When arriving at school today, did you notice the changes to our school’s grounds? The grass is mowed, the bushes are trimmed, the dirt is mulched, and it’s all thanks to the hard working Bobcats who attended campus clean up on Saturday, Aug. 30.

When the students returned to Bel Air High School, they discovered that weeds had taken over the athletic fields. Along Bobcat Drive, next to the baseball field, tall grass and prickly plants covered up the beautiful fencing and brick pillars that are installed along the road. The baseball field’s wired fence was tangled up in weeds and strange bushes that erupted from the ground over the summer. The bleachers next to the track were drowning in unwanted greenery, just barely suited for sitting. Outside of the stadium, the Bobcat statue didn’t look very intimidating to our opponents when surrounded by dirt and weeds. However, these atrocities are no longer, thanks to the help of the hard working Bobcats.

Work began at 11 a.m. and students immediately could tell they had their work cut out for them. The first task was to try and remove the weeds in order to mow and mulch. The football team was to shovel mulch into wheelbarrows and distribute it all around the campus. Once they were aware of the game plan, students pulled on their gloves, laced up their shoes, and began working.

“I worked on pulling out the weeds, whacking the weeds, and watching the weeds; my day was surrounded by weeds,” said Junior cross country runner, Bekka Mingioni, whose focus point was the grass strip along the road the buses enter through.

After many hours in the sun, the weeds were conquered and the beautifying began. The roar of lawn mowers was covering the sound of the music coming from the stadium and students were beginning the mulching process.

Three hours later at 3 p.m., the students’ hard work was yet to falter. Mulch was being thrown onto dirt and wheelbarrows were taking over the campus. Hedge trimmers tamed the wild shrubs and weed whackers zipped along the fences making finishing touches.

At the end of the day, Bel Air High School’s campus looked as if it had traveled back in time to 2009 when it first opened and everything was brand new.

Mrs. McDonough listened to the parents and heard comments like “the school looks better than it ever has.”

The Bobcats worked together to make their fields look professional and impressive, just like how they were meant to be. Bel Air students should be proud of the work they did on Saturday, and thanks to the athletes and clubs that attended, our campus is looking spotless.

Senior Jordan Mensh can sum up the day in one quote: “We all worked our butts off. Together, we made a beautiful place even more beautiful.”