First-graders beg principal to save lone apple tree

We’re a long way from the picking season, but the lone apple tree next to the White Mountain Elementary school cafeteria driveway is producing some very rich fruit right now anyway.

First graders at nearby Sierra Vista Primary school learned that because of its location, the tree might be doomed when the backhoes arrive next month to begin construction of the Nob Hill replacement project.

The students took pens in hand last week to compose a petition to Principal Jeremy Green, explaining how important the tree is and asking him to find a way to save it.

“I did have the class write me a nice letter talking about their concern with the tree,” Green said Wednesday. “It’s a sort of cornerstone for them. They talked about the apples and the shade it provides.”

Green said he had meetings scheduled later in the day in which he planned to look into the problem. He wasn’t even sure Wednesday morning whether the tree was really threatened or what could be done about it if it was.

But the principal is already taking a little victory lap over the fact that his first graders found their civic voices on something that was important to them.

“It’s exciting to see the students voice their concern about the tree,” he said. “I’m glad they knew there was a process they could use.”

Green planned to speak about the tree to the committee of parents, teachers and administrators that has been working with the architects since last year on the many layout and design issues related to demolition of the ENMU annex between the two elementary schools and construction of new preschool and kindergarten classrooms at SVP.

“I’m going to do what I can do,” he promised.

But he said he was taking the letter from his first graders as a sign that he and his teaching staff have already accomplished a lot.

“It’s a proud moment for an educator,” he said.