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Fuel Up to Play 60 eNewsletter
February 2012
This eNewsletter is a companion to the Fuel Up to Play 60 program, designed to help you manage and guide students as they lead the way toward school wellness!
News You Can Use
Last spring, we asked Fuel Up to Play 60 supporters how the program is going in their schools. Fuel Up to Play 60 is now in over 70,000 schools nationwide – and more than 10,000 schools responded to our call for input! This feedback is crucial because that's how Fuel Up to Play 60 improves – with suggestions from supporters like you. Here's a quick snapshot of what you told us.
- Three out of four Fuel Up to Play 60 schools are actively promoting the program and its key messages about healthy eating and physical activity to students, staff and administrators.
- Nearly half of Fuel Up to Play 60 schools have completed a Healthy Eating Play or a Physical Activity Play. And a high percentage of schools keep the Plays going for the entire school year or on an ongoing basis.
- One in five students is actively involved with the program in Fuel Up to Play 60 schools. That translates into over 7.5 million students nationwide who are helping to activate the program.
- The majority of respondents perceive positive changes in the nutrition and physical activity environment, student behavior and overall support for school wellness efforts. Schools that report these positive changes tend to be schools that are going further with Fuel Up to Play 60.
- Nearly 90% of schools report that they're implementing Fuel Up to Play 60 with other local and national school wellness initiatives.
- Some users report that they need help knowing how to implement Fuel Up to Play 60 and that they need to find more ways to spark the interest of staff throughout their schools. We're responding by continually adding tools and resources to make it easier than ever to activate the program and share the word with staff and administrators in your school.
Want to know more? Read a short report on the survey results.
Above: A student in Springdale, Arkansas, gives the thumbs-up to Fuel Up to Play 60.
Program Updates
Apply now! Be recognized as State Program Advisor of the Year and win for your school!
Do you have what it takes to represent your state as Program Advisor of the Year? Fuel Up to Play 60 and the NFL Alumni Association recognize your hard work and dedication. We know that Program Advisors lead the charge toward creating healthier school environments for their students.
To show our gratitude, we will once again award one Program Advisor or Program Advisor team from each state* with the "2012 Fuel Up to Play 60 State Program Advisor of the Year" reward. The program is supported by the NFL Alumni Association.
This year, the stakes are high! State Program Advisors of the Year will win a visit to their school from a member of the NFL Alumni Association!
In addition to engaging and empowering students to get involved in Fuel Up to Play 60, Program Advisors help their schools and students earn recognition, rewards and funding to support wellness initiatives in their schools. Any adult enrolled in Fuel Up to Play 60 can become a Program Advisor. Just sign up for this role on your Dashboard.
Applications will be accepted until March 16, and winners will be named in April. Simply log on to your Dashboard to access the application.
*Program is valid in the District of Columbia. Hawaii is not a participating state.
New "Meet Your Inner Chef" Play now live
Looking for a new and innovative way to make healthy connections between your school and the community? You'll want to check out the new "Meet Your Inner Chef" Play!
In this Play, you'll take advantage of Let's Move! Chefs Move to Schools programs to find exciting ways to get students, staff and community members involved in helping to support your healthy school environment. You'll work with local restaurants to find chefs who can volunteer their time to help get kids interested – and spice things up – in your school meals program!
To find chefs who may already be signed up to partner with schools in your area, visit the Let's Move! Chefs Move to Schools map or sign up to be matched with a chef.
Learn more about the shared goals of Fuel Up to Play 60 and First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! program.
Time to vote for the 2012 Summer Challenge poll
Yes, it's winter, but Fuel Up to Play 60 is thinking summer! Voting for the Fuel Up to Play 60 Summer Challenge poll has started! So far, "Dance Party" is in the lead, with "Obstacle Course" and "Go Green" not too far behind. Encourage students to sign into their Dashboards at FuelUpToPlay60.com to vote for their favorite. Voting closes March 9.
