Step 1: Get the Necessary People on the Bus

• The Principal—meet with the principal and share the PEP program with them. Leave them a copy of the 7 Step Healthy, Positive Kids Plan. Ask them to be a pioneer and lead the way to help teach and raise healthy positive children. Once the principal is on the bus the gas accelerates and the bus moves forward with powerful momentum.
• The District or County Food Service Manager—Meet with them and the Principal to gain their support. Ask them what options are available to provide healthier food choices. Ask them what is the policy in using alternative vendors to offer healthier food choices. Determine if there are extra costs involved.
• PTA or PTO President—Meet with them and ask for their support and involvement. Ask them to make it the top priority of the PTO. After all, what’s more important than raising healthy, positive kids. Isn’t it the purpose of the school to support our children’s growth. The PTO will be critical in promoting the initiative to parents, raising necessary funds to offer healthier food choices (if necessary) uniting volunteers and offering free healthy positive kids seminars to parents.
• The Teachers—They interact with the children every day. They have a tremendous influence on our children’s choices and they will be instrumental in guiding children towards better food choices, more physical activity and emotional development strategies. Positive and energized teachers will help ensure positive and energized students.
• Gym Coach—Almost all Gym coaches will be excited about helping children become more active. Share with them the success of the Ponte Vedra Palm Valley Elementary School tree track for an easy way for children to get more exercise.
• Kitchen Manager and Lunch Room Servers—Since they are the people who will be cooking and serving lunch each day to many of our children they are an essential ingredient to the success of the program. Not only do we need their support but they need our support. Meet with them and ask for their support. Have them share their concerns since many of these folks are already over burdened and underpaid. You don’t want them to resent this program because it places more of a burden on them. You want them to be on your bus. So ask them how you can support them. Offer to bring in volunteers to help out in the kitchen. Let them you know that you will be working together with them and not expect them to give without receiving help.

Step 2: Get the Parents Involved

• Send Letters home telling parents about PEP and ways they can become involved. I.e. walking around the tree track with the children; cutting up fresh fruits and vegetables; raising money to fund healthy food choices; promoting Positive Energy Day.
• Give parents a copy of the 7 Step Plan for Raising Healthy, Positive Kids.
• Offer parents the opportunity to attend free seminars providing ways to raise, healthy positive kids. Provide incentives for them to attend the seminars.
• Ask them to encourage healthy, positive habits at home.
  • For example: don’t send your children to school with fast food.
  • No cupcakes, donuts, or cake on birthdays in the school. (Encourage healthy celebrations)

Step 3: Energize the Teachers

• Offer free seminars to teachers.
• Invite Jon Gordon or one of his trained Energy Coaches to share with teachers strategies on how to stay physically mentally, and emotionally energized and engaged throughout the year. These programs will also offer strategies to reduce stress and avoid burnout.
• Provide teachers lesson plans, available on this -, to teach children how to manage their emotions for success and enhanced performance.

Step 4: Make Food and Fitness a Priority

• Serve bottled water.
• Ban the junk food machines
• Offer fresh fruit and veggies in the cafeteria
• Serve salad shakers
• Institute a walking program at school just like current reading programs promoted in many schools. Give rewards for students to encourage walking.

Step 5: Teach the Children

• Teach the children about developing strong bodies. IF you are going to offer healthy food choices in the cafeteria you will want the children to actually eat them. Thus it is essential to teach children about making good healthy food choices so they eat the healthy food you serve. If you are gong to take the time to cut up fresh fruit and veggies then you want to make sure the children will choose them.
• Teach the children about the importance of exercise.
• Incorporate PEP lesson plans into the curriculum twice a month.
• Get children involved in Positive Energy Day.