Barstow Community Celebrates Tree Day
Barstow students, parents faculty, staff and alumni gathered on the front lawn to celebrate Tree Day on Tuesday, April 30.
The tradition of Tree Day dates back to Barstow’s Westport and Cherry Street campuses. Each year, preschool students and senior “lifers” plant a tree together. "Lifers" are seniors who have attended Barstow for 13 or more consecutive years. This year’s celebration opened with a song from first and second grade students directed by Kristi Mitchell and included music from The Barstow Singers, directed by Dr. Josh Markley. Seniors read selections of poetry from the archives of the “Weathercock,” Barstow’s annual yearbook.
Nearly one hundred people gave honorary and memorial gifts to The Barstow Fund and the Elizabeth Scarritt Adams Endowment. Brian Whitfill and Rebecca Evans, parents of senior Joseph Whitfill, donated this year’s tree.
Two late alumni were honored with memorial gifts for this year’s Tree Day. Friends and classmates of Nathan Addison Burton Richards ‘94 donated a bench in his memory. An avid sports enthusiast, Nathan was an assistant boys basketball coach and founded Barstow’s oldest fantasy football league in 1991. Friends of the late Cathy Trenton ‘80 dedicated the armillary in Senior Circle to her memory. Cathy was a cheerleader and a member of the field hockey team during her time at Barstow, and is remembered by classmates for her kindness, passion and determination.
Each Tree Day celebration ends with the students and guests singing “Standards High” together. See our photo album here or watch again on Livestream.
