Often, physical educators can be heard in school gymnasia explaining the importance of PE to groups of students. However, other audiences, at different locations, may need to hear similar messages as well. For example, the staff room and principal's office can be important places to discuss the benefits of physical education, as can be the sharing of thoughts with members of the parent council.

Physical educators can, by sharing their knowledge of the benefits of a quality physical education program, help to influence the opinions of others. In turn, this can assist in creating a sound base of understanding in all members of the learning community of why schools should support the development of a quality program.

The benefits of student participation in quality physical education programs are far reaching, and well documented. However, providing students, parents, fellow staff members, and administrators with a friendly reminder of why physical education programs are essential to both students and the school is something that physical educators should do. That way, everyone has an equal understanding of the role and importance of physical education.

Here are some ideas that can be incorporated into our practice to ensure that everybody in our learning communities can begin to understand the importance of physical education, and appreciate our role of helping students to become physically educated. See how many you can accomplish, and notice the impact that you can make on those around you!

	Educate those around you about the differences between physical education, physical activity, recess, and sport.
	Ensure that parents and students are aware that your physical education program has learning outcomes that are determined through the use of curriculum documents.
	Provide information about the benefits of a quality physical education program in staff meetings and parent council meetings.
	Place 'quick read' materials about physical education and physical activity in the staff room.
	Ensure that physical education has a regular place in newsletters. Report on class activities and future plans.
	Consider having your own physical education newsletter.
	Ensure that physical education has a place on the school’s web site. Keep the information current and use the space to suggest activities, provide information, and resources to parents and students.
	Ensure that the school library has current literature concerning physical activity, fitness activities, and active living.
	Sponsor a physical education workshop at your school.
	Sponsor a Family Physical Activity Night event. Make sure that you invite staff, as well as parents and students. Pass out information brochures that discuss the importance of physical activity, and how parents can influence physical activity patterns in their children.
	Offer to make up bulletin boards around the school illustrating the importance of physical activity, health, and fitness.
	Provide parents and students with ideas on how they can live active lifestyles.
	Provide parents and students with information, contact numbers, and web addresses of local activity clubs, facilities, and organizations.
	Have physical education performances during open houses demonstrating the learning that occurs in your classes.
	Ensure that parents and students are aware that assessment techniques are used in your classes to evaluate that student learning is taking place.
	Invite your principal, local school officials, etc. to visit your classes.
	Invite your fellow staff members and principal to participate in local professional development workshops and regional conferences.
	Suggest that your school formally acknowledge the importance of physical education by including it within the school focus goals for the upcoming year.

Be proud of being a physical educator, and share the value of what you do for students in your physical education program with everyone!

It is a great space to let every one know the benefits of a quality daily physical education program, and to reinforce healthy lifestyle choices.

	Health issues and facts
	Fitness tips and activities
	Family activity ideas to do in the local community in the evenings and on weekends
	Contact numbers and addresses of local clubs, centers, and organizations that promote and provide sport and physical activity programming
	Local events/teams that families can go to watch

For more ideas and photographs of different bulletin boards, visit the PE Central page that features bulletin boards web sites.

If we really want to promote our programs, we need to reflect on the kinds of physical education experiences that we provide students each day in our schools.

We need to seriously consider, and examine, the physical education program that we follow, the lessons that we provide, and what we are teaching our students on a daily basis. We also need to reflect on whether our programs truly benefit the "whole child," and whether we are attending to the needs of all of our students.

Physical education programs that do not provide students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to lead healthy, active lifestyles will not achieve the accolades and benefits that we hope, and presume, will occur.

To be a major influence in determining the well-being of the next generation, these are all essential questions to be considered and to pose to other professionals in staff rooms or hallways. Only then that we can truly say we are meeting the needs of our students, and playing an influential part in the development of physically literate children.

If we can all take a few minutes to reflect on these considerations, perhaps we can become better teachers, our programs will be held as shining examples to everyone, and our students will lead even better active and healthy lifestyles!

School Health: Guidelines & Strategies offers recommendations to help states, districts, and schools implement health programs and policies that promote healthy behaviors among youth. Recommendations cover topics including, policy development, curriculum development and selection, instructional strategies, staff training, family and community involvement, evaluation, and links between components of a coordinated school health program.

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