Students at Margaret B. Henderson Elementary School start every day off on the right foot.
More than 200 second through fifth graders line up in the school’s gymnasium before the first bell rings to exercise. Their movement of choice is dancing.
“I love it because I get sweaty,” 7-year-old Madison Garcia said. “It makes me feel good and I have a lot of energy."
According to the teachers at the Dallas Independent School District elementary, the 30 minutes of movement before class is paying off.
“Daily exercise is good for them,” school principal Ida Escovedo said. “The children are more alert, they perform better, it also puts them in community and gives them something to look forward to.”
The school has been national recognized by the Clinton Foundation and under Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” initiative.
National guidelines indicate that children should get 60 minutes of exercise per week and adults should get 150 minutes per week. Regular exercise can help decrease stress, increase energy and alertness and help to regulate sleep.
