PORTSMOUTH — Three alpacas were the stars of the show at Pennfield School Monday morning, when the school kicked off its “Be Well!” week that's giving students a crash course on sustainable living and healthy initiatives.

French Kiss, Cinder and La Bamba — brought to the school by Glen Ridge Farm’s Ann Fiore, whose 3-year-old daughter Taylor is a preschool student at Pennfield — were set up in a small fenced-in area in front of the school and grazed on the lawn.

Several groups of students gathered around to pet them while learning how the animals benefit environmental sustainability. Ms. Fiore also showed students many products made from the alpacas’ ultra-soft fiber, including a teddy bear and coat, that were passed around.

Even when the alpacas relieved themselves — drawing giggles from the children — Ms. Fiore had a lesson in sustainability there, too. Alpaca manure, she pointed out, is low in nitrogen so it can be used right away for compost.

“We use every bit of it,” said Ms. Fiore, who also made it clear that today’s farmers have years of schooling under the belts.

“Did you know that most famers go to college?” she asked the children, adding that she studied three different majors and one minor while in school. “People think that farmers just plant stuff, but it’s very technical.”

The idea for the school’s “Be Well!” week originated with a group of parents who were brainstorming ways to teach healthy living initiatives to students, said Suzanne Ramponi, a parent  volunteer. They worked closely with Cindy Hallowell, a sustainability teacher at Pennfield, to put the program together.

“We thought we’d combine the awareness of the environment and health awareness,” said Ms. Ramponi.

Tomorrow (Tuesday), the school will be visited by Tidy Betty, who will teach the kids to make their own cleaning products using natural ingredients. “She’s a local person here and she makes her own product — chemical-free and toxic-free,” said Ms. Ramponi.

On Wednesday, John Wood from the Green Grocer will present healthy food choices and tastings. On Thursday, Jenny Williams from Happy Planet Yoga — “She works well with the little folks,” said Ms. Ramponi — and health and wellness educators from Roger Williams University will present a program on the importance of nutrition for growing bodies.

The week concludes with a spin-a-thon from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday that will raise money toward Pennfield’s commitment to sustainable living and healthy initiatives, said Ms. Ramponi. All proceeds will go toward:

• adding more drinking fountains that provide filtered water and bottle filling. (To date, the school estimates that its water fountain has minimized the waste of more than 17,000 plastic water bottles.)

• providing healthy snacks throughout the year from the Green Grocer.

• changing some lunch options to include organic fruits, vegetables and milk.

For more information, visit www.pennfield.org.