Contest winners named
Kim Anehall, a Program Advisor in Chicago, Illinois, and Claudia Correa, a Program Supporter in Miami Beach, Florida, are December's national "spotlight" winners in the Fuel Up to Play 60 monthly activation contest. They won $500 prize packs featuring gear from the Fuel Up to Play 60 Store and NFL. They're joined by 102 other individuals who won $100 prize packs. To learn more about how the monthly activation contest works, click here.
Upcoming Deadlines
- PLAY 60 Bus Contest: deadline to enter 2/10
- Voting for Summer Challenge poll ends 3/9
- 2012 Fuel Up to Play 60 State Program Advisor of the Year, supported by the NFL Alumni Association: application deadline 3/16
- Funds for Fuel Up to Play 60: application deadline 6/1
Guided by Program Advisor and school nutrition professional Cecelia Nolen, students at Madison Park School in Phoenix, Arizona, have started a student-led breakfast club where kids can eat nutritious foods that include fresh fruits and low-fat and fat-free dairy. Read more about Madison's breakfast club – and about the school's walking club. Log on to your Dashboard to submit your own Success Story.
Claim your Fuel Up to Play 60 banner... by becoming a Touchdown School! We are recognizing schools that complete the Six Steps with the inaugural Touchdown School Award. Find out more about this honor and how to secure a banner for your school.
Activate Students
The Physical Activity Challenge launches February 6 and remains open through March 26. This Challenge encourages students to show off how they are engaging in a Physical Activity Play. Students are encouraged to get their whole school involved and can submit video, pictures and more! As a reminder, all entries – including music, lyrics, film and/or dialogue – must be original.
We also want to thank all who encouraged their students to apply for the State Representative and National Student Ambassador Program. The online application portal officially closed on January 31, and the Fuel Up to Play 60 team is busy reading and reviewing all submissions. Students will be informed of their acceptance by email and a mailed "welcome package" in March 2012. Until then, encourage your students to visit the new Student Ambassador page of FuelUpToPlay60.com to learn more about the program, meet the current team of State Representatives and National Student Ambassadors and be inspired to lead their school toward a healthier future!
Above: National Student Ambassadors and State Representatives get active at the 2011 Student Ambassador Summit in Washington, D.C.
Activate Educators
This month's "Activate Educators" column is written by Russ McHenry, a Program Advisor at Northern Guilford Middle School in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Key to building a successful Fuel Up to Play 60 program is getting your entire school completely on board. Here are some steps we've taken at our school to do just that!
- I first met with my principal and told him about Fuel Up to Play 60. He was interested but wanted to know more.
- I then invited our local Dairy Council representative to make a presentation about Fuel Up to Play 60 to physical educators from around our county. The lead nutritionist for food service in our county and the nutrition staff from our school were also at this meeting.
- Next up was forming a team of student leaders who would provide program leadership. The team met with the principal, and when he saw the students' dedication and enthusiasm, he fully supported the program.
- The student leaders decided to take the Fuel Up to Play 60 message to the entire school community. They do so by giving regular in-school TV updates and by maintaining Fuel Up to Play 60 bulletin boards in the office and the cafeteria.
- Working together, we provide many activities that capture the attention and support of teachers, staff, administration, parents – and of course, students! For example, our popular Fuel Up to Play 60 intramural program has been a great hit: all students and teachers participate on these special days. Winners get a free yogurt parfait with all the toppings for their homeroom. This has helped get teachers excited about the program. The more our teachers see the students actively involved, the more enthusiastic they become!
Fuel Up to Play 60 has truly become a team effort at North Guilford Middle School!
Above: Russ McHenry (right) and his students at a Carolina Panthers Fuel Up to Play 60 event.
NFL Corner
There's still time to enter the PLAY 60 Bus Contest! Do you need funding to reach even more kids and have even more fun with Fuel Up to Play 60? Then this is your lucky day! NFL PLAY 60 is sending the PLAY 60 Bus to one deserving community, and we want it to be yours! If a cafeteria makeover, a gym refurbishment or new uniforms for the sports teams sound like something you might need, click here to enter and tell the NFL why your school needs help with continuing to Fuel Up to Play 60. You may end up winning just what you ask for! The contest closes on February 10, so don't delay!
