How to Become a Let's Go! School

 

The first two steps in becoming a Let’s Go! school are:

1.) alerting your principal to your interest and

2.) beginning the formation of a Let’s Go! team. 

Ideally, this team consists of the principal, the school nurse, the PE teacher, a classroom teacher, school health coordinator (if applicable), a PTO member, a champion, the food service director, and any other interested school members.  If the school already has an existing wellness or leadership team, that team may be used with permission of the principal.

A key member on the team is a ‘champion’.  The champion is the person that acts as the main liaison between Let’s Go! and the school.  The champion is responsible for relaying pertinent information to the school team and ensuring continued support from the team.  In the past, the champion has been the school nurse, PE teacher, school health coordinator, assistant principal, a classroom teacher or the Food Service Director. 

Once a team and champion has been identified, the Let’s Go! staff will meet with the team to discuss the program resources (toolkit, presentations, funding, technical assistance,) and implementation of the program.  Each school intervention is based on the needs and desires of the individual school.  The school team identifies a focus area from 10 key Let’s Go! strategies.   Click here for the Let’s Go! Takes 5-2-1-0 to School Focus Worksheet. 

Let’s Go! 10 key strategies

  1. Encourage healthy snacks brought in from home and available at school-related events.
  2. School meals should provide healthy choices, including fresh fruits and vegetables on most days.
  3. Discourage the use of food as a reward.
  4. Encourage the use of electronics that supports physical activity.
  5. Participate in national TV Turn Off Week or create your own.
  6. Incorporate physical activity into the school day.
  7. Use physical activity as a reward.
  8. Participate annually in one or more school-wide events that promote physical activity.
  9. Encourage water and low-fat milk instead of sugar-sweetened drinks.
  10. Role Model…it’s as easy as 5-2-1-0.

 

Please refer to the Let’s Go! Takes 5-2-1-0 to School Flow Chart for more details of how schools work with Let’s Go!  For more information about how to become a Let’s Go! school, please contact Heidi Kessler at 207-662-3393 or hkessler@unitedwdaygp.org.