History of Arbor Day at Oak Forest Elementary School
Arbor Day is a designated day in the United States when residents, especially children, are encouraged to plant trees. The official National Arbor Day is the last Friday in April. However, states celebrate the day on different dates according to climate. In Texas, planting a tree is best from late fall until the end of February. At Oak Forest Elementary School we celebrate Arbor Day in January or February.
The tradition of 5th graders planting a tree at Oak Forest is more than fourteen years old. Mrs. Krenek, a 5th grade science and math teacher, started the tradition in 2004 by having her class plant a tree in front of the school as a gift to the school. That tree is a Montezuma cypress. The following year her class planted a tulip magnolia just east of the first tree.
A funny thing happened during the planting of the second tree. A student mistakenly poured a whole bag of fertilizer into the hole with the tree. Mrs. Krenek, looking for the bag, discovered what had happened. She asked Mr. Opperman if too much fertilizer might have been put with the little tree. Consequently the tree was dug up and placed a few feet away.
Without an irrigation system on the north side of the entrance driveway, the Montezuma cypress and tulip magnolia trees have grown very slowly in tough conditions. In 2008 hurricane Ike toppled many trees on the OFE campus, including a big pine near the cypress tree. About half of the cypress tree was broken off and the remainder bent over. The OFE Growers were able to trim and tie it back to a vertical position. That Montezuma cypress is a true survivor!
In 2006 the Growers suggested that new 5th grade trees be planted on the west side of the school’s main entrance and that they be oak trees to replace oaks that had died over the years. The decision was made to buy larger trees that would have a better chance of survival and to have 5th graders earn the money for purchase of the tree, fertilizer, compost, and a memorial plaque. Beginning in 2014, tree planting continued along the driveway to the kindergarten on the west side of the school. The northwest lawn area had been fully populated with oaks. In 2017 a decision was taken to install an irrigation system and to begin planting trees between the runners' track and children's playground area.
Each 5th grader contributes to the tree planting by earning a small sum of money for its purchase. A celebration is held along with the planting on Arbor Day. Several students are chosen to dedicate and formally give the tree to the school. Students work in teams to transport the tree to the site, dig the hole, place the tree, add amendments, water the tree, fill the hole, and mulch the tree with pine needles. A dessert party is held for each class with 100 per cent student participation in the purchase of the tree. Finally, a time capsule with student memorabilia is buried near the tree’s memorial plaque. This time capsule will be dug up and its contents viewed when the students are seniors in high school and return to Oak Forest Elementary for a reunion.
Since 2004, the school's 5th graders have planted more than a dozen trees showcasing 11 species of oaks. Each tree is identified with a plaque bearing the tree's common and scientific names and the 5th graders' graduation year. Each tree with plaque has become a great reference source for the community. Everyone can see how each species looks and thrives in the Lake Houston area.
The tradition of 5th graders planting a tree at Oak Forest is more than fourteen years old. Mrs. Krenek, a 5th grade science and math teacher, started the tradition in 2004 by having her class plant a tree in front of the school as a gift to the school. That tree is a Montezuma cypress. The following year her class planted a tulip magnolia just east of the first tree.
A funny thing happened during the planting of the second tree. A student mistakenly poured a whole bag of fertilizer into the hole with the tree. Mrs. Krenek, looking for the bag, discovered what had happened. She asked Mr. Opperman if too much fertilizer might have been put with the little tree. Consequently the tree was dug up and placed a few feet away.
Without an irrigation system on the north side of the entrance driveway, the Montezuma cypress and tulip magnolia trees have grown very slowly in tough conditions. In 2008 hurricane Ike toppled many trees on the OFE campus, including a big pine near the cypress tree. About half of the cypress tree was broken off and the remainder bent over. The OFE Growers were able to trim and tie it back to a vertical position. That Montezuma cypress is a true survivor!
In 2006 the Growers suggested that new 5th grade trees be planted on the west side of the school’s main entrance and that they be oak trees to replace oaks that had died over the years. The decision was made to buy larger trees that would have a better chance of survival and to have 5th graders earn the money for purchase of the tree, fertilizer, compost, and a memorial plaque. Beginning in 2014, tree planting continued along the driveway to the kindergarten on the west side of the school. The northwest lawn area had been fully populated with oaks. In 2017 a decision was taken to install an irrigation system and to begin planting trees between the runners' track and children's playground area.
Each 5th grader contributes to the tree planting by earning a small sum of money for its purchase. A celebration is held along with the planting on Arbor Day. Several students are chosen to dedicate and formally give the tree to the school. Students work in teams to transport the tree to the site, dig the hole, place the tree, add amendments, water the tree, fill the hole, and mulch the tree with pine needles. A dessert party is held for each class with 100 per cent student participation in the purchase of the tree. Finally, a time capsule with student memorabilia is buried near the tree’s memorial plaque. This time capsule will be dug up and its contents viewed when the students are seniors in high school and return to Oak Forest Elementary for a reunion.
Since 2004, the school's 5th graders have planted more than a dozen trees showcasing 11 species of oaks. Each tree is identified with a plaque bearing the tree's common and scientific names and the 5th graders' graduation year. Each tree with plaque has become a great reference source for the community. Everyone can see how each species looks and thrives in the Lake Houston area.
Trees for Houston: Resources
Arbor Day 5th Grade Class Trees
1 2004 Taxodium mucronatum, or Montezuma cypress
2 2005 Magnolia x soulangeana "Anne," or tulip magnolia
3 2006 Quercus muhlenbergii, or Chinkapin oak
4 2007 Quercus polymorpha, or Monterrey oak
5 2008 Quercus macrocarpa, or bur oak
6 2009 Quercus shumardii, or Shumard oak
7 2010 Quercus texana, or Nuttall oak
8 2011 Quercus phellos, or willow oak
9 2012 Quercus laurifolia, or laurel oak
10 2013 Quercus acutissima, or sawtooth oak
11 2014 Quercus laurifolia, or laurel oak
12 2015 Quercus michauxii, or swamp chestnut oak
13 2016 Quercus muhlenbergii, or Chinkapin oak
14 2017 Quercus graciliformis, or Chisos oak
15 2018 Quercus polymorpha, or Monterrey oak
16 2019 Quercus muhlenbergii, or Chinkapin oak
17 2020 Quercus suber, or cork oak
18 2021 Quercus canbyi or Slender/Graceful oak
If you would like to know more about our organization or would like to volunteer you may directly contact OFE Growers Board President Mrs. Brooke Smart at brooke.smart@humbleisd.net.