An introduction letter is sent home in the fall, introducing ALPhA and inviting students/families to participate. The program runs for 7 months (Nov - May).

Students (with parent help) decide on a monthly goal - how many minutes of exercise they will challenge themselves to do each month. Their monthly goal then determines their annual goal (monthly goal X 7). Students must return a contract with their goal in order to participate. They then receive an ALPhA calendar each month for recording activity and minutes.

Each month the calendars are returned and those who return them receive an incentive. I use shoelaces with beads. They receive the shoelace the first month and they receive 4 beads to add to it for each calendar returned. If their goal is met for the month, they receive a special bonus token to add to the top of their beads for the month. At the end of the year, participants receive an ALPhA water bottle. After 2 years of participation, they receive an ALPhA t-shirt. Each year of participating, they receive a certificate. I have had great positive feedback from parents through the years and the students get excited to return their calendars and receive their beads.

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