On Monday, April 22, Green Elementary students, teachers and parent volunteers gathered after school for some spring gardening to celebrate Earth Day 2013. Students cleaned out weeds and pruned bushes and shrubs. Carrie Sledge, AIM teacher and PTA Environmental Chair, provided new plants, soil, and flowers for the children to plant around the school.

The students focused on four areas around the campus, the garden near the Fire Station, the flower pots near the front entrance of the school, the area around Green's marquee and the Memory Garden. The Memory Garden honors two women who were instrumental in the opening of Green Elementary School. Sharon Meyer and Karen Green were both inspirational, hard-working volunteers dedicated to making Green a success. After their passing, Green installed The Memory Garden in their honor.

The Green marquee also provides a link to the past history of our school. Flossie Floyd Green, Green's namesake, had a garden of beautiful irises at her homestead. Her great grandson John and his wife Georgie replanted a few of Mrs. Green's irises into their own garden at their home which was located near State Highway 121 and Custer Road. One day, Georgie was cleaning out her iris garden and decided that she would transplant some of the flowers to the area around Green's marquee.

Thanks to dedicated volunteers and Green students, Mrs. Green's irises continue to thrive and bloom each spring. The flowers also provide a link to our past. The students and volunteers learned the importance of taking care of our environment and having pride in one's community. They also learned about the history of their school and the great people that came before them.