Passersby at John Young Elementary School might notice a new, brightly painted hive standing near the entrance. This colourful structure is a powerful symbol of community and environmental action. The hive represents the success of a school-wide project where students, staff, and parents banded together to celebrate the essential work of honeybees.
As part of Earth Week in June, the school hosted an interactive presentation with Alana Mandy, the president of the Eastern Ontario Beekeeping Association. Students from Kindergarten to Grade 6 learned about the life cycle of bees, how honey is produced, and the vital role of bees in our ecosystems and farms. Alana brought real tools of the trade, including bee suits, smokers, and hive frames. Students had a hands-on play session where they acted as beekeepers, wearing protective gear and simulating hive care and honey collection.
"I felt that the bee presentation was very interesting and eye-opening," said Benty, a Grade 5 student. "It helped me understand just how important bees are for our environment and food supply and why it's important to protect them from threats like pesticides and habitat loss."
Grade 5 student Abel added, "Bees are really important to the environment because they pollinate the plants and flowers to give us fruits and vegetables. They make honey and the suits [beekeepers] wear were really hot, so they work really hard to give us food. I am grateful for the presentation showing us how bees work and what they do to help us live."
The event inspired a school-wide fundraising campaign to acquire an empty hive for the school grounds. To build buzz around the initiative, students learned a fun fact about bees every day of the campaign.
"Bees are way smarter than I thought," said Grade 6 student Asma. "They do really important jobs like helping flowers grow. I liked the pictures and the funny bee facts."
Thanks to the generous support of the school community, enough funds were collected to purchase and decorate an empty hive. It now stands proudly in front of the school building, featuring the school mascot and colours, as well as signatures of students and staff. It symbolizes the school's community spirit, mirroring the teamwork found in a real beehive.
With their hive serving as a reminder to protect all pollinators, the John Young Elementary community is inspired to keep working together for a more sustainable world.
