BELLEVILLE –
More than 100 Belleville High School students joined forces Wednesday, April 29, for the school’s fourth annual Beautification Project.
The students – from all grade levels – cleaned up the grounds around the high school, including the football and baseball fields, the Bakka Courtyard and the front and rear of the school.
They also planted herbs for the school’s culinary arts program, along with two apple trees – donated by BHS Assistant Principal Joseph Rotonda – in commemoration of the legacy of the late mass communications instructor Marilyn McCabe.
The project was organized by the BHS Family Career and Community Leaders of America Club (FCCLA), BHS culinary arts educator Judith Worster, who serves as the FCCLA master advisor; and by FCCLA Student President Jada Szkola.
According to Worster, the students involved in the project logged 150 hours of community service, distributed eight yards of mulch and six yards of garden soil as part of the planting work.
“We had a small army of working students,” Worster said. “It was great. We accomplished all our goals for the day. Hopefully, we will be harvesting our vegetables into our culinary kitchen shortly.”
After all the work was done, student volunteers were served root beer floats and certificates by the FCCLA in recognition of their diligence and dedication to the task at hand.
“We extend a thank you to all who participated,” Worster said. “Many hands make lighter work.”
Student Brian Zerbian, one of the participants, said: “We were able to make the earth greener – one person at a time.”
And FCCLA leader Jada Szkola added: “This event is important because it unified the students to give back to the school.”
– Ron Leir
