DIXON, CA (MPG) - Dixon Montessori Charter School (DMCS), at 355 N Almond St., is proud to announce that it has been selected to receive a Moon Tree, an extraordinary piece of space history and a symbol of the future of space exploration.

The Moon Tree will be planted on Nov. 11, Veteran’s Day, between the kindergarten and third-grade classrooms, enhancing the teaching of biology and physics standards in a unique and inspiring way.

The legacy of Moon Trees dates back to over half a century ago when NASA astronaut Stuart Roosa, the command module pilot for the Apollo 14 mission and a former U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service smoke jumper, carried tree seeds into lunar orbit. The seeds from Apollo 14 were grown into seedlings by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service and distributed across the nation, becoming symbols of exploration and perseverance.

In tribute to the Apollo 14 legacy and in celebration of the future of space exploration through NASA's Artemis Program, a new generation of Moon Tree seeds traveled into lunar orbit aboard the Orion spacecraft. These seeds journeyed thousands of miles beyond the Moon, spending about four weeks in space before returning to Earth.

Through a partnership between NASA's Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, five species of tree seeds were flown aboard Artemis I as part of a national STEM engagement and conservation education initiative. As part of this program, K-12 schools, museums, universities, and other educational institutions were invited to apply for the opportunity to receive a Moon Tree seedling.

“We are thrilled and honored to be a part of this historic opportunity,” said Ben Ernest, Executive Director of Dixon Montessori Charter School. “For me, this opportunity is lined with nostalgia. I was a student at Silveyville in the 80s when Mr. Tognetti planted a tree for Earth Day. Now it is my turn, and I hope that this Sequoia Moon Tree will serve as a living connection to the past achievements of space exploration and as an inspiration to our students as we look to the future.”