CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - Students at Lichen K-8 in Citrus Heights received a lesson about the environment and were able to beautify their school at the same time during a recent tree-planting event.

San Juan Unified’s Maintenance and Operations staff prepared holes and dirt for 21 trees that were donated by SMUD and the Sacramento Tree Foundation. Eighteen of the 21 trees were strategically planted around the perimeter of the playfields to create a quarter-mile track.

“This started off as an idea as a beautification project with shade. We didn’t want to do large shade structures and we thought the school was lacking aesthetics, which can be fixed with trees,” Principal Elizabeth Wahl said. “We won’t reap the rewards (with shade) right away, but we will in the coming years.”

Wahl said she has hopes for a new soccer field inside the perimeter of trees, which will serve as shade for spectators.

At the tree-planting event, students took turns shoveling dirt and mulch to keep the tree upright. Maintenance and Operations will be installing stakes to ensure normal growth, and each Lichen classroom will be in charge of making sure a tree is being taken care of.

“I feel happy and kind of excited that we get to plant our tree,” Student Jaxon Workman said, noting that trees provide oxygen, shade and some provide food.