There is a bird of paradise that Cyndie Volpone’s fourth grade class planted about 25 years ago in front of Ocean Beach Elementary on Sunset Cliffs Boulevard. Her class, at that time, earned money to buy it for Earth Day. It was 12 inches tall when planted. It now reaches to the rooftop of the school building.
This year, Volpone took students outside to see it and told them the story behind it. They decided they wanted to save money to buy their own plant for Earth Day. They took it upon themselves and kept track of their earnings. They saved small change for several months totaling in $65. Chuck Cardwell, the OBES groundskeeper, who is an important and respected part of the school community, went out of his way and helped students choose a palm that would flourish in the area. He prepared the area directly next to the giant bird of paradise so the palm could be seen regularly by the kids and they come to and from school each day.
Cardwell provided all of the necessary equipment needed and happily guided the kids on how to dig the hole for not only the palm, but for various other small ground cover plants. The students were excited to provide not only beauty to the school, but to the earth as well, along with leaving behind a bit of a legacy for their class (they move onto Dana Middle next year). “They are excited to watch it grow, and know that by the time they graduate from college, it might possibly reach the rooftop as well,” Volpone said. “They made a difference and it was heartwarming.”