Sonora Elementary Receives Blue Zones Recognition

Sonora, CA — The Blue Zones Project (BZP) Tuolumne County announces that Sonora Elementary is the first local school to receive Blue Zones approval for efforts to improve healthy living.

The Blue Zones initiative promotes living longer, and more fulfilling, lives.

Gemi Battle, BZP Organization Lead stated, “Schools play a key role in the Blue Zones Project by creating an environment that teaches healthy lifestyle choices today and for years to come. School leaders are in a powerful position to dramatically improve students’ well-being.”

Some of the Sonora Elementary School’s efforts include:

· Staring a Wellness committee, “The Pounce Pack,” is comprised of teachers and staff led by Associate Principal Kristie Quinn.

· The Pounce Pack worked with BZP Tuolumne County to have a Walking School Bus during the summer school session on the school’s Olympic Day.

· At the school’s Back to School Night, BZP attended and sponsored the food demonstration provided by the school cafeteria staff featuring one of the cafeteria recipes: Asian Noodle salad and had fruit and veggie cups for parents and students to try.

· Installed BZP-themed posters at the school 5 new hydration stations encouraging students to drink more water.

· The school cafeteria, led by Cafeteria Manager, Shanan Gonzalez, created a Farmers Market Day where students had the opportunity to meet and be educated by a local farmer, and were encouraged to try the varieties of fruits and vegetables he brought. BZP supported this day by supplying all the students with water bottles.

Kristie Quinn, associate principal stated, “We have been thrilled to work with the Blue Zones Project toward our school site validation and are excited to be the first in the County. Our Bobcats’ awareness of health and well-being is at the forefront of this mission. We are looking forward to continued partnership with BZP to explore and grow our students’ exposure to educate and empower them to make healthy choices, leading to an improved lifestyle, both at and away from school.”

Blue Zones Project is a community-led well-being initiative designed to make healthy choices easier through permanent changes to a community’s environment, policy, and social networks.