Fifth-grade students at the Long Beach Public Schools’ East School demonstrated their knowledge, creativity and artistic talent when they developed designs for the 2016 New York State Arbor Day Poster Contest. This program is run by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and encourages students to learn about the importance of trees and how they affect our health and environment.

After the students conveyed the theme through their own designs, they voted on the top three, and teachers provided the final vote. They selected Rose Parlakian's poster to represent East School, and entered the piece into a regional judging event that includes schools from all over Long Island. Nine regional champions will be chosen, one of whom will eventually be named the statewide winner.