ORANGE PARK — Clay County's Clay, Soil and Water Conservation District and the Orange Park Woman's Club helped teach a few Montclair Elementary third graders planting essentials on Thursday, April 9. 

In the Clay, Soil and Water's 20th year doing the tradition, both groups donated two plants to the school, with the help of the Florida Forest Service. The students each participated with digging up a hole, preparing the soil and planting one of the trees.

It was a rather sunny, but windy morning as Principal William Miller also gave a tour of the school, designated a Certified Schoolyard Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. Situated on 23 acres of land, Montclair is well known for its nature and outdoor structure, making it the perfect place for the plants to call home. 

Recently, the school transitioned into being called the Montclair Monarchs, originally the Indians. Miller said it resembles not only the environmental fascination, but a continued passion for education. 

In addition to the name change, the school has been consistently building a path to begin using a new model with its students — Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), supporting students' behavioral, academic, social, emotional and mental health. Additionally, the school looks forward to building onto its STREAM program. 

Following the tree planting, the students were able to take pictures next to the Florida Forest Service truck and ask questions.