Parkview Primary Learning Center – Blue Zones Project Approved School

by Jim Dittmann
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First Mayville school is recognized for best practices to support student health and well-being

Left to right: Leslie Covell Hershberger, Blue Zones Project Community Program Manager; Amanda Beck, First Grade Teacher; Jessica Stortz, Art Teacher; Nikki Williams, Food Service Director; Becky LeBouton, Parkview Primary Learning Center Principal; Mike LeBouton, Blue Zones Project School Committee Co-chair. photo: submitted

At the Cardinal Way Assembly on Friday, students, staff, faculty, parents, and the public gathered to celebrate Parkview Primary Learning Center in Mayville being recognized as the newest Blue Zones Project ApprovedTM school in Dodge County. This designation reflects the school’s commitment toteaching kids healthier habits they can carry with them for a lifetime.

“I can tell the students at Parkview are excited to be here, they are excited to take part in their healthy fundraisers and fun activities that they have. Nothing can be more rewarding to us as an organization [Beaver Dam Community Hospitals, Inc.] than to see a school get Blue Zones approved. Great job on building healthy, strong children and healthy, strong families,” commented Linda Klinger, Blue Zones Project Steering Committee Co-chair.

Parkview Primary formed a Blue Zones Action Team and chose to incorporate movement and nutrition education lessons into regular curriculum for students. Now, during classes including Art and Physical Education, students actively move while learning. Additionally, students spend an average of forty minutes a day at recess. Teachers have also added mindfulness and downshifting instruction through Mind Up and Core Practice. These activities provide students with the skills needed to breath deep, realign their focus, destress, and think more clearly.

Smarter Lunchrooms Movement is being used in the school which applies research-based principles that nudge children to make a healthy choice when provided with the full spectrum of choices. The program provides schools with the knowledge, motivation, and resources, such as self-directed scorecards, to build a lunchroom environment that makes healthy food choices easier. As a result, the cafeteria has added more fresh produce and increased healthy options for students and staff.

To complement this work, the school has committed to using non-food fundraisers including Original Works, an art based fundraiser. The school will host their first fun run this Spring on May 4 which will include students from kindergarten through fifth grade. These fundraisers reflect the school’s commitment to improving the health and well-being of students and faculty. In addition, 100% of the money raised by school-produced fundraisers goes back into the school, as opposed to contracting with third party vendors.

Parkview Primary Learning Center, in partnership with Mayville Middle School, hosted a family wellness fair on February 23. Families were encouraged to attend and run through the obstacle course, taste a variety of vegetables and other healthy snacks, or take a spin on the Blue Zones Project Smoothie Bike to make a simple and tasty Green Smoothie.

On May 11 and May 18, students from Parkview will participate in a Walking School Bus. After school students will be led by staff and Mayville High School students from the “Be the Change” group on a walk from Parkview Primary Learning Center to Mayville Middle School where they will get on their regular buses or be picked up by parents. This will provide students with the opportunity to get extra movement in their day while also connecting with classmates and positive role models.

“Did you know [talking to the students] that when we have those quiet times in our classrooms where we listen to music and focus on our breathing, that’s Blue Zones! All of the things we do make us a Blue Zones school. It’s just what we do,” commented Becky LeBouton, Parkview Primary Learning Center Principal.

Blue Zones Project is a community-led well-being improvement initiative designed to make healthier choices easier by encouraging simple changes to environment, policy, and social networks. The initiative was brought to Dodge County through sponsorship by Beaver Dam Community Hospitals, in collaboration with Sharecare®, Inc. and Blue Zones, LLC. Dodge County is the first Blue Zones Project demonstration site in the state.

For details about becoming a Blue Zones Project Approved organization or for general information about Blue Zones Project, Dodge County, call 920-342-2479, or visit dodgecounty.bluezonesproject.com

For information about Parkview Primary Learning Center, part of the Mayville School District, call (920) 387-7973

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