efforts in the fight against climate change.
According to the Earth Day organization website, more than one billion people around the world took part in the 43rd anniversary of Earth Day Monday.
Guests in attendance for the program included Mount Airy City Schools Superintendent Dr. Gregory Little, Assistant Superintendent Bryan Taylor, Board of Education Chairwoman Wendy Carriker, Mount Airy Fire Chief Zane Poindexter, Mount Airy City Manager Barbara Jones and members of the Mount Airy Police Department. Sponsors for the Earth Day event were Creative Designs, Lowe’s Hardware, Walmart, National Wild Turkey Federations, Southern States Cooperative, Inc. and Lowes Foods.
Tharrington student reporters Country Lor and Xavier Scales provided information for this article.
Reach David Broyles at dbroyles@civitasmedia.com or 719-1952.
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