The rakes, hedge clippers, and leaf blowers were put to use at West Wareham Academy on Wednesday, April 14 as students worked to beautify their campus.

West Wareham Principal Stacey Rogers said that with Earth Day coming up on April 22 and the nice weather this week, the clean-up was a good service project for the students.

"[We] wanted to get the kids outside and do[ing] something for the community," Rogers said.

Students and staff got to work at 8:30 a.m. They raked leaves, trimmed bushes, and swept the school's back parking lot and basketball court, sharing laughs and lending each other helping hands.

West Wareham Academy is an alternative school for students in grades 7 through 12. It currently serves 16 students.

Rogers said this is the first time that the grounds had been tidied since the school, which used to house kindergarten classes, reopened last May after budget cuts had closed it for about a year.