The 2015 National Award honorees for the Let’s Move! Active Schools, a sub-initiative of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign, were recently announced, according to a release from the campaign.
This year, 525 US K-12 schools, representing 37 states, received the National Award for their commitment to integrating at least 60 minutes of physical activity before, during, and after school, the release explains.
“These schools are raising the bar by creating Active School environments where students are happier, healthier, and higher-performing. I am thrilled with their success through Let’s Move! Active Schools – they’re helping to create a new norm where physical activity is a fundamental aspect of a young person’s success both in the classroom and in life,” says First Lady Michelle Obama, in the release.
The Let’s Move! Active Schools campaign collaborates with K-12 schools to help transform their physical activity and physical education culture. It does this by streamlining the selection of programs, resources, professional development and funding opportunities, and delivering each school a customized Action Plan, the release explains.
In order for a school to earn a Let’s Move! Active Schools National Award, it must meet significant benchmarks in five areas: physical education, physical activity before and after school, physical activity during school, staff involvement, and family and community engagement, according to the release.
Each National Award recipient received a banner, a certificate, and a congratulatory letter from the First Lady, per the release.
[Source: Let’s Move! Active Schools]
