O.P. Earle eighth-grade teacher Jackie Putman with eighth-grade english language arts students. (photo by Anne Regan)

On Dec. 7, 2012, Jackie Putman, eighth-grade English Language Arts Teacher at Landrum Middle School and her students celebrated South Carolina Arbor Day.

Putnam is president of The Lady Slipper Garden Club of Spartanburg, S.C.,

“The club has generously donated a tree to be planted at Landrum Middle School,” Putnam said.

The tree chosen is an October Glory Maple.

The school agricultural education class lead by teacher, Ryan Settle, prepared and dug the hole for the tree, which was not an easy task with the lack of rain.

Settle and his sixth graders, with their unspent energy got the job done.

Putnam, seeing the opportunity for her students, said she “had her class read and research about the benefits of trees in our community.”

The students created banners and posters also presenting The Lady Slipper Garden Club members with a specially designed thank you card. Putman’s class recited poems, Reader’s Theatre and shared the history of S.C. Arbor Day.

After the program the eighth-grade English arts class and the sixth-grade agricultural education class each took a turn at planting this history making tree, one shovel at a time.

“The simple act of planting a tree represents a belief that the tree will grow and some day, provide wood products, wildlife habitat, erosion control, shelter from the wind and sun, beauty and inspiration for ourselves and our children,” Putnam said.