Our Magnificent Elm

Susan Fonseca Lanham Director of Marketing & Communications, Global Impact Adviser

Rocky Hill Country Day is home to one of the oldest elm trees in RI. Our Elm, found in front of Hopelands, is 160180 years old. It is an American elm (Ulmus americana), approximately 85+ feet tall, and 60 feet wide, and has been part of every generation of graduates throughout our School’s history.

moment together, take the students through the importance of finding a pause throughout their busy days. With each inhalation we are filling up our lungs with a clear clean fresh start. A reset. As we take these reset breaths, we talk about the brain science behind elongating our exhale and how it actually sends a signal from our brain to our body to let go, relax and find a place that is more regulated with our mind and bodies connected. It is this connection that we then relate to each other in our circle, and to the ground beneath us. We might practice gratitude meditation and intentionally share what we are grateful for in that moment. As the students turn and talk to their neighbors it’s always the reflections that brighten days or make us aware that someone in our circle might need some extra support that day. Either way, connection is key. Circles are key, and what better place to engage our students in these mindful moments than on our beautiful campus in the sweet spots that the students have come to know and love.

Historically, the tree was most likely planted during the period when either Charlotte Rhoda Ives Goddard (Hope’s daughter) or Moses Brown Ives Goddard (Hope’s grandson) owned the property, which would be circa 1840-1880. Moses especially loved it here. It isn’t a leap to think that Moses and his cousin-in-law (Henry C. Russell) chose plantings for the Hopelands property, which would have included the elm.“

Charles Laurent, Fifth Grade Teacher

Source: Environmental Horticulture Department, UF/IFAS Extension