Sonoma Elementary School

Welcome to Sonoma's Sustainability Hub!

We are dedicated to fostering environmental awareness and responsibility among our students. Through engaging activities and initiatives, we strive to empower young learners to become stewards of the planet, making positive contributions to their community and beyond!

Real-time outdoor air monitoring at the Transportation Yard! (Placeholder until Sonoma's monitor is installed)

💡Energy Conservation

A full-time Energy Education Specialist contracted through Cenergistic monitors Sonoma's utility bills and conducts in-person audits to verify HVAC run times and proper lighting usage. The specialist also helps optimize systems to ensure they run efficiently.

Cenergistic provides ongoing training and support, including student engagement opportunities such as "Energy Audits" and "Utility Bill Review." Visit the District Energy Conservation page to learn more!

If you would like more information about this program, contact the Director of Sustainability, Gilbert Blue Feather Rosas, at Rosas.G@mcs4kids.com.

🗑Waste Program!

Air Quality and Health

Purple Air Monitor Program

MCS partnered with UC Merced professor Dr. Asa Bradman to install Purple Air Monitors at all 34 school sites. The installation is underway, but stay tuned to see Sonoma's real-time outdoor air quality. We hope to initiate after-school programs involving environmental clubs and classes in monitoring and tracking.

Through consistent tracking, the air monitors will develop a baseline for emissions. Students can use software like Excel to find correlations in air quality due to site location and surroundings, weather, time of year, and even time of day.

No Idling Campaign

Idling vehicles create unnecessary, harmful pollution that affect students’ health. The message is simple: While you wait for your child, please turn off your engine. Idling for more than 10 seconds uses more fuel than turning off the engine and restarting it.

Resource: Healthy Air Living Schools Program Additional Materials

San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District: Real-Time Air Advisory Network

RAAN uses actual, real-time air-quality data taken directly from the nearest air monitor to help you evaluate air quality and determine the right time for outdoor activities. It also provides Real-Time Outdoor Activity Risk (ROAR) guidelines based on five different air-quality levels.