Challenge Pep Rally Event Details and FAQs

Prior to the Challenge Team’s arrival, there are a few things we need your help with:

• Reminding teachers, staff, students and caregivers about the upcoming Strong4Life Challenge pep rally via email, calendar invites or bulletin boards. Check out our Challenge Communications Toolkit for messaging suggestions.
• Ensuring the gym (or agreed-upon space) is clear of all chairs and items so our team can set up equipment. Please note that our team provides all necessary items (e.g., tables, sound system, microphones, etc.) and we do not need access to AV.
• Promoting Strong4Life by displaying your posters around the school, adding “Strong4Life” to your school marquee or creating a bulletin board highlighting the pep rally.

We are excited to join your school for the fun, interactive pep rally! Here are a few friendly reminders to prepare for our visit:

• The Challenge Team will arrive 2 hours prior to the scheduled pep rally to set up all equipment in the gym (or agreed-upon space).
• If the event will be in the gym, PE classes can still take place when we arrive; we kindly ask for a small area to unload our items.
• Each grade level will be seated together during the assembly. Our team will assist your staff in calling down the correct grades at certain times to ensure a smooth transition into the gym.
• We encourage you to call down pre-K first (if applicable), then kindergarten, then 1st grade, followed by 2nd grade and so forth. We would like to seat the youngest grades in the front, so having them in line first is preferred.
• Our team will line up all students outside of the gym by classroom and grade. Once here, we will review the rules with all students and teachers in a repeat-after-me fashion.
• Please note: The volume will be loud during this portion as we are preparing the group for some fun. If you have any concerns about this, please let our team know when they arrive.
• Our team will lead all students into the gym and seat them by grade. They will remain seated for the duration of the pep rally.
• The noise level can get loud during the assembly. Please have headphones available for any students/staff members who prefer to wear them.
• We kindly ask that a representative is present from the administrative team and school nutrition team during the pep rally. We are so grateful to join your school this year, and we like to recognize the leaders of the school during a short segment at the beginning of the assembly.
• We ask all classroom teachers to attend and stay for the duration of the pep rally for the safety of our team and all students. Thank you for understanding.
• Have fun! Take pictures and share on social media and/or email them to Strong4LifeChallenge@choa.org.

Once the event is complete, our team will disassemble all equipment.

We understand that some students and/or classes may need to stay close to their teachers during this assembly. The Strong4Life Team uses the term “All-Star Students” for any students/classes who may require extra supervision during the event. Please inform the team ahead of time so we can accommodate. Our #1 goal is safety for all parties. We will work with your school to develop a plan to make sure everyone enjoys the pep rally.

Although the fall visit is complete, that doesn’t mean the fun is over.

Continue to promote Strong4Life throughout the school year using the online resource hub. Each month, we will send communication to your Wellness Champions, sharing brain-break videos, flyers, handouts and more.

How long is the pep rally?

The Challenge pep rally will last 45 minutes to 1 hour, including transition time to and from the assembly.

What grades attend the pep rally?

All grades (pre-K through 5th), students and staff are invited to the pep rally.

When and where does the pep rally take place?

We suggest having the pep rally in the gym and in the afternoon. While we can accommodate schools that request a morning pep rally, we have found teachers greatly appreciate the lasting energy to go home with the students, rather than back into the classroom.

Do teachers need to attend?

Yes, all teachers and staff members are asked to attend and stay at the event to ensure the safety of our team and students. We understand the pep rally may cause an altered schedule for the day, and we thank you for understanding and continuing to be a positive role model for your students.

Our gymnasium is not big enough to hold all students at one time. What should we do?

If necessary, we can host 2 separate, back-to-back pep rally sessions on the same day to accommodate small spaces.

What equipment does the school need to provide for the pep rally?

Strong4Life provides all necessary equipment needed for the pep rally (e.g., speakers, microphones, extension cords, etc.). We do ask that the gym is cleared of any items so that our team can set up all equipment upon arrival.

Who will lead the students into the gym?

The Strong4Life Challenge Team will lead each grade level into the gym and seat them in an orderly fashion. If your school has regular schoolwide assemblies and has a process in place to lead students into the gym, please discuss with our team upon arrival. We are happy to accommodate and work together for a successful event.

Will the pep rally be loud?

While we do our best to make the sound level tolerable for all individuals, the pep rally can feel loud to some attendees. We encourage schools to have headphones readily available for any students or educators who would prefer to wear them so they can experience the assembly comfortably.