In observance of Arbor day last Wednesday, at least one tree was planted in Oak Harbor.

Olympic View Elementary School planted a new, ornamental cherry tree on campus, thanks in part to the efforts of three kindergarten classes.

Earlier in the school year, the classes were taught a tree-themed education unit, studying local coniferous and deciduous trees.

One class, taught by Che Gilliland, included a landscaping unit, focusing on the school’s campus.

When the kindergarten teachers learned that a new tree would be planted on school grounds on Arbor Day, they were excited for the opportunity to show their students what tree planting is like.

Putting a “real-world experience” behind the lesson is always good, said kindergarten teacher Krista Hanson-Walker.

At about 12:30 on Wednesday, the three classes, comprising a total of about 75 children, gathered around the two groundskeepers who were in charge of planting the tree.

The groundskeepers let the kids shovel the dirt around the roots of the tree. Three students at a time were allowed to help, and the shovels were passed to the next students in line.