By Briana Harris / Staff Writer

PELHAM – Pelham Oaks Elementary received national recognition Wednesday, Sept. 7, when it received the 2016 Let’s Move! Active Schools National Award by First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative.

The initiative recognized 544 K-12 schools, representing 41 states plus the District of Columbia, for their outstanding efforts in creating an active school environment, according to a Let’s Move! news release.

Pelham Oaks physical education teacher, Ginger Aaron-Brush, said the school really started implementing changes consistently and getting teachers and the community involved with being active about three years ago.

The school hosts a community run with parents, teachers and students every month, Brush said.

“It means a lot to us that we’re even mentioned in this conversation,” Brush said. “It brings me a lot of joy and it’s just a great thing to be recognized when you do well.”

Brush said the entire school is committed to providing all students with 20 minutes of recess every day in addition to hosting community runs and working with the Child Nutrition Program to provide healthy snacks during these events.

Brush said it’s important for parents, teachers and community members to participate in these activities because students are more likely to be active if they have good role models.

“I applaud these schools for creating active school environments that are inspiring students to be more engaged learners and ensuring that physical education and physical activity continue to be an important part of every child’s educational experience,” First Lady Michelle Obama stated.

Physical activity also contributes to higher test scores, improved attendance, better behavior in class, enhanced leadership skills and a lifetime of healthy habits, according to the news release.

 Let’s Move! is dedicated to ensuring at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day is the norm in K-12 schools across the country.

“Kids in our school are no longer just sitting at their desks for long periods of time, teachers are having them get up and move around by participating in various brain booster activities,” Brush said. “It not only allows them to get the wiggles out, but they can learn easier and they behave better.”

To earn a Let’s Move! Active Schools National Award, a school must have met significant benchmarks in five areas: physical education, physical activity before and after school, physical activity during school, staff involvement and family and community engagement.

Honorees will receive a large display banner, certificate and congratulatory letter from the First Lady.

Since its February 2013 launch, more than 20,000 schools in all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, have enrolled in Let’s Move! Active Schools, reaching more than 11 million students.