Today is the 38th Annual Earth Day, and one local school used the occasion to mark another important event.

Cedar Grove Elementary School students not only celebrated Earth Day, but also the school's 50th anniversary. The students wanted to do something special to commemorate Earth Day when living green is on everyone's mind, so kindergarten students planted cedar trees to beautify the campus, while other students picked up trash throughout the day.

The trees also will act as a reminder of the school turning 50, and though these kids are young, they knew why they were planting the trees.

Alyssa Smith, a kindergarten student, said, "Because it's Earth Day. We learned and we need our air to smell good instead of stink so we can clean it up."

Beverly Bylsma, kindergarten teacher, said, "We've talked to them about the importance of maintaining a clean environment. We've talked the necessity of trees, how important they are simply for today. It's such a hot day, to have shade, and everyone agreed as you heard earlier. They were shouting, is it hot, they said yes! So thank goodness for trees. We're going to start our shade right now."

The cedar trees were planted between the fourth grade building and art building. Cedar Grove Elementary will hold another anniversary celebration on May 18.