Staff reports | Community updates
The Scottsdale Unified School District has announced that Yavapai Elementary School has been recognized as a Blue Zones Project approved school, joining several other district campuses in earning the designation.
The recognition reflects the district’s continued focus on student health and wellness, according to a press release.
The Blue Zones Project is based on research by National Geographic fellow and New York Times best-selling author Dan Buettner, who studied communities around the world where people live longer, healthier lives.
“Our community has already been doing many things to promote health and well-being—from teaching our kindergartners how to ride bikes, to securing a recent bike grant, to hosting our February Walk and Ride to School event in support of the American Heart Association,” said Principal Kelley Perry. “Completing the Blue Zones application was simply a matter of gathering the initiatives we already have in place at Yavapai. It’s rewarding to be able to showcase the health and joy that define our school.”Yavapai’s Blue Zones initiatives aim to create an environment where students move naturally, eat wisely, connect socially and live with purpose.
These efforts are reflected in programs such as the school’s fresh fruit and vegetable snack initiative, its walkable campus design and its inclusive community culture.
The goal, according to the press release, is to make healthy choices accessible and sustainable for students and families.
