Pittsburgh Let's Move Pittsburgh Champion Schools Application Guidelines 2015
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Pittsburgh
Let’s Move Pittsburgh Champion Schools Application Guidelines 2015
Let's Move Pittsburgh is a collaborative of organizations, parents and caregivers in southwestern
Pennsylvania committed to leading children in our region toward a healthier future. Inspired by First
Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! campaign to secure children’s health through raised awareness
about the benefits of healthy foods, decreased screen time and increased physical activity, we aim to put
solutions to this national problem into swift action here at home.
About the Champion Schools Initiative
PURPOSE
Let’s Move Pittsburgh wants to celebrate and reward champion schools for being leaders and innovators
of healthy lifestyle programming for children. Since students spend the majority of their day at school, it
is important that kids have the chance to be physically active and eat healthy foods. We want to help
every school in Allegheny County become the healthiest place for kids to learn and grow, and therefore
are excited to award funding to Champion Schools with new or existing programs geared towards
children’s health and well-being.
AWARDS
Let’s Move Pittsburgh has received a generous gift from the Heinz Endowments to fund its Champion
Schools project. Applicants may apply to one of the following grant opportunities:
• Champion Schools Seed Grant (up to $1,000): This application is for schools that are proposing
new programs and are in need of tools and resources to make their project a reality. These
Champion Schools will be awarded funding for program implementation.
• Champion Schools Awards (up to $1,000): This application is for schools that already have
programs or projects in place and can provide Let’s Move Pittsburgh with evidence of impact.
These projects will be celebrated for their great work, featured as case studies and awarded
funding for continued support.
Please note that all money must be used towards program or project costs (expansion, incentives,
equipment, measurement, evaluation, etc.).
ELIGIBLE PROGRAMS/PROJECTS
Let’s Move Pittsburgh is looking for Champion Schools whose programs or projects are focused on at
least one of the following areas:
• Bag the Junk: Let’s Move Pittsburgh challenges applicants to increase healthy food and nutrition
education in schools. Example projects may include the following:
o An initiative to remove junk food from the school setting
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o A nutrition education program
o A program to increase access to healthy foods in schools
• Get Kids Moving: Let’s Move Pittsburgh challenges applicants to increase physical activity in and
out of schools. Example projects may include the following:
o Classroom activity breaks
o An afterschool exercise club
o Structured recess games
• Teach Kids to Grow and Cook Food: Let’s Move Pittsburgh challenges applicants to increase
knowledge of how to grow and prepare healthy food among youth. Examples projects may
include the following:
o A school vegetable garden
o An afterschool healthy cooking club
o Healthy cooking lessons from local chefs
HEALTHY FUNDRAISERS
Recipients of Champion Schools Seed Grants and Champion Schools Awards must commit to leading at
least one healthy fundraiser in their school. Let’s Move Pittsburgh will share resources with ideas for
creative fundraisers.
WHO MAY APPLY
Educators, administrators, students, food service directors, school nurses and/or parents on behalf of an
early childhood center, pre-kindergarten or elementary school in Allegheny County. All applicants
must receive permission from the school principal to apply for funds.
APPLICATION TIMELINE
Visit http://letsmovepittsburgh.org/champion to complete the application. Your completed application
must be submitted by Friday, Nov. 6, 2015. Winning applicants will be notified by Friday, Dec. 18, 2015.
SCORING
Applications will be scored by multiple reviewers using three criteria: need, sustainability and impact.
Please keep these factors in mind as you complete your application. We want to have a thorough
understanding of the school environment and how the proposed program/project will make the school a
healthier place!
THINGS TO DO BEFORE COMPLETING THE APPLICATION
1. Collect information about your school. You will need several pieces of information to complete the
application. Be sure to gather (1) school contact information, (2) school enrollment information, (3)
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percentage of children who qualify for free or reduced price lunch, and (4) how many children are
expected to participate in your proposed program.
2. Build a Champion School team! Solicit support from key individuals in your school and schedule a
time to meet. Brainstorm ideas for health and wellness initiatives that you would like to see in your
school. Strong and diverse teams are encouraged.
3. Visit the Let’s Move Pittsburgh website www.letsmovepittsburgh.org to learn about our programs,
partners and annual symposium. Keep the mission of Let’s Move Pittsburgh in mind as you fill out
the application.
4. Identify existing resources you can use for free and then ask Let’s Move Pittsburgh to cover the
costs you could not otherwise pay for yourself. Provide a budget narrative and clearly state the
amount you are applying for in your application.
5. Review the PDF form of the application beforehand. The PDF application is to help you prepare.
You will complete the actual application process using Survey Monkey.
6. Develop an action plan for your program. You will be asked to provide details about your program
or project, specifically: frequency and duration (the extent and how often the program will take
place), delivery method (who and how your health message or activity will be carried out) and
tangibles/materials (any hands-on tools, equipment, food and learning resources).
