1. Marketing Healthy Schools Initiatives Eight Easy Steps

2. Using the Local Newspaper Send a press release 1-2 weeks in advance Send an alert the day before Follow up with phone call Send press release with photos after if newspaper doesn’t cover event

3. Formatting the Media Alert WHO: Students at Oakmont Elementary School WHAT: Holding 1K Fun Walk WHEN: Friday, June 15, 2007, 10:00 a.m. WHERE: Oakmont Elementary School Walking Track, 200 Oakmont Street, Oak Valley, Miss.

4. Newspaper Serenity Prayer Grant me the Serenity to accept what they choose to cover and not to cover. The Courage to continue notifying them of events even when they never cover my school. The Wisdom to know that there are other ways to get my message out.

5. Because there are only two ways to control what topics are covered in the newspaper, how many column inches a topic receives, and what information about the topic is included:

6. Become the Editor

7. Buy an advertisement Come to our Children’s Dental Health Fair Thursday, June 14, 2007 7:00 p.m. Oakmont Elementary School 200 Oakmont Street Oak Valley, Miss.

8. Step 1: Identify Your Target Audience Students ParentsFaculty

9. Step 2: Ask two questions: What do they know now? What are they doing now?

10. Step 3: Ask two more questions: What do I want them to do? What do I want them to know?

11. Step 4: Identify Key Messages Who, what, when, where Why good health is important Connection between health and achievement How to make healthy choices How what parents do impacts the health of their children Why teachers need to model healthy behavior

12. Step 5: Deliver Key Messages Sign in front of the school Backpack notes District television station Morning announcements Email Newsletters (Print or Electronic) Website Phone Trees Bulletin Boards/Posters

13. Healthy Recipe Contest Categories for kids, parents, staff, health professionals, chefs Judges can be mayor, doctor, hospital administrator, sportscaster, athlete

14. Step 6: Evaluate the Results Attendance Surveys Questionnaires Participation Pounds Lost Distance Gained

15. Step 7: Celebrate the Results Thank those involved in helping communicate the message. Gives you the opportunity to reinforce the message.

16. Step 8: Remember Every Drop Counts Each time you convey a bit of information, it’s like a drop in the bucket. You just have to keep adding drops before the others evaporate. Eventually, the bucket will fill to the tipping point.