Featured Articles
Featured Resource: Parent Outreach Tools
You want to involve parents in your Fuel Up to Play 60 program – but how? We've got the tools you need! Check out the Who Can Help and How guide for parents as well as the Parent Information Letter Template. There's even a "Parent Newsletter" Play! Get parents on your Fuel Up to Play 60 team!
National Participation Rates for Subsidized Lunches Soar
Participation rates in free and reduced-price meal programs are rising across the country – offering expanded opportunities to reach students with messaging and promotions that support healthy eating choices. As of the end of the last school year, national participation in federally subsidized school meals has increased by 17%, to 21 million, with some states experiencing rates as high as 25%. This is a great chance to encourage student teams to focus on Healthy Eating Plays like those featured in "Making Nutritious Foods Fun."
Studies Connect Physical Activity and School Performance
Strong evidence links increased physical activity with positive academic performance, according to a systematic review of prior studies in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. Exercise might improve cognition by increasing blood flow to the brain, neurotransmission and cell regeneration. The review suggests that physical activity boosts the levels of endorphins that can reduce stress.
News You Can Use
Last spring, we asked Fuel Up to Play 60 supporters – including P.E. teachers like you – how the program is going in their schools. Fuel Up to Play 60 is now in over 70,000 schools nationwide – and more than 10,000 schools responded to our call for input! This feedback is crucial because that's how Fuel Up to Play 60 improves – with suggestions from supporters like you. Here's a quick snapshot of what you told us.
- Three out of four Fuel Up to Play 60 schools are actively promoting the program and its key messages about healthy eating and physical activity to students, staff and administrators.
- Nearly half of Fuel Up to Play 60 schools have completed a Healthy Eating Play or a Physical Activity Play. And a high percentage of schools keep the Plays going for the entire school year or on an ongoing basis.
- One in five students is actively involved with the program in Fuel Up to Play 60 schools. That translates into over 7.5 million students nationwide who are helping to activate the program.
- The majority of respondents perceive positive changes in the nutrition and physical activity environment, student behavior and overall support for school wellness efforts. Schools that report these positive changes tend to be schools that are going further with Fuel Up to Play 60.
- Nearly 90% of schools report that they're implementing Fuel Up to Play 60 with other local and national school wellness initiatives.
- Some users report that they need help knowing how to implement Fuel Up to Play 60 and that they need to find more ways to spark the interest of staff throughout their schools. We're responding by continually adding tools and resources to make it easier than ever to activate the program and share the word with staff and administrators in your school.
Want to know more? Read a short report on the survey results.
Above: A student in Springdale, Arkansas, gives the thumbs-up to Fuel Up to Play 60.
Program Updates
Apply now! Be recognized as State Program Advisor of the Year and win for your school!
Do you have what it takes to represent your state as Program Advisor of the Year? Fuel Up to Play 60 and the NFL Alumni Association recognize your hard work and dedication. We know that Program Advisors lead the charge toward creating healthier school environments for their students.
To show our gratitude, we will once again award one Program Advisor or Program Advisor team from each state* with the "2012 Fuel Up to Play 60 State Program Advisor of the Year" reward. The program is supported by the NFL Alumni Association.
This year, the stakes are high! State Program Advisors of the Year will win a visit to their school from a member of the NFL Alumni Association!
In addition to engaging and empowering students to get involved in Fuel Up to Play 60, Program Advisors help their schools and students earn recognition, rewards and funding to support wellness initiatives in their schools. Any adult enrolled in Fuel Up to Play 60 can become a Program Advisor. Just sign up for this role on your Dashboard.
Applications will be accepted until March 16, and winners will be named in April. Simply log on to your Dashboard to access the application.
*Program is valid in the District of Columbia. Hawaii is not a participating state.
