Keep Irving Beautiful (KIB) partnered with the Irving Independent School District and the City of Irving Parks Department for the seventh year in an Arbor Day celebration to honor a school for their outstanding paper recycling efforts during the 2014-5 school year.   This year’s winner was Sally B. Elliott Elementary, which collected 35,551 pounds of paper in their campus recycling bins, for an average of 50.5 pounds per student.  On Friday, November 13, students and teachers gathered for an assembly outside the school, near the two new red oak trees that had been planted earlier in the week by the Parks Department.  Numerous dignitaries were present, including members of the Irving City Council and the Tree Board, to recognize the school for its accomplishment.  Councilman Allan Meagher read the mayoral proclamation which had been presented at the previous night’s council meeting, and KIB Board President Jim Scrivner presented a glass trophy to the school’s principal, Sheila Peragine.  At the close of the event, students enjoyed meeting KIB mascot Kirby and Smokey the Bear.

Scott Wilson, the city’s Tree Board President, was one of the speakers at the event, and had this to say about the occasion. “The school Arbor Day celebration began in 2009 as part of Irving becoming a Tree City USA, and has been something we all look forward to each year.  Sally B. Elliott was the very first school to win the honor of hosting the Arbor Day event, and now they are the first repeat winner.  Making the connection between recycling paper and saving trees really makes an impact on the students, and they are justifiably proud of their accomplishments.”

 Keep Irving Beautiful is a non-profit, grassroots, leadership organization dedicated to educating our community about litter abatement, recycling, and beautification in order to help preserve the health and promote the social and economic prosperity of our city. As an award winning affiliate of Keep America Beautiful and Keep Texas Beautiful, Keep Irving Beautiful reaches out to and partners with all sectors of our city including government, business, church, cultural, educational, neighborhood and civic organizations.  If you are interested in volunteering with KIB, or making your activity a “green event,” please go to www.keepirvingbeautiful.org, or call the KIB office at 972-721-2175.