Quail Summit Elementary Earns National Recognition

A Diamond Bar Elementary School recently received national recognition for its effort to bring students of all kinds together.

Officials with the Southern Poverty Law Center's Teaching Tolerance program named Quail Summit Elementary a Mix It Up Model School "for its exemplary efforts to foster respect and understanding among students and throughout campus during the 2012-13 school year," according to a Walnut Valley Unified School District news release.

The Quail Summit Drive campus was one of 63 schools nationwide to receive the honor, district officials said.  The announcement was made April 9.

Campuses picked as Mix It Up Model Schools must have hosted a Mix It Up at Lunch Day in 2012 or 2013 involving the entire school community, followed up with two additional events related to the program, and publicize their activities with posters, announcements, and other media, officials said.  The event the school hosts must be seen by students and school officials as a success.

Quail Valley hosted a lunchtime event Oct. 16 that included a cross-age scavenger hunt and and frozen treats.

“It was wonderful watching the students enjoying the process of making new friends while having fun during the scavenger hunt," Ruhl said in the news release.  "The Mix It Up at Lunch Day is a great lesson in celebrating and enjoying one another.” 

Mix It Up Day has been around for more than a decade, giving students nationwide a chance to go beyond their comfort zones to create a connection with someone new during lunch, officials said.  The aim is to help reduce prejudice and social divisions. More than 3,000 schools participated in the event last year.

“We are delighted to recognize each of these schools,” said Teaching Tolerance Director Maureen Costello in a statement. “Mix It Up Model Schools have found innovative ways to create a school environment where respect and inclusiveness are core values. They serve as examples for other schools hoping to instill these values in their students, faculty and staff.”

 The 2013 National Mix It Up at Lunch Day will take place on Oct. 29. A list of the model schools can be found at http://www.tolerance.org/mix-it-up/model-schools.