New "Meet Your Inner Chef" Play now live
Looking for a new and innovative way to make healthy connections between your school and the community? You'll want to check out the new "Meet Your Inner Chef" Play!
In this Play, you'll take advantage of Let's Move! Chefs Move to Schools programs to find exciting ways to get students, staff and community members involved in helping to support your healthy school environment. You'll work with local restaurants to find chefs who can volunteer their time to help get kids interested – and spice things up – in your school meals program!
To find chefs who may already be signed up to partner with schools in your area, visit the Let's Move! Chefs Move to Schools map or sign up to be matched with a chef.
Learn more about the shared goals of Fuel Up to Play 60 and First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! program.
Time to vote for the 2012 Summer Challenge poll
Yes, it's winter, but Fuel Up to Play 60 is thinking summer! Voting for the Fuel Up to Play 60 Summer Challenge poll has started! So far, "Dance Party" is in the lead, with "Obstacle Course" and "Go Green" not too far behind. Encourage students to sign into their Dashboards at FuelUpToPlay60.com to vote for their favorite. Voting closes March 9.
Contest winners named
Kim Anehall, a Program Advisor in Chicago, Illinois, and Claudia Correa, a Program Supporter in Miami Beach, Florida, are December's national "spotlight" winners in the Fuel Up to Play 60 monthly activation contest. They won $500 prize packs featuring gear from the Fuel Up to Play 60 Store and NFL. They're joined by 102 other individuals who won $100 prize packs. To learn more about how the monthly activation contest works, click here.
Upcoming Deadlines
- PLAY 60 Bus Contest: deadline to enter 2/10
- Voting for Summer Challenge poll ends 3/9
- 2012 Fuel Up to Play 60 State Program Advisor of the Year, supported by the NFL Alumni Association: application deadline 3/16
- Funds for Fuel Up to Play 60: application deadline 6/1
Coach Clint Shelby, Program Advisor at Herrington Elementary School in Round Rock, Texas, worked with his students to create an after-school running club for students, parents and teachers. The whole school – from the principal to the parents – supports Herrington's Fuel Up to Play 60 program. Read more about Herrington's successful program – and log on to your Dashboard to submit your own Success Story.
Join Fuel Up to Play 60 and the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) on Wednesday, March 7, 1:00-1:45 Eastern, for a webinar on how P.E. teachers can effectively integrate nutrition education into an existing physical education curriculum. Register now! This webinar is just one of the ways Fuel Up to Play 60 is working with NASPE this year and is part of Fuel Up to Play 60's overall outreach to education organizations.
Activate Students
The Physical Activity Challenge launches February 6 and remains open through March 26. This Challenge encourages students to show off how they are engaging in a Physical Activity Play. Students are encouraged to get their whole school involved and can submit video, pictures and more! As a reminder, all entries – including music, lyrics, film and/or dialogue – must be original.
We also want to thank all who encouraged their students to apply for the State Representative and National Student Ambassador Program. The online application portal officially closed on January 31, and the Fuel Up to Play 60 team is busy reading and reviewing all submissions. Students will be informed of their acceptance by email and a mailed "welcome package" in March 2012. Until then, encourage your students to visit the new Student Ambassador page of FuelUpToPlay60.com to learn more about the program, meet the current team of State Representatives and National Student Ambassadors and be inspired to lead their school toward a healthier future!
Above: National Student Ambassadors and State Representatives get active at the 2011 Student Ambassador Summit in Washington, D.C.
Activate Educators
This month's "Activate Educators" column is written by Russ McHenry, a Program Advisor at Northern Guilford Middle School in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Key to building a successful Fuel Up to Play 60 program is getting your entire school completely on board. Here are some steps we've taken at our school to do just that!
- I first met with my principal and told him about Fuel Up to Play 60. He was interested but wanted to know more.
- I then invited our local Dairy Council representative to make a presentation about Fuel Up to Play 60 to physical educators from around our county. The lead nutritionist for food service in our county and the nutrition staff from our school were also at this meeting.
