The Dearborn City Beautiful annual school Clean-Up Parades have begun, with more still to come.

Students from 11 schools have already marched or will be marching through their neighborhoods, spreading the message about the importance of property maintenance and “thinking green.”

Dearborn Patch stopped by the Haigh Elementary Clean-Up Parade the morning of May 5, where students made a loop around the neighborhood as parents and local homeowners cheered them on.

Mayor Jack O'Reilly was on hand to speak to students about the importance of going green, along with several City Beautiful commissioners, Police Chief Ronald Haddad and Fire Chief Richard Miller. City Council President Tom Tafelski, who has three children at Haigh, served as the parade's Grand Marshal.

"You guys are so special and I wanted to do this to say thank you for making our neighborhoods look clean," Tafelski said to the kids.

Gwen Roberts, a junior City Beautiful commissioner and Haigh student, spoke about the importance of kids keeping the Earth clean.

"People say we should clean up our city, our state and our world," she said in a speech to her classmates. "You can help this effort right here at Haigh."

Upcoming Clean-Up Parades

• May 6, 10:30 a.m. Miller, 4824 Lois
• May 9, 1:30 p.m. McDonald, 10151 Diversey
• May 11, 1:30 p.m. Whitmore-Bolles, 21501 Whitmore
• May 12, 1:30 p.m., Lindbergh, 500 N. Waverly
• May 16, 1:30 p.m., Riverside Academy, 7124 Miller
• May 17, 10:30 a.m., Nowlin, 23600 Penn
• May 18, 10:30 a.m., Becker, 10821 Henson
• May 19, 1:30 p.m. DuVall, 22561 Beech

Parents, teachers and community members: Add your Clean-Up Parade photos to our gallery!