Northfield Elementary School has been honored with the 2016 Let’s Move! Active Schools National Award for its outstanding efforts in creating an active school environment.

The Let’s Move! Active Schools National Award celebrates a school’s commitment to providing students with at least 60 minutes a day of physical activity. Only 544 schools across the country achieved this prestigious honor in 2016. Let’s Move! Active Schools is part of first lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative.

“I am excited that Northfield Elementary has been recognized for their commitment to a healthy learning environment,” said Dr. Renee A. Foose, superintendent of the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS). “When students are active, they perform better in school, show increased focus and demonstrate higher confidence.”

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.

Let’s Move! Active Schools provides schools with the resources, programs, professional development and grants to increase physical education and physical activity opportunities for students, and to cultivate an active school environment. Along with physical education classes, HCPSS provides 30 minutes of daily recess in all elementary schools, and teachers strive to incorporate opportunities for movement throughout the instructional day.

As part of the Let’s Move! Active Schools National Award package, Northfield Elementary School received a large display banner, award certificate and congratulatory letter from the first lady.