- Next up was forming a team of student leaders who would provide program leadership. The team met with the principal, and when he saw the students' dedication and enthusiasm, he fully supported the program.
- The student leaders decided to take the Fuel Up to Play 60 message to the entire school community. They do so by giving regular in-school TV updates and by maintaining Fuel Up to Play 60 bulletin boards in the office and the cafeteria.
- Working together, we provide many activities that capture the attention and support of teachers, staff, administration, parents – and of course, students! For example, our popular Fuel Up to Play 60 intramural program has been a great hit: all students and teachers participate on these special days. Winners get a free yogurt parfait with all the toppings for their homeroom. This has helped get teachers excited about the program. The more our teachers see the students actively involved, the more enthusiastic they become!
Fuel Up to Play 60 has truly become a team effort at North Guilford Middle School!
Above: Russ McHenry (right) and his students at a Carolina Panthers Fuel Up to Play 60 event.
NFL Corner
There's still time to enter the PLAY 60 Bus Contest! Do you need funding to reach even more kids and have even more fun with Fuel Up to Play 60? Then this is your lucky day! NFL PLAY 60 is sending the PLAY 60 Bus to one deserving community, and we want it to be yours! If a cafeteria makeover, a gym refurbishment or new uniforms for the sports teams sound like something you might need, click here to enter and tell the NFL why your school needs help with continuing to Fuel Up to Play 60. You may end up winning just what you ask for! The contest closes on February 10, so don't delay!
Featured Articles
Featured Resource: Parent Outreach Tools
You want to involve parents in your Fuel Up to Play 60 program – but how? We've got the tools you need! Check out the Who Can Help and How guide for parents as well as the Parent Information Letter Template. There's even a "Parent Newsletter" Play! Get parents on your Fuel Up to Play 60 team!
National Participation Rates for Subsidized Lunches Soar
Participation rates in free and reduced-price meal programs are rising across the country – offering expanded opportunities to reach students with messaging and promotions that support healthy eating choices. As of the end of the last school year, national participation in federally subsidized school meals has increased by 17%, to 21 million, with some states experiencing rates as high as 25%. This is a great chance to encourage student teams to focus on Healthy Eating Plays like those featured in "Making Nutritious Foods Fun."
Studies Connect Physical Activity and School Performance
Strong evidence links increased physical activity with positive academic performance, according to a systematic review of prior studies in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. Exercise might improve cognition by increasing blood flow to the brain, neurotransmission and cell regeneration. The review suggests that physical activity boosts the levels of endorphins that can reduce stress.
News You Can Use
Last spring, we asked Fuel Up to Play 60 supporters – including school nutrition professionals like you – how the program is going in their schools. Fuel Up to Play 60 is now in over 70,000 schools nationwide – and more than 10,000 schools responded to our call for input! This feedback is crucial because that's how Fuel Up to Play 60 improves – with suggestions from supporters like you. Here's a quick snapshot of what you told us.
- Three out of four Fuel Up to Play 60 schools are actively promoting the program and its key messages about healthy eating and physical activity to students, staff and administrators.
- Nearly half of Fuel Up to Play 60 schools have completed a Healthy Eating Play or a Physical Activity Play. And a high percentage of schools keep the Plays going for the entire school year or on an ongoing basis.
- One in five students is actively involved with the program in Fuel Up to Play 60 schools. That translates into over 7.5 million students nationwide who are helping to activate the program.
- The majority of respondents perceive positive changes in the nutrition and physical activity environment, student behavior and overall support for school wellness efforts. Schools that report these positive changes tend to be schools that are going further with Fuel Up to Play 60.
- Nearly 90% of schools report that they're implementing Fuel Up to Play 60 with other local and national school wellness initiatives.
- Some users report that they need help knowing how to implement Fuel Up to Play 60 and that they need to find more ways to spark the interest of staff throughout their schools. We're responding by continually adding tools and resources to make it easier than ever to activate the program and share the word with staff and administrators in your school.
Want to know more? Read a short report on the survey results.
