“Bright Idea” Grants Awarded To Tuolumne County Schools

Sonora, Ca — Three Tuolumne County schools will receive a combined $10,000 in “Bright Idea” grants. The funding is from PG&E, and is to be used for innovative solar science projects.

The Foothill Horizons Outdoor School will receive $5,000 and Sonora High and Soulsbyville Elementary will share $5,000. Foothill Horizons will invite 4,700 Stanislaus County 6th graders to participate in hands on activities related to energy conservation during a weeklong stay at the school.

Sonora High and Soulsbyville Elementary students will engage in educational units covering alternative energy and conservation during their Earth Science and Chemistry courses. Each school will then develop “Energy Patrol” teams to monitor school wide energy use.

Sonora High students will develop and teach energy lessons to Soulsbyville 7th and 8th graders, who will, in turn, teach lower grade students on their campus.

Sonora High´s Students for the Future Club will develop energy bulletin announcements and teacher/staff information packets, and give solar energy demonstrations during lunch period. The grants issued to the schools were among only 22 given out statewide.

Written by BJ Hansen