by: Nick Kline, Active Schools Director
As 2024 comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to celebrate an incredible year of accomplishments that would not have been possible without the dedication and passion of our Active Schools Champions. Together, we’ve made meaningful strides in promoting active school cultures, reaching new milestones, and engaging communities nationwide.
Action for Healthy Kids proudly serves as the home of Active Schools. Their unwavering support and commitment have provided us with the foundation to expand our reach. AFHK’s dedication to whole-child health aligns seamlessly with our mission, allowing us to work together to promote physical activity as a vital component of student success.
Our annual campaigns showcased the power and impact of physical activity. Active Classrooms Month, Play All May, and Family PE Week reached educators, students, and families nationwide, showcasing that fostering a culture of activity is a collective effort.
The School Recognition and Program Endorsement continue to celebrate schools and organizations nationwide that provide opportunities aligned with the nine essential elements outlined in the Active Schools Guiding Framework. We want to spotlight Washington Elementary for receiving five badges and the Distinguished School honor in 2024!
The Active Schools National Summit was another milestone, bringing educators and physical activity advocates together to share best practices, promote collaboration, and celebrate the benefits of physical activity. The energy and ideas shared at the Summit reminded us that our work matters and inspired us to push boundaries moving forward.
Active Schools presented at the Active Living Conference, SHAPE America, and the Healthy Meals Summit. These platforms allowed us to share innovative tools and strategies to help schools make physical activity a central part of their routines.
We are grateful for our strategic partnership with the University of Northern Colorado Active Schools Institute, which has been instrumental in advancing our mission. Brian Dauenhauer and his team provided expertise that amplified our impact. They also published an open-access article in JOPERD titled Promoting an Active School: Tools, Resources, & Recognition, published in the Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance.
As we look ahead to 2025, we are energized by the possibilities. Active Schools will build on this year’s momentum, bringing physical activity to more schools because all kids deserve the physical, social-emotional, and academic benefits. Champions like you are vital to the Active Schools movement. Together, we’re proving that #ActiveKidsDoBetter.