Above: A student in Springdale, Arkansas, gives the thumbs-up to Fuel Up to Play 60.
Program Updates
Apply now! Be recognized as State Program Advisor of the Year and win for your school!
Do you have what it takes to represent your state as Program Advisor of the Year? Fuel Up to Play 60 and the NFL Alumni Association recognize your hard work and dedication. We know that Program Advisors lead the charge toward creating healthier school environments for their students.
To show our gratitude, we will once again award one Program Advisor or Program Advisor team from each state* with the "2012 Fuel Up to Play 60 State Program Advisor of the Year" reward. The program is supported by the NFL Alumni Association.
This year, the stakes are high! State Program Advisors of the Year will win a visit to their school from a member of the NFL Alumni Association!
In addition to engaging and empowering students to get involved in Fuel Up to Play 60, Program Advisors help their schools and students earn recognition, rewards and funding to support wellness initiatives in their schools. Any adult enrolled in Fuel Up to Play 60 can become a Program Advisor. Just sign up for this role on your Dashboard.
Applications will be accepted until March 16, and winners will be named in April. Simply log on to your Dashboard to access the application.
*Program is valid in the District of Columbia. Hawaii is not a participating state.
New "Meet Your Inner Chef" Play now live
Looking for a new and innovative way to make healthy connections between your school and the community? You'll want to check out the new "Meet Your Inner Chef" Play!
In this Play, you'll take advantage of Let's Move! Chefs Move to Schools programs to find exciting ways to get students, staff and community members involved in helping to support your healthy school environment. You'll work with local restaurants to find chefs who can volunteer their time to help get kids interested – and spice things up – in your school meals program!
To find chefs who may already be signed up to partner with schools in your area, visit the Let's Move! Chefs Move to Schools map or sign up to be matched with a chef.
Learn more about the shared goals of Fuel Up to Play 60 and First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! program.
Time to vote for the 2012 Summer Challenge poll
Yes, it's winter, but Fuel Up to Play 60 is thinking summer! Voting for the Fuel Up to Play 60 Summer Challenge poll has started! So far, "Dance Party" is in the lead, with "Obstacle Course" and "Go Green" not too far behind. Encourage students to sign into their Dashboards at FuelUpToPlay60.com to vote for their favorite. Voting closes March 9.
Contest winners named
Kim Anehall, a Program Advisor in Chicago, Illinois, and Claudia Correa, a Program Supporter in Miami Beach, Florida, are December's national "spotlight" winners in the Fuel Up to Play 60 monthly activation contest. They won $500 prize packs featuring gear from the Fuel Up to Play 60 Store and NFL. They're joined by 102 other individuals who won $100 prize packs. To learn more about how the monthly activation contest works, click here.
Upcoming Deadlines
- PLAY 60 Bus Contest: deadline to enter 2/10
- Voting for Summer Challenge poll ends 3/9
- 2012 Fuel Up to Play 60 State Program Advisor of the Year, supported by the NFL Alumni Association: application deadline 3/16
- Funds for Fuel Up to Play 60: application deadline 6/1
Guided by Program Advisor and school nutrition professional Cecelia Nolen, students at Madison Park School in Phoenix, Arizona, have started a student-led breakfast club where kids can eat nutritious foods that include fresh fruits and low-fat and fat-free dairy. Read more about Madison's breakfast club – and about the school's walking club. Log on to your Dashboard to submit your own Success Story.
Claim your Fuel Up to Play 60 banner... by becoming a Touchdown School! We are recognizing schools that complete the Six Steps with the inaugural Touchdown School Award. Find out more about this honor and how to secure a banner for your school.
NFL Corner
There's still time to enter the PLAY 60 Bus Contest! Do you need funding to reach even more kids and have even more fun with Fuel Up to Play 60? Then this is your lucky day! NFL PLAY 60 is sending the PLAY 60 Bus to one deserving community, and we want it to be yours! If a cafeteria makeover, a gym refurbishment or new uniforms for the sports teams sound like something you might need, click here to enter and tell the NFL why your school needs help with continuing to Fuel Up to Play 60. You may end up winning just what you ask for! The contest closes on February 10, so don't delay!
