Congratulations Waimea Elementary School & Waimea Middle School!
Waimea, Hawai‘i — Waimea Elementary School (WES) and Waimea Middle School (WMS) celebrated their recognition as Blue Zones Project Approved™ schools in North Hawaii. Waimea Elementary School completed their school approval, which focuses on healthy changes to the campus on March 20th and just recently received worksite recognition.
Waimea Elementary School
To continue their wellness initiatives, Waimea Elementary School decided to further impact their campus by focusing on the well-being of their teachers and staff. Led by Kindergarten teacher Cheryl Gruver, staff wellness was enhanced with: Walking Moais (staff walking together for 10-weeks), personality assessments, Wednesday salad bar lunches, and other wellness supports through staff member benefits.
“The decision to commit to the worksite pledge was an easy one because the overall school culture has changed towards healthier lifestyles with our previous school pledge process,” remarked Scott Tamura, Principal of Waimea Elementary School.
Waimea Middle School
This year, Waimea Middle School has focused on growing wellness programs under the direction of new principal, Janice English. “We are focused on individual student academic growth and health-wellness. We want our students to know we genuinely care about their well-being...we are all family.”
Waimea Middle School achieved Blue Zones Project school approval in November. Highlighting some of the wellness programs that support student success at Waimea Middle School include volunteering, gardening, wellness fundraising, professional development trainings, cultural protocols, mentoring, and more! Most of the island knows about the Malaʻai Garden that is a partnership with the state to provide hands-on learning experiences in growing and preparing healthy foods and practicing environmental and cultural stewardship.
WMS students preparing healthy snacks for the school snack shop. The school snack shop has implemented healthy food options for students to eat.
What you may not know about Waimea Middle School is that 8th grade leadership students support the campus snack shop and have added healthy snacks to students – free for 95%+ attendance and $2 for others. Snacks have included whole wheat wraps and fruit/yogurt/granola bowls. Students that participate in the snack shop attendance reward receive community service credits that assist them with graduation requirements.
All 6th grade students get to learn about fruits and vegetables each week as part of the USDA’s Fresh Fruit & Vegetables Program. Most recently, Waimea Middle School students got to experience hands-on educational activities to better understand the effects of vaping. The chance for students to learn just how much vaping can affect the body, may decrease the prevalence of vaping and tobacco use in the future. All of these wellness programs support the Blue Zones Project goals of teaching students how to lead longer, happier lives.
WMS Principal leads vaping education with her students, an important Blue Zones Project policy initiative to decrease the use of smoking.
Waimea Elementary and Middle School’s recognition joins three other approved schools in North Hawaiʻi. A total of 20 schools on Hawaiʻi Island have become Blue Zones Project approved schools. Waimea Elementary School is the third dual approved school and worksite on Hawaiʻi Island. There are 9 other approved worksites in North Hawaiʻi.
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Learn more at hawaii.bluezonesproject.com
