By BETTE FITZGERALD
CHEROKEE MIDDLE SCHOOL
Chayme and Ariane Cucumber watch as Michael Skinner, from the Balsam Mountain Preserve Nature Center, holds a King Snake during his “Birds of Prey and Reptile” presentation. (Photos courtesy of Liddell Shannon/SCC GEAR UP College Readiness Coach
Students, teachers, parents, and grandparents from Cherokee Central Schools came together on a rainy Tuesday afternoon to celebrate Earth Day on April 22. Community organizations and CCS teachers worked together to offer a family event for all ages. There were presenters from Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tribal Fish and Wildlife, Healthy Cherokee, Cherokee High School, CES Sensational Science Saturdays, CMS Cherokee Science Investigation, Horizons, and Southwestern Community College- GEAR UP.
Michael Skinner and Blair Ogburn, from the Balsam Mountain Preserve Nature Center, gave a “Birds of Prey and Reptile” presentation in The Gathering Place.
CMS student, Mack Lackey, Earth Day helper, had this to say about the event, “My favorite part was Spirit, the bald eagle.”
The event also included a recycled art contest for students in Pre-K through 8th grades. Students were asked to create a work of art using recycled materials. Awards were given to students in each grade block.
Skinner holds "Spirit" the Bald Eagle.
The award winners were:
PreK individual – Chayme Cucumber “Dog named Selena Gomez”
PreK Class – Mrs. Consie Girty’s Class “Playground”
1st grade – Christina Ball Saunooke “Airplane”
2nd grade – Justin Queen “Airplane”
3rd grade – Jason Wolf “The World is in our Hands”
4th grade – Karson Wildcatt “Wallet”
5th grade – Xavier Locust “Man of the Recyclables”
6th grade – Faith Long “Bag made from a T-shirt”
7th grade – Nidi Welch “Dragonfly”
8th grade – Chicoah Ledford “Capri Sun Bag”
8th grade group – Carey Swayney and Nick Bushyhead “Save the Planet Man”
CMS class projects – Hansell/Houston’s classes “The Pop Box/Earth Jug Planter”
Staff – Scott Freeman “Vase with Origami Flowers”
This Earth Day Extravaganza event was made possible through a Learning Links grant from The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, Cherokee Central Schools Parent Teacher Organization, and Southwestern Community College Gear Up.
The event organizers related they wish to thank Trish Tramper, with CCS Parent Involvement in Education, for providing the healthy snacks.