Featured Articles
Featured Resource: Parent Outreach Tools
You want to involve parents in your Fuel Up to Play 60 program – but how? We've got the tools you need! Check out the Who Can Help and How guide for parents as well as the Parent Information Letter Template. There's even a "Parent Newsletter" Play! Get parents on your Fuel Up to Play 60 team!
National Participation Rates for Subsidized Lunches Soar
Participation rates in free and reduced-price meal programs are rising across the country – offering expanded opportunities to reach students with messaging and promotions that support healthy eating choices. As of the end of the last school year, national participation in federally subsidized school meals has increased by 17%, to 21 million, with some states experiencing rates as high as 25%. This is a great chance to encourage student teams to focus on Healthy Eating Plays like those featured in "Making Nutritious Foods Fun."
Studies Connect Physical Activity and School Performance
Strong evidence links increased physical activity with positive academic performance, according to a systematic review of prior studies in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. Exercise might improve cognition by increasing blood flow to the brain, neurotransmission and cell regeneration. The review suggests that physical activity boosts the levels of endorphins that can reduce stress.
News You Can Use
Last spring, we asked Fuel Up to Play 60 supporters – including school administrators like you – how the program is going in their schools. Fuel Up to Play 60 is now in over 70,000 schools nationwide – and more than 10,000 schools responded to our call for input! This feedback is crucial because that's how Fuel Up to Play 60 improves – with suggestions from supporters like you. Here's a quick snapshot of what you told us.
- Three out of four Fuel Up to Play 60 schools are actively promoting the program and its key messages about healthy eating and physical activity to students, staff and administrators.
- Nearly half of Fuel Up to Play 60 schools have completed a Healthy Eating Play or a Physical Activity Play. And a high percentage of schools keep the Plays going for the entire school year or on an ongoing basis.
- One in five students is actively involved with the program in Fuel Up to Play 60 schools. That translates into over 7.5 million students nationwide who are helping to activate the program.
- The majority of respondents perceive positive changes in the nutrition and physical activity environment, student behavior and overall support for school wellness efforts. Schools that report these positive changes tend to be schools that are going further with Fuel Up to Play 60.
- Nearly 90% of schools report that they're implementing Fuel Up to Play 60 with other local and national school wellness initiatives.
- Some users report that they need help knowing how to implement Fuel Up to Play 60 and that they need to find more ways to spark the interest of staff throughout their schools. We're responding by continually adding tools and resources to make it easier than ever to activate the program and share the word with staff and administrators in your school.
Want to know more? Read a short report on the survey results.
Above: A student in Springdale, Arkansas, gives the thumbs-up to Fuel Up to Play 60.
Program Updates
Apply now! Be recognized as State Program Advisor of the Year and win for your school!
Do you have what it takes to represent your state as Program Advisor of the Year? Fuel Up to Play 60 and the NFL Alumni Association recognize your hard work and dedication. We know that Program Advisors lead the charge toward creating healthier school environments for their students.
To show our gratitude, we will once again award one Program Advisor or Program Advisor team from each state* with the "2012 Fuel Up to Play 60 State Program Advisor of the Year" reward. The program is supported by the NFL Alumni Association.
This year, the stakes are high! State Program Advisors of the Year will win a visit to their school from a member of the NFL Alumni Association!
In addition to engaging and empowering students to get involved in Fuel Up to Play 60, Program Advisors help their schools and students earn recognition, rewards and funding to support wellness initiatives in their schools. Any adult enrolled in Fuel Up to Play 60 can become a Program Advisor. Just sign up for this role on your Dashboard.
Applications will be accepted until March 16, and winners will be named in April. Simply log on to your Dashboard to access the application.
*Program is valid in the District of Columbia. Hawaii is not a participating state.
