Frank T. Wheeler Elementary School third graders recently participated in a special day of planting and celebration of nature on April 19th as part of their Makerspace classes and in recognition of Arbor Day celebrated in April. First, leading up to the planting event, students put together garden boxes in the school’s courtyard area which were used for their planting activity. During the event, the students planted a variety of seeds in the boxes, and also planted several trees and bushes on the school grounds, donated by Eversource, together with pots and soil. Eversource representatives Julian Picciano and John Dyckman, (Arborists), Vegetation Management Supervisor Doug Pistawka, and Vendor Arborists Kait Gallow and James Hanson from ECI Environmental Consulting, were on hand to assist students with the planting project. Additionally, Foreman Kyle Pelletier and Groundman Andrew Pearse, from Asplundh Tree Experts, an Eversource contractor, brought a bucket truck to Wheeler and students had the opportunity to see the truck in action, 70 feet in the air! This exciting event fosters college and career readiness for Wheeler students, as they learned about careers in landscape design and forestry, as well as being an arborist, master gardener and CDL licensing. The planting and celebration of nature event was coordinated by Wheeler Music Teacher Veronica Picciano and her husband, Eversource Arborist Julian Picciano, and facilitated by Wheeler staff members.