7. Formulate your objective statements to demonstrate project impact. Objectives are the basis of
your evaluation plan. Ask yourself what will change as a result of your project and then consider
how you will measure the change. Use this information to create your objectives. An acceptable,
measureable objective can be written in the following way: “After (a set time), (what number), of
(who) will be able to (do what).” Here is an example: In the first semester, the 3rd grade class will
have tasted 18 different vegetables.
8. Develop an evaluation plan. Consider how you will measure your impact. Please list one evaluation
method for each objective you list in the application. Please choose a method from the following
list: surveys, interviews, student journaling, instructor observations, activities or
tests/demonstrations. Building upon the previous example: The project leader will supervise the 3rd
grade class and document that the kids tasted the vegetables for the program evaluation.
9. Consider adding a family component to your program. Let’s Move Pittsburgh aims to involve the
entire family in healthy eating and physical activity. Programs with a family component will stand
out!
10. Contact us with questions. Please contact esaltmarsh@phipps.conservatory.org for any questions
about filling out the application.
Still have questions? Check out our frequently asked questions below!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Champion School Seed Grant and Champion School Awards?
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Applicants can choose to apply for a Champion School Seed Grant or a Champion School Award. Schools
that want to start a new program should apply for the Champion School Seed Grant to help get the
program started. Applicants can request up to $1,000 to kick start their program. Schools that want to
be recognized for an existing program or project should apply for the Champion School Award. Programs
that have evidence of success and impact can receive recognition as a Champion School and model best
practices for other schools in the Greater Pittsburgh community.
Why is the application only open to Allegheny County early childhood centers, pre-kindergarten and
elementary schools?
Research tells us that in order to impact child health, we need to reach children with healthy messaging
as early as possible. If your school is located outside of Allegheny County or working with the adolescent
population, please still visit www.letsmovepittsburgh.org or contact Let’s Move Pittsburgh for
information on other ways to get involved in our movement.
When will the selected Champion School Awards and Champion School Seed Grants be announced?
The application period begins on Monday, August 31, 2015 and ends on Friday, November 6, 2015. A
panel of local Pittsburgh leaders and school partners will review applications and selected Champion
Schools will be notified by Friday, December 18, 2015.
Can one school submit multiple applications?
Although it is wonderful that your school has so much healthy activities and programming, Let’s Move
Pittsburgh will only grant one award per school. Please pick your best programming to be featured on
the application.
What if a school has already received funds from Let’s Move Pittsburgh in 2015?
Let’s Move Pittsburgh may only award a school one grant per calendar year. If your school received a
grant in June 2015, please apply again in 2016. If your school received a grant in 2014, you are eligible to
apply this year.
What if you don’t have a team involved with the school project?
This is a great opportunity to start one! An effective school health system uses a team approach to guide
programming and facilitate collaboration between the school and the community. A team of individuals
who are committed to school health issues ensures sustainability of all the hard work going on right
now. Solicit support from key individuals in your school.
What needs to be included in the budget?
Clearly state the award amount the school is applying for, an amount up to $1,000. Ideally, no money
should be going to an individual’s salary. We want to see money used to purchase supplies, materials,
equipment, incentives, event costs, evaluation and other creative uses.
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What kind of information should be included in the time of activities?
We want to know the start and end date of your program and any upcoming wellness events your
program is involved with, if your team meets monthly to discuss or evaluate the program or project and
if there is a variety in the curriculum.
Why describe other wellness initiatives at your school?
Your description of additional wellness programs at your school will serve as an assessment of the
school environment for the Award Selection Panel. This will also help you identify specific gaps in
healthy programming at your school. For instance, there may be a primary focus on food and nutrition
at your school, but not enough attention to physical activity programming.
Why describe parent involvement?
A family or “take-home” element is likely to improve impact on healthy behaviors. If your project does
not have a take home element, continue on with the application and consider a way to include parents
in the future. If your project does have a take home element, please briefly describe this in 100 words or
less.
What is the Let’s Move Pittsburgh Symposium?
The Let’s Move Pittsburgh Symposium is held every November. The work of the Champion Schools from
2014 and the first round of 2015 awards (awarded in June 2015) will be highlighted at the November
12th symposium. Recipients of this current funding opportunity (round two of 2015) will be highlighted
at the next symposium in November 2016. Champion Schools may be invited to participate in
presentations, poster presentations, panels, etc. If you are asked to participate, we will help you prepare
by providing examples from last year’s presentations, helping with brainstorming and reviewing and
editing your presentations. Choosing not to participate in the event does not hurt your chances of being
selected for award money. Please refer to the web site for information about the upcoming event:
http://www.letsmovepittsburgh.org/symposium.php.
Why are Healthy Fundraisers required?
Fundraisers are a great way to support your health and wellness programs and make them sustainable
for future school years. Traditionally, some fundraisers involve selling unhealthy foods like candy, chips
and sugar-sweetened beverages. Let’s Move Pittsburgh challenges schools to use alternative methods
that do not involve unhealthy foods like healthy concession stands, walk-a-thons or craft fairs.
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