New "Meet Your Inner Chef" Play now live
Looking for a new and innovative way to make healthy connections between your school and the community? You'll want to check out the new "Meet Your Inner Chef" Play!
In this Play, you'll take advantage of Let's Move! Chefs Move to Schools programs to find exciting ways to get students, staff and community members involved in helping to support your healthy school environment. You'll work with local restaurants to find chefs who can volunteer their time to help get kids interested – and spice things up – in your school meals program!
To find chefs who may already be signed up to partner with schools in your area, visit the Let's Move! Chefs Move to Schools map or sign up to be matched with a chef.
Learn more about the shared goals of Fuel Up to Play 60 and First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! program.
Time to vote for the 2012 Summer Challenge poll
Yes, it's winter, but Fuel Up to Play 60 is thinking summer! Voting for the Fuel Up to Play 60 Summer Challenge poll has started! So far, "Dance Party" is in the lead, with "Obstacle Course" and "Go Green" not too far behind. Encourage students to sign into their Dashboards at FuelUpToPlay60.com to vote for their favorite. Voting closes March 9.
Contest winners named
Kim Anehall, a Program Advisor in Chicago, Illinois, and Claudia Correa, a Program Supporter in Miami Beach, Florida, are December's national "spotlight" winners in the Fuel Up to Play 60 monthly activation contest. They won $500 prize packs featuring gear from the Fuel Up to Play 60 Store and NFL. They're joined by 102 other individuals who won $100 prize packs. To learn more about how the monthly activation contest works, click here.
Upcoming Deadlines
- PLAY 60 Bus Contest: deadline to enter 2/10
- Voting for Summer Challenge poll ends 3/9
- 2012 Fuel Up to Play 60 State Program Advisor of the Year, supported by the NFL Alumni Association: application deadline 3/16
- Funds for Fuel Up to Play 60: application deadline 6/1
At Hampton Elementary School in Hampton, Connecticut, the principal is literally walking the talk! Students in fourth, fifth and sixth grades have formed a Mileage Club and walk the track during their recess – and the principal gets on the track to walk with all the Mileage Club participants. Read more about Hampton's successful program – and log on to your Dashboard to submit your own Success Story.
Claim your Fuel Up to Play 60 banner... by becoming a Touchdown School! We are recognizing schools that complete the Six Steps with the inaugural Touchdown School Award. Find out more about this honor and how to secure a banner for your school.
NFL Corner
There's still time to enter the PLAY 60 Bus Contest! Do you need funding to reach even more kids and have even more fun with Fuel Up to Play 60? Then this is your lucky day! NFL PLAY 60 is sending the PLAY 60 Bus to one deserving community, and we want it to be yours! If a cafeteria makeover, a gym refurbishment or new uniforms for the sports teams sound like something you might need, click here to enter and tell the NFL why your school needs help with continuing to Fuel Up to Play 60. You may end up winning just what you ask for! The contest closes on February 10, so don't delay!
Featured Articles
Featured Resource: Parent Outreach Tools
You want to involve parents in your Fuel Up to Play 60 program – but how? We've got the tools you need! Check out the Who Can Help and How guide for parents as well as the Parent Information Letter Template. There's even a "Parent Newsletter" Play! Get parents on your Fuel Up to Play 60 team!
National Participation Rates for Subsidized Lunches Soar
Participation rates in free and reduced-price meal programs are rising across the country – offering expanded opportunities to reach students with messaging and promotions that support healthy eating choices. As of the end of the last school year, national participation in federally subsidized school meals has increased by 17%, to 21 million, with some states experiencing rates as high as 25%. This is a great chance to encourage student teams to focus on Healthy Eating Plays like those featured in "Making Nutritious Foods Fun."
Studies Connect Physical Activity and School Performance
Strong evidence links increased physical activity with positive academic performance, according to a systematic review of prior studies in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. Exercise might improve cognition by increasing blood flow to the brain, neurotransmission and cell regeneration. The review suggests that physical activity boosts the levels of endorphins that can reduce stress.
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