Let’s Move! Active Schools announced that Red Mill Elementary School is one of five schools in Virginia and 544 schools nationwide to receive the 2016 Let’s Move! Active Schools National Award. The organization, part of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiative, recognizes outstanding efforts in creating active school environments, including providing students with at least 60 minutes of physical activity each school day.

The award is the nation’s top physical education and physical activity distinction for K-12 schools, according to Let’s Move! Active Schools. A school must meet benchmarks in five areas to earn the award: physical education, physical activity before and after school, physical activity during school, staff involvement, and family and community engagement.

“We are thrilled with the national recognition of Red Mill’s commitment to creating an active environment for its students,” said Virginia Beach City Public Schools Superintendent Aaron Spence. “We know that providing educational experiences for students that foster healthy lifestyles and social and emotional development are critical to developing the whole child. Ensuring our students have opportunities for regular physical activity and physical education help them develop those healthy habits as well as their communication and collaboration skills while they engage with peers.”

Red Mill Elementary will receive a large display banner, award certificate and congratulatory letter from the First Lady as part of the award package.

More information about the Let’s Move! Active Schools award, including a complete list of recipients, is available on www.letsmoveschools.org.

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