columbia high school was the first school in the nation to observe earth day on april   due to the fact that columbia was on spring break on april  when earth day was scheduled for national observance the presentation was known as earth day minus five and a specially prepared flag was run up the main flagpole the all-day observance which was coordinated by biology teacher jeffrey himmelstein began with congressman joseph minish as the keynote speaker several noted scientists from the area conducted seminars featured was an assembly with films and slide shows that were created by several students and environmentally themed folk songs were sung