Special Poet Tree Planted for Tuckahoe Students

A very special "poet tree" was planted in the Tuckahoe School District's outdoor classroom. The Golden Delicious apple tree is now home to more than 90 poems written by Cottle's third grade students. The array of poems on the five-foot tree range from sonnets, to haikus and everything in between. 

Assistant Principal Peter Kilgallen got his hands dirty, digging the hole for the poet tree.

"Cottle's Assistant Principal Peter Kilgallen, who organized the Outdoor classroom, noted the 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students will be harvesting last of crops such as lettuce, radishes, carrots and sugar snap peas today, which will be given to a local Mount Vernon shelter," said Committee Chair of the Board of Education Communications Committee at the Tuckahoe Union Free Schoo District Tammy Ehrenfeld. "Mr. Kilgallen noted the outdoor classroom not only provides a  hands-on teaching experience supporting the sciences and even mathematics, but it also teaches the art of giving back to society."

The idea for the poet tree was spearheaded by Cottle teachers Maureen Coleman, Jen Scrivo, Gay Jarvis and Michael Gray. Coleman says the tree will flourish just like the children over the years. She says the students look forward to seeing how big the tree will get over the summer. They are also eager to eat some of those Golden Delicious apples from the tree. 

Tuckahoe School's new outdoor classroom was created this year. It includes a composting area, vegetable garden and learning area. Next year a greenhouse will be added.