In keeping with the school’s mission of service, more than 100 students from Eastside Preparatory School descended on Juanita Beach and McAuliffe parks April 22 to honor Earth Day.

The school has an operating agreement with the city’s Parks and Recreation Department to help with maintenance and restoration work at Watershed Park.

Last Wednesday, about 175 students were out getting their shoes dirty in Juanita Beach Park pulling millfoil out of the the creek and scooping up downed branches and weeds at McAuliffe Park.

Eastside Prep Upper School science teacher Dr. Chuck Henry said the school and students wanted to get out and do something for Earth Day and go beyond their usual volunteer work at Watershed. The school sees service work and volunteer work as a strong component of their curriculum.

“We seemingly have accomplished quite a bit,” he said, surveying the piles of organic detritus from the long winter at McAuliffe Park. “We like to get the kids out of the classroom. That’s what Earth Day is all about – changing the way we do things.”

Some of the students seemed befuddled by the gardening tools or weeding the wrong plants. Teachers and older students, such as 18-year-old Becca Fine, tried to lead by example, carefully weeding the array of ornamental flowers and bushes.

Clearing off leaves and pine needles from a nearby flower bed, fifth-grader Sofia Ackerman seemed to be enjoying the mix of play and work.

“This is part of celebrating Earth Day,” she said. “If they’re going to plant something these leaves won’t be in the way.”

Eastside Prep, a grades 5-12 comprehensive school, is located at 10635 NE 38th Place in Kirkland.