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Trapnell Elementary is the 10News School of the Week powered by Duke Energy FL

The students, faculty and staff at Trapnell Elementary School are the 20th 10News School of the Week powered by Duke Energy Florida for the 2017-18 school year.
Credit: WTSP
The students, faculty and staff at Trapnell Elementary School are the 20th 10News School of the Week powered by Duke Energy Florida for the 2017-18 school year.

It’s our favorite part of the week!

Friday leads us into the weekend, but it’s also when we showcase our 10News School of the Week powered by Duke Energy Florida. This week we spent time on the campus of Trapnell Elementary in Hillsborough County.

Congratulations Trappers! While the rest of Hillsborough County Schools have a day off Friday, the students in this part of the district stay in session so they can have the Friday of the Strawberry Festival off.

It’s a strawberry school, but also a community school. Students and staff give to their community and the community gives to the school as well.

Local farmers donated strawberries to the fifth-grade garden. The garden is a living laboratory in which they learn about different varieties of strawberries, how the roots grow and even that strawberries can grow upside down.

Watch: Trapnell Elementary School principal speaks

They use a rain barrel to water their crops and that’s just one way they learn about water conservation. Mr. Purkey, the fifth-grade science and math teacher, wrote a grant to get the supplies to build the garden. Next year, he plans to incorporate even more STEM by experimenting with various soil types.

Trapnell hosts several clubs including woodworking and mural.

The mural club meets once a month to paint a school mural. They started last year and hope to have it finished by the end of this school year.

They also have a National Elementary Honor Society chapter. Members need to have a “B” average for at least two semesters, two recommendations and exhibit positive characteristics.

Being a member also means being involved in community service and this week they packed “blessing Bags” with personal hygiene items and snacks. They will be handed out to less fortunate members of the community when they adults go to serve food at a local rec center.

This isn’t the only group involved in community service. They entire school rolls up their sleeves to help. One of the most recent examples is hosting a hotdog dinner for locals after Hurricane Irma. You can see how they are living this year’s theme of “From Little Seeds Grow Mighty Trees” and why they’re our 10News School of the Week powered by Duke Energy Florida.

Watch: Duke Energy Florida presents check to Trapnell Elementary

If you have a recommendation for 10 News School of the Week powered by Duke Energy Florida, email us the name of the school and tell us why they should be featured to 10schools@wtsp.com. We’re looking for elementary, middle and high schools.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to see more about the school throughout the week. If 10News is out at your school, make sure to show your spirit by snapping pictures and tag them with #SendTo10. That way we can find your photos and post them here!

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