TYLER, Texas — Tyler ISD's Bonner Elementary School students spent time learning about the impact bees have on the environment Monday in celebration of World Bee Day.
The bee is also the school's mascot. So the Bonner Bees threw a Bee Day Bash for some educational fun!
Bonner Elementary Principal Elizabeth Gomez said the activities served as a way to raise awareness for pollinators on World Bee Day and explain the role they play in the environment.
Members of the East Texas Beekeepers Association were in attendance as well with bee hives, bee-themed crafts and honey.
"We have beekeepers on campus who are teaching our students about beekeeping and the business and everything involved," Gomez said.
Ann Kohls with the East Texas Beekeepers Association said the students got to hear about bees as pollinators and the things that bees produce, such as wax, the propolis and honey.
Gomez said the students got to taste three different types of honey and vote for the best tasting one. Additionally, the school hosted its first kindergarten through second grade spelling bee to have fun while keeping academics at the forefront.
"We all play an important role in keeping our planet healthy and the more we are aware of ways that we can help, from little pre-Kers to adults, the better that we can work as a community to keep our Earth healthy," Gomez said.
Kohls said everyone eats food that grows from plants that are pollinated by bees.
"So bees are very important. I'm hoping that some of the kids get interested enough because future generations are going to need bees and need beekeepers," Kohls said.